Foreword [Centre for Labour Studies : Biennial Report : 2019-2020]

Abstract

The year 2020 was like no other in modern history. The impacts of COVID-19, both domestically and internationally, were substantial, far reaching and unprecedented. Like all other organisations, the CLS was forced to respond swiftly to the new reality that surrounds us. Lectures and other interactions with students that traditionally took place physically were switched to run remotely. Administrative tasks that often made use of hard paper copies and physical meetings were carried out digitally. Research efforts, such as the regular reports which the CLS produces for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), were transformed to focus on the occupational and social impacts of COVID-19. Whilst a sizable task, the efforts of the CLS staff were fruitful: an internal survey of our students highlighted that the vast majority were satisfied with the online lectures (less than 4% were dissatisfied), whilst the Centre’s Eurofound research efforts were ranked highly by the aforementioned organisation.