The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing
Due to COVID-19, horseracing was required to cease all activity in March 2020; however, little is known about the pandemic’s impact on staff working practices. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on staff working practices during the initial lockdown phases. An online survey about working...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2003 |
| _version_ | 1797549288053538816 |
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| author | Emma Davies Will McConn-Palfreyman Jane M. Williams Geoff P. Lovell |
| author_facet | Emma Davies Will McConn-Palfreyman Jane M. Williams Geoff P. Lovell |
| author_sort | Emma Davies |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to COVID-19, horseracing was required to cease all activity in March 2020; however, little is known about the pandemic’s impact on staff working practices. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on staff working practices during the initial lockdown phases. An online survey about working conditions during lockdown was answered by 287 participants. Chi-squared tests for independence and binary logistic regression (BLR) analysis was undertaken. A total of 53.7% (n = 154) of staff were working during lockdown. Pandemic-specific workplace changes were reported as effective by 87.8% (n = 115) of staff. Flat grooms reported workplace changes as less effective (χ<sup>2</sup> (52, n = 131) = 92.996, <i>p</i> < 0.001). A total of 67.2% (n = 193) of staff were positive about job security. Trainers and grooms were significantly less likely to report jobs as secure (χ<sup>2</sup> (52, n = 287) = 75.653, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The findings suggest that most of the racing industry positively received changes made by their employers to tackle the pandemic, and for staff still working during lockdown, their health and safety was prioritised. Continued development of employee support structures to promote job security and workforce stability is advised, which will minimise the disruption of staff changes on the care and welfare of the horses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:12:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-04553553e0b2466fbf8033f778f2c401 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:12:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-04553553e0b2466fbf8033f778f2c4012023-11-20T19:13:07ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-10-011011200310.3390/ani10112003The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK HorseracingEmma Davies0Will McConn-Palfreyman1Jane M. Williams2Geoff P. Lovell3Equine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester GL193BE, Gloucestershire, UKSportScotland Institute of Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UKEquine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester GL193BE, Gloucestershire, UKSport Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester GL193BE, Gloucestershire, UKDue to COVID-19, horseracing was required to cease all activity in March 2020; however, little is known about the pandemic’s impact on staff working practices. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on staff working practices during the initial lockdown phases. An online survey about working conditions during lockdown was answered by 287 participants. Chi-squared tests for independence and binary logistic regression (BLR) analysis was undertaken. A total of 53.7% (n = 154) of staff were working during lockdown. Pandemic-specific workplace changes were reported as effective by 87.8% (n = 115) of staff. Flat grooms reported workplace changes as less effective (χ<sup>2</sup> (52, n = 131) = 92.996, <i>p</i> < 0.001). A total of 67.2% (n = 193) of staff were positive about job security. Trainers and grooms were significantly less likely to report jobs as secure (χ<sup>2</sup> (52, n = 287) = 75.653, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The findings suggest that most of the racing industry positively received changes made by their employers to tackle the pandemic, and for staff still working during lockdown, their health and safety was prioritised. Continued development of employee support structures to promote job security and workforce stability is advised, which will minimise the disruption of staff changes on the care and welfare of the horses.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2003horseracingpandemicjob securityemploymentsocial distancing |
| spellingShingle | Emma Davies Will McConn-Palfreyman Jane M. Williams Geoff P. Lovell The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing Animals horseracing pandemic job security employment social distancing |
| title | The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing |
| title_full | The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing |
| title_short | The Impact of COVID-19 on Staff Working Practices in UK Horseracing |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 on staff working practices in uk horseracing |
| topic | horseracing pandemic job security employment social distancing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2003 |
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