How Sheffield Council staff are coping with working from home

Councillors on Sheffield Council’s audit and standards committee was raised during a recent meeting.

Councillor Diane Hurst said: “One of my concerns is we are working long hours on computers and Zoom, it’s the only way we can see faces and talk to people, are we looking at the health and safety implications of working long hours?”

Coun Angela Argenzio added: “I’ve supported some staff who are having difficulties working from home.

"I think it’s gone really well for most officers but when it’s gone badly it’s gone really badly.

“In my experience, it seems to affect people who might find it difficult to cope with the stress of not being able to do their work properly.

“My worry is we are going to really lose some amazing officers if we are not careful.

“Working from home is different, you can’t work the same from home as you can at the office where you have got all of your paperwork, systems and the photocopier is next door.

"People really need to be told and told again that they cannot expect to work at the same pace from home as they can at the office.”

Coun Adam Hurst said: “We have people who have worked for us for five, 10, 15 or 20 years and what was a really good idea and a fantastic solution and a great opportunity at one time may change as somebody’s circumstances change so I think we have to be mindful that it’s not just about the technology, equipment and job role – even more so, it’s about the whole person.”

Eugene Walker, director of resources, said they did risk assessments for working from home, delivered equipment to staff around the city and put measures in place, for example a drop-in space so people could get away from home when they needed to.

He added: “We have all had a very different experience of this, good and bad, so for some people the flexibility of working from home is fantastic, for some it’s been very difficult and isolating.”

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