15 Pages
3772 Words
Introduction of Foundation Year in Business and Law Assignment Sample
Background
Corona virus refers to the infectious disease that caused by SARSCOV-2 virus which was originated in China. This disease occurred in the year 2019 and has created negative impact on all over the world. Retail industry of UK is consisting of more than 3143040 retail businesses and contributing over 510 billion towards the country’s economy. Morrison is one of the leading retail organizations of UK that involved towards providing the large number of consumer goods. The market share of company is 8.7 % and has annual revenue of 18.47 million pound (Description of Morrison, 2024). This research project is based on identifying that impact of Covid 19 on the morale of employees within Morrison.
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Aims and objective
Aim:
The aim behind initiating current study is to ascertain the impact of corona virus on the satisfaction and motivation of workers within Morrison.
Objective:
- To study corona virus and its trends in UK.
- To evaluate various factors impacting on overall motivation and satisfaction level of workers.
- To analyze influence of corona pandemic on the satisfaction and morale level of workers within Morrison
- To recommend competent strategies to manager of Morrison for improving overall employee’s motivation.
Research questio
Q1. What were the corona virus pandemic and its trend?
Q2. What are various factors that are impacting on employee’s morale?
Q3. What is the impact of corona virus on motivation of workers?
Rationale
The current study is based on identifying the impact of corona virus on the morale and satisfaction of workers within UK’s retail industry. This is the crucial topic as employee’s overall productivity is directly linked with their motivation and satisfaction level. Due to introduction of digitalization after Corona virus pandemic, the work form home concept has evolved which has resulted in impacting on overall mental, physical and social health of workers (Aczel et al, 2021). This has created urgency for business entity to effectively evaluate the impact of Covid- 19 on the morale of the workers based on which effectively changes could be introduced. Thematic analysis will be used to shed light on the impact of the pandemic on the overall motivation level of workers.
Significance
This study will help in creating awareness regarding the various factors that have impacted employee’s motivation after Covid pandemic (Adisa, Ogbonnaya and Adekoya, 2023). This study will also enhance knowledge of other retail organizations regarding the importance of employees’ motivation for the overall growth. The current study will help organization in determining the potential measures through which morale of workers could be enhanced and thereby improves overall productivity. Further, other researchers who want to conduct study in the similar area can also use this framework for future research or investigation.
Literature Review
Overview of corona virus pandemic and its trends:
Based on the view point of Akram et al, (2021) iCorona virus was caused due to the several respiratory syndromes called SARS-COV. The pandemic was originated in China and frequently transmitted to Europe, middle –East Asia and rest part of the world. For controlling the disease and the situation a lock down was initiated in the world that has impacted the global economic situation. Further, Allas, Canal and Hunt (2020) explicated that there were over 24910387 cases in UK among which 232112 individuals has lost their lives. This crisis has created various serious challenges for the country in relation to balancing the economy (Corona cases in UK, 2023). Various SME’s have been shut down and over 800000 people lost their job. This has resulted into reduction in the purchasing power of individual and imposing challenges in fulfilling the one’s basic needs as well.
Moreover, ang, Kim and Hong (2021) stated that departmental stores in UK has declined by 60% whereas there was nearly 20% growth in the online retail stores. The sales of retail industry have declined by 27% in the year of 2020 which places adverse impact on the overall profitability and financial position of the business entity (Impact of corona on UK’s retail industry, 2023). Ann and Blum (2020) also claimed that corona virus has changed the working pattern of the world and the concept of remote working has also evolved after the pandemic. This concept has helped organizations in earning an effective amount of profits and supports in maintaining the overall economic position of the country. However, this concept has created the various positive impact on the overall motivation and productivity of workers.
