How Organizations Will Build Healthier Work After COVID |
Posted: April 29, 2020 |
As we gradually return to the world of work post COVID-19, we will need to acclimate and adjust to the somewhat changed paradigms. These will range from being minor, to being ones that will have a significant way of affecting our work-life. Either way, things are going to be a little bit different for a while. As Amit Ramani, CEO, Awfais, told Livemint: “Post lockdown, when professionals start returning to workspaces, we believe social distancing will continue for three to six months, until the situation improves vastly." Things are different now for a while. It is time to make peace with that. In terms of workplace design, the word “space” has a twofold definition: One, being the available physical space that affects employee well-being and productivity; the other, being in terms of psychological wellness, transparency and healthy boundaries. In this challenging period, both these definitions have become intertwined. The concept of ‘social distancing’ in the workplace involves both an increased emphasis on adequate physical distance, and the boundaries that constitute the overall safety of employees. Office interiors now need rethinking in a dynamic way to overcome this challenge. For example, while activity-based working spaces might usually be ideal for spurring collaboration—their usage, as of now, is not ideal. The goal is to reduce physical contact. Hence, it’s probably better to build small work clusters, according to requirement in segregated spaces—to ensure that collaboration and safety remain intact. The air supply in the office also needs to be paid close attention to. Office buildings need proper filtration, humidity and temperature control, to ensure there is no chance of spread through the air. This process is complimentary to segregation of employees—who will now be expected to practice accurate and proper respiratory hygiene. Space planning also involves dealing with “high touch” areas in the workplace. Identified by BBC as “vectors for the spread of the virus”. There are places of high-contact---like refrigerators, door handles, coffee machines etc. The goal is to minimize touching and contact in the workplace, even with all the segregation and spacing. Hence, regular sanitization of office spaces is a must—and so is the regular conduction of medical check-ups, alongside providing employees hand sanitizers and proper sanitation periphery at crucial places in the office, to keep themselves safe. Emphasis on adding more “non-touch” surfaces—automatic doors, sensor based access controls, occupancy sensors etc. will also go a long way. The last aspect goes beyond the realm of pure office design, and a bit…personal. Accountability and responsibility are characteristics of good employees, and they are equally as important now. Employees need to be proactive in informing themselves, identifying symptoms and be self-motivated to do whatever they can to ensure the office be as safe as possible--for both themselves and their colleagues. Having healthy boundaries, mutual respect and empathy were defined as part and parcel of employee behaviour. Now they are absolutely inviolable. People have to be responsible in their part to create a healthy and safe environment. This is not the time to be flexible with rules. Until the time when things go back to normal, it is important for all of this to remain important. Almost even like a protocol. Staying and helping each other stay safe, is now part and parcel of all our daily responsibilities.
|
||||||||||||||||||
|