Workspaces in the Age of Social Distancing

The worldwide COVID-19 infection forced companies to shut offices and adopt remote work model. As lockdowns around the world lift up and companies prepare to welcome workers back into office, the office space workers were once familiar with, will not be the same. Employers will need to make modifications in the workplace to ensure employees’ safety.

Post-COVID workplaces will be different. Here’s what to expect at work places in the coming future.

New normal at work

Employers are undertaking all measures to keep employees safe. The following are some prominent measures that will prevent infection from spreading and protect employees in the short –term.

– Workplace stations will represent social distancing rather than privacy
– Office floors will be reconfigured to maintain safe distance between employees
– Conference room meetings will be strictly prohibited.
– Floor disinfection and frequent sanitization of common places at regular intervals will be required.

Open office plans will roll back

The shift from cubicles to open office marked a new age of work. The latest pandemic, however, would take the modern workplace back to the traditional settings. Workplaces with open office plans may see the following changes:

– Personal workplaces will be preferred over collaborative workplaces
– Office spaces will be more dispersed and enclosed spaces will become a norm again
– Water cooler space, cafeterias, on premise gyms, and other areas that encourage socializing will be minimized.
– Office corridors and walls will be covered with visual safety precautions.

Greater focus on hygiene and cleanliness

Office hygiene will be an utmost priority in the modern workplace. Companies will pay more attention to the cleanliness of the office and ensure strict adherence to hygiene protocols. Janitorial staff may be found frequenting office more than pre-COVID times.  The following are a few measures that can be expected at workplaces to ensure better hygiene and cleanliness.

– To ensure particle –free air, centralized vacuum systems will be put in place
– self –cleaning and disinfecting appliances will be installed
– The demand for foot operated doors will be high and carpets will be low
– The air conditioning systems and compartmentalization of air ducts will undergo changes

Socially-distanced workforce

Social distancing is the new norm. Collaboration and brainstorming sessions may be restricted to phone calls and move to project management and collaboration tools. Companies will introduce contactless collaboration to avoid physical contact with colleagues. Employers will take measures to ensure that there’s minimal contact among employees.

Here are a few measures that employers may take to ensure that social distancing protocols are followed at all times.

– Employers may resort to rotational shifts and days at work
– Employers may cap the number of staff in office
– Companies will prioritize workers who need to be physically present
– Large business operations may breakdown into smaller distributed office spaces.

Workspaces have come a long way in the past few years. The latest pandemic will ensure that offices evolve in ways it was never imagined.

Summary

Post COVID-19, as offices reopen, employee health will be a priority for companies. To ensure safety, employers will take several measures; right from installing self-cleaning and disinfecting appliances to discouraging physical collaboration. Companies may introduce rotational work shifts to ensure social distancing in office. Open office plans will turn into private enclosed spaces. Workplaces will transform in ways we would have never imagined.