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Academics from the Management School hosted three thought-provoking events at the Festival of Social Sciences. Leading academics shared their research exploring themes such as navigating digital change, understanding autism in the workplace and sexual harassment at work.

Toast and Transformation: Supporting Digital Change

Professor Carolyn Axtell, Dr Hui Zhang and Dr Vladislav Grozev from the Management School hosted a business breakfast workshop launching the , sharing insights and demonstrating how to use the tools to prepare, design, and evaluate the people and organisational aspects of digital change.

Organisations undertake digital change to improve customer experience, foster innovation and spur company growth and sustainability. However, implementing such change can be challenging if organisations neglect the people, cultural and organisational impacts. By prioritising human and organisational factors such as job roles, skill requirements, cultural shifts, processes, and structural changes, organisations can enable a smoother transition and enhance the benefits of digital change. The Digital Change Toolkit helps organisations consider these important areas. 

86% of participants felt they had learned something new from the workshop, 93% plan to share what they’ve learned with others and almost two thirds of participants said they plan to make a change as a result of attending the event.

“It has made me think and reflect on current practices at work and be more open to digital change and transformation.”

Event Attendee

Toast and Transformation: Supporting Digital Change

The was collated and developed by Professor Carolyn Axtell, Professor Karina Nielsen, Dr Hui Zhang and Dr Vladislav Grozev from the Institute of Work Psychology as part of the , a project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Made Smarter Innovation [EP/V061798/1]. If you’d like to find out more, please contact Carolyn Axtell at c.m.axtell@sheffield.ac.uk

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Understanding Autism in the Workplace

Dr Laura Dean, Senior University Teacher in Work Psychology, hosted  ‘Understanding Autism in the Workplace’, an event that emphasised that diversity isn’t only a requirement, but it’s a strength. Laura delved into topics such as myths surrounding autism, reasons why autistic people make good employees and how businesses can make their workplaces more autism friendly which, in actuality, makes the environment more pleasant and accessible for everyone. 

Laura explained how autistic employees can bring new, creative solutions and fresh perspectives to the table. Their unique, logical way of thinking is an asset in the workplace. She emphasised that small adjustments in workplace environments can make a significant impact on inclusivity and accessibility for neurodiverse employees.

In collaboration with the Management School’s Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) team, attendees experienced a simulation with Virtual Reality (VR) headsets which replicated the symptoms of hypersensitivity in a work-based setting. The simulator allowed participants to experience how autistic people can be hypersensitive to fluorescent lighting and distracting decor and how metaphors can be confusing. This helped employers understand the necessity to make accommodations to have more inclusive and accessible work environments.

‘This session was well-paced, clearly delivered and engaging. The VR demonstration was impactful’.

Event Attendee

Understanding Autism in the Workplace

Laura found it extremely encouraging to see so many attendees dedicate their time towards learning how to create more inclusive workplaces for autistic employees. If you’d like to discuss ways to make your workplace more autism friendly, please contact Dr Laura Dean at l.dean@sheffield.ac.uk

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Zero Tolerance Now!  A Public Debate on Ending Workplace Sexual Harassment.

On Monday 4 November, Lecturer in Work and Employment Dr Valeria Insarauto collaborated with Dr Ruth Beresford and Dr Bob Jeffery of ��«Ӱҵ Hallam University to host a public debate on ending workplace sexual harassment.

The event was opened by a panel discussion where Sarah Woolley, the general secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, Dr Ruth Beresford and Dr Valeria Insarauto reflected on the vulnerability of precarious workers to sexual harassment and their limited ability to report and challenge it. As a new duty recently came into force under the Worker Protection Act 2023, requiring employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees, a central question that was raised concerned the potential benefit of the new regulation for these vulnerable workers.

This question was explored in more detail through round-table discussions where all attendees engaged in guided conversations across small groups. The role of employers in preventing and responding to sexual harassment was reflected upon with respect to actions that could be taken to challenge the cultures behind sexual harassment, the support that is needed to report sexual harassment, and how unions can contribute to these issues and to tackling sexual harassment more generally. The richness of the round-table conversations and of the collective discussion that closed the event highlighted the complexity of these issues and how crucial it is to show collective engagement and opposition to sexual harassment at all levels in society.

Professor Damian Hodgson, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, shared “The 2024 Festival of Social Sciences offered a great platform for the Management School to share impactful research addressing some of today’s most pressing social issues. The events help us work towards the School’s mission to have a positive impact on our societies, working lives and organisations.”