Three practical steps to bringing staff back to work...

There are huge challenges ahead of us in bringing employees back into the workplace. With physical distancing now part of the new norm, losing the human connection and ensuring collaboration between workers is a real worry for many businesses. Sanitisation stations, increased hygiene policies and signage are all important, but how do businesses prioritise personal space in a practical way? And how can you ensure a return on investment amid a frenzy of phone calls selling plastic screens and hand gel?

There is a place for all of the PPE people are trying to sell us, but only as part of a cohesive solution. Less haste, more speed...The first step is to engage with staff in order to establish who can or cannot work from home, and what would be their ideal solution. You can't promise everybody will be accommodated, but you can start to build a picture of the future work practices of your business and how a phased return to the office will work.

The second step is an audit of your office work space as it stands in order to identify where the potential challenges lie. A reorganisation of the work space is probably essential before spending money on protective screens. You can do this yourself, but this is where experienced office designers like the team here in Capella, can make a huge difference and really get the most out of your office space. We take into account all of the current protocols, and develop a spatial plan to accommodate a safe return to work for employees. There is no doubt that protective screens will become a part of the new office environment, but the professional redesign of the office space taking into consideration physical distancing should be the first step in getting staff back. It will deliver a considered solution which will ultimately save both time and money.

Many businesses don't have a manager with the time or experience to implement these changes, and with so many people selling solutions, it's hard not to become overwhelmed by choice! The third step is finding a partner who can provide project management to look after everything from tendering, ensuring value for money, to physically being on site to manage the reorganisation and ensure compliance. Again, Capella has experienced Project Managers who can look after everything from moving desks, to full engineering services.

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