Is your business heading back to the office soon? Are you contemplating keeping your team remote? Have you prepared your office space for the return of your employees? Are you planning on cutting business travel?
Many countries have put safety measures in place to ensure they do not receive another large outbreak of COVID-19. Some of these precautions include staying six feet apart, wearing facemasks in public and washing hands as often as possible. The world has changed as we know it, and we believe the post COVID-19 business world will look different.
““We will not go back to what life was like before January of this year.””
Working Remotely
During COVID-19, many companies were able to set-up their workers remotely and some of those companies will be keeping it that way. Remote working tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive and similar applications made remote working possible. Some of the pros and cons to keeping employees working remote are below.
Pros
Reduced risk of spreading COVID-19 and other viruses and colds among staff.
Cost savings: according to Global Workplace Analytics, employers can save USD $11,000 a year per employee that works remotely due to using less or no office space.
Some employees work better from home and are more productive and happier.
A more casual atmosphere.
Cons
Lack of routine for some staff.
Less team interaction.
Some employees work better at an office.
Hard to have a work/home balance.
Post COVID-19 Office Space
For companies that plan to head back into their offices, it may be very different than before. Large boardroom meetings could be a thing of the past. A few measures should take place before employees head back into the office, along with other precautions that may stay for the foreseeable future.
Before Heading Back to the Office
Establish protocols to reduce potential virus spread
Post external signs indicating new office protocols
Provide employees with everything they need to keep their work surfaces clean, including disposable wipes, hand soap, paper towels, disinfectants, and alcohol-based sanitizers
Once Back at the Office
Screen employees to ensure they are healthy
Reduce the number of employees on site through alternating workdays or shifts
Train staff on proper hygiene procedures
Limit capacity of shared spaces - especially bathrooms, elevators, lunch rooms and kitchens
Have the tables and counter tops disinfected and cleaned regularly.
Communicate weekly with your employees to ensure compliance
““We want to make sure employees are getting temperature checks, masks are readily available and deep-cleaning processes are in place for meeting rooms.” ”
The Future of Office Spaces
Although there will be some quick fixes, as mentioned above, to help reduce the spread of viruses, the long-term changes to office spaces could include the following:
Having a sink at reception for everyone to wash their hand upon entering
Open concept offices may be less popular due to not being able to social distance
Air filtration that use ultraviolet light
““Workstations were about privacy and acoustics - now they represent a physical separation between colleagues””
Business Travel
Traveling for business may never be the same in the post COVID-19 world. Business travel is expected to be minimal for the next year or two. Many Canadians are also unwilling to travel, with 57 per cent of Canadians unwilling to go to a business conference until a vaccine is available.
Ben Baldanze, former CEO of Spirit Airlines estimates that there will be a five to ten per cent permanent decrease in business travel. Baldanze explains that as many teams worked from home and were unable to travel for business, they found other ways to communicate with clients/employees.
““Businesses will re-evaluate whether travel is fundamentally required. In cases where it is, a firm will have to sponsor an employee or executive to travel knowing the risks, like that they might be burning money having to put them up at a luxury hotel during a 14-day quarantine.” ”
Conclusion
In a post COVID-19 business world there will be a new normal. More companies and employees will work remotely or set schedule to go into the office. The office atmosphere may be different, with a high focus on staff health and hygiene procedures. Business travel will look different, with less business spending money on travel. Over time, things may return closer to what they were before COVID-19, but they will never be the same.
