Business support and effects derived from COVID-19: implications on labor productivity

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic shows contagion and mortality rates that exceed the initial forecast and has caused a series of effects in different spheres of individuals, including the labor sphere. OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between business support and effects derived from COVID-19 in Mexican and Colombian workers and to identify the factors that can predict productivity. METHODS: The sample included 482 people from both countries, 381 women (79%) and 101 men (21%). Two instruments were used: one scale to measure business support and the other to measure COVID-19 effects. A multivariate design was used to understand the factorial structure of the instruments through confirmatory factor analysis, and a predictive design was used based on structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was conducted through the confirmatory factor analysis and found a factorial solution that fitted the theoretical approach to the data in both instruments, and the structural equation model showed an adequate goodness-of-fit (X(2) = 320.110, p = 0.000; comparative fit index = 0.90; root mean square error of approximation = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, it was observed that both instruments presented an adequate goodness-of-fit to the data. The structural equation showed that leadership (0,420) and daily disturbance (-0.558) are predictors of labor productivity. Specifically, a positive leadership style facilitated group performance and therefore the achievement of results. Daily disturbance, such as effects derived from COVID-19, negatively affects productivity; therefore, all actions taken by organizations to provide support will promote mental health and will thereby help to achieve the expected productivity.