Impact of COVID 19 on Remote Working in Luton Town Residences

This report provides information regarding the impact of COVID 19 on remote working, HR practices, motivation, and use of technology in Luton Town Residences. It examines the key issues faced by LTR and provides recommendations for developing remote working.

FOUNDATIONS OF
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
PART 1.......................................................................................................................................................3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
IMPACT OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON ORGANISATIONS................................................................4
KEY ISSUES PERSENT AT LTR REGARDING REMOTE WORKING................................................5
RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................10
PART 2......................................................................................................................................................12
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................12
MAIN BODY............................................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................15

PART 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Business communication refers to an activity that is used to share and communicate
information between employees within an outside the company. It is very crucial to have an
effective business communication because it helps in managing employees and management so
that they interact positively and goals are attained on specified time period. This report is based
on Luton Town Residences that is a housing association in Luton with the mission of offer
proper housing for local community that particular assist vulnerable individuals. This report
provides information regarding impact of COVID 19 on organisation remote working, HR
practice, motivation, use of technology along with examine key problems that was faced by LTR
so that profitable results are enjoyed. Further several recommendations are presented that helps
in developing remote working.
INTRODUCTION
The main purpose of conducting this report is to understand the concept of business
communication so that firm will gain profitable results within marketplace at the time of
pandemic situation. Business communication defines sharing of information between people
within and outside the working (Dwyer and Hopwood, 2019). In case of LTR company it is very
essential to have an effective communication so that issues related to remote working in
pandemic situation is to be resolved. COVID 19 is the major issue that impacted the operations
of business in drastic manner and also encourages the usage of technology in the business world.
This report undertakes the Luton Town Residencies that mainly operate their operation in Luton
with the aim of providing proper housing facilities to local people with highly focus on
vulnerable individuals. This report explores the impact of COVID 19 mainly in remote working,
motivation and use of technology. Further it highlights the key issues that were faced by LTR
that is related to remote working. At last it represents the recommendations for LTR in terms of
making adjustments and changes to light up the challenges which were posed by COVID 19
along with the rise of remote working.

IMPACT OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON ORGANISATIONS
In UK, COVID 19 impacted adversely and due to this it impacted organisation,
residential firm, institute and people, HR practices of businesses, using technology etc. this
report presented the impact of COVID 19 on remote working, HR Practices, technology etc. that
are demonstrated below:
In terms of regarding remote working senior management got the opportunity of
working from home that impact several remote working staff members in positive manner
because they do their assignments via home by spending time with family members, flexible
working hours that is not possible while working in Office (Guffey and Loewy, 2021). Due to
pandemic, staff member working from home and at this time they use their personal devices to
access documents and e-mails. This motivates staff members to work effectively and achieve the
targets on time. In terms of motivation is an impact positively to those staff members who are
happy with the working decisions that is work from home. The impact of COVID 19 in remote
working impacts productivity because remote working creates additional stress that is mainly
cause by pandemic.
COVID 19 impacted negatively on remote working because many staff members are
not happy to use their personal devices. In this those organisation where work are done on site,
in this employees those who are working on site such as maintenance handling staff, provide
facilities services to people of society are not properly log-in to attend online meeting that is
effective done when staff members done their task via office. Hence, in this situation the impact
of COVID 19 impacted negatively on the remote working and their motivation level due to these
working criteria cannot be effectively fulfilled by staff members who do not like the decision of
work from home due to COVID 19.
The impact of COVID 19 on using technology is to alter the whole world that try to
save several business for sustaining and cope with the COVID 19 impact. In this using
technology like As-a-service and cloud revolution is the best way that is adopting by companies
in dial up or down services by using as-a-service platforms (Impact Of COVID-19 On
Technology, 2020). During COVID pandemic Zoom was highly used technological app and in
demand that offer services to people to work remotely and connect to the businesses. This
technology is scale up and down as necessary. In terms of using technology the impact of

