Start Date
19-11-2020 2:26 PM
End Date
19-11-2020 2:40 PM
Type of Work
Presentation
Description
Objective: As our university moved to a work from home model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our research unit needed to reconsider how we accounted for our daily work. Our objective was to consolidate and standardize our data collection to meet requirements for a variety of different time-, project-, or college/program-based reports. Methods: We started by reviewing all the data elements that we might be asked to provide for internal and external reporting. Using the categories in our university activity report as the foundation, we discussed the level of granularity required and assigned activities to each group. We established common reportable elements, with the ability to add individual- or project-specific elements. We tested the categories using our real activities, regrouped to discuss challenges, and made changes as needed. Results: With the start of the new fiscal year, we incorporated these categories into Timeneye and now use them to track our activities. We export these data on a regular basis as our timesheet for the university to meet its work from home requirements. So far, this system also has been effective for creating time-, project-, or college/program-based reports. Conclusions: This project streamlined the process of tracking our time and facilitated the creation of ad hoc reports. It has made it easier for us to track our time across the unit and it will also make it easier for new hires to account for their time in a logical manner.
Accounting for Work from Home in the Time of COVID
Objective: As our university moved to a work from home model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our research unit needed to reconsider how we accounted for our daily work. Our objective was to consolidate and standardize our data collection to meet requirements for a variety of different time-, project-, or college/program-based reports. Methods: We started by reviewing all the data elements that we might be asked to provide for internal and external reporting. Using the categories in our university activity report as the foundation, we discussed the level of granularity required and assigned activities to each group. We established common reportable elements, with the ability to add individual- or project-specific elements. We tested the categories using our real activities, regrouped to discuss challenges, and made changes as needed. Results: With the start of the new fiscal year, we incorporated these categories into Timeneye and now use them to track our activities. We export these data on a regular basis as our timesheet for the university to meet its work from home requirements. So far, this system also has been effective for creating time-, project-, or college/program-based reports. Conclusions: This project streamlined the process of tracking our time and facilitated the creation of ad hoc reports. It has made it easier for us to track our time across the unit and it will also make it easier for new hires to account for their time in a logical manner.