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Every Tuesday we send out the MedComms Networking email newsletter to subscribers. It includes brief commentary on what we're doing and planning, and highlights relevant news to encourage sharing of information, experiences and ideas and to stimulate discussion. The text and links included below, by definition, were accurate on the day of publication, but may then become outdated.
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MedComms Networking - 27 September 2022
Hi
Hot off the press this week, the latest issue of Medical Writing from the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) is all about A Virtual Workforce. It's worth a read. It's all now open access. It includes our article, reporting the two surveys we ran in 2020 and 2021 and which many of you contributed to. Changes to working practices in medical communications during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from two surveys already feels a tad outdated, but hopefully provides some food for thought.
The picture seems very confused around best working practices. Answers are now so individual. What suits you doesn't suit me, but neither of us can be wrong. I find it fascinating to chat about whether we should head back to the office, stay at home or mix it up. There are many very strong opinions, but so often those are solely driven by very personal agendas and experiences. I can no longer imagine heading into an office every day. How would I deal with the myriad of chores that also need sorting here at home? But I'm also tired of people hiding behind technology. Not answering emails and not providing other means of contacting them has become routine for some. How much easier was it when we could grab someone in their office when we saw them arrive? Or, when people answered their phones? What about the challenges involved in gathering small groups of people together for a brief online discussion? How much time is being wasted on that nowadays? And if someone does arrange a meeting F2F, how easy is it to be the person who says, "can I just dial in?". And then sit with the camera off while catching up on emails. My meeting is very important to me... but not so to you.
Did you see the headlines from last week? Here's one from BBC Online, Bosses think workers do less from home, says Microsoft. According to the report, "87% of workers felt they worked as, or more, efficiently from home, and 80% of managers disagreed." That's quite a stark difference in perspective!
Still, it could be worse. I'm dealing with the NHS again over family health matters and frankly the inefficiency in communications is remarkable! And I'm grappling with all that time-wasting stuff whilst supposedly working, to pay those utility bills that are now shooting up at home. Maybe I should go back to an office sometime soon and let someone else pay for the coffee and cake and heating... ah, but is the office there anymore? Didn't we let the lease go?
P.S. Remember we start our weekly #MedComms webinars again next week, on Wednesday 5 October, with Fishawack Health talking about how to embed inclusion and diversity into everyday work practices in MedComms. Join us. Spread the word. Everyone's welcome. And if you miss the live webinar for whatever reason, then catch up any time at NetworkPharma.tv. Whatever suits you best.
There's lots more coming. Stay well, everyone.
Cheers
Peter Llewellyn
Managing Director, NetworkPharma Ltd
Follow me on Twitter @NetworkPharma
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