Slowly but surely, America is starting to emerge from the Coronavirus lockdown. This is obviously good news but will require an almost overwhelming array of adaptions and revisions to your physical workplace. In many cases, significant upgrades will be needed. Here’s a look at some of the things you should examine investing your money into when it comes to your physical office space.
Showing Your Appreciation
Every business is different. Depending on what kind of office you operate, your staff may have had to endure some serious economic sacrifices or furloughs. Conversely, they may have been working harder than ever, but doing so from home. Regardless, it is safe to say that your staff has likely endured serious pain and inconvenience. This is the time to show your appreciation for the work they have done, and you should upgrade your office accordingly.
Start with the breakroom. If you can, upgrade it. There are many ways you can do this. For example, purchase the equipment needed to flash brew iced coffee in the breakroom. You can also buy furniture upgrades, a nice television, and other amenities.
It may also be worth it to provide your staff with additional creature comforts when they return. Consider catering meals or upgrading your kitchen equipment. Think about what sort of office furniture you can upgrade. Odds are good that your staff will be going to fewer events, so make sure their desk, chairs, and computer equipment are as ergonomic and comfortable as possible.
Protecting Their Safety
Depending on the type of office you have or wish to have, you will almost certainly need to make upgrades to the layout and other physical aspects of your office. As such, there are a variety of upgrades you may need to make. These include:
- Physical barriers: You will want to make sure you have some kind of plexiglass equipment at the front entrance to your office in order to better protect your receptionist from any germs. This is particularly important, given that your receptionist will likely be close enough to a person that they risk getting contaminated if that person is sick. As such, make sure to ensure that some sort of physical barrier is in place.
- Social distancing: Most offices will have to change their layouts to ensure that social distancing can be done. People should work at least six feet away from each other, and having some kind of physical barrier between desks and chairs is unquestionably advisable. Cubicles may work just fine, but you should absolutely check with health professionals to determine the ideal layout for your office.
- PPE & Cleaning Supplies: It is very important that you ensure that your staff has an adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment and cleaning supplies. The exact nature and need for PPE will vary, but at a bare minimum, you will need to make sure that your staff has appropriate face masks and the ability to disinfect surfaces after a customer leaves. Some industries may need to have additional supplies, but you should look to industry and government guidelines to get additional information.
Every office will likely need major upgrades as we start to reopen society again. The type of upgrades you need should be guided by industry and government authorities. However, it is important that you not only protect your employees but reward them for their hard work and sacrifice.