Various factors impacting on overall motivation of employees in UK’s retail industry
According to Aruldoss, Kowalski and Parayitam (2021) there are large numbers of factors that affects the overall motivation level of worker within the UK retail industry. It has identified that compensation is one of the major strategies that influences the employee’s morale. Firms which are not providing equitable, accurate and fair compensation faces issues in maintaining the employees’ satisfaction. This has resulted in increasing in turnover ratio that eventually impact on the overall performance of business entity. In this context, Morrison is involved in providing salary on the basis of workers’ performance and also provides various non-monetary benefits that result into fulfilling employees’ needs and increasing the retention rate.
Moreover Bassot (2016) stated that level of growth opportunity is another crucial factor which impacts the motivation level of the workers. In the current times, along with financial objectives, each employee focuses on enhancing skills for the overall development and growth. Organisation that is not providing the adequate growth opportunity is unable to fulfil workers; need that result in reducing overall satisfaction level. For example; Morrison has initiated intrapreneurship practices in their operations that helps in allocating an adequate time to employees to work on their ideas that results in overall growth and development of workers. Based on the view point of Battisti, Alfiero and Leonidou (2022) it has determined that training and development session is another crucial requirement for the employees. Concerned sessions help employees in enhancing their skills and overall efficiency which further results into better development.
Further Buzan (2006) explicated that workplace environment and behaviour of superior is another factor that impacts the satisfaction of workers. Firm that promotes equality and fairness are able to attract the large number of customer which has resulted in improving overall satisfaction level of the workers. Supportive superior is able to create effective interpersonal relationship with employees which result in enhancing overall productivity of the workers. On the view point of Cottrell (2019) it has explicated that work life balance also plays a crucial role in enhancing the workers morale. In today’s time, along with financial need employees require to fulfil their social need. Firm that is providing remote or hybrid working facilities become more able to attain workers’ expectation that result in enhancing overall worker’s satisfactions.
Moreover Cameron (2009) stated that leadership style chosen and implemented by the business entity is also having huge impact on morale of workers. Organizations adopting autocratic leadership are unable to gain trust and confidence of employees that leads to increasing overall employees turnover rate which negatively impact on organization’s productivity. Further Delfino and Van Der Kolk (2021) stated that sense of authority also plays a crucial role, in enhancing employee’s productivity. Firm should provide an adequate amount of decision making power to worker which will aids in developing feeling of author among workers. This also indicates firm’s trust and confidence towards employees that result in boosting overall job motivation and satisfaction of workers.
Impact of corona pandemic on the employee’s motivation and satisfaction level
According to Galanti et al, (2021), it has explicated that Coronus virus pandemic has created various positive and negative impact on overall satisfaction level of workers. Corona virus generates the remote working concept at workplaces that helps in maintaining work-life balance of the workers. This concept has resulted in reducing commune time and cost for the business entity which eventually results in enhancing overall workers’ satisfaction. For example: Morrison has provided work form home opportunity for various job roles that result in managing the social life of workers. On the contrary to this, Gallagher (2016) stated that remote working resulted in increasing stress and health problem with worker that negatively impact of workers; product. Employees are unable to get an effective amount of feedback from their superior and it also creates various communication barrios that result in reducing morale of the employees.
Goswami and Chouhan (2021) stated that Covid pandemic has resulted in maintaining distance from organization’s politics which result in boosting overall satisfaction of the workers. This has also reduced the scope of conflict within team and enhances the interpersonal relationships which result in improving overall productivity. On the other hand, Ipsen et al, (2021) explicated that due to lack of personal interaction with the superior, employees are unable to generate trust and confidence employers which has resulted in negative impacting on overall motivation level of workers.
Kniffin et al, (2021) stated the Covid pandemic has provided an opportunity of growth for employees which create positive impact on their overall productivity. There are various problems that has been faced by employees during pandemic, this provide them opportunity to grow their skills by resolving issues by their own. Growth opportunity result in fulfilling personal objective of employees that leads to enhancing overall satisfaction of workers. However, Mayhew and Anand (2020) claimed that Covid pandemic has resulted in increasing burden for employees as they need to resolve issues on their own without a support from team members. This has resulted in increasing stress levels of workers that eventually leads to hampering overall satisfaction level of workers. Mohsin, Hongzhen and Hossain (2021) also explicated that pandemic has resulted in increasing employees productivity due to lack of distraction which has resulted in gaining more growth opportunity leading to boosting overall moral. On the other hand Moretti et al, (2020) stated that due to isolation, Worker’s mental health was negatively impacted that has resulted in reducing employee’s motivation and reduces overall productivity of the workers.
