WORK EXPERIENCE

PROJECT REPORT
Submitted for
SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
2024-2025
REPORT ON IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE WORLD OF
WORK AND MENTAL HEALTH

Done by:
SHAMIRDHAA S
XII-F
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to extend my sincere and heartfelt
obligations towards all those who have helped me in
making this project. Without their active guidance, help,
cooperation and encouragement, I wouldn’t have been
able to submit the project on time.
I am extremely thankful and pay my gratitude to my
teacher Mrs. Priya Lelith for her valuable guidance and
support for completion of this project.
I extend my gratitude to the Correspondent Dr. R.
Kishore Kumar and Principal Mrs. Shanthi Samuel for
the moral support extended during the tenure of the
project.
I also acknowledge with a deep sense of reverence, my
gratitude towards my parents, other faculty members of
the school and friends for their valuable suggestions
given to me in completing this project.
 CONTENTS

S.No Topics Pg.No

1 Covid – 19 4
2 World of Work 6
3 Survey Results 13
4 Mental Health 36
5 Conclusion 39
6 Bibliography 40
 Impact of Covid-19 on the World of Work
and Mental Health

Covid-19
The Corona Virus Disease - 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic
has drastically changed the lives of many people in each
and every part of the world. Around 2.3 billion people
have been affected by the virus and 5.4 million people
lost their lives in this epidemic. It also posed an
unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems
and the world of work creating a stressful environment
and affecting the mental health of citizens around the
world.
The economic and social disruption caused by the
pandemic has been devastating and its dreadful
consequences are experienced in various ways.
Numerous enterprises faced existential crises,
employees of organizations faced the loss of jobs or
reduced income, frontline workers confronted both
mental and health issues, millions of people were at a
risk of falling into extreme poverty, and the number of
undernourished people rose up to about 722 million
around the world.
 World of Work
The world of work has been profoundly and greatly
affected both mentally and economically due to the
outspread of the pandemic and significant measures
and changes have taken place to cope up with the
difficulties and inconvenience caused by the crisis. The
working population consists of 4.3 billion people, out of
the 7 billion world population, working in various sectors
and contributing to the global economy. There are over
12000 careers and each and every profession has been
affected in its own way, some of them have been able to
switch to online mode of working thus reducing the
impact, while some of them were forced to be shutdown
as a result of Covid-19 and lockdown.
 Workplace Disruption
Since the countries of the world are instituting
lockdowns, shelter-in-place directives or similar
requirements to limit the spread of this highly contagious
virus, companies are forced to focus on transitioning
their organizations and workforces to environments
where their employees will be working remotely for an
indeterminable period of time, and this has undoubtedly
created a significant change in the office routines. For
companies and individuals across all geographies and
industries workplace disruption has been inevitable.
One of the major difficulties of online offices is the lack
of focused environment and the doubt in the efficiency of
employees, but findings suggest that the rapid adoption
of new technology amid the pandemic has offered
lasting economic gains, helping to boost sluggish
productivity that has long weighed on global growth.
Quarantines, lockdowns, and self-imposed isolation
have pushed tens of millions around the world to work
from home, accelerating a workplace experiment that
had struggled to gain traction before COVID-19 hit.
Now, well into the pandemic, the limitations and the
benefits of remote work are clearer. The virus has
broken through cultural and technological barriers that
prevented remote work in the past, setting in motion a
structural shift in where work takes place, at least for
some people. Although many people are returning to the
workplace as economies reopen, the majority could not
work remotely at all, executives have indicated in
surveys that hybrid models of remote work are likely to
persist in the wake of the pandemic, mostly for a highly
educated, well-paid minority of the workforce.

A study by Stanford of 16000 workers over a period of

nine months found that working from home has
increased the productivity by 13 percent. Chief
Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg says the ability to
hire engineers far from Facebook Inc.’s main offices
have opened up new pools of talent, and many
employees will continue working remotely after the
pandemic.
The able companies and industries have shifted to
remote method of functioning, but the sectors where
remote working is not possible have been severely
affected due to the pandemic and lockdown. The
frontline workers, sanitation workers, workers of the food
sector, journalists, reporters and much more were put in
harm’s way just to make sure the rest of the world was
still functioning. Though remote method of functioning
has proved to be more efficient and convenient there are
jobs that require the mandatory physical presence of
workers.

