Weekly Staff Briefing - 08.3.21 08 March 2021 - Brunel University London

08 March 2021

Weekly Staff Briefing
        08.3.21

Government roadmap: Remote working                                                     08 March 2021

Stage 1: 8 March                                  Stage 2:12 April
Practical courses & those requiring campus        Education remains as stage 1. Gov review of
facilities return. Individuals should work from   wider return expected by end of Easter
home if they can and minimise travel              holidays. Guidance to ‘stay at home’ and
                                                  minimise travel dropped

For Brunel                                        For Brunel
Continue to work from home if you can.            Advice as stage 1. Staff finding it difficult to
Reduced staff working on campus for               work from home or who wish to work on
delivery and supporting delivery of education     campus can do so subject to safety
and student facing services.                      provisions.

Stage 3: 17 May                                   Stage 4: 21 June
Government review expected to allow wider         Expectation that social contact restrictions
re-opening of campuses                            will be lifted

For Brunel                                        For Brunel
Extended services, research and teaching          Anticipate staff will be able to return to
on campus may require more staff to work          regular working on campus subject to any
some of their time on campus balanced with        social distancing guidance
need to continue social distancing

Flexible and remote working: Your questions                                   08 March 2021

Can staff who enjoy working from home continue to do so once restrictions
are lifted?
• Keen to build on success of remote working with balance of on and off campus
   working for benefit of individual and University
• Must be worked through with line managers considering various factors

If staff are feeling anxious about returning to campus, can they continue
working from home indefinitely?
• Safety is our priority and some social distancing likely to remain initially
• Until stage 4 we will prioritise homeworking for staff who are clinically
    vulnerable, have caring responsibilities or are from BAME communities
• Anxiety and mental wellbeing support services available

What is the flexible working application process?
• Existing policy is open to all staff, not restricted to those with caring
  responsibilities
• Allow for contractual change of working patterns, hours and locations
• Considered based on requirements of role
• Appeal procedure to ensure fair consideration of applications
• Review pending – to support agile longer term working

USS pension valuation: your questions                              08 March 2021

     Will a recording of                          Can we transfer to
                               Would the
           the USS                                  the LPGS if we
                             University move
      presentation by                              are now enrolled
                              away from the
         Mercers be                                   on the USS
                                 USS?
          available?                                   scheme?

                    Can I switch
                 between pension          Will the USS
                     schemes if          seminar on 10th
                 changing from S           March be
                  to H grade, and          recorded?
                    vice versa?

Covid-19 testing on campus: a reminder             08 March 2021

 •   As more students and staff return over the
     coming weeks, we want to ensure our
     campus is as safe as possible

 •   All staff and students are expected to be
     tested before returning to campus or
     immediately on return

 •   Followed by twice weekly tests thereafter

 •   Where available book a lateral flow test at
     a centre local to you before coming back to
     campus for the first time
     https://www.gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-
     flow-test-site

 •   Our Asymptomatic Testing Site has
     capacity for everybody on campus and
     tests are quick and easy

How we are keeping students informed                                 08 March 2021

 • Weekly student information sessions

 • Focused college Q&A sessions for CHMLS and CBASS this week

 • CEDPS Q&A held on 4 March, led by David Smith alongside department
   heads

 • Please encourage students to attend and take opportunity to ask questions

Campus catch-up                                                       08 March 2021

 • Events in June for students and staff

 •   Delivering on-campus experiences to make up for missed opportunities:
      •   sports
      •   social
      •   arts and performance
      •   academic
      •   careers activities

 •   Your ideas and suggestions
     welcome

 •   All socially distanced and carried
     out within relevant guidelines

 •   Contact the Students First programme team via bina.fatania@brunel.ac.uk

Any questions?
• Our next meeting will be at 2pm on Monday 15 March