Seven in 10 project professionals feel their ability to do their jobs has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, while a quarter (26 per cent) of all live projects are currently behind schedule or on hold, according to research published today.
With England in the grip of its third national lockdown and tight restrictions in place in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the survey of over 1,000 project professionals, carried out for the Association for Project Management (APM) by research company Censuswide, reveals the impacts that the pandemic is having on the wider project profession.
Reasons given by those facing challenges since the start of the pandemic in March include:
Despite the negative impact in many areas, there have been a few positive effects too.
Two-thirds of those surveyed reported new initiatives introduced by employers to support the mental health and wellbeing of staff. The schemes include mental health first aiders, dedicated wellness days and increased flexible working.
Debbie Dore, chief executive of APM, said: “These continue to be challenging times, and many people in the project profession have been impacted, for reasons beyond their control. The importance of projects has never been clearer, and it is essential that project professionals are properly supported so that they can deliver positive change for the people, businesses and communities they serve.
“It’s encouraging to see that new ways of working can have a positive impact when it comes to mental wellbeing and that employers are taking the mental health of their employees seriously.”
The project manager mental health toolkit can be downloaded at www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/toolkit/remote-project-managers/
