In many areas of the country, reopening is either on the horizon or already taking place. For most of us, this means that the return to the office will be here before we know it. However, once we do return, things will not be back to “normal” right away. Businesses need to prepare accommodations for employees and customers as well as make changes to their space to create the safest work environment possible. As such, we’ve compiled some of the most common reopening trends that you can implement as your company transitions.
Naturally, this is a fundamental step of reopening. A thorough sanitization of your space will communicate to your employees that you care about their safety first and foremost as they re-adjust to working in the office again. Also, many workspaces have not been active since mid-March, so a thorough cleaning will be sure to freshen the atmosphere.
Reopening at reduced capacity is a great way to ensure the workplace doesn’t get overcrowded under these new circumstances. Employees concerned about returning, or who are fully equipped to do their job remotely, can do so as new socially distanced arrangements are made in the reopened office space.
Depending on the size of your business, heading up the reopening plan entirely by yourself may be too demanding. If this is the case, consider creating a taskforce that can assist you in optimizing your space for reopening. In addition to the added perspectives, creating a taskforce also gives employees multiple points of contact to communicate with for guidance regarding new company policies.
Screening employees routinely is a great way to keep your team safe in the event that someone comes in contact with COVID-19. Before moving forward with things like daily temperature checks, however, be sure to refer to local guidelines and your legal representative to ensure you implement the best screening plan possible.
The layout of your office should be centered around social distancing guidelines, even if this means refraining from using standard conference rooms. Consider implementing traffic flow signage (like you have probably seen in stores or restaurants) to remind employees to keep some space between them. Additionally, make sure seating and desk rearrangements are made to keep employees a reasonable distance apart.
Although the whirlwind from March seems like it happened a lifetime ago, there is always the chance that businesses will have to shut down again due to another wave of the virus or even an employee testing positive. Be sure to collaborate and form a closure plan to smoothly transition back to working from home just in case the need arises.
Nickel City Learning Solutions is your one-stop source for all of your training needs. Our philosophy is that learning should be fun, relevant, and measurable. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information or any questions regarding the seamless transition back to the physical workplace.
