What can we learn from 2020? Maybe one of the most important lessons is that we had got to accustomed to functioning, working and thinking like machines rather than humans? The deadly Covid-19 virus reminded all of us that the mortal human can never relax and believe all is ‘’OK’’.
While taking small cautious steps toward recovery there are two distinct areas of the physical environment that require differing attention, namely; domestic and commercial. We have seen total disregard for social distancing during protests, street parties, beach parties with little enforceable objection from police or government yet when it comes to commercial elements there are ‘’strict’’ guidelines – wear a face mask on trains or get off! Do not touch merchandise in stores! Stand a metre at least apart, is the order.
Which brings me to the conundrum of commercial businesses opening offices – how many to a lift, in a canteen, in the break out spaces to name a few. Add this to the potential hazards of being on public transport at peak times, there is a distinct lack of desire to return to our former place of work amidst all the hazards we can encounter both when travelling and in our places of work. Research has shown that transport anxiety can in fact have a negative effect on work performance.
Carrying on
Our exceptional construction professions and industry has proved during the lockdown phase that we can carry on in a semblance of normality working split shifts and this has proved successful and allowed sites to continue to operate.
Tradesmen and women have adapted to working different hours in the same manner as supermarkets decided to open 24 hours a day many years ago and I firmly believe the commercial world will adapt to this. City traders are used to being at their desks at 06:00 they travel on public transport that is comfortable and with personal space.