COVID 19 is reflected in negative manner because due to pandemic attack of COVID 19 staff
are done their work while working from home. Therefore at the time of work from home
organisation use zoom meeting to identify and understand the issues and getting ideas to resolve
issues. The major issue in the use of technology is the ineffective communication and
collaboration due to which staff member cannot understand the details and requirements to
fulfills the task. Therefore it affects the outcomes and results of business enterprise.
The impact of COVID 19 on HR Practices is highly emphasis on employee safety. In
this situation organisation are mainly focused on health, economics and market that represent
complex and fluid in ever changing dimensions. COVID 19 impacted majorly on nature of
workplaces and human connection. HR practices negatively impacted due to COVID 19 because
they face many issues in managing the workforce who work in remote areas and faces major
problem in handle stress by setting online meetings for employee’s wellbeing and motivation
(Collings and et. al., 2021). The staff member of customer service team faces the issue of mental
health support that creates stress and uncertainty. This is the major issue that was faced by HR in
organisation while working in remote areas. In terms of HR practices employees safety is the
major concern that HR team focused on by ensuring the social distance and safety who mainly
work on site. in this HR highly focused on the procurement of keeping mask, hand washes,
sanitizer etc.as a employee safety. That reflects as major issue at the time of remote working
because at this time HR cannot effectively examine the place of site where employees work.
KEY ISSUES PERSENT AT LTR REGARDING REMOTE WORKING
In terms of Luton Town Residence, there are around several workers who work under
several departments such as 10 workers in finance team, 8 staff member in facilities maintenance
team, 15 staff members in customer service team, 15staff members in supported housing
personal coaches, 8 general administration staff, 10 junior management team. At the time of
COVID 19 pandemic in UK, impacts the regular operation of Luton Town Residency as the
general manager decided that workers are working from their homes at remote working and only
few employees are go on site when its needed (Dwived and et. al., 2020). In this their facilities
maintenance team and supported housing personal coaches are mainly worked remotely and
frequently on site. There are several issues which were faced by LTR that are related to remote
working at the time of pandemic situation that are presented below:

After completing the meeting at town hall by LTR several issues are demonstrated
regarding the unhappiness amongst employees that are considered to long term implications of
remote working at the time of pandemic situation.
The first and foremost issue that was analyzed under LTR during COVID 19 while
working remotely that is issue faced under the broadband access. To make proper connection
with staff member who work under the maintenance and facilities department it is very essential
for general management to actively connect with those staff so that problems of maintenance and
facilities are to be easily resolved (Agarwal, 2021). At this time general administration purchase
high internet package from ISP at own expense so that delays under providing solutions are to be
resolved. For instance- due to the COVID 19, staff members of LTR are working from home and
for communicating- assignments, issues, solutions and outcomes staff members use e-mails
technology. Due to whole work done by using e-mails it felt overloaded due to which task cannot
be managed effectively. In terms of using technology customer service team spend more time in
updating own documents and finding information within large number of plain text, Excel due to
which they cannot productively provide the results to consumer problems. In this they also use
Zoom application to understand the on-site working staff issues so that it should be resolved on
time. In terms of technology these issues are faced by LTR that impacted the working of staff
members. Further it is expensive in nature because due to remote working staff member spend
their own money that demotivates them to work effectively and efficiently.
Another issue that was faced by the staff member of LTR during remote working is
related to isolation. Therefore, mainly those employees who work lived lonely and far from
their families rather than with partners or family members facing the issue of stress and
dissatisfaction. For instance- in LTR an employee from finance department live alone at Luton
that present their issue with HR department related to absence of social contact. Due to the major
impact of COVID 19 HR department of an organisation face more stress in managing employees
stress and well-being due to this task are not completed on time (Zhang and et. al., 2020). At the
time of working in office this issue cannot be generated due to these targets are attained on
specified time frame. In this personal coach within LTR track the employee’s activity and
monitor them timely so that issues are to be easily identified that helps in presenting solutions. In
this customer service team who provide solution to customers raised the issue of mental health

support because of ongoing pandemic situation. Due to pandemic finance department face the
issue of opening emails on mornings that create demotivation to handle the big projects
effectively and efficiently.
Another issue that was faced by LTR in remote working is safety of employees who work
on site. In LTR many staff member work on site at where they face the issue of safety and
security which was mainly taking care by HR department. Therefore, those employees who work
from home spend their own money in internet access that demotivates them to work. To solve
this responsibilities HR department is the major factor who focus on solving this issues so that
working are efficiently working remotely. However employees are facing issue in using of
technology due to which HR cannot effectively communicate and collaborate with the staff
member for examine their issues. It is essential for HR to highly focus on employee safety and
security to get the effective and proficient results.
In terms of examine the several issues within LTR, several challenges are to be created due to
pandemic and remote working that are demonstrated below in context of LTR:
 Ensure safety of employees- it is one of the major challenges that was face by LTR at
the time of pandemic. In terms of LTR where several workers are working on site face
the different health related risk. In this Luton Town residency face challenge in
supporting workers safety by ensuring fairness in workforce.
 Split team arrangements- It is another challenge that was face by LTR. To eliminate the
spreading of virus company general management team decided to isolation working that
impacted negatively on employees mind because it creates stress and dissatisfaction
(Song and Zhou, 2020).
 Challenge in communication- At the time of remote working LTR highly faces the issue
in effective communication and collaboration which is more important to complete the
work proficiently and in transparent manner.
RECOMMENDATIONS
By analyzing the above information based on the impact of COVID 19 on organizations,
HR Practices, technology in LTR. This report represents the several recommendations that are

