The word “workplace” has taken on a whole new meaning in the past several months. When the world came to an abrupt halt in mid-March, many employees were fortunate enough to be able to transition their jobs safely to their homes. Guest bedrooms were turned into make-shift offices, and Brady Brunch-style conference calls became ubiquitous the world over.

But as abrupt as that transition to the virtual workplace happened, the reverse is proving to be a different story. As noted in JLL’s recent research report on workplace re-entry during COVID-19, there are a host of factors that complicate workplace re-entry. Of them, enhancing facility protocols, adjusting workspaces to accommodate social distancing, and assessing employee readiness to return are near the top of list. Not to mention, any potential actions mandated by the local government could further complicate the process.

Factors to Re-Entry

As companies phase back their workforce to a shared facility, cost is a significant factor in evaluating how, who, and when to return. A large portion of organization are planning for phased re-entry, and, according to the JLL report, a majority of organizations are not planning to return all of their employees to the workplace.

Health and safety will be essential to addressing workplace needs, and a renovation may be needed to adequately meet those needs. Here are some strategies for effectively updating your space to safely welcome back employees:

• Focus on space de-densification – The space required for social distancing at work is fairly straight-forward – you’ll either need a larger footprint or fewer in-office employees to reduce the population density in your shared space. The days of open-office layouts that encourage easy collaboration are likely in the rear-view mirror, at least temporarily. But spacing out doesn’t have to feel cold and isolating. Natural light and smart design can still help a space feel welcoming.
• Improve building ventilation – The quality of air and flow within buildings is an often overlooked area that is essential to health and safety.
• Invest in upgrades – Sliding doors so no one has to touch handles, more numerous but smaller restrooms to prevent people from gathering close to each other, energy-efficiency upgrades and more can help enhance the experience your employees have at the office as well as be a smart investment for the future.

The return to work will take time and it’s important to be smart with how you do it. At Seacoast Construction, we have the expertise it takes to upgrade your workplace in a way that’s best for your needs and your employees’ safety. To learn more and schedule a consultation, get in touch with us.