Big Changes Need To Be Made To Encourage Office Distancing

A new report from workplace sensor provider VergeSense finds that offices will need to undergo a massive transformation in order to meet the new needs of employees.

The research of over 28 million sensor readings and 6.2 million occupancy events from Fortune 1000 office space found that workers had adopted independent work prior to the pandemic. 

Additionally, single-person events like spending time alone at a desk or in an alternative workplace increased from 83% to 88% throughout April and May. 

“Companies will want to consider ways to reassure their employees that it is safe to return to the office place,” the report read. “This may include making more solo working spaces available, providing greater visibility into available spaces, or limiting access to crowded spaces.”

The data also found that when workers interact with one another, they tend to be under the recommended 6 feet of distance. The report added that closing conferencing rooms and shared areas is not enough to encourage distancing, so business leaders should be clear about the policies in place when using the office space. Additionally, VergeSense recommends that organizations should also implement partitions and spaced seating to discourage close, in-person interactions.