represented below to resolve the issues of LTR so that staff member is working proficiently and
effectively on remote working:
 To resolve the issue of low bandwidth communication that is biggest downsides of
remote work, offering and installing proper internet connection by company is the
best way to resolve this issue. In remote working recoded video message is one the
powerful tool that encourages everyone to understand the task properly. Recoded video is
highly powerful because it can be watched as per own convenience, it also accommodate
several schedules and replacing the issue of e-mails that was highly faced by LTR while
transferring information to staff members.
 Further brainstorming and ideation is to be recommended that helps in creating user
stories, mood boards. Using this factor is highly beneficial for virtual ideation, research
design, mapping and diagramming etc. so that remote working is to be done proficiently
and effectively (Nyashanu, Simbanegavi and Gibson, 2020).
 To overcome with the issue of employee safety human resource department follow the
several COVID 19 safety measures such as follow social distancing, increased hygiene
at site of remote working. at this time human resource also focus on that all the
emergency contacts are updated by working employees so that issues related to safety
and security is to be resolved effectively and efficiently.
 In terms of motivating employees towards remote working office 365 application is to
be recommended to the personal coach so that they understand the employee’s issues.
This tool is also beneficial for communication and collaboration so that targets are
achieved on time. Those who work on site usage of mobile application is to be effective
so that they attend meetings properly that helps in completing business objectives that is
providing residential facilities to vulnerable people.
 To resolve the issue of communication, it is to be recommended that LTR focus on fixing
the technological issues by hiring experienced employees so that staff member’s issues
are to be resolved related to late working etc. It is very essential in business to effectively
communicate the targets to the staff members by maintaining collaborate working. To get
the successful results it is very essential to be an effective communication and
collaboration so that employees are motivated towards work that also encourages the
remote working.

 Provide online training and development session is to be recommended for solving the
issue of alone working and lack of social connectivity. The training and development
solve the issue of those finance workers who work at home alone that means they are not
stay up with their family.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it is to be concluded that business communication is a significant
concept for business enterprise in their long term survival even in the critical situation such as
pandemic. This inculcates the several issues that was faced by organisation due to the COVID 19
such as issues related to high usage of internet in which employees spend their own money due
to remote working, safety and security issues faced by organisation due to COVID 19 while
working on site, issue faced by those employees who live alone feel stress that creates
dissatisfaction among them due to which targets are not attained effectively and efficiently. This
report helps in acknowledging the impact of pandemic situation in UK businesses so that firm
will focus on resolving these issues to get the positive and profitable results in their long term
sustainability. Further this report presents the issues of LTR by connecting it with the impact of
COVID 19 so that effective recommendations are to be presented to solve those problems
prominently. This report inculcates several recommendations to resolve the issue of face under
remote working so that staff members works prominently that gives authentic results to business
enterprise and also helps in maintaining effective communication and collaboration between staff
members.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Agarwal, P., 2021. Shattered but smiling: Human resource management and the wellbeing of
hotel employees during COVID-19. International Journal of Hospitality
Management. 93. p.102765.
Collings, D.G. and et. al., 2021. Leading through paradox in a COVID‐19 world: Human
resources comes of age. Human Resource Management Journal.
Dwivedi, Y.K. and et. al., 2020. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management
research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International Journal of
Information Management. 55. p.102211.
Dwyer, J. and Hopwood, N., 2019. The business communication handbook. Cengage AU.
Guffey, M.E. and Loewy, D., 2021. Business communication: Process & product. Cengage
Learning.
Nyashanu, M., Simbanegavi, P. and Gibson, L., 2020. Exploring the impact of COVID-19
pandemic lockdown on informal settlements in Tshwane Gauteng Province, South
Africa. Global Public Health. 15(10). pp.1443-1453.
Song, L. and Zhou, Y., 2020. The COVID‐19 Pandemic and Its Impact on the Global Economy:
What Does It Take to Turn Crisis into Opportunity?. China & World Economy. 28(4)
pp.1-25.
Zhang, J. and et. al., 2020. Responding to a major global crisis: the effects of hotel safety
leadership on employee safety behavior during COVID-19. International Journal of
Contemporary Hospitality Management.
Online
Impact Of COVID-19 On Technology, 2020. [Online]. Available through: <
https://bernardmarr.com/default.asp?contentID=2100>

