How is the Omicron surge affecting searches?

In our job-market discussion thread, a reader writes:

I have a question for any search committee members who may see this and are willing to offer any intel (anonymously or otherwise): Is the current COVID-19 surge impacting (delaying or changing) your committee’s hiring timeline or the decision to have fly-outs versus online teaching demonstrations/job talks? Also, I wonder how a committee might respond to a candidate who expresses reservations about traveling for a second-round interview under the circumstances? P.S. I recognize how challenging this question is as things continue to evolve, and things may vary considerably based on the university’s location.

Excellent questions. It would be great to hear from some search committees in the comments section below!

Comments

[Anonfanon]

I've been lucky enough to be invited to some fly outs this cycle. In each, the department has asked me whether I was comfortable, made clear it would not be held against me if I was not, and they found ways to anonymously ask me this so I didn't feel pressure to answer any particular way. So small sample size, but perhaps due to the last two years, departments already have an infrastructure in place for dealing with this.

[no one anyone has heard of]

I have two fly outs and one did just what Anonfanon describes. The other one is doing things in person with no discussion with the candidates. (I'm not sure if it adjusted their schedule but the fly outs seem to be at normal times to me.) While I don't personally mind doing things in person, seeing the difference between how each place handled it did, I think, make me think about them in slightly different lights.