THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE'S VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK PROVED ADVANTAGEOUS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
Digital technology is critical for ensuring business continuity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both public and private sectors acknowledged the importance of adequate digital development to support business continuity, remote business, and learning.
According to an official from the World Bank Group, telecommuting (also called teleworking) creates greater levels of resilience for businesses but requires a well-developed telecommunication and digital infrastructure, upskilled workers, clear communication and an employee support plan.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the Government of Saint Lucia to quickly adjust its mode of operations to rely more heavily on its virtual platforms for business continuity in the provision of vital services to the public. Due to health and safety protocols, government employees connected via their digital networks while telecommuting.
Systems Administrator at the Department of Finance, Leton Clovis, said working remotely is not new to officers in the Department of Finance.
“We had already set up a VPN or a Virtual Private Network, that actually allows us to log into our network in order to access those services, and most of the heads of our departments have had access to the VPN long before COVID-19, so it is not anything new for us. In fact, it was actually an advantage because when the time came for us to implement it because of the pandemic, the system was already in place.”
Clovis added that working remotely allowed for greater levels of productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing officers to continue working on projects from their homes while observing health and safety protocols. However, he highlighted one major disadvantage with teleworking.
“I’ve always believed that there needs to be a separation between work and family life and you would find that even prior to COVID-19, there are many persons who are very passionate about what they do; and so you find that they work from eight to four-thirty and then leave the office to go home and continue working from home, because they have that avenue. I believe it [negatively] affects family life.”
Teleworking has registered more advantages than disadvantages for business continuity from reduced commuting hours and reduced demand for rental spaces, to increased productivity and competitiveness.
The Systems Administrator sees great value in retaining a blended approach to work post this pandemic.
“It is something that needs to continue. As I said to you, it is something that we implemented and that has also been implemented in other departments throughout the government through GITS. It is a way to advance in terms of how we do business even in the current technological age.”