The 3 axes for post-pandemic in-person work

Year 2020, no one predicted that times of great changes were approaching. The culture ofremote work, despite not being something new, suddenly arrived in almost all companies and we quickly had to learn about organization, methodology and virtual communication.

In every home there werework spaces...improvised, often somewhat uncomfortable where little by little we realized and understood the importance offurnituresuitable for a traditional work day.

Several months have passed and the return to work is progressing, gaining strength with each passing week.

The virus and the infections have not ended, but after a time of experience we already have some knowledge and training of the appropriate behaviors to practice prevention and that the return to normalofficesbe safely.

Until before this event, the work culture implemented collaborative work spaces, where the connection and communication of the team is essential and was carried out freely and spontaneously. When planning work areas and spaces, it was common to design based on team interaction, where people shared ideas, thus coordinating towards shared results.

With the use ofgroup workstations, we provide connection for people without impeding privacy and order. The use of large and medium-sized meeting tables facilitates cohesion between collaborators, resulting in synergy between teams. And as a meeting point between collaborators, we have all those common spaces that allow us to rest and disperse, this is a kitchenette, meeting rooms or coffee.

Today we know that there has been a shift in these activities, it is a due temporary change in the face of this global health emergency. Interaction and contact are habits that we must avoid for the moment and to do so, we want to highlight 3 main axes that will guide the path of prevention in the face of this pandemic situation.

Beyond changes in infrastructure or furniture, we want to qualify these three axes as three behavioral pillars, which can be accompanied and helped by physical prevention elements.

These axes are: physical distancing, readjustment in occupancy load, hygiene and sanitation.

Physical distancing

Maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between colleagues, constantly using the mask in the correct way (covering the mouth and nose).

We know that recreation and rest time are essential within a workday, we recommend creating specific shifts and spaces where these meetings can be held, in this way we will clear the circulation routes and hallways.

Occupancy load readjustment

The creation of weekly shifts has been an option for those who can still continue working from home, rotating with the team divided into groups, where some attendofficeswhile the others continue remote work.

This makes it much easier to carry out effective physical distancing.

Using alternative communication platforms such as chat, video calls, whiteboards and virtual organizers are effective tools to continue work uninterrupted.

Hygiene and sanitationCreating a strategic entry, exit and circulation protocol will allow us to create sanitation points. When employees arrive at their workplace, as a first step it is necessary to sanitize their shoes before entering the place where we want to maintain clean floors. Also provide them, at that sanitation point, with the necessary implements to disinfect their personal items. Preferably this access point to theoffice, it must be near a bathroom for proper hand washing. With each passing day more and more companies are returning to theiroffices, overcoming this pandemic period, which is undoubtedly giving us many learnings.