How is the COVID-19 accidental experiment around working from home changing the way the UK will work after lockdown?

Lead Research Organisation: University of Southampton
Department Name: Southampton Business School

Abstract

This research is designed to support economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, providing timely, actionable insight and recommendations about Working from Home (WfH), and the implications of crisis-driven adaptations for longer-term organisational practice and policy. This project engages with three research questions: (1) how the pandemic has influenced different sectors in the UK; (2) the longer-term implications of WfH; and (3) which new behaviours and working practices will remain and which should be encouraged?

A team of cross-institutional experts active in research related to WfH during lockdown, will employ a mixed-methods approach using an online survey, organisational case studies, and secondary analysis of national datasets. The research will explore both employer actions, practices and strategic decision-making, and employee experiences and outcomes of WfH during lockdown and its aftermath. Focusing on Professional Services and Public Administration, a longitudinal perspective will contour and contextualise the recovery process in these sectors, selected for their contrasting business models, frontline pandemic response, and levels of WfH prior to the crisis-driven mass migration of white-collar workers into roles performed entirely from home.
 
Description • Development of a unique 18 month dataset that walked alongside four organisations during an unprecedented time of industrial transformation. Through collecting data throughout organisations, from a combination of leaders, line managers, and employees without line management responsibility, it has provided a holistic account of change, complemented by sectoral comparisons through an employee well-being survey. Given that at the time the funding was awarded, it was not anticipated that lockdowns would be successive and that working from home would become a long-lasting phenomenon, this has provided a sufficiently extended period for substantial organisational learning to be embedded, the evolution of which is captured through the project's longitudinal data collection.

• Following both individuals and organisations over 18 months has provided detailed insight into how new working practices have developed around remote working, and what the benefits and challenges of these have been. For organisations, gains have included improved productivity, which has come at the expense of work intensification, and brought its own challenges for employee well-being. Increased managerial trust of staff as they have made a success out of remote working has provided a mutual gain. There has been rapid upskilling around digital skills, time management, and new managerial skills around remote work, and organisations have seen efficiencies develop around remote meetings, estates, and going paperless. Personally, participants reported enhanced work-life balance and reduced commuting and travel costs. While team relationships were enhanced, people also missed the informal aspects of workplace relations, and another significant deficit was around on-the-job learning and induction processes.

• The dataset has enabled us to capture the embryonic development and evolution of hybrid working, planning and experimentation within case study organisations, as well as to observe organisations' agility, resilience and survival strategies in a context in which macro-conditions constrained their autonomy. Our research has documented the development of good practice that has evolved during the disruption of the pandemic to make a success out of a new phase in industrial development. The default has shifted to a strong preference for hybrid working and retaining some of the gains of remote working, while combining this with well-curated hybrid working practices that brought teams together at key times. Good job design and transparency in this will be key to implementing hybrid working, so that decisions are seen as equitable and logical. Part of this will involve utilising space differently around the needs of teams' collaboration. Managers, in many respects the linchpins of the pandemic, are having skilled conversations with employees about working arrangements and preferences, and are designing hybrid ratios with sufficient in-built flexibility to enable the mistake-making and learning that is essential during this period.

• Contribution to new knowledge on how HRM practice can be adapted to align with the needs of workforces who are distributed over multiple spaces. Specifically, our findings have engaged with how recruitment, induction, development and training, and diversity management practices can be refined to better support staff well-being and to maximise productivity, and have flagged the managerial skills and leadership qualities to support this.
Exploitation Route We have prioritised producing findings in an engaging and accessible format for employers, and have shared lessons from lockdown from our research that can be adapted more broadly and spark mutually beneficial debates. The research has broader practice relevance outside of our case study organisations, being applicable to all formerly office-based jobs, but also to organisations that face the challenges of managing mixed workforces of office-based and site-based teams. We will continue to discuss our findings over the next year, both with larger employer communities, and smaller, more specialist ones to ensure that learnings can be shared and challenged to promote recovery from the pandemic, and to preserve the gains of lockdown around workforce goodwill, digital learning and time management.

