HWUCU recently commissioned a short survey to capture experiences of working under lockdown (e.g. working hours, working conditions, workload, communications, well-being, voice, collegiality and equality) and employee views of how the University and HWUCU should respond to reflect employee interests at such a difficult and unprecedented times.
The report suggests about two-thirds of employees are on the whole satisfied with their early experiences of working under lockdown.
Collegiality is rated the highest by staff and communications from the University ranks the least.
However, approximately one-third of experiences are at least unsatisfactory, but when broken down further it is apparent how there is greater unsatisfactory experiences for women, disabled and casualised staff.
A wide-range of strategies for both the University and HWUCU are considered.
- Key recommendations for University practice include more meaningful acknowledgement and steps taken to address staff concerns related to pressures to work as before lockdown, remote working and work-life balance.
- Key recommendations for UCU, aside from working with the University on such matters, is to improve and be more inclusive with communications with members and adopting in such communications a broader acknowledgement of the problems currently faced by members.
The findings and recommendations are likely to be of value for other UK universities/UCU branches and some value for organisations who currently have large numbers of highly skilled employees working from home at short notice.
The full report can be accessed here.
