Moving to a new reality

The first mention of coronavirus in an all-staff email at SKAO was on 28 January. Since then, the SKA HQ has gradually implemented a series of measures to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and since mid-March, in line with the UK government recommendations, SKAO has been operating remotely.

The IT tools needed for a global project to function - in our case Confluence, Zoom and Slack - have allowed us to adapt quickly, and while they were previously only used by some teams, they’ve now been adopted by almost everyone as de facto communications channels.

A weekly internal newsletter was launched to provide relevant information but also to keep everyone feeling informed and connected and avoid the all-too-easy trap of working in silos that can come with remote-working.

And at a time when many companies have frozen hires, SKAO has continued hiring new staff critical to the delivery of the plan, with interviews, panels and on-boarding being conducted remotely, and new staff working from home, including abroad. A buddy system is now in place, connecting our new hires with colleagues outside their teams, to help create that sense of belonging, despite not having set foot in the office yet.

Highlights of the office life have continued online, providing a constant in our lives, like the weekly all-hands coffee update by the DG. Perhaps equally important is the weekly (virtual) pub outing that has become even more inclusive, with spouses and partners joining in for an opportunity to catch up. There’s only one rule: no work discussions!

The SKAO Family Facebook group has also come into its own, providing a means for staff and their families to share useful resources about online activities, schooling, etc.

Of course, adapting to this new routine comes with challenges. New words like ‘meetingitis’ and ‘zoombified’ have been coined, and home-schooling or caring responsibilities can take their toll, especially when an already heavy workload and tight deadlines haven’t gone away. A particular emphasis has been put on mental health to support staff in getting their work-life balance right, with a number of appreciated initiatives implemented around Mental Health Awareness Week. Overall, SKAO staff have proved extremely resilient in the face of adversity, and continue to adapt to keep the project moving forward together with international colleagues. So to borrow from our Italian friends...

andrà tutto bene.

The weekly all-hands coffee update at SKAO is now conducted entirely remotely

Credit: SKAO. All rights Reserved