Remote Work and Worker Well-Being in the Post-COVID-19 Era

This joint ESRC Festival of Social Science and Work Inclusivity Research Centre event aims to generate debate and discussion around the multifaceted realities of the rapid expansion currently being witnessed across the globe in remote working. Through a panel of experts in remote working and related fields, the event will present the latest research and reflect on the impacts of remote working on worker and organisational performance and well-being. It will consider the ways in which developments, such as Industry 4.0 may change modes of work, the nature and design of jobs, and organisational and labour market structures in the future. Specific consideration will be given to the practical realities of organising work virtually including balancing remote working with family and home, use of technologies, the role of trust in organisations, and the impacts of remote working on the physical and mental well-being of workers. The event is linked to a forthcoming edited book, entitled Remote Work and Worker Well-Being in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities, to be published in early 2021 by IGI Global, an international publisher of progressive academic research.

Remote Work and Worker Well-Being in the Post-COVID-19 Era is part of a wider Society from your Sofa festival taking place between 7-15 November 2020. Events will include a range of talks, interactive panel debates, film screenings and online exhibitions – discussing the current issues facing our society and challenges for the future. This year’s festival has gone virtual, and as you cannot come to us, we are bringing society to your sofa!

Society from your Sofa is part of the nationwide ESRC Festival of Social Sciences which showcases how pioneering social, economic and political research impacts everyday life.

Panellists include:

• Introduction: Remote Work and Worker Well-Being in the Post-COVID-19 Era, Professor Irene Hardill, Department of Social Policy, Northumbria University

• The future of work and wellbeing: An industry perspective, Nick Owen, Chairman, Deloitte LLP

• Practical wellbeing solutions for multi-disciplinary organisations, Sophie Sinclair, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham

• Flexibility and well-being in remote working , Dr Daniel Wheatley, Department of Management and WIRC, University of Birmingham

• Remote working and trust, Professor Mark Saunders, Department of Management and WIRC, University of Birmingham

• Mental health and remote work, Maureen Smojkis, Department of Social Work and Social Care, University of Birmingham

• Cyber collisions in a socially distant world, Dr Sarah Buglass, Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University

• Remote work related and non-remote-work related job stresses caused by COVID-19, Dr Eric Shiu, Department of Marketing, University of Birmingham