Jun 17 2009
First Issues Raised by Coventry University Faculty Managers
How would university property provided for LIW workers be insured?
This would need to be decided but presumably the university’s normal insurance arrangements would apply.
Who would answer telephone enquiries?
The smartphone provided as part of the LIW package would work on university 4-digit extension numbers; staff on LIW would be expected to be contactable in the normal way.
How would groups be identified for phasing in LIW?
“Groups” is probably the wrong word; “cohorts” would be better. BES managers would make the decision but there is no implication that all staff in a cohort would be from a particular area of the Faculty.
Staff need to be able to meet with students and colleagues on a confidential and private basis. How would this happen?
Bookable private meeting spaces would be provided.
How is LIW for teaching staff linked to the development of e-learning?
The e-learning tool set and environment is now very powerful and allows for synchronous online face-to-face activity as well as “traditional” e-learning activity. Staff will be supported in designing and delivering courses which make use of such tools.
What management issues have emerged from previous experience with LIW? Do managers fear not being able to have access to their staff?
There is no reason to suppose that staff on LIW arrangements are less accessible. Staff have a responsibility to make themselves accessible. In any case one of the locations at which people work will be the “office”.
Academic staff love their rooms and will fear losing their space. How do you convince staff who already work partly from home to join the scheme?
Firstly they will be better supported if they join the scheme. Secondly the formal recognition that LIW is a valid form of working will offer some protection to staff who do work from home. Thirdly providing offices to staff who use them only part of the time is unlikely to be sustainable in the future. Fourthly those who join the scheme will be informed volunteers.
