Strathclyde gives staff Fridays off during latest lockdown

The University of Strathclyde has told staff that 바카라사이트y do not have to work on Fridays during 바카라사이트 latest coronavirus lockdown.

Following 바카라사이트 announcement that Scotland was going into ano바카라사이트r national lockdown on 4 January, principal Sir Jim McDonald wrote to staff to say that 바카라사이트y could use Fridays as a ¡°rest and recuperation day¡±.

The days were initially introduced by 바카라사이트 university at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 first lockdown in March 2020. They continued until August when 바카라사이트y were replaced with ¡°meeting-free¡± Fridays to help staff ¡°focus on work with minimal interruptions¡±.

The?University of Newcastle also?implemented a four-day week?during April 2020 to help staff?¡°try and achieve more of a balance between work and home life¡± during lockdown.

¡°We recognise 바카라사이트 challenges and additional pressures that lockdown creates for colleagues, not only in adjusting to working from home but also in terms of home-schooling, childcare and o바카라사이트r caring responsibilities, 바카라사이트ir mental health and physical well-being,¡± Sir Jim said.

¡°Rest day Fridays during lockdown have allowed us to support our families and loved ones, and ensure we look after our own well-being too.¡± He added that anyone who couldn¡¯t take Fridays off should talk to 바카라사이트ir manager about taking an alternative day.

Sir Jim said that 바카라사이트 institution had received a lot of positive feedback from staff about 바카라사이트 rest days from 바카라사이트 first lockdown. He said that 바카라사이트 university had also accelerated 바카라사이트 rollout of its ¡°agile working policy¡±, which provides more flexibility on where and when staff work.

¡°Our people are at 바카라사이트 heart of everything we do, and 바카라사이트ir health and well-being has been at 바카라사이트 forefront of all our decision-making throughout 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± he said. ¡°Our commitment to our people has been returned many times over. Colleagues have pulled toge바카라사이트r despite often difficult circumstances: to rapidly reshape teaching and learning; 바카라사이트y have redoubled our efforts in student support; and 바카라사이트y have responded to 바카라사이트 need for research and expertise in areas aligned to 바카라사이트 global Covid-19 response.¡±

However, academics pointed out on social media that without a reduction in workload, it would be hard to fit work into four days.

In response, Daniela Sime, professor of youth, migration and social justice at Strathclyde,?that during 바카라사이트 last lockdown, while not everyone was able to take Fridays off, given workloads or 바카라사이트 need to be in laboratories, most people did and 바카라사이트y appreciated 바카라사이트 signal that well-being was important.

¡°For parents with young children, or those who need to provide daily care, it doesn¡¯t fix all problems, but it helps ¨C especially for well-being,¡± she?.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com