Experiences of Healthcare Foodservice Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Exploration

Abstract

Healthcare foodservice workers provide important contributions to the care of patients despite low wages and physically demanding work. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare foodservice workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with six healthcare foodservice workers who worked at a hospital or continuing care facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was conducted and four themes resulted: 1) navigating the changing workplace; 2) feelings of fear and disconnectedness; 3) feeling unsupported and unseen; and 4) feeling the rewards in their work. The participants experienced negative impacts to their wellbeing but recognized the importance of their work and a sense of reward from providing nutritional care to patients in their workplaces.