Members have contacted us for advice on various issues associated with working from home. As a result we have been in contact with the University and can supply the following guidelines during the current emergency:

1.  The University has confirmed that it recognises the challenges introduced by the need to care at home for children and/or other family members under current restrictions while working from home.

2.  It is therefore asking staff to focus on task completion and developing home-working patterns which enable them to manage family and work responsibilities rather than strict timekeeping.

3.  It follows from this that departments/Colleges should adopt a flexible approach and not, for example, request that staff supply time sheets when this is not part of its normal practice.

4.  Everyone’s contract will be honoured regardless if they can only work less than their normal hours, but staff should do their best to work as productively as current conditions allow.

5.  The University is responsible for supplying and maintaining any extra equipment/facilities necessary for working, including working from home. Supplying may include providing a full size keyboard and mouse to replace the standard laptop facilities; maintaining includes provision of consumables for your own printer, for example. You are strongly advised to seek permission prior to incurring any additional expenses for home working. That includes any excess internet usage (noting that work usage could tip you over the edge on your normal contract usage, so you are advised to check your contract), printer ink, etc. UCU is also asking the University that arrangements be put in place for key equipment to be ordered for staff for home delivery. 

UCU will circulate any further advice as it becomes available.

Stay safe.

Swansea UCU Committee