We may not know when we will return to the office. And we may be wondering if the workplace will look and feel different when we return. Here is some insight on how the workplace might change.
Sanitation Stations
By now, we’ve likely all developed habits of using hand sanitizer and wiping down our workspaces. So, it is likely workplaces will encourage these habits by providing the supplies needed to stay clean. Post-COVID-19, workplaces will likely reevaluate their hygiene policies and expect empoyees to adhere to a higher standard of cleanliness. There will also likely be more documentation on when and how things are cleaned to ensure proper sanitation.
Open Windows
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many people have opened their windows. Letting fresh air in is a simple and free way to create better ventilation and dilute virus particles in the workplace. The natural light from these open windows also has its health benefits, such as boosting vitamin D and improving sleep. There is even research that shows sunlight can potentially kill harmful bacteria. In workplaces where there are no windows, air filtration systems will be used to improve the air quality in the workplace.
Contactless Technology
To avoid the transmission of germs, we will likely not connect with our workspace like we did before. With contactless technology, we will not need to use our hands to open doors or press elevator buttons. Motion sensors, facial recognition, and voice activation will make this possible. We may also find ourselves using our mobile phones more to operate things around the office.
Visual Instructions
Just like we’ve seen in supermarkets, offices will likely display more visual instructions to keep people at appropriate distances in lobbies, elevators, and workspaces. Because we may find ourselves still needing to stay atleast six feet apart when we return. And some offices may even use sinage to divide corridors into lanes or encourage employees to walk clockwise around the office. Currently, hosipitals are doing this to minimize the transmission of germs.
More Personal Space
Before the pandemic, people were beginning to realize the privacy issues with open office plans. And now, people will worry about the sanitary issues with open office plans. With no partitions and little personal space, open offices are a feeding frenzy for germs. So, when we return to there will be more closed space. And to provide more personal space, desks will be bigger. Hallways and doorways will be wider. There may even be more staircases. Because less people will want to pack together into elevators.
Less People
When we return to the office post-COVID-19, the office may feel emptier. Though remote work may no longer be necessary post-pandemic, many employees and employers may prefer it. Working remotely has the potential to save both parties money and time. So, in the future, there will likely be less people working in offices and more people working from their homes.
