Ineffective communication is a prevalent issue that affects organizations' continuity. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, organizations have been facing increasing communication challenges, which resulted in reduced productivity and increased employee frustration. The study aimed to explore the impact of communication limitation during COVID-19 pandemic on public organizations in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The findings reported that the organization size, most respondents (53.1%) belong to small sized organizations (less than 3000 employees). During the pandemic, the most popular mode of online communications was Zoom/ Ms. Teams (40.7%) followed by other internet applications (29.6%). Some of the common challenges faced by government employees across the public organization included change in working hours from regular to shift duty or extended working hours with no annual leaves, which made it difficult to be motivated. Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) software, which is a suggested tool that can provide powerful insights on the formal and informal communication channels with clear visualization. Designing continuous training program for public sector employees by utilizing available communication tools and technology aids towards increasing efficiency. Moreover, communication skills training must be given intensively at all levels of employees and adhere to the 'new normal' of working distantly. © 2021 IEEE.
Communication Limitations during COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Solutions for Public Sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain