Cargando…

How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a rapid worldwide increase in the utilization of delivery services. This study delves into the experiences of delivery workers as one of the activley developed industries during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea and sheds light on the effects of the pandemic on t...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pyo, Jeehee, Park, Eun Jee, Ock, Minsu, Lee, Won, Lee, Hye Jin, Choi, Sungkyoung
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Public Library of Science 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10513220/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37733663
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290403
_version_ 1785108519791362048
author Pyo, Jeehee
Park, Eun Jee
Ock, Minsu
Lee, Won
Lee, Hye Jin
Choi, Sungkyoung
author_facet Pyo, Jeehee
Park, Eun Jee
Ock, Minsu
Lee, Won
Lee, Hye Jin
Choi, Sungkyoung
author_sort Pyo, Jeehee
collection PubMed
description The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a rapid worldwide increase in the utilization of delivery services. This study delves into the experiences of delivery workers as one of the activley developed industries during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea and sheds light on the effects of the pandemic on their working conditions. Through in-depth interviews with 10 Korean delivery workers, data analysis employed the hermeneutic phenomenology research method developed by Van Manen. The findings indicate a substantial rise in income levels and a positive societal perception of delivery labor post-COVID-19. The pandemic also attracted many new workers to the industry due to low entry barriers and work flexibility. However, challenges persisted as delivery workers grappled with an uncertain legal status and sometimes jeopardized their safety to boost earnings in shorter time frames. The pivotal role played by delivery workers in enhancing communal quality of life and connectivity during the pandemic cannot be overlooked. As we step into a post-COVID-19 era, comprehensive efforts are needed to enhance the working environment for delivery workers globally. Notably, clarifying the relationship between delivery workers and companies within the novel digital labor landscape is essential, alongside establishing institutional frameworks to safeguard workers’ basic rights, including health and safety provisions.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-10513220
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2023
publisher Public Library of Science
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-105132202023-09-22 How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis Pyo, Jeehee Park, Eun Jee Ock, Minsu Lee, Won Lee, Hye Jin Choi, Sungkyoung PLoS One Research Article The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a rapid worldwide increase in the utilization of delivery services. This study delves into the experiences of delivery workers as one of the activley developed industries during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea and sheds light on the effects of the pandemic on their working conditions. Through in-depth interviews with 10 Korean delivery workers, data analysis employed the hermeneutic phenomenology research method developed by Van Manen. The findings indicate a substantial rise in income levels and a positive societal perception of delivery labor post-COVID-19. The pandemic also attracted many new workers to the industry due to low entry barriers and work flexibility. However, challenges persisted as delivery workers grappled with an uncertain legal status and sometimes jeopardized their safety to boost earnings in shorter time frames. The pivotal role played by delivery workers in enhancing communal quality of life and connectivity during the pandemic cannot be overlooked. As we step into a post-COVID-19 era, comprehensive efforts are needed to enhance the working environment for delivery workers globally. Notably, clarifying the relationship between delivery workers and companies within the novel digital labor landscape is essential, alongside establishing institutional frameworks to safeguard workers’ basic rights, including health and safety provisions. Public Library of Science 2023-09-21 /pmc/articles/PMC10513220/ /pubmed/37733663 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290403 Text en © 2023 Pyo et al https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Research Article
Pyo, Jeehee
Park, Eun Jee
Ock, Minsu
Lee, Won
Lee, Hye Jin
Choi, Sungkyoung
How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
title How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
title_full How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
title_fullStr How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
title_full_unstemmed How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
title_short How has COVID-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
title_sort how has covid-19 affected the work environment of delivery workers?: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10513220/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37733663
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290403
work_keys_str_mv AT pyojeehee howhascovid19affectedtheworkenvironmentofdeliveryworkersaninterpretativephenomenologicalanalysis
AT parkeunjee howhascovid19affectedtheworkenvironmentofdeliveryworkersaninterpretativephenomenologicalanalysis
AT ockminsu howhascovid19affectedtheworkenvironmentofdeliveryworkersaninterpretativephenomenologicalanalysis
AT leewon howhascovid19affectedtheworkenvironmentofdeliveryworkersaninterpretativephenomenologicalanalysis
AT leehyejin howhascovid19affectedtheworkenvironmentofdeliveryworkersaninterpretativephenomenologicalanalysis
AT choisungkyoung howhascovid19affectedtheworkenvironmentofdeliveryworkersaninterpretativephenomenologicalanalysis