Modern offices have become more open plan than ever, staff are encouraged to use communal areas for brainstorming, and ‘hot desking’ is a popular method of sharing workspaces. All of this space is great for creativity but not ideal now we are in the midst of a global pandemic! Creating a safe environment so that team members can begin returning to work is not going to be easy for many companies. Some big businesses such as twitter have even announced that after the pandemic eases they will not be re-opening offices with staff continuing to work from home forever! For businesses where this remote working structure is not possible, the return to work is likely to be gradual and phased with shift work, home working, and those all-important zoom calls remaining in place for some time.
Listen to your team members
In difficult and uncertain times, communication is key. Your staff members may be feeling anxious about returning to work and reaching out to them will help you understand what the most important changes to your workplace structure need to be. Due to the fact that many staff members may have had a long break, they may feel disconnected from the business which can make coming back seem even more daunting. Reassuring your team members and giving them realistic targets for returning to work is important, you will also need to try and remain flexible where possible as some staff members may still need to work remotely or use flexitime until things return to normal.
Break it up
The first task for business owners is likely to involve breaking the space up into smaller sections with barriers and partitions to help staff adhere to social distancing rules. Partitioning systems are a great investment as they can be moved around easily which is important as we are in changing times, what applies this month may change in six months time. There are many options for partitions, businesses can create one way systems for entering and leaving the building with cleaning stations on route as well as making smaller offices for individuals to work in. For those businesses with a public-facing reception area, glass or perspex partitions can help to protect staff members from germs. In cases where deliveries need to be taken hatches can be built into the partitions.
Re-think your furniture
It is worth investing in wipe-clean vinyl furniture that is easier to disinfect than fabric options. Smaller desks for individuals to work from in their new separate offices are also a good idea. This will help when trying to enforce social distancing within a fairly small office space.
New rules
Many of the key principles of business have been disrupted by this pandemic, meetings, conferences and even handshakes are out of the question so it is clear that our behaviour around the office will need to adapt. Communal areas such as kitchens and breakout areas should be either closed or used only with strict social distancing measures and a rigorous cleaning routine. Most businesses may find it easier to restrict access to these areas altogether and ask team members to bring food and drink to have at their desks in order to be on the safe side. Increased cleaning routines should be put in place for washrooms and staff should be reminded often to wash their hands and disinfect workstations, posters and signs can be helpful in enforcing these new processes.
How we can help
At Gravity we can help you create a safe space for your team to work in during these challenging times. Our expert designers can ensure you are able to socially distance your staff members no matter what kind of space you have to work with. We can also provide delivery and installation using our own experienced fitting teams. We are working very closely with Build UK and CLC guidance relating to Site Operating Procedures. To find out more visit our page on Social Distancing Solutions.
