Navigating the Post-COVID Workplace - The Long Term Impact

Life Beyond COVID-19 Navigating the Post-COVID Workplace

Q What is the long term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the workplace?

The global shift to working remotely and adapting to life during a pandemic will permanently alter the needs and expectations that influence office space.

Improved air quality Focus on employee wellness Adjusted amenity expectations Advanced building security Blending physical & digital Flexibility of the office Increase in collaboration space Remote work expectations Modified employee benefits

A

Improved Air Quality

The importance of air quality not only to mitigate the risk of infectious disease transmission but to improve overall health has become acutely understood by the general public during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As a result, employees will place higher value on indoor air quality of the office spaces they inhabit for at least eight hours a day.48 • Implement ASHRAE recommendations (ANSI/ ASHRAE Standards 62.1 and 62.2) for acceptable indoor air quality49 • Upgrade to MERV-13 filters or the highest level filter compatible with your HVAC system10 • Run the HVAC system with maximum outside air flow for two hours before and after times when spaces are occupied19 • Disable demand controlled ventilation19

11%

the increase in employee productivity due to elevated fresh air intake and a reduced amount of pollutants 50

57% the amount of sick leave attributed to poor ventilation22

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE 76% of people believe companies should do more to support the mental health of their workforce.52

Contact BDH to elevate the wellness offerings in your office

Focus on Employee Wellness

80% of the workforce asserts that employee well-being is a key factor in an organization’s success and 96% believe well-being is an organizational responsibility.24 On top of providing a positive culture, employers will need to promote and support employee well-being through the built office environment.

• Align your office with WELL standards • Improve indoor air quality through increased fresh air intake and filtration systems • Enable employees to access natural light and views of the outdoors • Install sit to stand desks to encourage movement • Offer increased flexibility • Provide an environment that is not too hot or too cold, as this is the number one wellness factor employees want improved50 • Establish a committee to promote wellness and engage employees in healthy behaviors • Support the mental health of your workforce by providing access to an EAP, self-service resources, and wellness or meditation apps • Employ ergonomic best practices to mitigate health risks

80%

of the workforce asserts that employee wellbeing is a key factor in an organization’s success24

Adjusted Amenity Expectations

Amenities will remain a big factor in employee attraction and retention and continue to contribute to brand identity, culture and staff engagement. The types of amenities in demand are predicted to change along with expectations of cleanliness in amenity areas.

• Offer outdoor amenity space as a low-risk working environment and an area for respite • Provide shared collaboration spaces for casual brainstorming or private meetings • Incorporate touchless technology in amenity areas • Provide convenient lunch options by partnering with a contact-free delivery service such as Foodsby in lieu of a traditional cafeteria setting • Provide offerings that contribute to elevated wellness such as a meditation room or standing work surfaces • Consider hiring a risk mitigation concierge to ensure heavily used amenity areas are monitored for operational and safety best practices • Be transparent with cleaning schedules so users know when amenities were last cleaned

82% the amount of people that will favor buildings that offer flexible office space and shared meeting areas47

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Advanced Building Security

New technology can be implemented to align with increased remote work policies and safety standards.

• Consider transitioning to a mobile-based security management system that offers remote unlock, mobile credentialing, door schedule changes, real time alerts, and lock down capabilities • Ensure your security system has hands-free unlock capabilities if installing touchless entry systems • Install a video doorbell to verify and control access when the office is unoccupied or when employees are working alone • Consider implementing two-factor authentication to gain entry into the building

Blending Physical & Digital

Considering remote work is likely to be here to stay in some capacity, the built environment will need to support team members that are both physically present and remote.

• Equip the infrastructure with technology designed for video conferencing to create an inclusive experience for all employees despite their location • Create space for individual and group video interactions that address lighting, privacy and acoustics • Provide FF&E options such as private phone booths for solo video calls • Encourage employees to turn on their cameras so they can gauge body language and emotions

Flexibility of the Office

Another pandemic is likely to occur during our lifetime3, and the lessons learned from COVID will continue to be applied. A flexible office space became critical in navigating uncertain times. This flexibility will remain a priority for weathering uncertainties in the future, not only from the threat of pandemics but due to shifting employee expectations, technological advancements, and overhead costs.

• Install demountable walls to easily reconfigure your space as needs change • Strategically purchase workstations, including those in private offices, with consistent components to create an efficient and reconfigurable footprint • Install ancillary furniture groupings that can be easily contracted and expanded as necessary • Design spaces to support multiple modes of work such as a room conducive for internal collaboration as well as video conferencing • Provide a diverse range of settings throughout the office that can adapt to the wide variety of tasks required by each employee throughout their day

56%

of people anticipate using more flexible office space in the future47

Contact BDH for assistance with creating a flexible office environment

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE Face-to-face meetings are essential for developing new ideas and keeping staff motivated and focused.51

Contact BDH to elevate the collaboration offerings in your office

Increase in Collaboration Space

94% of people want the option to return to the office, which demonstrates that instead of replacing physical offices, remote work should supplement them.25 Since collaboration is the number one reason people go into the office,23 strategically design collaborative areas to ensure employees feel comfortable and safe when using the space.

• Increase quantity and variety of collaboration areas • Implement flexible solutions for easy reconfiguration as needs and safety protocol change • Install materials conducive to EPA-approved disinfectants so shared spaces may be easily and frequently cleaned to improve employees’ feelings of safety • Provide technology that allows for ease of use with room booking, screen sharing, and virtual interactions

87%

of employees say the office is important for collaborating with team members and building relationships23

Remote Work Expectations

During the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 70% of fulltime workers residing in the United States worked remotely.34 Not only did the workforce quickly adapt to virtual meetings and balancing work life with home life, but 99% of employees expect the option to work remotely at least some of the time for the remainder of their careers.37 • Offer the option to work remote more frequently • Trust employees to complete their work when and how they want • Redesign your office environment to align with the changing landscape of the modern way of working

Modified Employee Benefits

While more than half of employed Americans worked at home during the COVID-19 pandemic,26 they became accustomed to elevated flexibility, comfort, and choice.

Integrating these same benefits into the corporate culture will be the new tool in employee retention.

• Incorporate more ancillary furniture groupings to provide elevated comfort and flexibility • Install temperature control and adjustable lighting for enhanced employee comfort • Create a “smart office” by incorporating innovative technology for controlling building access, welcoming guests to the office, reserving work areas, and adjusting environmental factors

80%

of full-time workers expec work from home at least th times per week34

ct to hree

77% of people say the ability to work from home beyond the COVID-19 pandemic would make them happier34

1 in 2 people won’t return to jobs that don’t offer remote work options34

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