The COVID-19 restrictions in place for 2020 and 2021 were investigated in terms of the changing environment academics were forced into due to stay at home orders, where they entered into emergency e-learning, from home. The effects of emergency e-learning on academic’s workloads, job satisfaction and motivation, as well as overall wellbeing have yet to be investigated and reported. This identified gap in the literature enabled the generation of a research problem and research questions, on the challenges of emergency e-learning for academics in the higher education sector. Survey findings show institutions unprepared, academics untrained and under resourced and students disengaged with the online learning environment. The development of the SOS model is proposed as a recommendation that institutions need to Support their staff and students in the move to the Online environment, and to Supplement resources and training for academics delivering contact online that was designed for a face-to-face delivery.