In the years preceding the pandemic, open floor plans grew in popularity. However, after the crisis, employee safety will be the first consideration.
As we return to business as usual and many get back to work at the office, workplace health safety is a principal concern. How personnel utilize offices and collaborate within them is inherently changing to enable organizations to adapt and prosper in terms of human health and efficiency.
As we prioritize a safe office environment, these are steps that our team is proud to have researched and implemented. The topic is also something I’m particularly passionate about. With a background in design and as Rastegar's creative director, I have worked on multiple projects, including staging furniture and décor to help sell office space and apartments. These are steps you can take immediately to make your office safer now and for the long term.
Immediate Design Response
How can businesses with open offices — or any arrangement — address employee safety from a design perspective, and what strategies can be implemented immediately? Foremost, everyone should maintain social distancing and take practical precautions as recommended by health experts, including wearing a face mask when appropriate, cleaning their workstation frequently, washing hands and utilizing hand sanitizer.
Design can support these containment strategies simply and cost-effectively. Consider implementing clear safety panels (i.e., sneeze guards), blocking off some of the users’ area to minimize interaction and thoroughfare through their working space, and incorporating sanitization equipment throughout the office environment.
In terms of physical barriers, we see this at retailers where safety panels between staff and customers are becoming ubiquitous, as are floor markers that remind us to maintain six feet of distance. As a result, not as much air is shared directly, whether it's someone sneezing, coughing or simply breathing.