A Brave New World For Higher Education

• Published date: 12 August 2020
• Subject Matter: Employment and HR, Consumer Protection, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Discrimination, Disability & Sexual Harassment, Health & Safety, Education, Employment and Workforce Wellbeing
• Law Firm: Veale Wasbrough Vizards
• Author: Ms Jane Byford

To say that the last few months have been a challenge and steep learning curve for HR professionals in the Higher Education sector would be a serious understatement.

Whilst many of you will now be enjoying a well-deserved break for a week or two, there are a raft of further issues that will need to be addressed with the start of the 2020/21 academic year.

We explore some of the key HR challenges that lie ahead over the next few months and how coronavirus (COVID-19) may have changed some working practices in the HE sector for the foreseeable future, or perhaps forever.

Getting the Workforce Back on Campus

The priority for most universities, following the easing of lockdown, is getting staff back onto campus and putting in place safe working practices for the new academic year. Although the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has not been widely used in the HE sector, decisions will have to be taken about whether and when any furloughed staff should return and whether the flexible furlough scheme should be utilised to allow for their phased return to the workplace. HEIs will also need to determine whether it is now appropriate for those staff who have not been able to work from home to return to campus. For both of these categories of staff, there is likely to be a difficult process of readjustment to the world of work and support, back to work programmes and re-training should be considered.

For those employees who became homeworkers almost overnight, universities will need to decide whether, and if so to what degree, they should return to campus. Throughout the country, coronavirus risk assessments are currently being carried out; discussions are taking place with trade unions and other interested groups; and steps are being put in place to control the risks that coronavirus poses for staff, students and visitors to campus.

Understandably many employees will be worried about their return to the workplace and getting to and from work, particularly if they have to use public transport. Communication with staff will be key, as will understanding and addressing their particular concerns.

Even when reassurance is provided, there are likely to be some employees who are reluctant to return to the workplace because, despite the steps the institution has taken to make the workplace 'coronavirus secure', they believe that there is a serious and imminent danger to their health. This may particularly be the case for those who have been 'shielding' or are members of one...