It is our intention to develop a follow-up project to continue to explore the experiences of our case study organisations, and build upon the relationships that we have established with them, as they enter another paradigm-changing period. As one manager said to us, "I just hope you manage to continue it otherwise you'll miss the most interesting bit." The research also has learnings for policy communities in government and professional organisations who will want to support change in workforce practice.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice

URL https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f5654b537cea057c500f59e/t/621f392347040c7672afab19/1646213415975/WR_%237379_UoS_WorkAfterLockdownReport_am4_280222_v8.pdf
 
Description Given the need for organisations to be able to access and benefit from Work After Lockdown's findings on an ongoing basis, in order to share learning of this unique time in industrial history, the project focused upon engaging with employer and practitioner communities throughout to become a credible repository of knowledge. We published two research reports in formats that spoke directly to employer communities. The first, Working from Home under COVID-19 lockdown: Transitions and tensions (Parry et al., 2021) focused on learning moving into lockdown. The second, Work after Lockdown: No going back (Parry et al., 2022), looked at the other side of the pandemic: that is, how organisations have been engaged in planning around the return to offices and the longer-term lessons from this extended period of remote management. We produced a short video to accompany the launch of the final report, which in the first two weeks of release received over 1,000 unique views and engagements. We held three online webinars, attracting large practitioner, academic and policy participants (n=600), and enhanced the attractiveness of these to employee communities by hosting engaging and well-known respondents: Cary Cooper (President of CIPD), Peter Cheese (CEO of CIPD, Co-Chair of Flexible Work Taskforce), Carol Bernard (Director of People & Places, Cabinet Office), Justin Webbers (Shadow Minster for Employment Rights and Future of Work). The project's website (currently 12,456 hits) is updated with blogs and press articles which the team write connecting the research to topical issues. We have a credible audience of 150 interested practitioners that have signed up for project updates. Additionally, a quality followship has been built up on Twitter, and the project team have been quoted in and have written for the national and specialist media, including The Guardian, The Times, BBC Worklife, The Atlantic, HR Magazine, BBC News24, Radio 5, Radio Four (The Today programme, You and Yours, Women's Hour), and LBC Radio. These speak to a considerable audience, as do the five articles that we have published in The Conversation connecting the research with current issues, that attracted an audience of over 200,000 unique views, and have been republished in international outlets such as World Economic Forum, Channel News Asia and Moneyweb. Following the publication of our final report, our dissemination strategy tapped into a range of ongoing debates in the media, such as taking part in podcasts for Deutsche Well And SamKnows Spotlight, as well as building on relationships and interested parties that we have nurtured since the project started. The project has engaged with policy communities throughout, both to ensure that ongoing recommendations can inform decision-making, and so that live policy issues can be picked up in the research. We have presented oral evidence to the Welsh Senedd Committee into remote working, and were quoted extensively in their report, which 3 months later informed the Welsh Government's Remote Working Strategy for Wales, which has formed part of their 5 year plan. This Strategy aims to have 30% of the Welsh Workforce working remotely, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with daily commuting, and improve Wales's economic and workforce wellbeing, and will be measured by 8 KPIs. The project has also submitted written evidence to four Commons and Lords Select Committee inquiries: (i) the Lords COVID 19 Committee (to the inquiry 'Living online: the long-term impact on wellbeing' and to a second inquiry (ii) 'The long-term impact of the pandemic on towns and cities'), (iii) the Lords Economic Affairs Committee (inquiry into 'Employment and COVID-19'), and (iv) the Treasury Committee (inquiry into 'The economic impact of coronavirus'), as well as to the Government consultant on making flexible working the default. The team also contributed to the Government's scoping of the Future of Work review, through a personal meeting with the MP leading it, and providing written recommendations, and will contribute further evidence when the review is launched. Internationally, we have given oral evidence at the European Parliament in Brussels on the future of work for women's work post-COVID-19. Team members have taken part in the All-Party Group on the Future of Work and in the ESRC's Policy Insights seminar series and ESRC-GSR-C19 Actionable Insights series, which was attended by 370 senior policy delegates, with representatives across Government departments. Team members have sat on expert panels for ASET and the Wellcome Trust, taken part in No.10 policy briefings, and have taken part various podcasts around future of work which are raising the profile of the research. To complement this ongoing participation in the policy agenda, in the summer of 2021, the project ran a policy roundtable with representatives from key government departments, including DfT, BEIS, FSB, ACAS and House of Commons HRM representatives, which it has followed up with individual conversations. Reflecting its policy engagement, the first Work After Lockdown report was quoted in a House of Commons briefing paper on remote and hybrid work (Dobbins, 2021), and it has contributed to the recent POSTbrief on remote working (Mutebi and Hobbs, 2022), a format that has a respected audience among international policy communities. Locally, we are investing in developing deep and lasting relationships with local organisations, including Southampton City Council, Hampshire County Council and Ordnance Survey, so that we can support them through new challenges, share learnings, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. We have given bespoke presentations to the Ministry of Defence, Hampshire Leaders' Network, DEFRA Transformation group, CIPD SW London branch, and Business South. The research has triggered the team's involvement in subsequent research for Acas on flexible work in a post-pandemic landscape, commissioned to inform the updating of Acas's Code of Practice, guidance which is widely used by the employer community. Given that the research is taking place in a policy climate where the UK's flexible work legislation in place for nearly 10 years is currently going through parliament to make flexible working more accessible to the UK's workforce of 35m, there is likely to be an interested employer audience seeking to update their policy and practice and this stream of research can continue to have a policy and practice impact.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Societal,Economic,Policy & public services

