With the gradual re-opening of the U.S. economy in various states, there are people preparing to make their way back to offices and workplaces. First, this is contingent on whether folks working from home will be allowed to continue to do so on a permanent basis. Next, being back to a regular work locale will depend on which ‘Phase’ of progress a region or a state happens to be in. So I started to brainstorm on just a few things workers can expect to be different when they get back to their offices or other job environments in this new era of Social Distancing.
Taking an elevator to get to your office?
Some buildings are instituting only one passenger per elevator car. I’ve seen Taiwanese video of floor buttons to call for your elevator, the buttons inside the car are also on the floor and are tapped on by your shoe. There’s also those little hand held poking gadgets to help avoid pressing your fingers against call buttons.
Restrooms? To keep hands off on as many things as possible, restrooms are going to need to be motion detector operated. Sinks, urinals, stalls, etc.
Desk spacing This is already a much talked about issue. No doubt plastic partitions will still need to go up in ‘bull pen’ areas.
Need to have a staff meeting? To observe 6 feet of social distancing, bigger conference rooms with separate entrance and exit doors will be required.
Speaking of conference rooms. There’s no more, “It’s Bill’s birthday, come on down to the conference room and share some cake and soft drinks!”
Company coffee pot area. Boxes of latex free rubber gloves will be needed at the coffee station, and It’s going to need to be well policed!
Water cooler talk? Keep at least six feet away from your peers which means there’ll be less office gossip; unless you want everyone in the workplace to know anything juicy that you’re talking about.
Sharing a company refrigerator? Nope. Workplace fridges have long been Petri dishes of disgusting smells, germs and disease. Everyone’s going to need a personal dorm sized fridge in their own office or at their desk.
What about heating up your lunch? Workplaces will need to use microwave ovens that have the steam cleaning/self-cleaning option.
Vending machines for sweets and snacks? Have latex free gloves ready for button pushing.
Bring a dish for office pot luck meals. Forget about that idea too. Gone like dial up internet and VCRs.
Passing around your kids’ Girl Scout cookie order form for co-workers to sign up on? Nope. Accept E-mail orders, pay it with cash or check that needs to be sterilized.
The copier room. Only one person at a time allowed in there and a box of gloves outside the door. Glove up before using.
The office mail room. Again, another need for loads of gloves and a one person in there at a time policy.
Inter-office romances. Between tip toeing around harassment concerns and the whole physical distance issue, fishing off the company pier is history.
Deliveries of any kind. All incoming materials will need to be cleaned with sanitary bleach wipes. Delivery people will also need to be temperature checked before entering an office. Masked up, for sure!
Take your kids to work day? Sure, just make sure they’ve been swab tested and temperature checked for Covid 19 first!
Office or work place holiday parties? Only if you can space out the company employees in a gym sized rental space.
I’m sure there are more health and safety protocols that I’m missing but this is a start. For those returning to the home office or workspace, there’s plenty to get ready for. Get used to it.
NEXT BLOG- Let’s play ‘Daredevil or Dumbass.’