Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 on Organizational Performance the Case of Sappi Saiccor in Kwazulu-Natal

This research presents the findings of a qualitative study that aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of Sappi Saiccori, a company located in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal. The study focused on key management personnel and their perspectives on the impact of the pandemic on the organisation's performance. The study utilised purposive sampling, which is a non-probability sampling technique. The study employed an interview schedule as a data collection tool to elicit responses from participants at Sappi Saiccori in Umkomaas regarding their perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on organisational performance. The findings of the comprehensive thematic analysis conducted identified four key themes that significantly affect organisational performance. These themes include decreased employee productivity, emotional and psychological distress, modifications in work arrangements, inadequate social support and employee well-being. Suggestions were presented to the managerial authorities to mitigate the disparities in organisational efficacy that emerged due to the COVID-19 outbreak.