The impact of COVID-19 on the work-life balance of portering staff at Inkosi Albert Luthuli in Durban

Abstract

This study used a qualitative research method to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work-life balance of portering staff at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative research design within the interpretative paradigm was employed to explore the lived experiences of portering staff. Data was collected through semistructured interviews conducted in English and isiZulu with fifteen participants, selected using purposive sampling to ensure relevance to the research objectives. Thematic analysis was used to identify and interpret key themes emerging from the data systematically. Healthcare practitioners in South Africa faced immense challenges during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (Robertson et al., 2020). The emergence of COVID-19 also brought about significant increases to the work scope of all healthcare workers, alongside an increased demand for the volume of staff needed and the precautionary sanitationmeasures needed (Singh & Subedi, 2020). As such, hospital staff, including Chief Albert Luthuli, had to adapt to a new working environment. Healthcare workers were responsible for providing direct care to all incoming patients infected with COVID-19 while also giving attention to patients who had non-COVID-19-related illnesses (Hussain, 2021). Workers often had to work longer shifts to adequately attend to all patients (Iyengar et al., 2022). Responses from participants in this study highlighted the difficulties encountered by healthcare workers in maintaining a balance between home and work safety, resulting in emotional tension and the imminent risk of burnout. Adaptive mechanisms surfaced as a vital aspect of the participants' accounts. These mechanisms encompassed strict adherence to safety protocols, active involvement in self-care routines, and acquiring emotional support from colleagues and family members. These insights imply that porters regard themselves as unacknowledged heroes, traversing the intricacies of their tasks with unwavering dedication and determination. This research presented crucial learnings for hospital administrators and governance, alike. These involved: implementing flexible timetables to accommodate the demands of the porters’ roles whilst allowing for essential personal time; providing consistent mental health aid services to prevent burnout; and initiating recognition schemes to enhance morale and job contentment. These proposals highlighted the necessity for proactive management plans to cultivate a supportive and harmonious workplace, addressing the pandemic's immediate challenges and ensuring a sustainable working milieu for portering staff in the long term.