Just a few months ago, many companies vehemently avoided adopting remote working arrangements. Then, they had no other choice. Now that employees know just how much they can do from the comfort of their home, they may prefer to do so in the future.
Companies need to keep their employees safe at all costs, and that is why some companies are making major changes in relation to their office design.
For example, design company COEL has made it their mission to create workspaces that nurture company culture and employee wellness. Their project for UK-based property consultancy firm Bidwells’ headquarters became the first truly agile refurbished building in Cambridge. The company provided staff with laptops and a mobile phone, allowing them the option to work from home or in the office, which led to them to cut costs, as well as have higher retention rates and employee satisfaction.
While working from home is a necessity at the moment, companies need to put an emphasis on physical and mental health when employees come back into the office. This includes installing touch-free technology in high-contact areas, limiting occupancy in dense areas, putting in signage that encourages one-way traffic and physical distancing guidelines of 6 feet, implementing privacy screens and much more.
Ensuring that offices are following strict cleaning regimens will also be essential to keeping employees safe and healthy. This goes beyond sanitizing surfaces — it also means installing air conditioning and ventilation systems as bacteria and viruses can linger for hours at a time.
