The COVID-19 pandemic has taught people that in order to stay healthy, they must keep their distance from one another. This mindset will likely have lasting effects when it comes time to re-enter the physical workspace. Workers will be emerging from an unprecedented time of physical and social isolation. And interacting with one another may feel not only a little awkward, but even somewhat unsafe and irresponsible.
People now feel responsible for not only being extra cautious to keep themselves healthy, but also to protect the people around them. So, there is no doubt that collaboration in the workspace will look and feel different.
Remote Team Collaboration
The number of remote workers has increased drastically since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some workers are beginning to return to the office, others will continue working from home. And many companies have decided to have some of their employees work remotely permanently. So, teams of remote workers and in-office workers may encounter obstacles when trying to collaborate with one another. These obstacles may include like timely communication and access to in-office resources
Video conferencing tools, like Google Hangouts and Zoom, helped remote workers share screens and work together in virtual meetings. But while many people have used these tools to at home during the pandemic, they may not be used to using them in the office. The proper technology and equipment should be installed in the workspace to facilitate larger virtual meetings between in-office workers and remote workers. And offices should plan for spaces where virtual meetings can be held in privacy with no audio or visual distractions.
Collaborate Six Feet Apart
A few months ago, it was unlikely anyone thought twice about the safety of sitting among many people at a conference table or communal work area. But now everyone knows the potential close-quartered work areas have for spreading germs. People have become hypervigilant about keeping their hands and the surfaces they touch clean. Because coronavirus can last on surfaces for hours to days and potentially spread throughout the office and follow workers home.
Though co-workers will still be able to collaborate face-to-face in the workplace, they will now need to keep six feet of distance between them. Physical distance may inhibit communication and make difficult hands-on work. In the office, where there were open floor plans and close-quartered workspaces, there will now be plexiglass barriers and sanitizing stations.
It is likely that people will no longer use conference rooms or communal work areas to their full capacity. And shared materials, such as white board markers and Post-its, will likely no longer be used. There will be more of an effort than ever before to go paperless. So, though workers have returned to the office, they may still be doing most of their collaborative work virtually.
