With the slow easing of the coronavirus lockdown measure, offices are beginning to reopen across the country, albeit with some major changes to how we work and interact with others. Some changes may be for the better, while others mean we will have to adjust our old habits and methods.
The BBC has reported experts predictions on how the workplace will look in 2025, which illustrates how our 2020 ‘new normal’ will be simply ‘normal’ in five years. But in the short term viewpoint, some changes are essential to maintain employee safety.
Firms will have to be creative with their measures to maintain social distancing and hygiene in the office. According to HR experts Citation, such regular office features such as the tea round will have to be banned, and meetings would have to be held in outdoor venues such as coffee shops and beer gardens to ensure the safety of workers.
Gillian McAteer, Citation’s head of employment law, said: “Businesses may need to implement a number of creative measures in order to enforce hygiene, safety and social distancing in the office. It could also require them to entirely re-think whole areas of their workplace, including break areas, toilets and meeting rooms.”
Futurologist Dr Ian Pearson, who contributed to Citation’s study, ‘The Future Of The Workplace’, suggests meetings could be held outside, weather permitting, which would be safer than being held indoors. Any wind would blow disperse any virus particles, and the sunlight will help keep things sterile.
The study also confirms that workplace common areas such as kitchens, break areas, and toilets would be a challenge for businesses. Lunch and break times would need to be staggered, as would start and finish times to avoid a crush with everyone arriving at the same time.
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