 
Description Contributed to as expert interview and cited (22 times) in POSTbrief for the UK Parliament on remote on hybrid work
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pb-0049/#:~:text=This%20POSTbrief%20focuses%20on%...
 
Description Gave written evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/4703/documents/47210/default/
 
Description JP & ZY met with Matt Warman MP to discuss how the Work After Lockdown project can contribute to the parliamentary Future of Work review
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health
URL https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101...
 
Description JP responded to the Government consultation
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/making-flexible-working-the-default
 
Description Provided written evidence to Parliamentary inquiry
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/8103/documents/83231/default/
 
Description Providing oral evidence to a Welsh Government inquiry
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://business.senedd.wales/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=34945
 
Description Providing written evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/3958/documents/39777/default/
 
Description Providing written evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5537/documents/56741/default/
 
Description Work after Lockdown first report cited in House of Commons briefing paper
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9391/CBP-9391.pdf
 
Description ZY invited expert to give evidence to European Parliament
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/femm/international-women-day
 
Description Organisational case studies of flexible working practice in the post-pandemic period
Amount £19,622 (GBP)
Organisation Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2022 
End 02/2023
 
Title Work After Lockdown, 2020-21 
Description Primary data from a mixed method longitudinal project: (a) qualitative data: interviews in 4 case study organisations across 3 waves' (b) quantitative data: employee surveys across PST and PAD sectors. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Making historial data widely available for future analysis. Too early to assess impact. 
URL https://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk/855792/
 
Description Collaboration with researchers in Web Science Institute and Electronics and Computer Science Department to write a paper on job design 
Organisation University of Southampton
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Jane Parry collaborated with prof mc schraefel and Richard Homes to write a conference paper on job design and the future of work, which we hope to develop into a full paper. This has been submitted to the CHIWORK Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction in Work, which is taking place in Durham, New Hampshire in June 2022.
Collaborator Contribution As above, working on a conference paper
Impact As above, conference paper.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Half the Sky and Global Institute for Women's Leadership 
Organisation King's College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Zoe Young (Half the Sky) is conducting research on women's employment transitions in the UK after COVID-19 with the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at Kings College London
Collaborator Contribution As above
Impact Research
Start Year 2021
 
Description AHRC/BBC Green Thinking podcast on Future of Work 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Jane Parry participated in a discussion on the future of work as part of the BBC/AHRC Green Stories series for COP26. 05.04.21.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09kks69
 
Description Article based on press release in Phys.Org 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Press release was reproduced in phys.org
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://phys.org/news/2021-02-future-home.html
 
Description Attended policy roundtable with Matt Hancock 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact In Jan 2021 Co-I Stephen Bevan attended a policy roundtable with Matt Hancock on workforce health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Blog for the Campaign for Social Science 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Wrote a blog for the Campaign for Social Science (advocacy voice of the Academy of Social Sciences), based upon our first report findings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://campaignforsocialscience.org.uk/news/putting-meaningful-work-at-the-centre-of-lockdown-learn...
 
