Sustaining Lessons Learned in Work Design from COVID-19 Restrictions

Abstract: After the covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Sweden, managers were faced with considerations such as how to proceed with work design and how to sustain the lessons learned from the pandemic, as well as potential challenges of doing so. The purpose of this study is to document lessons that have been sustained or enhanced after the restrictions were lifted and the challenges of sustaining those lessons to provide insights for managers who are working in settings that are still under covid-19 related restrictions. The study was conducted by interviewing nine managers working in Sweden from different industries. The interviews were semi-structured, and the data gathered from the interviews were done with thematic analysis. Multiple sustained lessons and challenges regarding work design in a post-pandemic setting were detailed in the documentation. This exhaustive documentation contains insights that may be beneficial for other managers seeking to sustain the lessons they have learned from the pandemic and enhance their work design after the restrictions are lifted.