The effect of Covid-19 on our working arrangements has varied from service to service. Many staff are now finding themselves working from home which has both benefits and challenges.
Staff can benefit from additional flexibility however they can experience problems with:
- Staying motivated
- Collaborating with peers
- Loneliness
- Unplugging from their work
If you are a manager read our guidance on how to manage a remote team.
Using technology
Working from home requires a dependance on technology and digital skills that staff need to develop. As it is the preferred platform for meetings and conferences.
ICT have published this guidance on using Microsoft Teams
Also in this section there is guidance on appropriate behaviour in virtual meetings for council staff:
Guidance for Chairs of Virtual Meetings
Guidance for line managers
New ways of working create different demands in the way you manage staff. It is even more important than before to build up a relationship of trust with your team so you know they are working to meet their objectives, but it's also important that you continue to manage their performance in an appropriate way. If members of a team are not regularly in the same place at the same time it can affect motivation levels so your ability to motivate the team, and create space for team meetings during the week become very important.
Find guidance, training courses and resources, in our Managing people and services section and remote team management in leadership and management.