Rebecca Hicks

Theme Findings - Movement into a Digital Working Environment

The accessibility of work and communication software such as Teams and Outlook when at home, has encouraged workers to check and send emails outside of regular working hours, so they can keep on top of their increased workloads since the pandemic and not cause delays in work affiliated with other colleagues and guidance to students with forthcoming deadlines. When in online video meetings, Lecturers find it rude when other members of the University such as students don’t turn their video on. Lecturers feel a disconnect because of this and these negative associations have only been established since WFH during the pandemic.

Theme Findings - The Success Rate of Working From Home Through Working Patterns

The increase in workloads during the pandemic has caused staff to work out of hours, to keep up with the expected work. The increase in online meetings generally takes up more time than meeting and having a quick chat in person. This reduces independent working time in a normal working day, which encourages the behaviour to work out of hours and reduces the time and frequency of breaks taken. Contrastingly, the increase in presence at an electronic screen due to online meetings has also caused more regular breaking. Motivations for this are to get away from the screen with concerns of eye fatigue.

Theme Findings - The Comforts of Home

The support of Loughborough University to allow workers to take office equipment home and give them money towards setting up an office environment, increased positive feelings of comfort. There was also an increase in WFH when sick due to this comfort and being able to look after themselves better, through the use of hot water bottles and not having to leave the office room to blow their nose when at home. Contrastingly, negative motivations for WFH when sick were due to high workloads and the lack of desire to catch up with work if they did fully take sick days and do no work.

Theme Findings - Engagement Between Academic and Family Personnel

A large presence of family conflict was created by WFH, Due to the high workloads and longer working hours in the evenings and weekends from University staff. This caused a reduced amount of time spent with families which created feelings of guilt and disappointment. Those who worked longer hours would consider this behaviour their personal choice with no pressure from the University. However, the need to work longer hours to have enough time to complete their job can be identified as an underlying pressure from the University, as there is an expectancy to stay on top of work. This can be seen as a lack of staff support in coping with these new higher workloads from the Universities.