Mid Sweden University

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has changed work life in many ways for many people; however, it is still an open question as to what changes will become permanent and what aspects of work life will return to that which was considered “normal” before the pandemic.

Objective: In this study, the authors describe and analyse the effects of Covid-19 on managers in a large Swedish mining company.

Method: This study is based on both quantitative and qualitative methods. Empirical material is used to explore the effects of the pandemic on the work environments of managers. Results are based on interviews in combination with a self-assessment process regarding how the managers allocated their work time during a work week.

Results: The results describe the work activities of the studied managers supported with quotes from interview studies to illustrate to most central observations of how work has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: The results are summarized into six hypotheses: 1) the workday was densified due to remote meetings; 2) "double work" during meetings was the rule, rather than the exception; 3) meetings became more focused; 4) meetings became more accessible; 5) the manager became less operational; and 6) a new work culture was created.

Application: This is an exploratory study of consequences and effects of Covid-19 pandemic summarized in six hypotheses that can befruitful for further and future studies.