Description Briefing Ministers in the DWP 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact In October 2020, Co-I Stephen Bevan briefed the DWP Health and Inclusive Employment Group
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Briefing Minsters at No.10 Policy Unit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Co-I Stephen Bevan briefed Ministers & policy makers at No.10 Policy Unit in Nov 2020.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Commented on UK's higher levels of working from home for an article in the Mail on Sunday 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As above, MoS has an audient of 2m.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Contributed to BBC Worklife Article 'Have people forgotten how to behave in offices?' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As above
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220627-have-people-forgotten-how-to-behave-in-the-office
 
Description Contributed to an article in The Atlantic, 'How the rest of the world is returning to the office' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As above, The Atlantic have reach of 2.1m on twitter
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2022/06/remote-in-person-work-rto-policies/661407/
 
Description Contributed to article in the Financial Times 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact JP responded to journalist's questions and cited in Financial Times article, 'UK ahead of European peers on shift to working from home'. The FT has an audienc of 1.2m.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.ft.com/content/81d6bc21-b010-4861-912c-db5ffa999c50
 
Description Contribution to Take My Advice (I'm not using it) podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact In January 2021 Co-I Zoe Young contributed to the Take My Advice (I'm not using it) podcast in an episode that focused on flexible work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://shows.acast.com/take-my-advice/episodes/future-worklife-podstorm-27-the-evolution-of-flexibl...
 
Description Contribution to a Sunday Times business section on hybrid working 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Jane Parry responded to journalist's questions and quoted in Sunday Times business section article on hybrid working, 14/03/21
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/go-to-the-office-or-work-from-home-is-hybrid-work-a-godsend-or-a-...
 
Description Contribution to feature on Your and Yours programme on Radio 4 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact PI Jane Parry took part in a discussion of young people working from home and living in multiple occupancy households on the You and Yours programme, which has an estimated audience of 3.5 million. Subsequently invited to give two talks on the research, and several employers and other researchers got in touch.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000mbkn
 
Description Contribution to session on talent management at GLC Malaysia 2022 conference: work after C19 - preserving gains and talent management 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Conference presentation, as above
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Discussant on Radio 4's Today programme on a feature on the culture wars and working at home 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact JP took part in a discussion on Radio 4's The Today Programmes about culture wars and working from home, 19.05.22. The Today programme has an audience of 6.5 million.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Discussant on Radio 4's Women's Hour for feature on government pressures to return to offices 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact JP took part in a discussion on Radio 4's Women's Hour on government pressures to return to working in offices, 16.06.22. Women's Hours has an audient of 3.7 million.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Engaged with Sunday Times Style magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Co-I Zoe Young responded to a journalist for an article on flexible work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/flexible-working-how-to-ask-for-it-and-keep-it-after-lockdown-pch...
 
Description Engagement with Financial Times 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Co-I Stephen Bevan provided an interview for the FT around sickness absence during lockdown.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.ft.com/content/8a5bccb5-ba86-4a0c-9777-d1283945106d
 
Description Engagement with IT Pro journalist 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact PI Jane Parry responded to journalist's questions for an article on the new world of work in IT Pro magazine.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.itpro.co.uk/business/business-strategy/358263/how-to-build-a-future-world-of-work-we-wil...
 
Description Engagement with Management Today journalist 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Co-I Stephen Bevan engaged with Management Today for an article on health and remote working.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/psychology-remote-working/food-for-thought/article/1689068
 
Description Engaging with HR News magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Article on the project in HR News.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://hrnews.co.uk/seven-in-ten-workers-are-in-no-hurry-to-return-to-the-office/
 
Description Expert panel at Wellcome Trust on flexible work 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact PI Jane Parry sat on an expert panel for the Wellcome Trust Leadership Team to advise on flexible work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description IES interviewed on Radio 5 on hybrid working and the return to the workplace 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Clare Campbell of IES interviews on Radio 5's 'This is Money' programmes, talking about hyrid working and the return to offices, in which the Work after Lockdown research was referenced, 16.10.21.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Interview about research project on Radio Solent x 2 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact PI Jane Parry talking about the research project on the Breakfast Show on two separate occasions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08qvl5w
 
