In a post COVID-19 world, organizations will need to balance the safety of their employees with the need for meaningful collaboration and focused work.  If this pandemic and subsequent “stay-at-home” order has taught us anything, people crave being around other people.

Physical workplaces will continue to exist.  They probably won’t look the exactly the same, but most organizations won’t be completely abandoning their offices.

Leaders and business owners should be carefully considering the following as they evaluate their spaces in the near future:

  • Incorporate dedicated spaces for deep focus and concentration – these may be enclaves, private offices, workstations with barriers or a combination.
  • Choose the right types of collaborative settings – spaces that support creativity and innovation while also allowing for an appropriate social distance (plus, the ability to participate virtually).
  • Select surface materials that are easily cleanable and implement rigorous standards for office cleaning/sanitations (consider incorporating infection prevention stations through the office).
  • Implement smart technologies to measure how your space is being used, make incremental changes based on data and allow your employees to connect in new ways.
  • Fully embrace the desire and ability for employees to work from home as needed – this is both for safety and for convenience (people need to be able to work efficient and comfortably from home).

Retrofitting

While a portion of the workforce may continue to work from home once stay-at-home orders are lifted, it will be important for companies to retrofit the workplace for returning employees using a common-sense approach that will adhere to health guidelines.

A few practical, inexpensive adjustments that also can be adapted in the future include:

Cleaning & Safety Measures

Cleaning & Safety Measures

By making sanitation highly visible to employees, they will have a sense of reassurance that materials and spaces are being cleaned throughout the day. One way to make sanitation visible and to encourage new cleaning guidelines would be to place sanitation stations around your office.

Adding Screens and/or Panel-Based Stackers

Adding Screens and/or Panel-Based Stackers

Higher space division helps create separation and psychological comfort, while also achieving the recommendations for social distancing. Movable screens, worksurface attached screens and panel-based stackers are smart ways to begin retrofitting your office in preparation for a more long-term solution down the road.

Physical Distancing

Physical Distancing

To encourage a minimum 6ft between employees, consider removing chairs, spreading and re-orienting workspaces, and creating a checkerboard pattern with benches to remove spaces that are directly beside or in front of where employees sit.

GOP can help.

We understand the urgency that many are feeling as they begin their reintroduction plans.  Whether you’re looking for a quick, retrofitted solution or a longer term, reinvented space, we can assist. Our experienced team is trained in workplace design and change management.  We are also fortunate enough to partner with Steelcase, the industry leader when it comes to workplace research, who is proactively developing insights and solutions to hep organizations adapt and excel in this “new world”.

Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or fill out an inquiry form using the “Contact Us” button at the top of the page if you have an upcoming need or just want to explore some possibilities.  We can assist with workplace consultation, space planning, high quality visuals, budgeting, financing, delivery, installation and existing product reconfigurations.