Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • 2022
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Satisfaction of Workers in Low-Wage Jobs

By: Elizabeth R. Johnson and Ashley V. Whillans
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:73
ShareBar

Abstract

How did job satisfaction change during the pandemic for workers in low-wage jobs, and how did workers’ experiences compare to those in professional jobs? Using nationally representative survey data, we show that the pandemic increased the dissatisfaction of workers in low-wage jobs and the importance of pay in determining overall job satisfaction for these workers. Before and during the pandemic, workers in low-wage jobs were significantly less satisfied than those in professional jobs. We then surveyed a group of managers about their perceptions of workers in low-wage jobs during the pandemic. Managers believed workers in low-wage jobs were less satisfied, which lead them to believe these workers would be less committed and thus deserved lower pay. We conclude by discussing our two key discoveries. First, we advance research on job satisfaction by providing evidence—that contrasts with existing findings—for differences in job satisfaction across different pay levels. Second, we contribute to the literature on stereotypes by documenting unique occupational stereotypes that perpetuate inequality. As jobs become more precarious and income inequality rises, the future of work requires greater attention to workers in low-wage job, as well as the psychological barriers to improving these jobs.

Keywords

Low-Wage Jobs; COVID-19 Pandemic; Pay; Job Satisfaction; Income Inequality; Stereotypes; Satisfaction; Compensation and Benefits; Working Conditions

Citation

Johnson, Elizabeth R., and Ashley V. Whillans. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Satisfaction of Workers in Low-Wage Jobs." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 23-001, July 2022.
  • Read Now

About The Author

Ashley V. Whillans

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • April 2025
    • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

    Buying (Quality) Time Predicts Relationship Satisfaction

    By: A.V. Whillans, Jessie Pow and Joe J. Gladstone
    • March 2025 (Revised May 2025)
    • Faculty Research

    ING Türkiye: Flexible Work in a Competitive Banking Environment

    By: Ashley Whillans and Nico Schaefer
    • January 2025
    • Compensation & Benefits Review

    Overcoming Barriers to Employee Ownership: Insights from Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

    By: John Guzek and Ashley Whillans
More from the Authors
  • Buying (Quality) Time Predicts Relationship Satisfaction By: A.V. Whillans, Jessie Pow and Joe J. Gladstone
  • ING Türkiye: Flexible Work in a Competitive Banking Environment By: Ashley Whillans and Nico Schaefer
  • Overcoming Barriers to Employee Ownership: Insights from Small and Medium-Sized Businesses By: John Guzek and Ashley Whillans
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.