The pandemic has taught us to evaluate what is important – whether that is the time we spend with our loved ones, how we communicate with others, how we study, and how we operate a workplace. Unfortunately, the world cannot grind to a halt because of current events, so businesses must learn how to adapt so that their employees can return to a safe work environment.

Whether you are a small or large business affected by the pandemic, you will undoubtedly be reevaluating the best practices you can put into place for your team as the larger workforce starts returning to work. Here are a few suggestions on how to adapt your business’s working practices to create a safe working environment for those who have to return to the office.

 

Remote Working

If you have had to close your office and have your employees work remotely for a few months, you might consider the long-term benefits to this. Having your staff working remotely can save your company money in areas such as rented office space and utilities; it cuts down the need to commute to work, and offers a certain degree of flexibility, depending on the job.

However, complete remote working is not always an ideal solution, as sometimes an office space may be needed on a temporary or short-term basis. This is where serviced offices Glasgow come in; they offer flexible plans from hot desks in shared workspaces, private offices, and meeting rooms with everything like Wi-Fi, a UK business address, and a phone number call forwarding included in their monthly price package.

 

Encouraging Extra Hygiene
Suppose you cannot maintain remote working in the long term, especially if you are a larger business, and you have to have employees return to the office. In that case, you need to ensure that your office is prepared to handle your team and the government’s requirements.

It would help if you automate basic hygiene practices by adding automatic sanitizing dispensers throughout the office, most usefully at the entrance to every room, and ensuring that it is filled with a solution that is at least 60% alcohol can work as a disinfectant. Updating other items to contactless sensors such as toilet flushers, taps, and bins is another good way to help stop the spread if it is something that you can afford to consider.

Before anyone comes back to the office, you should also consider employing the services of a deep cleaning company that can ensure your office space has been thoroughly cleaned, especially if it has not been used in a few weeks.

 

Distancing Your Staff

Another important aspect to consider if your staff are returning is how their workstations are set out. You need to be mindful of social distancing regulations and keep on top of the constant updates and changes. If your office is an open working space, setting up a one-way walking system and Plexiglass dividers is a good start in minimizing unnecessary contact between your team and making sure that they are aware of the systems you have in place so there is no confusion.