Description JP & MV presented research findings at Essex Business School research impact day 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact As above
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description JP contributed to an article in the Financial times, 'The biggest ever experiment in flexible working' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Gave written responses for the Financial Times article 'The biggest ever experiment in flexible working'. FT has an audience of 1.2 million.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.ft.com/content/653bdd80-605b-4236-b895-b1735c049fca
 
Description JP gave an invited seminar to the Hampshire Leaders' Network 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Jane Parry gave a knowledge exchange and professional practice seminar to the Hampshire Leaders' Network on 'Future ways of working: pandemic learnings from the Work After Lockdown research', 16/03/22
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description JP gave invited talk at UKRI KTN COVID business series, themed 'Flexible working models for the future' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Jane Parry gave talk on 'Implementing new working models in uncertain times: Insights from the Work After Lockdown project', 14 December 2021.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://ktn-uk.org/events/the-covid-business-series-work-after-lockdown-flexible-working-models-for-...
 
Description JP gave talk at ReWAGE COVID grants workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Event designed to build capacity and share knowledge among grantholders. Jane Parry gave talk on 'How the accidental experiment around working from home is chnging the way the UK will work after lockdown.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description JP gave talk at Work Futures/Web Science Institute event on Work after COVID-19: What do our Futures look like? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Jane Parry gave talk on 'Learnings from the Work After Lockdown research' and participated in panel discussion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.southampton.ac.uk/wsi/news/events/2022/02/work-futures.page?
 
Description JP gave talk to ESRC-GSR COVID-19 actionable insights seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Jane Parry gave an invited talk on 'Developing policy for the new shape of work after lockdown'; audience of 366 senior policy makers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description JP interviewed with BC media for SamKnows podcase on WAL and digital change around hybrid 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As above. The research also featured in the detailed write-up in their newsletter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://samknows.com/blog/speed-something-changed-podcast
 
Description JP sat on opening panel for a future of work discussion at the Business South annual conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As above
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description JP sat on opening panel for the ASET Workplace 2021 conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Took part in panel discussion aroudn the theme 'new skills for a new world'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description JP spoke to Radio Solent and Radio Dorset about going back to offices 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Jane Parry took part on separate interviews on the same day with Radio Solent (4th time) and Radio Dorset on the lifting of Government directives and the shift back into offices, 13th December.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Keynote speak in EY's Women in Business conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact In October 2020, Co-I Zoe Young was invited to give a keynote speech at EY's Women in Business conference, in which she talked about gender impacts and differences around working from home.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description MB gave a talk at the UKRI KTN COVID business series, session on What works for business? Business policies for employee well-being 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Mina Beigi gave talk on 'Supporting Remote Workers' Work Life Balance'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://ktn-uk.org/events/the-covid-business-series-what-works-for-work/
 
Description MB gave a talk on remote workers' work life balance to an Iranian consultancy organsiation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Mina Beigi gave a talk on 'Remote work narratives: what employers need to know about remote workers' work-life balance'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description MB gave a talk on the future of work at a Turkish University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Mina Beigi gave a talk on the future of work at Istabul Aydin University, Turkey to business scholars and students, May 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description MB gave a talk on working from home at a Turkish University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Mina Beigi gave a work 'Work from home among dual-earner couples during the pandemic' at Ozyegin University, Turkey, to an audience of social science scholars and students, April 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description MB gave an invited talk at a Malaysian University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Mina Beigi gave a talk on 'Keep calm and work from home' at Monash University Malaysia, in collaboration with CPA Australia, September 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description MB gave talk to business communities on remote workers' work-life balance 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Mina Beigi gave a talk to local businesses on 'What we talk about when we talk about supporting remote workers' work-life balance' at Southampton Business School, October 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Meeting with Ordnance Survey to discuss hybrid working 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Initiated dialogue with Ordnance Survey who are looking for evidence in developing their hybrid working policy and convincing Board
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description One of the team featured in a BBC News24 interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Zofia Bajorek featured in a BBC News24 interview on 25th February, responding with our research evidence to the recent comments by the Director of Goldman Sachs, who had referred to working from home as 'an aberration'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000snnz/bbc-news-with-katty-and-christian-25022021?fbclid=IwA...
 
