Skills

We’re delighted to be welcoming students to LSBU Business School once again

This September marks the start of the new academic year. Usually, campus is buzzing with students, both those returning and those starting with LSBU.

This year, we’ve been looking at the best way to introduce our students back to LSBU in a safe way; some facilities are open, whilst we’re taking a blended approach to teaching with remote and on-campus teaching.

Staying safe on campus

There will be some face-to-face activities for all students, but only in an environment where we can ensure safety through social distancing. We’ve put detailed measures in place to keep our campus COVID-19 secure, including full risk assessments, one-way systems, protective screens, enhanced cleaning, fewer people on-site, 2 metre social spacing in teaching rooms, and hand gel dispensers available in all buildings. We’re pleased to be welcoming our students back.

Research focus: What’s been the effect of lockdown on employees?

Whilst we’ve continued to work remotely, our research hasn’t stopped over the past few months, either. For LSBU Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Professor Karin Moser, COVID-19 provided an opportunity to look at how full lockdown affected UK employees wellbeing and productivity at work. Joint with academic colleagues, her research shows how remote work generally leads to greater fatigue and more need for recovery compared to onsite work – or ‘zoom fatigue’. It also shows - and explains why – some types of digital communication, like video calls (called synchronous) is more tiring than others emails, texts, chats (known as asynchronous) as it requires higher self-control and emotion regulation. This means that remote work poses much higher self-regulation demands on employees compared to onsite office work. As a result of these findings, the research makes a set of recommendations. This includes that employers need to be aware that their employees need adequate recovery from the demands of remote work, with things like additional breaks, no working after hours, shut down of online devices or phones and a healthy work-life balance. It also recommends that employers support healthy recovery from remote works, for example with sports, family time, off-screen activities and dedicated at home work space where possible. In particular, it also notes that employees who already have other high self-regulation demands, such as those with caring or family responsibilities and/or existing health issues, are especially in danger of high depletion and fatigue and need further additional support. To find out more about Professor Karin Moser’s work, please see

lsbu.ac.uk/BusinessSchool

To find out more about LSBU and our start dates in January 2021, join us at one of our virtual events: lsbu.ac.uk/open

How can LSBU Business School support your businesses?

Throughout lockdown, we’ve provided support to local businesses through our Business Solutions Centre and through our student placements. Many of our students have been working with business - both on-site and remotely. With many things still in-flux, some businesses may be looking for temporary solutions to support their needs. Many of our Business School students are actively looking for placements and provide a fantastic solution to business challenges, whether that’s for a year, a month or somewhere in between. Our students are skilled in many areas, and businesses can benefit from their tech-savvy skills or the application of their academic knowledge. With courses in accounting, business, economics and marketing, our students want experience and provide an ideal, skilled solution to business needs. LSBU Business School Commercial Student Experience Partner, Lyn Hamblin, works closely with businesses and students, matching needs and skills. Lyn is also able to help with job analysis and job design, identifying the skills your business would benefit from. She is also able to support with pre-selection, easing the recruitment process for you.

Get in touch

To discuss your business needs and find out more about our talent pool, please contact Lyn Hamblin at

lyn.hamblin@lsbu.ac.uk