Everyone has experienced the pandemic differently. There are a whole range of feelings amongst colleagues who have been home-working for over 18 months about coming back to work on campus (some of whom will be working on campus for the first time).
As a manager, you may have team members who cannot wait to return and others who are very anxious and would prefer to work solely from home. Talking to your team members to find out what their concerns may provide you the opportunity to share information about steps the University is taking to keep everyone safe on campus.
You may find the following Skills Booster courses (available through Moodle) beneficial to expand or refresh your knowledge and skills in certain key areas:
- Dealing with sensitive issues in the workplace
- Cultural awareness
- Developing emotional intelligence
- Mental health overview
In addition, the introduction of hybrid working (and in some areas, agile working), may also present some challenges for managers with creating a working pattern across a team or teams that the majority of staff are happy with.
Here are some resources and training sessions that you might find useful:
- Difficult conversations (Skills Booster Moodle course)
- Managing conflict (Skills Booster Moodle course)
- Manager as communicator - 14 October
- Building and leading a resilient team - 19 October and 2 November
From time to time, staff may again be concerned and have worries about how to balance their work and home life, particularly if they have caring responsibilities. Guidance for staff with caring responsibilities has been updated - and many staff may address their concerns to you in the first instance.
Please refer to the guidance below, about managing your team and expectations during this time.
Remember that the University offers a wide range of support for staff wellbeing.
Finally, be realistic and kind to yourself.