Purpose: The pandemic COVID-19 brought in large challenges globally among the workforce. There were reports of how employee layoffs and pay-cuts were gradually becoming prominent across industries based on media reports. However, there were no attempts to develop a typology of challenges faced by the workforce. Design/methodology/approach: This study mined user-generated content from Twitter to bring out a typology of challenges due to the sudden turbulence that is faced from the pandemic. A case study has also been conducted by taking in-depth interviews in the academic sector to deep dive into the nature of these problems. Findings: The study findings indicate that these challenges are basically stemming from challenges surrounding infrastructure readiness, digital readiness, changing nature of deliverables, workforce demand versus supply problems and challenges surrounding job losses. Research limitations/implications: There is a need to explore the linkages through inferential research infrastructure readiness, digital readiness, changing nature of deliverables, workforce demand versus supply problems and challenges surrounding job losses on employee welfare during pandemics. Originality/value: The authors provide inductive insights based on a data-driven research methodology surrounding the sudden challenges faced and possible mechanisms to address these issues faced by a stressed workforce catering to multiple stakeholders.