Working Well – During and Beyond Covid-19

In Working Well – During and Beyond Covid-19, Felicity Gasparro, SUMS Associate Consultant, and Fola Ikpehai, SUMS Principal Consultant, share findings from in-depth interviews, a sector-wide all-staff survey, and general insights from broader research pieces. Supported by Paul Sayles, SUMS Group Business Intelligence Manager and the participation of the Change Management Community of Practice Group, this original research considers three phases of exploration:

1. The position of health, wellbeing and enablement activities pre Covid-19.
2. Initiatives introduced once lockdown was imminent and into the first few weeks of lockdown.
3. Key learning points for the loosening of lockdown and return to normal.

The HE sector is not on its own in having to adapt quickly to changes in work location and practice. Many of the observations set out in this report transcend industries. However, this research has specifically sought out the perspectives of those working in UK higher education. 

The research focuses on responses to a sector-wide staff survey; peppered with case study snippets provided by members of the Change Community of Practice. The resulting paper identified eight critical success factors to support good change management in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis; and learning points for the future. The paper also shares insights from beyond HE, linked to the key research findings.

This study reflects on initiatives put in place driven by remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic and poses questions around the potential for these initiatives to be sustained and embedded in the long-term employee experience.

Read the full briefing paper here: SUMS Briefing Paper – Working Well During and Beyond Covid-19