Today we are diving into the Top Social Changes likely to occur in the workplace as we transition from staying-at-home back to the office. We have compiled a list of the most common observations acknowledged by some of the top office furniture and social companies around America.

Floor Plan Updates

As we make our way back to the office, it will be extremely important to keep an appropriate amount of distance between co-workers. Over the last several months, our lives have been conditioned so that we subconsciously keep distance between ourselves and others. So how will this impact our office spaces? We expect to see desks being moved further apart to keep social distance, along with expanding open social spaces to maintain a good amount of distance. The idea is to keep people socially connected with good acoustics for interacting, while keeping them safe. This should also include options for employees to move around, sit-to-stand, and maintain overall physical and mental health.

Photo from: https://www.burohappold.com/articles/social-distancing-in-the-workplace/

Physical Dividers

In addition to expanding the floor plan of our office spaces, we will likely see a big demand for screens and dividers between desks and benching areas to add an extra layer of protection as we interact with coworkers. Fortunately, the office furniture world has many options for attractive and effective screen solutions that will make an easy addition to any current office set up. The current situation may also see the design community creating even more unique and specialized options to keep us safe as we transition back to work.

Photo from: https://www.steelcase.com/products/screens/steelcase-flex-screens/

Working Remotely

People are getting eager to return to their collaborative work spaces, interacting with their coworkers and having a more structured approach to the work day. Although this will be very beneficial, it will likely be a difficult transition for many. Over the last couple of months we have been very used to working remotely, and have probably enjoyed it at times, or all of the time! Our job as Industrial Designers has allowed us, even before the Covid-19 Pandemic, to work from home. This can be extremely beneficial to our creative and mental health. Switching up our environments is something that can spark new ideas, especially when we have the freedom to do that from the comfort of our own homes. We won’t be surprised to see people who were normally working in the office all day now having the opportunity to work from home post-pandemic. If we can make it work now with positive effects, why not integrate that into our weekly structures? This opens up a whole new world of productivity for employees nationwide.

Photo from: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/347479

A New Work Schedule

As aforementioned, working from home and switching up your environment can lead to better productivity in moderation. In addition to this, some people have also had the freedom to switch up their daily work schedules to best fit their personal and creative needs. As Designers we know that it can be hard to be our best creative selves all of the time - of course sometimes we have to access that creativity if a deadline calls. However, with this switch in our social infrastructure, it may be possible to integrate your work schedule better into your own life. This will depend a lot on the company you work for, but many companies are making a push for better health both physically and mentally. It will be exciting to see if employees will have more structural freedom to get their best work done when they are most creative and focused, which can vary from morning to night. Aside from this, many companies will likely continue to restructure their employees hours depending on company income. Some people may only work four days a week, or half days, to cope with the struggling economy until we can get back on our feet.

Photo from: https://www.openfit.com/how-to-lose-weight-if-you-work-the-night-shift

Cleanliness

When we transition back to the workplace, expect to see a lot more cleaning protocols for the office. This will vary depending on the company you work for and the amount of employees, but across the board we will see individuals taking extra care and precaution to keep their workspaces clean and sanitized. This could include wearing masks to work for an extended period of time to control the spread of Covid-19 among coworkers, and even screening or temperature checks as you enter the office.

Photo from: https://alphaclean.com.au/industries/commercial-cleaning/

Integration of Technology

Prior to leaving work, most of us spent time interacting face-to-face with clients and coworkers. Since the Stay-at-Home order went into effect, many companies have had to rely solely on remote communication through video meetings and emails. Although we will have an easier time communicating with the coworkers we see every day, our time spent talking to clients and customers will most likely continue to be through video meetings for an unknown amount of time. With this time we have had to learn how to easily communicate virtually, there may even be less of a need to visit clients in person. This shift in the workflow would lead to more time spent on getting work done, and less on travel.

Photo from: https://nwsidebar.wsba.org/2020/04/20/zooming-with-caution-best-practices-for-using-zoom-and-other-videoconferencing-tools/

Lowering Stress

Over months of self-isolating and feeling the effects of social distancing, employees are feeling stressed and lonely. The amount of people experiencing stress is growing stronger by the week, and in return it is taking a toll on work productivity and performance. During our transition back to work, employers will need to keep in mind that their employees are returning to work with the stress they have carried through this pandemic. Each workplace will need to acknowledge this stress, and offer ways for their employees to find calm and lower stress levels. Some aspects of workplace design can support this effort, including safely nurturing group and social interaction with workplace layout, adjustable work surfaces and seating to offer a personal sense of control to employees, and ensuring that the environment is staying clean and sanitized.

Photo from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/louisechunn/2019/03/26/women-are-at-breaking-point-because-of-workplace-stress-wellbeing-survey-from-cigna/#66b0dbef77df

Managing Mental Health

On top of companies focusing on lowering stress in the physical work environment, it is also important to focus on the anxiety and other mental health issues that have crept into our lives. This focus on improving mental health can be encouraged in several ways by companies. This may include offering time and a safe space to stretch/physically exercise, offering a list of mental health resources for employees to look into, and including a fund for individuals to spend on mental health activities, programs, and helpful apps. Many affordable mental health options exist to guide people to a healthier state of mind.

Photo from: https://news.temple.edu/news/2019-02-22/tuttleman-counseling-resiliency-resource-center-expand-services

References:

https://www.haworth.com/resources/rtw

https://www.steelcase.com/postcovid/workplace-applications/#application-categories

https://www.burohappold.com/articles/social-distancing-in-the-workplace/#

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-covid-19-is-doing-to-our-mental-health#The-bottom-line

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/mental-health-non-healthcare.html

Observations: Top Social Changes in the Workplace