The COVID-19 health crisis created a sudden and dramatic shift away from the campus work environment to telecommuting for many UCLA Administration employees. While policies and procedures have been in place for remote work for some time, and many UCLA departments have made telecommuting available for some positions prior to the pandemic, a new flexible workplace is emerging. This new flexible work environment generated a question:
"What does the future look like in terms of working from home?"
As we move from the emergency phase of COVID-19 to long-term planning, a multidisciplinary work group titled “Reinventing the UCLA Workplace of the Future” has been established. Co-chaired by me, Lubbe Levin, associate vice chancellor for campus human resources; and Joseph Bristow, distinguished professor of English and former chair of the UCLA Academic Senate, the group is charged with reviewing and making recommendations to help define the workplace needs of the future (see related article). Among them are standards for expanding the opportunity to telecommute, along with flexible schedules and other alternative work arrangements; considering changes in policies and practices that are necessary to ensure a productive and engaged staff to carry out the university’s mission; and providing guidance on what managers will need to be successful in leading their teams in the remote work environment, such as training, mentoring and managing performance. Additionally, as part of the UCLA COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force, the work group’s findings will be coordinated with two other UCLA working groups that are addressing the related subjects of wellness and work expectations, and operational response.
While there are opportunities to remodel the traditional work environment in many functions, there will also continue to be jobs at UCLA that require working on-site, such as those that support student services, for example, and many departments will need to develop a hybrid model. As a result, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach to remote working for all employees in the future.
Telecommuting requires resources to help employees stay connected, productive and technologically skilled. To assist employees in making the transition to remote work, campus human resources’ learning and organizational development team has moved all of its courses online to the Learning Management System, including workshops, trainings, career development programs and management series. Also, a Telecommuting at UCLA: Guidance & Resources website was launched specifically to ease the adjustment to the new environment.
First and foremost is supporting the safety and welfare of all UCLA employees and students. This is the guiding principle of how we will reinvent the UCLA workplace of the future. As we rebound from the impact of COVID-19, the resources we need to succeed will look different than before with a priority on flexibility, resilience, empathy and updated expectations.
