Michael Levandoski, “Coping with the Pandemic: Employee Survey”
Mentor: James Topitzes, Social Work
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected UW-Milwaukee employees? This is the overall question we ask via a campus-wide survey that includes questions about past stressors, current stressors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, previous and present coping strategies and effectiveness, and work-related outcomes. We seek to: 1) gain insight into campus mental health, work satisfaction, and future career plans; 2) explore the influence of previous life stressors on current experiences of stress and coping; and 3) inform campus leaders on how best to support employees. We will upload survey data into SPSS and analyze multiple variables, including the relationships between past trauma/stressors, COVID-19 experiences, coping skills, and career concerns. Results of analyses may inform responses from campus leaders that can help address the unique challenges of employees. Understanding how best to support staff and faculty could potentially improve morale, strengthen support networks, and mitigate stress.
Thanks for your work, Michael! It’s very validating to hear of others’ similar experiences, and have our engagements (or lack thereof) articulated in this way.
Nathaniel, thanks for reviewing this material!! Yes, there were many common experiences–in the past, with the pandemic, and on hopes for the future. It seems weird to me, but I connected in a meaningful way to each person’s experiences, as I worked with this data. Understanding people seems like a balancing act between different and similar; I tend to lean towards “similar”…