Description Participation in WLB feature on Radio5Live with Matthew Taylor 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Jane Parry took part in a discussion with Adrian Chiles and Matthew Taylor on Work Life Balance, drawing upon findings from Work After Lockdown, 05/04/21
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Participation on broadcast on Voice of Islam 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact PI Jane Parry took part in an interview about flexible work and working from home on the drive time show.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://soundcloud.com/voislam/drivetime-show-podcast-14-09-2020-the-new-normal-genetic-disorders?in...
 
Description Participation on podcast on BBC Sounds 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Project researcher Dr Zofia Bajorek participated in a BBC Sounds broadcast on working from home and mental health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csz78l?fbclid=IwAR2fayc3GHTTCpnr1ASW_7_nqd68esygmNqkvd8UJdTgihFh...
 
Description Policy roundtable organised by the project with senior policy makers 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The project team convened a policy roundtable to share emerging findings from the research, and to initiate discussion to ensure that subsequent stages of the research were informed by live policy concerns. Attendeees included representative from DfT, BEIS, FSB, DWP, HoC, ACAS and the Scottish Government.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Presented research findings to Hampshire Leaders' Network 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact JP presented findings from the research to 80 senior industry leaders from the Hampshire Leaders' Network: Future ways of working - pandemic learnings from the WAL research in a 2 hour workshop session.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presented research findings to UoS Executive Learning Partnership group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As above
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presented research findings to the DEFRA Transformation group, UK civil service 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact As above
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presented research findings to the SW London branch of the CIPD 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented and discussed research findings with 40 HRM practitioners at the CIPD SW London branch: 'future ways of working: pandemic learnings from the Work after Lockdown research'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presented research in a seminar at the Centre for Leadership Innovation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In January 2021 PI Jane Parry presented the research in a seminar for the Centre for Leadership Innovation, University of Bedfordshire
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Presented research to a group of MoD HR reprentatives 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact JP & ZY presented resaerch finding to HRM practitioners from the Ministry of Defence as part of their Learning at Work week: Future ways of working - pandemic learnings from the WAL research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Project webinar with keynote speakers to a policy and practice audience 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact In the third webinar reporting on Work After Lockdown findings, JP, SB & MV reported on the research, which was discussed with keynote speakers Carol Bernard (Director of People & Places, Cabinet Office), and Justin Webbers (Shadow Minster for Employment Rights and Future of Work. 200 participants took part.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Research quoted in BBC article on back pain 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Data from our first report is quoted in the BBC article
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55660362
 
Description SB contributed to an article in Saftey Management magazine, referencing WAL research, on 'Danger at the desk' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As above. Safety Management magazine is published in 67 countries and has an audience of over 5,000 readers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.britsafe.org/publications/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2022/dan...
 
Description SB contributed toward article in The Times hybrid working 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan gave commentary to an article in The Times (both UK & Eire editions) on hybrid working and the public sector, 22.02.22.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description SB gave a presentation to NICE Public Health Advisory Committee 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Stephan Bevan gave a presentation to the NICE Public Health Advisory Committee on the impact of lockdown on workplace health, 01.06.21.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB interviewed by Andrew Castle on LBC radio 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan was interviewed by Andrew Castle on LBC radio responding to Sunak's claim that people would quit if they weren't allowed back into offices; 04.04.21.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB interviewed by Andrew Castle on LBC radio for feature 'Elon Musk declares working from hom no longer an option' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As above, broadcast on 07.06.22. LBC radio has an audience of 3.1m.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description SB interviewed by Sangita Myska on LBC radio: 'Should people who work from home be paid less?' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As above, 24.06.22. LBC Ratio has an audience of 1.2 million.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description SB interviewed on LBC radio on the challenges of hybrid working 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan was interviewed by Andrew Castle on LBC radio on the challenges of hybrid working, 26.10.21.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB interviewed on LBC radio on working from home and hybrid working 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan interviewed on LBC radio about working from home and hybrid working, drawing upon the research, 01.06.22.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB interviewed on Radio Scotland on the costs and benefits of working from home 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan interviewed by Jackie Brambles on Radio Scotland on the costs and benefits of working from home, 10.08.22.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB interviewed on Radio Scotland on working from home and how to incentivise people returning to offices 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan was interviewed on Radio Scoland on working from home and how to incentivise employees into returning to offices, 24.08.22.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB interviews on LBC radio about the impact on employers of increasing self-isolation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan was interviewed by Andrew Pierce on LBC radio on the impact of employers of increasing self-isolation, 11.07.22.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB spoke at Lancet Rheumatology seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan spoke at a seminar for the Lancet Rheumatology on COVID-19 and work and musculoskeletal health, 26.04.22.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description SB writing for Employee Benefits on attitudes to hybrid working 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan wrote a briefing for Employee Benefits, 'How has the government's decision to prolong home working impacted employers?', 01.07.21.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://employeebenefits.co.uk/stephen-bevan-how-has-the-governments-decision-to-prolong-home-workin...
 
