Going back to work, for most people, is going to feel a lot different than when they left, but over time a new “normal” will emerge. There is a lot of conjecture about what “normal” will be going forward, but we know that the global COVID-19 pandemic will change the workplace forever. The opportunity ahead of us is to make the office even better than it was before the crisis.
Insights for the Post-COVID Workplace
Wave 1: Responding in the Now
Wave 1: Responding in the Now
The immediate priority for organizations is to bring people back to work as quickly and safely as possible. Employees want to get return to work so they can provide for themselves and their families, but only if they feel safe doing it. That means organizations need to retrofit the workplace with what they have today, using the health guidelines available now, to keep the first wave of workers safe.
Design Ideas: Sensible strategies include practicing physical distancing, like moving desks apart and removing chairs, adding barriers, enhancing cleaning and safety measures, as well as supporting those who are working from home longer.
Wave 2: Planning for the Near-term
Wave 2: Planning for the Near-term
As the first wave of workers adjust, organizations can start implementing changes to reconfigure the workplace that will feel more natural and allow more people to return. Scientists will learn more about how this particular coronavirus behaves which can help guide organizations’ plans for the near-term.
Design Ideas: This could include new layouts in the space to help physical distancing feel more comfortable such as adding new elements to workstations, like glass or higher screens. New bleach-cleanable fabrics will be introduced. Travel is likely to be limited for some time which means the workplace needs to provide more and better options for videoconferencing. Some organizations will continue to support working from home as a strategy to reduce density in the workplace, where others may redeploy real estate in new ways.
Wave 3: Looking Toward the Far
Wave 3: Looking Toward the Far
There will be an urgency to not just get back to where we were, but to move forward, be resilient and thrive. As we reinvent the workplace, science-based solutions will integrate with emerging technology to deliver employee safety and an even higher level of employee wellbeing.
Design Ideas: This means that planning paradigms driven by density and costs need to shift — think adaptability instead of permanence, fluid instead of fixed. People now have a whole new appreciation for being together and will want to feel a renewed sense of community. Virtual and physical experiences will bring people together in new ways to create a sense of belonging.
The role of the workplace in a post-COVID-19 world is more important than ever. To see design considerations and thought starters, download the complete guide, “Navigating What’s Next: The Post-COVID Workplace” from our partner, Steelcase.