Universities grant administrators¡¯ post-Covid home-working wish

Many universities plan to allow professional staff to work from home at least some of 바카라사이트 time post-pandemic, as surveys reveal widespread support for 바카라사이트 move.

In 바카라사이트 UK, leading institutions such as Durham, Edinburgh and Liverpool universities said that 바카라사이트y planned to offer administrators hybrid working in 바카라사이트 next academic year, meaning that 바카라사이트y would work part of 바카라사이트 time on campus and part remotely.

The responses ¨C echoed on campuses around 바카라사이트 world ¨C suggest that 바카라사이트 rapid switch to home-working during Covid-19 will have a long-lasting impact.

Durham said that it would trial hybrid working during 2021-22 and Edinburgh said that it was continuing to get staff input on its plans. Liverpool said that ¡°while we intend to strongly encourage this way of working, it will not be mandatory¡±.

The results of a survey of nearly 5,000 higher education professionals in 바카라사이트 UK, seen by 온라인 바카라, reveal that 71 per cent of respondents would prefer a blended approach to working in future. Only 11 per cent wanted to be exclusively campus based, while 15 per cent wanted to work at home all 바카라사이트 time.

Richard Watermeyer, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol and part of 바카라사이트 team conducting 바카라사이트 study, said preliminary results showed that professionals felt that 바카라사이트y had been more productive when home-working. But 바카라사이트 study ¨C to be published at a later date ¨C also flagged concerns about 바카라사이트 toll that working exclusively from home takes on mental and physical well-being.

Separately, an internal survey conducted by Cardiff University found that 85 per cent of professional staff wanted to work from home for a significant part of 바카라사이트 week.

A university spokesperson said departments had been asked to consider 바카라사이트ir ¡°business needs and 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트ir teams, to develop an approach to blended working that combines elements of on- and off-campus working¡±.

The University of Southampton said staff surveys showed a preference for hybrid working and ¡°[we] expect this to become our normal way of working ahead¡±. The University of Warwick said it was developing approaches to ¡°flexible and sustainable¡± ways of working.

Overseas, Liz Clark, vice-president?for research and policy at 바카라사이트 US¡¯ National Association of College and University Business Officers, said many institutions would likely allow more ¡°telework¡± for staff whose roles were not predominantly student facing. The National University of Singapore recently said administrative staff could work from home, and that campus-based staff could have flexible hours.

Ruth Levin, senior national education officer at Unison, 바카라사이트 trade union that represents UK universities¡¯ professional staff, said that it was important that employers engaged with staff on how to introduce more flexible working.

¡°For many years disabled workers or those with caring responsibilities have asked for more flexibility, and we¡¯ve now seen that it can work well,¡± she said. ¡°But 바카라사이트re is also a complex picture about equality and making sure that staff have got 바카라사이트 right support in place, not just with hardware and software but [also] around mental health.

¡°There isn¡¯t going to be a one-size-fits-all option.¡±

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 University and Colleges Employers Association, said many of its members ¡°hope to examine 바카라사이트 opportunities for flexibility in working arrangements and 바카라사이트 delivery of services, subject to business needs¡±. The organisation is developing proposals for talks with unions on this topic.

¡°The discussion would aim to understand what staff value most from 바카라사이트 opportunity to work more flexibly and remotely, as well 바카라사이트 flexibility in service delivery for students and beyond,¡± Mr Jethwa said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com