The Coronavirus pandemic caught everyone off guard when the outbreak occurred earlier this year. The virus has disrupted activities for hundreds of thousands of businesses across the globe and has forced many companies to shut down their operations completely.
As the pandemic continues, many businesses have been looking at ways to adapt to these new conditions. Businesses can’t stay closed forever, so here are some ways offices will change after the Coronavirus pandemic.
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Adopting more hospital-like practices
Modern offices will start to take on some of the characteristics of hospitals after the pandemic. We can learn a lot from the practices used by medical facilities to keep viruses at bay. One of these practices is the regular cleaning of workspaces frequented by employees.
Many office spaces are being cleaned and disinfected more regularly during the social distancing era. This precautionary measure will continue in the future; however, office caretakers will need to use products such as household detergents that clean surfaces effectively without damaging them.
Offices will also be fitted with hand sanitizer dispensers, similar to hospitals. These hand sanitizer stations will make it easier for employees to disinfect their hands regularly and slow down the virus’s spread.
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Controlled entry
Employees may soon discover that they are not allowed to enter the office as freely as they did before the pandemic. This is because business owners will start screening their employees for Coronavirus symptoms before allowing them to enter the office every morning.
This means employees will have to line up outside the office and undergo daily temperature checks to determine if they are exhibiting Coronavirus symptoms.
However, some people infected by the virus do not show symptoms initially, so other testing methods may have to be used before allowing employees to enter the office. In the future, instant Coronavirus tests may be developed similar to blood glucose tests for diabetics. Employees can expect to undergo such tests before entering the office every morning.
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Safety equipment
One change that has already been rolled out in offices worldwide is the addition of safety equipment. Most people reading this should already be acquainted with safety masks such as KN95 that slow down the virus’s spread. These masks have become a strict requirement at workplaces that are operating during the pandemic.
Other safety measures include the addition of social distancing stickers around the office space to remind employees to follow proper social distancing guidelines. Some of these stickers can be used to mark the minimum safe distance for social distancing so that workers find it easier to follow it.
Offices will also set up perspex sneeze guard at workstations and desks that are frequented by staff members and clients. These safety screen panels will be mounted on a base or they may be suspended from the ceiling. The end goal is to create a physical barrier between employees wherever possible.
The Coronavirus primarily spreads through coughs and sneezes so perspex and glass screening can protect workers from these virus-ridden projectiles.
If your workplace needs to be fitted with some of this specialized equipment, employers should get in touch with office fit out companies. These companies provide offices and workspaces with equipment such as furniture and carpeting. However, many office fit out companies have also started selling COVID-19 protection gear such as perspex screens since the pandemic began.
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Fewer employees at the office
The most noticeable change at offices after the pandemic will likely be the appearance of fewer employees at the workplace. Many employers asked their employees to work from home during the early days of the crisis. It is likely that many employers will continue this arrangement in the future due to the wide variety of WFH tools available, and also due to how well employees have adapted to this new arrangement.
As a result, offices may feature fewer employees that are present at the workplace during the day. These are likely to be core workers who need to be present to keep office servers running or interact with clients in-person.
As you can see, there will be many sweeping changes at offices in the future. These changes may be difficult for some employers to implement at first, but this pandemic has demonstrated that humans are more adaptable than we previously thought.
So remember to follow proper COVID-19 safety guidelines at your workplace and look out for the well-being of your co-workers. This new “normal” will last for a while, so it’s safer to adapt sooner than later.
Author Bio
Bryony Shaw is the marketing executive at Spectrum Interior, a leading office interior design company offering office fit-out and office refurbishment service in the UK. Her aim in life is to transform as many interior environments as possible into highly beautiful and functional spaces and make all incumbent dysfunctional eyesores a thing of the past. Synchronizing the marketing, sales, purchasing and project management teams, she likes to listen to the needs concerning absolutely any interior.
References:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200514-how-the-post-pandemic-office-will-change
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200519/how-will-covid-change-the-workplace#2
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/08/employers-asked-supply-workers-masks-advice-face-coverings-set/
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/temperature-screenings-within-uk-workplace-wake-covid-19
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb97e7686650c278d4496ea/working-safely-during-covid-19-offices-contact-centres-030720.pdf
