Pandemic, Performance and the Pace of Work

The ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Work (Digit) studies the way that digital technologies are reshaping work.Our academic research offers critical insights into the real world challenges, opportunities, risks and benefits of the ongoing digital transformation of work. We aim to generate new knowledge about the impacts of the transition on employers, workers, job-seekers and governments.Digit is jointly led by the University of Sussex Business School and Leeds University Business School, with Co-Directors Professor Jacqueline O’Reilly (University of Sussex Business School) and Professor Mark Stuart (Leeds University Business School).We also have partners at the universities of Cambridge, Manchester and Monash, the Institute of Development of Studies, the Institute for the Future of Work, and FutureDotNow.

ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Work

Pandemic, Performance and the Pace of Work – To what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic really changed the world of work? At the point that the UK entered lockdown at the end of March 2020, 42% of the working population began working from home (ONS, 2020). Very soon after the start of this ‘mass homeworking experiment’, there was a popular discourse arguing that the world of work will never return to pre-pandemic norms. While it is clear that homeworking can be carried out on a large scale - particularly as a result of the rapid advances in the quality and scope of videoconferencing technology and other remote information and communications technology - we should still remain cautious as to the true potential for homeworking. In this talk, Professor Abigail Marks will report on findings from the Working@Home project (www.workingathome.org.uk) which has followed the experiences of 80 ‘new’ homeworkers throughout the past year. The presentation will also discuss survey data collected from around 1300 participants across the UK on two occasions, again, over the past year. The talk will specifically focus on the impact of homeworking on the pace of work. We argue that now is the time to be looking at new ways of conceptualising work output which not only break away from quantification of activities and time spent working but also from the increasingly dangerous and often false notion of algorithmic accountability.

About the speakerAbigail Marks is Professor of the Future of Work at Newcastle University Business School. Prior to her appointment at Newcastle Abigail was Professor of Work and Employment and Associate Dean Business Engagement at the University of Stirling. Abigail is currently PI on an ESRC COVID-19 funded project looking at homeworking under pandemic measures. As well as homeworking, Abigail’s research interests focus on technology, social stratification and work and occupational identity. Abigail has been widely published over her quarter of a century working in universities in journals such as Human Relations, Sociology, Sociological Review and the British Journal of Industrial Relations. Abigail has served on the Expert Advisory Group to the Scottish Government on New Social Security Powers and was an advisor on the 2012 Scottish Government's Mental Health Strategy. Over the past year Abigail has provided evidence to the House of Lords and Senedd Cymru on Homeworking.

About Digit DebatesThis Summer webinar series from the <a href="https://digit-research.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Digital Futures at Work Research Centre</a> presents cutting-edge research from leading thinkers about how digital technologies are changing work.Our aim is to spark debate, challenge assumptions and become an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand how new technologies will impact employers, employees, job seekers and governments.Join us on Wednesdays, 1-2pm (BST)online, from 5th May* – 16th June 2021.*Please note that the session on 5th May will run from 4-5.30pm (BST) due to time differences between the US and the UK<a href="https://digit-research.org/events/digit-events/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Click here</a> for more information on other events in the series.

About DigitDigit, the <a href="https://digit-research.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Digital Futures at Work Research Centre</a> aims to advance our understanding of how digital technologies are reshaping work, impacting on employers, employees, job seekers and governments. It is co-led by the University of Sussex Business School and Leeds University Business School with partners from Aberdeen, Cambridge, Manchester and Monash Universities. It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

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Pandemic, Performance and the Pace of Work

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