As the economy begins to reopen in states across the US, many companies are preparing for the workplace to look vastly different.

Uncertainty continues to linger in the air, particularly as the risk of a second wave remains high, but organizations are reconfiguring their workspaces in order to weather the storm and keep employees safe.

“The conversations that owners are having are around items which relate to wellness and safety, understandably,” said Brad Corsmeier, executive vice president of the investor leasing group at CBRE Raleigh. “Now there is a greater emphasis on health and safety standards. Touchless features in restrooms like faucets, toilets and soap dispensers and automated entry doors versus anything handheld are already becoming more commonplace.”

Corsmeier added that building owners are looking to the Fitwel Standard, which provides landlords with scorecards for existing and new buildings in order to optimize the health of occupants through design and strategies.

“The conversations we’re having with landlords are about items and equipment to implement in the near term so people feel safe coming back to work as they reoccupy over the next coming months,” said Corsmeier.

Employees wearing masks in the office and other workplaces will likely become the standard moving forward. To ensure that employees feel safe and secure in the workplace, Corsmeier also said that office furnishings and layouts will also undergo transformations to ensure employees are not only safe, but feel comfortable and secure.