Applying Health Belief Model to Unveil Employees’ Workplace COVID-19 Protective Behaviors: Insights for the Hospitality Industry |
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| Authors: | Hamed Rezapouraghdam Osman M. Karatepe |
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| Affiliation: | 1 School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Bahcesehir Cyprus University, Alayköy, Lefkosa, TRNC, 99200, Turkey2 Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, TRNC, 99628, Turkey |
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| Abstract: | The overwhelming majority of the countries around the globe have witnessed severe cases of the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, many countriesare still beset with such an infectious disease. Despite the fact that there is currently no specific approved cure for this deadly infection, restrictions (e.g., lockdown and border closing) are gradually eased. Meanwhile, businesses arereopening and outdoor leisure activities are about to start again based on stricthealth, social distancing, and hygiene rules. However, as we still have a longway to reach an ultimate treatment for such deadly virus, changing human behavior sounds the best defense in tackling this challenge till a vaccine is developedfor protection against COVID-19. With this realization, using Health Belief Model as the theoretical underpinning, our study endeavors to unveil employees’adherence to protective health behaviors (PHBs) in the hospitality industry, whichis known as a people-focused, labor-intensive, and service-oriented business. Thisis so crucial since there is a high degree of (frequent) interaction between employees and customers in hotels. Moreover, such establishments are known as areaswhere customers engage in a variety of activities that make health concerns evenmore crucial. To achieve the objectives of this research, we used secondary dataobtained from one of the largest hotel-related online communities in the world:the ‘Tales from the front desk’. Using template analysis approach, 1680 employees’ comments were examined. The results revealed that hotel employees foundthemselves at high risk of being infected and several obstacles that impeded theirPHBs in the workplace were identified. Our study will provide momentous implications about PHBs against COVID-19 for the hospitality industry. |
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| Keywords: | COVID-19 hospitality industry health belief model employee protective behavior |
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