Working remotely in the autumn term
Tuesday, 29 September 2020
Although some colleagues will be returning to campus this month, many others will continue to work remotely for some time.
Unless you are requested to return to campus by your line manager or Head of School/Function, you should continue to work remotely and must not come onto campus unless you have been authorised to do so.
Following the Prime Minister's address to the nation on 22 September 2020, Co-Chairs of the Major Recovery Team, Professors Julian Park & Parveen Yaqoob, wrote to all colleagues and said:
"In his statement today, the Prime Minister said ‘we are asking office workers who can work from home to do so'. All colleagues in this category should work from home, unless their role requires them to deliver prioritised on-campus activities which cannot effectively be done from home. Such ‘prioritised' activities include the delivery and support for timetabled face-to-face teaching in line with our blended approach and research that can only be undertaken on campus. It also includes the wider provision of support services and facilities needed to offer our students the best possible experience and ensure our colleagues who need to be on campus are supported too.
"It is important to recognise that we now have a much higher number of students on campus than we did even just a few weeks ago. This means some members of staff who could work effectively from home previously may not now be able to do so in term-time and thus need to be on our campuses to fulfil their roles. If you feel today's update means your current agreed working arrangements need to change, please speak to your line manager for advice. We have asked all Heads of School and Function to review the current approach for their teams and speak to individual members of staff where this may need to change." You can read the full message in this staff portal story.
Tools, resources and support
The Guidance and resources for working remotely page provides useful information on setting up your equipment, keeping in touch with colleagues, staying active, learning new skills, wellbeing support and more.
Colleagues involved with teaching may also wish to view the T&L information and resources FAQ page, which includes various links to support teaching and learning on and off campus.
You should pay extra attention to your health and wellbeing when working remotely for an extended period of time, so please don't hesitate to seek support if you need it. Do give yourself time for breaks, including time to get on the move - whether it's a jog around the block or a 10-minute rave in your living room, make sure you're not glued to your computer all day long.
You can also find many great resources on our Wellbeing website, including tips on exercises and guides for coping with mental health concerns such as anxiety.
If you want to pick up equipment from your office to make working from home easier, please complete the MRT02 or MRT03 form and return it to your Head of School or Function. The forms can be obtained from your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator - a list is available on this page if you are unsure of who this would be. You may also be asked to complete a separate form that is specific to your School or Function - you will be provided with details if this is required. You must not come to campus until you have been given authorisation to do so.
If you have any queries or concerns, please speak to your line manager.