WFH: Elizabeth Lee wrangles the ACT Opposition and her toddler.
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Dining table versus desk. Laptop versus desktop. PJ’s versus suit. As part of a continuing series we consider the pros and cons of new flexible work arrangements in this post-pandemic age.
This week we ask ACT Liberal Leader Elizabeth Lee how she gets her job done.
What’s your WFH set-up?
The nature of my work as Member for Kurrajong and Leader of the Opposition hasn’t really adapted easily to a WFH situation seamlessly. Even prior to the lockdowns, most elected members work very irregular hours including from home (for example, lots of reading for policy or committee work which is done from home quite a lot) but during the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 and parliamentary sittings were suspended, we moved all meetings online and my engagements with constituents moved to mostly email, via social media platform messaging services or phone. We have a study with a desk which mostly my partner, Nathan uses. I have to say I did most of my online work on my laptop in my courtyard as it was nice to get some fresh air within the bounds of being restricted to home.
Has it changed much over three years?
Parliamentary sittings resumed fairly early on when restrictions started to lift with safeguards in place (Perspex screen in the middle table, members sitting one seat apart, masks in the chamber, etc) and committee hearings undertaken online. We are now essentially back to pre-covid arrangements (with the Perspex screen to come down and no distancing restrictions on seating arrangements within the next few months). All face-to-face constituent engagement has resumed either in our offices or at mobile offices around the electorate.
ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee
What split of time do you make between WFH and office life now we are free to choose?
The majority of my work is done at the office or out in the electorate. The work I do from home are at irregular hours either for social media engagement or radio interviews done by telephone at 7am for example. A lot of reading gets done at home also. The division of WFH and office is pretty much back to pre-Covid days.
What’s the best bit about WFH? And the worst?
During the first lockdown in 2020, the best part for me was being able to spend time with my (then) 9-month-old daughter, Mia. Given 2020 was an election year, I had begrudgingly accepted that I would not be around much for Mia’s first year with so much campaigning that needed to be done. In a way, despite the uncertainty of Covid and the health risks, the good part for me was being forced to be at home and getting to spend a lot of time with Mia as she approached her first birthday. The worst is that the core aspect of my role is to engage with my constituents and whilst I was able to do that via email, messaging apps or phone, nothing beats face-to-face connection with local residents.
What do you love about the office? And hate?
Being able to get a feel for the mood and morale of my team (parliamentary colleagues as well as my office team) and being available to them if anything comes up and needs to be addressed or sorted pretty quickly. Creating and fostering a good team environment is so important in the work we do and the regular engagement as a team is something that I prioritise. I also have resources at the office that I do not have at home (working on a desktop is different to working from a laptop). The worst part is sometimes getting bogged down on a lot of admin (which needs to be done I accept but especially if it takes longer than I expect or something unexpected comes up) when I could be out and about in the electorate engaging with constituents.
Where do you get more work done and why?
This really depends. There are distractions both at the office and at home. And sometimes I don’t have a choice—which I think most working parents will understand. There are days that I have to leave the office on a strict timeframe to pick up Mia from childcare and have to do a radio interview by phone in the evening and I have to juggle making sure Mia’s not making too much noise and disrupting me but at the same time dealing with mum guilt for not being there 100 per cent for her when it is “after hours” or family time.
What’s on your desk at home and how is it different to your desk at work?
Whilst we do have a home office set up, Nathan mostly uses it. I do prefer to sit outside in my courtyard with my laptop. Other times, I do a lot of my social media engagement on my phone on the couch! When Mia was a lot younger I would have her either playing on the outdoor play equipment or seated in a boost chair nearby whilst I was on my laptop in the courtyard. It probably breaks a few occupational health and safety requirements but the nature of my job even before covid was anywhere and everywhere especially with constituent work and preparation for sittings or committee work.
Lockdown life saw Elizabeth do a lot of her work from the courtyard while daughter Mia played
Most essential work items no matter where you are?
Definitely my phone! I probably am a little reliant on it (much to the annoyance of my family) but I communicate a lot via whatsapp and it also has all my social media accounts on it.
Can you make your own coffee as well as your barista?
We did invest in a pretty snazzy coffee machine when we went into lockdown and a coffee grinder so we definitely have easy access to fresh coffee. Nathan says he makes better coffee…and I’m not going to complain when he makes it most mornings! Since I’ve been pregnant I have limited my coffee intake to one a day so that’ll do me. If I have coffee meetings scheduled for the morning, I’ll skip my coffee at home.
What helps you become more productive at home?
Knowing I can either jot down thoughts/ideas/tasks and email myself or my staff as soon as I think of them from my phone so I don’t have to think about remembering the next day or during office hours. I don’t expect action on anything until work hours but it means I don’t forget to bring it up the next day.
What are the worst distractions?
Having a toddler at home can be difficult juggling work tasks at home. I’m sure a few radio listeners have heard Mia in early morning radio interviews when I’m ringing in from home sometimes! It’s an ongoing balancing act trying to be present for Mia given I have such little time with her (perhaps only a few hours each day) whilst at the same time keeping on top of everything especially when urgent issues come up.
