office design Archives

Returning to Work After the Coronavirus Pandemic

by LizStevens | Jun 2, 2020 | Blog

Returning to work after the coronavirus pandemic. Employees who have been working remotely are eager to get back to work and expect employers to keep them safe when they do.

Most employees (72 percent) are eager to get back to the office after working remotely during the pandemic, according to a new survey by Glassdoor.

More than 80 percent of employees trust senior leaders to make an informed decision about reopening the workplace and 45 percent of them expect to return to the company’s office in some capacity this summer.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all model for employers preparing to reopen their offices. While many workers are eager to return to the office, employers considering reopening offices should clearly communicate that the workplace is going to look very different and keep employees informed on what that means for them. Now more than ever, employers must closely monitor local guidelines and listen to their employees to ensure they are meeting the needs of the people that fuel their business,” said Glassdoor Chief People Officer, Carina Cortez.

Returning to Work After the Coronavirus Pandemic

Employees are most excited about socializing with coworkers and resuming in-person collaborations, but they also expect their employers to make changes for health and safety while the threat of Covid-19 still looms:

79 percent of employees expect their employer to provide a disinfectant or hand sanitizer.
54 percent expect their employer to require employees to wear masks or gloves in the office.
45 percent expect their employer to space out workstations at least six feet from coworkers.
38 percent expect their employer to check employees’ temperatures upon arriving at work.

Employees would also like more flexibility post-pandemic. More than 60 percent of employees would continue to work from home full-time even after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted if given the option. When looking for a new job, 60 percent of employees would now consider applying for a position that is entirely remote.

Preparing to Return to Work When Covid-19 Restrictions Are Lifted

Employers should monitor local Covid-19 restrictions, follow guidelines from organizations that prioritize the health and safety of workers and consider innovative office design solutions as they prepare for employees to return to the workplace.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines to help employers limit the spread of the coronavirus and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also has a primer with information on how to protect workers from potential exposures.

Plastic manufacturers are racing to produce items marketed as workplace solutions like face shields, sneeze guards and plexiglass cubicle partitions, but employers should be wary of their efficiency and test solutions before buying in bulk.

Returning to Work After COVID-19

by LizStevens | Apr 29, 2020 | Blog

Returning to work after COVID-19. Precautions employers should take to protect workers and limit the spread of the coronavirus at work.

Returning to work after the COVID-19 pandemic is going to be a challenge. Without a vaccine available, precautions to limit the spread of the coronavirus at work must be put in place.

Employers will have to systematically disinfect the workplace, adjust the space to allow for social distancing and create a process for responding to employees showing signs of illness in order to create a safe work environment.

Returning to Work After COVID-19

The CDC has released guidelines for employers to follow to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace with three primary goals:

Reduce transmission between employees
Maintain healthy business operations
Maintain a healthy work environment

Reducing Transmission Between Employees

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19 with information on how to protect workers from potential exposures. The CDC recommends employers also educate employees on how they can reduce the spread of COVID-19 by taking steps to protect themselves, learning what to do if they get sick and using effective disinfectants.

Maintaining Healthy Business Operations

These are the strategies the CDC recommends for maintaining healthy business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Identify a workplace coordinator who will be responsible for COVID-19 issues.
Implement flexible sick leave and supportive policies and practices.
Assess essential functions.
Determine how the business will operate if absenteeism spikes.
Establish policies and practices for social distancing.

Maintaining a Healthy Work Environment

In order to maintain a healthy work environment after returning to work, the CDC suggests:

Improving the engineering controls using the building ventilation system to increase ventilation rates or increase the percentage of outdoor air that circulates into the system.
Support respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene for employees, customers and worksite visitors.
Perform routine environmental cleaning and disinfection.
Perform enhanced cleaning and disinfection after persons suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 have been in the facility.
Take care when attending meetings and gatherings.

Read the CDC guidelines in full for more detailed information on how to implement these strategies in your workplace.