ANALYSIS
Theme 1: Morrison has provided work from opportunity during pandemic time.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Yes |
24 |
80 |
NO |
6 |
20 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![12]()
From the above graph it has identified that large umber of Morrison’s employees were provided opportunity to work remotely during pandemic. This helps organization in managing operations and support in maintaining an effective financial position. Nanda, Xu and Zhang (2021) stated that remote working concept helps many individual in earning an effective compensation result in enhancing employee’s motivation. However, larger number of workers was not provided with this benefit that has resulted in creating financial crisis.
Theme 2: T&D session, organization culture, leadership and compensation strategy has huge impact on employees’ motivation.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Training and development session |
4 |
13 |
Organization culture |
5 |
17 |
Compensation strategy |
3 |
10 |
Leadership |
1 |
3 |
All of the above |
17 |
57 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![12]()
The above graph depicted that training and development session, organizational culture, leadership and compensation strategies have huge impact on employee’s satisfaction level. In this support Nash and Churchill (2020) stated that high growth opportunity and T&D session helps in fulfilling personal objective of worker that results in enhancing morale. Further Panzone, Larcom and She (2021) depicted that organisation that promotes fairness; equality and transparency are able to gain workers’ trust resulting in boosting overall motivation of the workers. Additionally, effective compensation strategies supports in attaining financial goal and aids in improving standard of living that ultimately results in improving morale.
Theme 3 Remote working has created negative impact on employees’ mental health.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Yes |
12 |
40 |
NO |
18 |
60 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![13]()
Based on the survey conducted on 30 employees of Morrison, It has explicated that remote working during Covid pandemic has helped in enhancing mental health of individual. In this context Pears and Shields (2016) claimed that during pandemic, large number of workers has been terminated form their job that results in creating financial issues for them. Remote working supports in fulfilling the financial need of the large number of employees leading to providing mental peace. Further workers were engaged in their work results in enhancing their overall mental health and reducing distraction.
Theme 4: Employees productivity was reduced during Covid pandemic.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Increased productivity |
11 |
37 |
Reduce productivity |
13 |
43 |
No change |
6 |
20 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![14]()
On the basis of analysis of survey results, It has determined that majority of individual believes that remote workings results in decreasing productivity. In the support of finding, Prasad et al, (2020) claimed that due to remote working there is high amount of distraction that has resulted in negatively impacting on productivity. Further many family members of employees were impacted by such disease that has resulted in diverting their focus from work and hampering their overall productivity.
Theme 5: Worker in Morrison was highly frustrated during Covid pandemic.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Yes |
20 |
67 |
NO |
10 |
33 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![15]()
The above graph depicts that during pandemic period majority of Morrison’s employees felt frustrated due to remote working. In this context Pura (2022) stated that employees were not able to connect with their colleague and unable to share their issues with others that has resulted in increasing frustration and stress within employees. Increase in stress level resulted in reducing employee’s satisfaction level that eventually leads to impacting on productivity of the business entity.
Theme 6: Morrison has decreased employees’ financial incentives while working remotely.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Yes |
18 |
60 |
NO |
12 |
40 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![16]()
From the analysis of the finding, it has depicted that more than half of the population claimed that financial incentive of employees were reduced at the time of Covid pandemic which has resulted in reducing overall motivation level. In this context, Reinders et al, (2020) expressed that introduction of work from home has result in result in cutting salaries for employees as this working has reduced in reducing expenses for workers. Further during Covid firm were also facing various financial crisis and to cope up with such situation, salary of employees were reduced at that time.