Impact on Global Economy and

Unemployment:
The impact of the pandemic on world GDP growth is
massive. The Covid-19 global recession is the deepest
since the end of World War II. The global economy of
2020 faced a 7 percent loss relative to the 3.4 percent
predicted growth forecast of October 2019. The impact
of the shock is likely to be long lasting. Though the
global economy is recovering, the level of GDP at the
end of 2021 throughout the world is projected to remain
below the pre-virus baseline.
The graph shows the GDP trend from 1871 to 2021.

The proportion of people out of jobs since the start of the

pandemic has risen to an extent that, according to the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), a decade’s worth of
job expansion has come to an end. Millions of workers
have also been put on government-supported job
retention schemes as parts of the economy, such as
tourism and hospitality, have come to a near standstill.
Some experts have warned it could be years before
levels of employment return to those seen before the
pandemic.
 Survey Results
The survey was conducted to collect information about
the mental health and the economic status of the
working population. The survey received 100 responses
with about 10 responses for each career option given.
The survey collected details about how people feel
about their working conditions and how this change
brought about by Covid-19 has affected them both
mentally and financially. The responses were validated
and the consolidated results are given here.
• The age distribution of respondents
Age

Above 60 51-60 20-30 31-40 41-50

• The gender distribution of respondents
Gender

Male Female

• The reaction of respondents regarding the onset of

Covid-19:

Reaction When COVID-19 Started

Stressed and Worried Unconcerned Precautious Scared

• The precautionary measure taken by the respondents:

Mandatory Usage of Mask Use of Sanitizer Quarantine

Vaccination Preventive Medicines

• The percentage of respondents who were affected by

Covid-19:

Affected by COVID -19

Yes No
• The Covid-19 wave distribution of affected
respondents:

Affected by Wave

1st Wave 2nd Wave

• The type of medicine respondents had taken to

recover from Covid-19:

Medication

Allopathy Homeopathy Ayurveda Siddha

• The post Covid-19 problems faced by the respondents:

Post COVID Problems

Body Pain Fatigue Sore throat Cough Others No Impact

IT Sector:
• Average number of working hours of respondents:

Working Hours

>12

11

10

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
• The workload rate given by respondents:
12

10

0
0 1 0 0 3 4 6 10 9 4
• The way the work schedule of respondents has been
affected since the pandemic:

Work Schedule

More Stressed Less Stressed Increased Workload

Decreased Workload No Change

• The economic hardships faced by the respondents due

to Covid-19:
• What respondents think the advantages of working
from home:

• What respondents think the disadvantages of working

from home:
• The mode of working respondents prefer:

Business Sector:
• The effect of pandemic on respondents’ business:
• Number of employees in the firm:

• Change in number of customers during the pandemic:

• Operating pressures faced by the respondents:

• The workload rate given by respondents:

• Effect of pandemic on recruitment:

• The economic hardships faced by the respondents due

to Covid-19:
• Measures taken by the respondents to overcome the
difficulties:

Doctor and Nurse:

• Average number of working hours of respondents:
• Effect of pandemic on the work of respondents:

• Everyday difficulties:
• The workload rate given by respondents:

• The economic hardships faced by the respondents due

to Covid-19:
Teacher / Professor:
• The mode of teaching in the respondents’ institution:

• The difficulties faced during online classes:

• The workload rate given by respondents:

• Measures taken to overcome the difficulties of online

classes:
• The economic hardships faced by the respondents due
to Covid-19:

• The mode of teaching the respondents prefer:

House Keeping Staff and Corporation
Workers:
I had surveyed the house keeping staff, security
workers and corporation in and around my
neighbourhood in person to collect the following
information.
• Average number of working hours of respondents:

• The way the work schedule of respondents has been

affected since the pandemic:
• The workload rate given by respondents:

• The economic hardships faced by the respondents due

to Covid-19:
• Difficulties faced in work due to Covid-19:

Other Professions:
• Average number of working hours of respondents:
• Difficulties faced due to the pandemic:

• The way the work schedule of respondents has been

affected since the pandemic:
• The workload rate given by respondents:

• The economic hardships faced by the respondents due

to Covid-19:
 MENTAL HEALTH
The outbreak of the virus and the pandemic has led to
numerous alterations in our daily routines, starting from
the way we live to the fear of being unemployed. Fear of
infection, uncertainty of the situation, economic
pressures, social isolation, stress of working and
schooling from home have greatly messed with our
mental health and stability. The continuous information
overload, rumours and misinformation has made the
future seem dark, unclear and thus stressing us out.

Mental health problems have been almost inevitable in

this scenario and keeping up with stress, anxiety,
depression, fear, sadness and loneliness had become a
part of our daily lives. People around the world,
irrespective of their country and profession, had a hard
time trying to take care of their mental health. The Covid
pandemic also had created new barriers for people
already suffering from mental illnesses and substance
use disorders. The major mental disorders faced by the
victims were insomnia – difficulty in sleeping, loss of
appetite, increased substance use, stress, anxiety,
depression and worsening of existing mental illnesses.
People in the belief that substance usage such as
drinking alcohol or drugging would help them cope with
the stress and anxiety had increased substance use
consequently increasing their stress and anxiety levels.
People with substance use disorders, mainly, tobacco,
cigarettes and opioids, are suspected to be more
susceptible to have worse outcomes if infected with
Covid-19. This is due to the damage to the lungs and
weakened immune system caused by the addiction. It is
really crucial that we maintain our mental health and
take the time to learn important self-care strategies that
would be helpful. Here are some tips that would help
keep our stress levels in control:
➢ Getting enough sleep keeps you fresh, active and
stress-free.
➢ Participate in physical activities, this boosts your
confidence and reduces anxiety.
➢ Eating a well-balanced diet, with less of caffeine as it
can aggravate stress, anxiety and sleep problems.
➢ Avoid substance use such as tobacco, alcohol and
drugs as it would affect your immune and increase risk
of lung diseases.
➢ Limit your screen time as much as possible and let
your eyes relax. Since we are confined to our homes,
we are in the compulsion to carry out all our works
online thus reducing screen time frees and refreshes
your mind.
➢ Constant exposure to news and social media may
heighten your fears about the disease so limit your
media exposure to a certain extent.
➢ Keep yourself busy with healthy distractions, this
helps you get away from the cycle of negative thoughts
around you that feeds anxiety and stress.
➢ Being optimistic and having positive thoughts helps
you feel light and relaxed. It also creates a sense of
hope, which is essential in tough times like this.
➢ Last but not least try to connect with people of your
known as well as unknown circle through remote
methods. People feel lonely and isolated since we are
quarantined and distanced, connecting to people this
way can help us feel united and more optimistic.

CONCLUSION
People of all professions and economical situations
have been affected in various ways in this pandemic.
Some of them faced workplace disruptions, some
couldn’t shift to the online platforms, some of the
professions were essential during the pandemic, some
of them faced unemployment, some of the businesses
bloomed and some had to shut down, but we have
handled the pandemic with great optimism and zeal.
Other than financial and work-based problems we also
faced mental illnesses due to isolation from outer world
and disrupted daily life. The situation we are in right now
was unprecedented and such a situation would surely
mess up our mental balance and lead to minor disorders
such as loneliness, fear, anxiety which can be brought
back to normal if we take proper remedial measures. We
still are in the middle of the road and I hope we cross all
the difficulties that comes our way with the same unity,
hope and positivity.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
• https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-
Covid-19-onpeople's-livelihoods-their-health-and-our-
food-systems
• https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1093182
• https://www.brookings.edu/research/social-and-
economic-impact-ofCovid-19/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51706225
• https://www.apollotechnical.com/working-from-home-
productivitystatistics/
• https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-
work/whats-nextfor-remote-work-an-analysis-of-2000-
tasks-800-jobs-and-nine-countries
•
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavi
rus/indepth/mental-health-covid-19/art-20482731