Description SB wrote blog for IES website on lessons for working from home 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Stephen Bevan wrote a blog for IES, 'Working from home (again) - five lessons from the last time', 09.12.22.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/news/working-home-again-%E2%80%93-five-lessons-last-time
 
Description Setting up a project website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We set up the project website at the end of Sept, & have since had 2,800 hits. We place all research outputs on the website, in addition to media interviews, a blog series contributed to by the research team, and it provides a way of stakeholders getting in touch with us. Thus far, 139 people have signed up through the website to receive project updates and newsletters, which provides us with a growing engaged community.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.workafterlockdown.uk/
 
Description Took part in discussion with Southampton City Council about future of work 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact JP & MB took part in a discussion with Southampton Council about the future of work issues that they are currently working through, sharing relevant reserach findings with them.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Took part in interview for Deutsche Well Inside Europe podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact JP took part in an interview for the Deutsche Well Inside Europe podcast on Europe and Working from home. DW has a reach of 94 m.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description UKRI KTN COVID business webinar - ZY invited talk on flexible job design and well-being at work 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Zoe Young delivered a talk 'Working Well? How inclusive and flexibile job design supports well-being at work' at the ESRC KTC COVID business webinar: Business policies for employee well-being, 26 Feb 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://ktn-uk.org/events/the-covid-business-series-what-works-for-work/
 
Description Video to accompany the launch of the final report 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A short video encapsulating some of the messages of the final report, to offer a taster. In the 2 weeks since it was made available over various media, this has received over 1,000 unique likes and engagements.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7_fH2_3d0w
 
Description Work After Lockdown Webinar 1 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This webinar was the first in a series to share the emerging findings from the Work After Lockdown project. Over 450 people registered for the webinar (enabling us to start to develop a mailing list for interested parties in the research), from several Government Departments, and representing employers from the public, private and third sectors. The webinar featured members of the research team presenting findings, to which our invited speaker Professor Sir Cary Cooper (President of the BAM & CIPD) responded and lead the discussion. The webinar was recorded and made publically-available on our website (workafterlockdown.uk), and a bulletin paper was prepared to further publicise the discussions.

Key themes that were explored by the expert panel in the discussion were: the pivotal role of the line manager; sustaining productivity; and well-being.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://workafterlockdown.uk
 
Description Work After Lockdown Webinar 2 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Emerging findings were presented at a webinar organised by the project team. The discussion on 'Will the future of work after lockdown be flexible?' was led by Peter Cheese as respondent (CIPD and Co-Chair of the flexible work taskforce), 22/06/21.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.workafterlockdown.uk/blog-and-reports/will-the-future-of-work-after-lockdown-be-flexible
 
Description ZB blogged about research in a piece for IES on managmeent productivity paranoia 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact ZB wrote a blog for the Institute of Employment Studies which referenced the WAL research, 'Will management productivity paranoia be the undoing of hybrid work?'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/news/will-management-%E2%80%98productivity-paranoia%E2%80%99-be...
 
Description ZY Invited talk at APPG Future of Work social science and policy committee 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact APPG ESRC Future of Work social science and policy committee, Zoe Young was a webinar contributor on the future of work after lockdown, 20 April.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description ZY Webinar contributor on the impact of COVID-19 on working women 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Zoe Young gave a talk on the impact of COVID-19 on working women at the Work Equalities Institute at the University of Manchester.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021