Return to Campus Special Edition 2
Being Back on Campus

CONCERNS

"When back on campus, I am concerned if we are told we only need to go in so many days a week, then I presume hot-desking will be encouraged, (rather than going back to our static desks).  I suppose my concern there would be health and hygiene."

"How clean is the desk I am going to sit at… has the person before me cleaned it before they left?  Do I have to clean it before I use it?"

"Additional to that, how will everyone be able to work with ventilation when most offices in Curzon don’t have windows?"

"I guess one of my biggest concerns about returning to site is losing time with physical meetings. I have found it much easier to multi-task, dedicate more time to my team and attend and fully engage in more meetings when at home."

"From a selfish and very honest point of view, I have also enjoyed eating a proper lunch and dinner without worrying about needing to sit in a meeting room for two hours."

PROBLEMS

1. Managing our physical environment on returning to campus 
2. General anxiety about returning 
3. Covid-age concerns
4. Difficult transition from home to work. e.g. noise, crowds, privacy
5. General anxiety about the unknown
6. Changing from home-eating to work-eating
7. Anxiety about eating around others again
8. Adjusting to eating potentially in public with others

TIPS

• Some anxiety about returning to work after 1 year away is normal
• Use online familiarisation / orientations (iCity and from HR)
• Clean own desk and related surfaces if it helps
• Manage ventilation in office - open windows whenever possible
• Shared workspaces (offices) addressed on individual basis 
• Spreading out and agree office occupancy among staff
• Engineers have declared rooms as safe: those not safe are out of bounds
• HR advise anyone who is Extremely Clinically Vulnerable (ECV) to not attend campus
• If an individual has Covid Age score of 80+, they should not be attending campus
• A Covid Age of 70+ needs to be considered by the line manager and HR on an individual basis
• If concerned about a change to their circumstances, retake the Covid Age Assessment tool
• HR advised any individual cases should be discussed with the line manager / HR Business Partner.
• Engineers have declared all safe rooms as safe - and those not safe are out of bounds
• Staff and students authorised to come onto campus are encouraged to take 2 rapid Covid-19 tests per week to help prevent asymptomatic transmission
• Do not come to campus solely to take a rapid Covid-19 test.
• If authorised to attend throughout the week it is recommended to be tested twice per week while on site
• If onsite just once a week, 1 rapid Covid-19 test will be sufficient
• From 17th May, home-testing packs can be collected from campus for some staff
• Use any nerves to your advantage to keep you alert
• Use the Employee Assistance Programme to your advantage
• You are the best judge of what you feel safe and comfortable doing
• Remember to keep in contact with your line manager
• Staff can have their lunch at their designated workstation in their designated office (keeping the required social distancing at all times where single occupancy is not achievable)
• The BCU-branded face coverings meet the 3-ply requirement. 
• Plan eating arrangements and where to eat (your desk / outdoors)
• Bring your own disposable utensils and cups if preferred - catering outlets encourage this