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Silenced Coffee Rooms—The Changes in Social Capital within Social Workers’ Work Communities during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Sanna Saraniemi

    (Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland)

  • Timo Harrikari

    (Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland)

  • Vera Fiorentino

    (Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland)

  • Marjo Romakkaniemi

    (Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland)

  • Laura Tiitinen

    (Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland)

Abstract

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing restrictive measures to combat infections led to a significant change in working life and social work within working communities. Workers had to switch to telecommuting quickly, which also affected the interactions between co-workers. In this research, we examined Finnish social workers’ experiences of their work communities during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored (1) how the restrictive measures affected social workers’ work communities and (2) what types of factors promoted and challenged the cohesion of social networks and mutual trust between colleagues. The conceptual framework was based on social capital theory, in which social relations are seen as a resource of a community. The data utilised in the study were social workers’ diaries ( n = 33) written from mid-March until the end of May 2020. The data were analysed by a qualitative content analysis. The results highlight how the multilocation of work, fear of viral infection and varying attitudes towards the viral outbreak affected the interactions between colleagues in the early stages of the pandemic, increasing tensions and feelings of social distance between co-workers. The common professional value and knowledge base of social work, as well as remote work practices developed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, supported interactions between colleagues. Although remote interaction options were developed, they could not, however, fully replace the advantages of face-to-face interactions and everyday informal encounters between colleagues, the importance of which is essential for developing and maintaining the social capital of work communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanna Saraniemi & Timo Harrikari & Vera Fiorentino & Marjo Romakkaniemi & Laura Tiitinen, 2022. "Silenced Coffee Rooms—The Changes in Social Capital within Social Workers’ Work Communities during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:13:y:2022:i:1:p:8-:d:761807
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Biggart, Laura & Ward, Emma & Cook, Laura & Schofield, Gillian, 2017. "The team as a secure base: Promoting resilience and competence in child and family social work," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 119-130.
    2. Lionel P. Robert & Alan R. Dennis & Manju K. Ahuja, 2008. "Social Capital and Knowledge Integration in Digitally Enabled Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(3), pages 314-334, September.
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    2. Satu Kalliola & Tuula Heiskanen, 2022. "Challenges in Work and Employment during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-5, November.

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