Assessing the effects of covid-19 on socioeconomic status of hospitality workers a case study of Asutifi north district assembly

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 has altered the world in all spheres of life and the hospitality industry is one of the industries that is facing one of its most serious operational, commercial and financial crises as a result of the worldwide spread of COVID-19. This study therefore seeks to assess the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on the socioeconomic status of hospitality workers. Also, the study sought to determine which department and category of staff under the hospitality industry were mostly affected by Covid-19 outbreak and examine whether measures taken by government to control Covid-19 have had any impact on the socioeconomic status of hospitality workers. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, data from a sample of 100 hospitality workers was obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire out of which 69 responded. The study employed Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for the data analysis. Based on the data obtained and the use of appropriate statistical tool, the study revealed that Covid-19 has affected the socioeconomic status of the hospitality workers with cost of living being the most affected. Also, the study revealed that the departments that were mostly affected were housekeeping, food and beverage services and kitchen. The study also revealed that the workers whose work was affected most were the Concierge and event planners. Most of the workers according to the study had their salaries reduced whereas some were laid off after the pandemic. Finally, the study revealed that the measures taken by government to control the pandemic that positively impacted on the socioeconomic status of the workers were free water policy and Electricity tariff reduction and free for life line consumers. Based on the findings, it was recommended that, management should think of innovative ways of staying in business even during the pandemic and the governments should help the hospitality with some PPEs to reduce the cost of buying these items. factors a comparative study on the various aspect of the hospitality industry.