A study on the effect of COVID-19 on job satisfaction of SME’ workers in China: Job involvement as intermediary variable and welfare as moderating variable
Authors:   Asia-Europe Perspective Association, Yuan Chan , Song Jaehoon 
Published: December 2024

The epidemic situation in novel coronavirus pneumonia has a significant impact not only on the production and operation of many enterprises but also on the employees. After the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, China has government-level coping strategies, but surprisingly, few enterprise-level coping strategies exist. Recently, small and medium-sized enterprises have introduced corresponding measures to control production and operation costs to get out of the economic difficulties brought about by the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic. Among these measures, cost control is the main one, such as dismissal, reduction of wages and benefits, Etc. In this case, the company’s coping strategy can be considered very important. However, the sudden and severe situation of this incident makes the simple cost control implemented by enterprises have many shortcomings, which can not help enterprises and hinder the company’s production and operation. Therefore, it shows that it is necessary to formulate more effective coping strategies in human resource management (HRM), such as meeting employees’ work requirements and improving employees’ work input.
Therefore, this study selected Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises during the period of new coronavirus pneumonia to conduct a questionnaire survey among their employees to understand the business problems caused by the epidemic situation of new coronavirus pneumonia and how to solve the uncertainty of the business environment under such unexpected events. The study found that Covid-19 had significant adverse effects on employees’ job involvement and job satisfaction (-). Fringe Benefit has a significantly positive (+) adjustment on the relationship between COVID-19 and job involvement and the relationship between COVID-19 and job satisfaction. Job involvement has a significantly positive (+) mediating effect on the relationship between COVID-19 and job satisfaction. The findings and implications are summarized as follows. The first is that enterprises should establish a crisis management mechanism (evasion and decentralization) under the premise of relevant laws and compliance. Simultaneously, only by strengthening the rational decision-making level of operators can the uncertainty of the business environment of enterprises be reduced, and the buffer time for solving problems can be strived for to cope with the adverse effects of public health emergencies on enterprises. Second, it is necessary to establish an excellent organizational culture at the organizational level by formulating practical plans to manage employees’ adverse reactions and behaviors differently. Third, on the other hand, enterprises need to implement corresponding management measures according to the situation and on the premise of full consultation with employees, actively deal with difficult problems, and consider the following schemes. That is, to implement a flexible working system, implement online work, and improve job satisfaction by improving the quality and level of welfare. It will research academic and practical significance to formulate practical plans to distinguish the adverse reactions and behaviors of management practitioners at the organizational level.