PART 2
INTRODUCTION
Reflection report accumulates around the several stages of the reflection model that is
helpful to examine several skills and knowledge, strength and weaknesses of an individual while
working in group assignments. However for analyzing my overall skills and developments I used
to prefer Gibbs reflection model that includes six stages helps me in gaining profitable results in
future consent. Gibbs reflection is best tool to analyze self-skills by indulging in group work on
knowledge base document.
REFLECTIVE REPORT
Gibbs reflection model was proposed by Graham Gibbs in 1988 to represent structure of
experiences from learning. It includes six stages are demonstrated below:
The first stage of Gibbs model is description that discusses the group work on
knowledge base document. By involving in the module I had assigned a group activity in which
several knowledge base articles are to be included that are completed while working in group.
The use of knowledge base is very helpful for me to completing the group activity on time
because presents the particular member responsibility of research that helps in understanding the
several sources effectively and efficiently (García-Lillo and et.al., 2019). By involving in the
several articles that represents the information related to impact of remote working on end user,
achieving effective remote working during COVID 19 etc. helps me to develop my several skills
such as communication skill, numeracy skill, ICT skill, team work skills, problem solving skills.
Before involving in the group assignment I have an little knowledge regarding communication,
numeracy, ICT skill. I a research that I had done on my personal level I found that my problem
solving skill and team work skill is good that help in completing the group assignment in
efficient manner. In the group my seniors and faculty member highly support me to in
completing the allotted work on time. Therefore, involving in this assignment helps in improving
the quality of communication that had done with my group members along with involving in
completing knowledgebase articles. By involving in this module helps me in realizing that

communication, numeracy, ICT, team work skills are highly essential if I want to attain the
group goal on time. Although my problem solving and team management skill is nice but I want
to focus on developing my communication, numeracy and ICT skills by taking active
participation in more activities that are conducted within this particular assignment. At initial
level I had communicate with my team members that helps me to develop my communication
and creates confidents to present myself in crowd.
The second stage is thoughts and feeling that includes in learning experienced that are
associated with group activity that was conducted under the module related to impact of COVID
19 on organisation. At this time the only thought that was come in my mind is to improve my
several skills by taking active participation and using theoretical knowledge that are associated
with communication, numeracy, ICT skills. Because of my effective problem solving and team
management skill other group member support me in developing my other skills mainly
communication skills. In this my group team members support me to present myself in front of
audience and encourage me towards presenting ourselves. This will develop my communication
skill. For improving communication skill I take help of internet and because of this my ICT skills
are developed. During my first presentation in group I felt nervous from stepping out from my
comfort zone. But in this my team members highly appreciate me and boosted my morale that is
one of the best feeling I have experienced. Working in team reflects the great experience in
improving my several skills along with crating more opportunities in future consent.
Third stage of this model reflects evaluation of overall experienced that I have
experienced during learning. By indulging in group knowledge base articles I acquired
theoretical knowledge that helps in developing my several skills that discussed in description
stage. Under this I had to understand the necessity of above mentioned skills when it comes to
completing group activity that helps me in providing several opportunities in business industry.
the only things that negatively impact is my hesitation to work in group due to which I cannot
take active participation in activities to brush core of skills. In this communication skill is simply
developed by proper practical practice and effective interaction with teammates. In this the
positive thing that I was realized that support of the teammates that encourage me to take active
participation in presenting myself to enhance the overall skills. Involving in the module also

helps in boosting my numeracy and ICT skills and creates confidence in me in order to brush all
skills using practical application of theoretical understanding.
In this fourth stage defines analysis of situation that helps in outlining conclusion in next
stage. If I look back at situation and examine positive and negative aspects helps in
demonstrating positive aspects of situation that overshadow obstacles that I had faced during my
learning. I had more interest in communication, ICT, numeracy skill that helps in my rest of my
life that helps me in completing the module in effective manner.
The fifth stage includes conclusion that is done on the basis of analysis and evaluation of
thoughts and feeling that I had experienced in acquisition of skills. To working effectively within
a team i noticed that in this several skills are very helpful that I have gained during this
assignment of knowledge base. In this communication skill and ICT skills are highly essential to
improve and develop overall other skills (Blemker and et.al., 2020). In this sixth stage action
plan is to be prepare that reflects in future if I have involved in this type of assignments I have
been focus on my confidence and practical practice that helps in completing the activity in
effective and proficient manner.
CONCLUSION
This reflective report concluded the several skills that I had to improve during my
learning. it is very essential to focus on improving communication, ICT, numeracy, team
management skills so that effective and proficient outcomes are to be attained individually
within the group activities.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Blemker, M.A. and et.al., 2020. Modulation of the Visible Absorption and Reflection Profiles of
ITO Nanocrystal Thin Films by Plasmon Excitation. ACS Photonics. 7(5). pp.1188-1196.
García-Lillo, F. and et.al., 2019. Identifying the ‘knowledge base’or ‘intellectual structure’of
research on international business, 2000–2015: A citation/co-citation analysis of
JIBS. International Business Review. 28(4). pp.713-726.