There was a time when entering a crowded metro, train, or even your office elevator was done without any second thoughts. We have touched doorknobs or elevator buttons a million times even when it was freshly warmed by another person. We also have used the common printing machine or coffee machine embodied with visible fingerprints. But with the COVID-19 outbreak, things have pretty much changed around. It has brought an end to our old office lives and steered us towards public-health awareness and sanitation. And as the government declared social distancing as one of the effective COVID-19 solutions, businesses around the world are accepting it as the new normal.

As businesses and offices reopen post-lockdown, certain social distancing measures need to be put in place not only for your employees but also for the people visiting your workplace. It allows you to continue efforts to restrict the spread of Coronavirus while safely resuming your business practices. Maintaining distance has proven to be the key to control COVID-19 and therefore office spaces might face challenges due to rows of desks grouped, making it difficult to follow social distancing. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but there are some tips and techniques that will help you follow social distancing guidelines for offices.

  • You can encourage remote work whenever possible and reduce on-site meetings. You can have fewer people in the office by staggering work shifts. But make sure proper cleanings are done between shifts.
  • You can reconfigure your workspace by organizing desks at least at a distance of six feet apart and at the same time, avoid the use of shared equipment or work stations. To maintain a proper distance, you could make use of plexiglass, sneeze shield, and floor decals that guide your employees to keep following the recommended distance.
  • You can set a lower threshold capacity for common areas in the workspace such as cafeteria or pantry, conference/meeting room, etc. This will help in space management. You can keep a track of the entries and exist to make sure the number does not exceed beyond the threshold.
  • Provide remote or digital services, and take extra care during pickup and delivery options by trying to avoid physical contact. Provide hand sanitizer stations handy for your employees to make sure they don’t spread the germs all around the space.

Sensible Guide to Maintain Social Distancing at Common Areas in Offices

Common areas within your workplace such as restrooms, pantry, elevator, conference rooms, smoking zone, or the reception are used by many people. There is likely a higher potential for the spread of coronavirus in such areas if proper control is not placed in time. So, you need to follow some control measures to keep your employees safe. The best way to do is to limit the number of people using the common areas to avoid congestion and use floor markings that will help in following social distancing. Also, make sure these areas are being cleaned on a timely basis.

Consider pinch points in your offices such as corridors, doorways, staircases, and storage space and make sure they are frequently cleaned. You could set up hand sanitizer stands in these common areas thus reducing transmission of the virus at work. Minimize contact between people by using screens or barriers. You can also have display signs making people aware to follow the social distancing guidelines for offices and reminding them to wash their hands and avoid touching their faces. Apart from this organize workstations to ensure that people meet social distancing rules. It is also essential to review layouts and processes to make sure that employees work while keeping a distance of 2m from each other wherever possible.

Incorporating COVID-19 solutions: Adjusting to the New Normal

Before reopening your office, it is important that you follow the reopening guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health authorities. The ideal way to lower risk at the workplace is to eliminate threats to safety and security. This can be done by reducing common touchpoints and providing the essential safety equipment such as sanitizer stations, temperature screening of the employees before entering the office and making sure social distancing would be followed strictly.

The health and safety of your employees is an essential factor for your business. While it may seem overwhelming adjusting your office policies post-COVID-19, but it a crucial approach to returning back to work with caution. So, make sure you follow all the social distancing guidelines for offices to keep your workspace safe and healthy.