The document discusses the evolution of remote working, highlighting technological advancements and changes in cultural attitudes towards flexible work arrangements. It covers the challenges faced by remote workers, policy considerations for flexible working, and the importance of effective communication and support systems. Case studies, including UKOLN and BT, illustrate the benefits of remote working, such as cost savings and improved employee satisfaction.

1. Home Working and the
University of Bath
Green Impact Talk Series
15th March 2012
Marieke Guy
Research Officer, UKOLN UKOLN is supported by:
This work is licensed under a Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence
This excludes images
www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk

2. Introduction to UKOLN
• UKOLN is a research organisation that aims to inform
practice and influence policy in the areas of:
– digital libraries, information systems, bibliographic
management, and web technologies.
• Located here at the University of Bath
• Funded by JISC to advise UK HE and FE communities
• Many areas of work including:
– Digital preservation: DCC, research360
– Metadata, registry work
– Repositories:
– Dissemination: Ariadne, International Journal of Digital
Curation
– eScience: eCrystals….etc.
www.ukoln.ac.uk

3. Introduction to Me
• Been at UKOLN for almost 12 years!
• Now a remote worker
• Now working for the Digital Curation Centre
• Previous roles/projects include:
– Chair of the Institutional Web Management Workshop
– Digital Preservation work, OER work
– JISC Observatory, good APIs project, JISC-PoWR, JISC
Standards Catalogue
– QA Focus, SPP Project Manager, ePrints UK project
manager, Public Library Focus work, NOF-digitise, Web
Magazines
www.ukoln.ac.uk

4. Workshop Resources
• All resources (and more) linked with Delicious tag:
http://delicious.com/mariekeguy/remoteworking
• All ppts etc will be available from:
– my blog http://remoteworker.wordpress.com/
– slideshare http://www.slideshare.net/MariekeGuy
• Feel free to email me (m.guy@ukoln.ac.uk) or follow me on
Twitter (mariekeguy)
www.ukoln.ac.uk

5. Straw Poll: Where Do You Work?
• In the office
• From home (occasionally or full-time) – a ‘remote worker’
• Beyond the office
– At different offices
– At a client site
– As a true nomad or ‘road warrior’
• In a virtual team
www.ukoln.ac.uk

6. Work is becoming something you do, not a place you go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/latteart/2547757031/

7. Changes to the Way we Work
• Technological
– Broadband
– Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
– Mobile technology
• Cultural
– Right to request flexible working extended (April 2009)
- 4.5m parents eligible
– Effects of recession (cutting overheads), pandemics,
environment, weather, etc…
– Work-life balance, flexibility
– Output driven not physicality driven, productivity key,
loyalty & reduced absenteeism
www.ukoln.ac.uk

8. Challenges
• Cultural
– Blurred boundaries - where does works stop and home
begin?
– Reduced interaction time with colleagues and managers
– Connection with the (virtual) team
– Morale, perceptions, ownership
– Formalising current situations
• Technological
– Bandwidth issues, managing VPN
– Being supported from a distance, tracking, remote
assistance
– Security, cloud computing
www.ukoln.ac.uk

9. www.ukoln.ac.uk
The Oatmeal - http://theoatmeal.com/comics/working_home

10. APPLYING
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjpacres/3293117576/

11. Applying to Work from Home
• You need to take the initiative!
• Discuss your idea with your line manager
• Can your work could be carried out in this way?
• Consider options –
– 1 or 2 days at home, 3 or 4 days in office
– Formalising what already happens
• Consider reasons –
– Moving house
– Work/life balance - children
– Health/disability
– Space issues
• Apply to personnel
• Have your contract formally changed (has implications for
expenses, travel etc.)
www.ukoln.ac.uk

12. POLICY
When a boardroom policy is being created it should always
keep practical implementation at the front of its mind
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a440/512348882/

13. Policies
• UOB currently working on flexible working policies
• You may need to take the initiative if no policies in your
department
• They really should be set up in advance & clear and
transparent
• But also flexible
• Cover:
– Eligibility, availability, contact procedures, workspace
requirements, equipment and usage, expenses,
training, ownership, etc.
• Have questions for consideration…
• Observe the development of effective patterns of usage
rather than dictate
www.ukoln.ac.uk

14. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakesdad/2838195408/
The ideal solution for most employees who
work remotely is for the set-up at home to
replicate the set-up in the office

15. Getting Set Up
• Hardware
– PC, monitor, printer, keyboard, laptop, DVD rewriters,
scanners, audio & video equipment, headset, speakers,
phone, etc.
• Software
– All the programmes they have in the office, and more!
– User accounts, remote access to email, calendar etc.
• Broadband and Wireless
– Offer options, reviews, support alternatives, VPN (SSL)
• Introduction to the organisation
– Overview of systems, servers, Web site and Intranet
• Support
– BUCS – Youguru, online FAQs, self-help, online tutorials
http://www.bath.ac.uk/bucs/networking/connectfromhome/
www.ukoln.ac.uk

16. TECHNOLOGY
Technology is about connections - connecting
people to each other, to ideas, and to possibilities

17. Tools
• Communication
– Email, telephony, VOIP (Skype), Online Chat
– Social Networking – Facebook, Linkedin, Xing,
– Microblogging – Twitter, Yammer, Jaiku, Google+
– RSS – Google reader, Net News Wire
– Recommendation services, blogs
• Collaboration
– Wikis, shared applications (Google docs)
– Project management tools
– Bookmarking tool (Delicious(?), Connotea)
– File transfer (dropbox)
– Calendars
– E-learning team at Bath/LTEO
http://www.bath.ac.uk/learningandteaching/themes/e-learning/tools
www.ukoln.ac.uk

18. Virtual Meetings/Conferences
• Virtual Meetings
– Video conferencing suite at Bath
– Skype
– Webinars – Panopto, trialling Adobe Connect &
Blackboard Collaborate
• Virtual Conferences
– Attending
– Amplifying - video streaming, assigning a tag, Creative
Commons
– Sharing available resources: ppts, photos, video,
podcasts
www.ukoln.ac.uk

19. Mobile Devices
• Mobile is “everyware”
• Smartphones, PDAs, Blackberries, laptops
• Data is available on mobile devices, apps
• Mobile broadband – dongles, 3G
• Security issues – both data (encryption?) and actual devices
(locks)
• Geolocation, augmented reality – the future is mobile!
• Issues with who owns what…
www.ukoln.ac.uk

20. UKOLN: A Case Study
• RW community, RW champion
• Away days, all staff days
• Support framework - iterative process
• Technology – sharing ideas
• Teleconferencing, video streaming and
Skype, weekly chat
• Twitter, Vimeo, Slideshare, Flickr
• Policies and procedures
• Commitment
• JISC project Location Independent
Working
• 40 staff
• Training and handbook
www.ukoln.ac.uk

21. COMMITMENT
UKOLN remote workers

22. Case Study BT
• 70,000 + home & nomadic workers empowered
• 6,000 part time workers
• Over £220m in property costs saved in 10 years
• Absenteeism reduced 3.1% (UK ave. 8.5%)
• e-learning saves 40% training costs
• Home-workers 7% happier, enhanced skills, less stress
• 1,800 tonnes less CO2. 1.2m litres less fuel used.
• Transport cost savings £9.7m pa
• From http://www.slideshare.net/jackies/presentation-
remote-workforce-v2
www.ukoln.ac.uk

23. Conclusions
• Flexible working practices are on the up
• Cloud computing is on the up
• Virtual teams are on the up
• Technology is important - there is a need to support a
portfolios of Tools
• Communication and community are more important!
– Inclusion and support
– Shared goals
– Constructive feedback
– Policies and procedures
• Blurred boundaries doesn’t have to mean lack of clarity
• New areas of interest: online learning, event amplification,
openness, virtual teams
www.ukoln.ac.uk

24. Questions?
www.ukoln.ac.uk

25. Discussion
• What would you need in place to help you work from home?
• What are your concerns about remote working?
• How could the UOB and/or BUCs help?
• What home working tips can you share?
www.ukoln.ac.uk