Continuity in public transport provision during the Covid-19 pandemic – responding to organisational and health challenges facing workers

What is it about?

This paper explores the major challenges facing public transport employees during the effects of the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic while keeping public transport services open. Physical health measures (such as Personal Protective Equipment like masks) were put in place for all workers. Practical support for mental health and well-being at work, was considered limited by some customer-facing workers (e.g. drivers). In contrast, employees working from home were offered considerably greater support from employers to address, alongside increased and regular communication, regarding work and non-work-related topics, to tackle isolation and lack of interaction. In terms of the responses of their employers to improve their organisational resilience, support for workers needs to better reflect both job role, work setting and location, and household demands such as childcare. The lessons learned from this study contribute to future employer responses and practices both in times of major crises and also for improving mental-health and childcare support in normal times.

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