Theme 7: Lack of effective workplace is major challenge during Corona virus pandemic.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Lack of social interaction |
5 |
17 |
Inadequate feedback |
2 |
7 |
Enhance distraction’ |
3 |
10 |
Technical issue |
5 |
17 |
Lack of effective workplace |
15 |
50 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![17]()
After conducting survey on 30 employees of Morrison, it has identified that lack of effective working movement was the major challenge for the workers that has reduced overall morale. Sandoval-Reyes, Idrovo-Carlier and Duque-Oliva (2021) claimed that employees’ productivity enhances in an effective working environment. Working from home restricts adequate interpersonal relationship among employees that result in reducing their satisfaction. Additionally, workers are unable to maintain work life balance due to such working that has results in negatively impacting on employee’s motivation.
Theme 8: Effective T&D session, Hybrid benefit and growth opportunity are measures for enhancing employees’ motivation.
Particular |
Respondent |
% of respondent |
Initiating hybrid model |
6 |
20 |
Establishing effective T&D session |
2 |
7 |
Providing growth opportunity |
4 |
13 |
All of the above |
18 |
60 |
Total |
30 |
100 |
![18]()
The above graph indicate that introduction of hybrid working model, providing growth opportunity and establishing T&D session helps in improving overall motivation of workers. In this regard Sayyida et al, (2021) expressed that hybrid working promotes flexibility that helps in employees in deciding workplace acceding to their convenience. Training and development session help in enhancing workers’ motivation by improving overall skills. Developing competence aids in providing high growth opportunity in future that results in boosting employee’s satisfaction level and reducing turnover.
Conclusion
By summing up the report, it has identified that Corona pandemic has created various negative impact on overall employee’s motivation. Form the evaluation of secondary sources; it has depicted that compensation strategy, T&D session, growth opportunity, work life balance, leadership and sense of authority are various factors impacting employees’ motivation. By undertaking survey on 30 employees of Morrison it has identified that business entity has; provided remote working option to employees. This working model has helped in improving overall mental health of workers by fulfilling financial needs that result in enhancing overall employee’s satisfaction. It has also identified that employees were feeling highly frustrated during Covid time that has resulted in decreasing overall productivity. Due to lack of effective interpersonal relationship and ineffective communication employees were very dissatisfied that has result in reducing productivity.
Further, it has identified that Morrison has reduced compensation of many workers as to manage financial crisis that leads to reducing motivation of worker towards effective working and result in negatively impacting on overall performance of business entity. Lack of effective workplace environment during pandemic time was the major issue that was impacting on employee’s motivation level. While working from home, employees were not able to clearly communicate their issue and unable to resolve queries easily which results in increasing stress and work burden. Further employees were not to able managing work life balance and high amount of distraction has resulted in reducing motivation of the employees. Establishing an effective training and development session, promoting hybrid working facility and growth opportunity are various measures through which Morrison could enhance overall employee’s motivation.
Recommendation
There are various measures and actions that should be initiated by Morrison for improving overall satisfaction and motivation of the employees which are as follows:
- Morrison should involved in using hybrid working rather then remote working as this will help in maintaining work life balance Remote working restrict employees to enjoy workplace culture which negatively impact on overall productivity (Shirmohammadi, Au and Beigi, 2022). Hybrid model will help in providing freedom to workers to decide workplace according to their convenience that result in enhancing motivation.
- Further manager should arrange on the job and off the job training session that will help in enhancing workers’ skills and support in improving overall motivation.
- Firm should initiate flexible holiday policies that will help in fulfilling the social need of workers and results in enhancing overall performance (Wang et al, 2021).
- Adequate and attractive compensation policies should be provided by the managers that will aids in increasing workers; motivation leads to boosting employees’ productivity.
References
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Author Bio
I am Andrew Carter and graduated with distinction, earning a Master of Science degree in management from Cranfield University. I am very well aware of the problems students face as I was a student once. I want to take them out of such a situation and for that I have been helping them for 10 years. I have completed more than 500 management papers for students in provided time.