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THE CONTACTLESS OFFICE CREATING A SAFER WORKPLACE

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, employers and building owners alike are challenged to keep workers and occupants safe. One approach is the “contactless office,” which uses a host of new technologies, practices and procedures, and has been described as the new standard for the modern workplace. Three Chicago executives involved with workplace safety shared their insights with Crain’s Custom Media.

What role does your organization play in creating contactless offices?

Rocky Donahue: Pace is a handson institution—the vast majority of our workforce operates, maintains and services thousands of vehicles in our fleet, and the physical nature of the essential service we provide requires our people to be on-site quite often. Because we’re a long way off from contactless wrenches and steering wheels, we’re constantly looking for ways to blend virtual, on-site and hands-on work with innovative safety measures.

Elbert Walters III: Our members are at the forefront of the technological shift to install contactless components to offices throughout Chicagoland to ensure that employers and employees are as safe as possible as they return to their workplaces.

Examples include thermal temperature scanners, automatic doors and new HVAC systems that automatically circulate fresh air into office buildings.

COVID-19 has revealed the need for these types of features, but they’ll continue to provide value by creating healthier spaces long after the pandemic.

Mo Fahim: We guide our clients through a journey of discovery—from visioning and definition to selection and implementation. By identifying

keep passengers and drivers safer. Prior to the pandemic, work had begun on several capital projects that will aid in our efforts to provide additional safe and socially distant workspaces.

These projects include new garages in Wheeling and Plainfield and expanded facilities in Elgin and Markham.

Walters: Updates to technologies like radio-frequency identification badge readers (RFIDs) and HVAC air filtration systems—installed by our electricians and contractors long before the pandemic—are proving invaluable as workers return to their offices. For example, RFIDs can show which employees enter certain office locations, providing on-demand contact tracing data should there be a COVID outbreak there. HVAC systems can be programmed to filter air overnight so when employees return to work in the morning, they’re inhaling fresh air from the outdoors. Germicidal UV lighting can also be integrated into HVAC systems to provide another layer of defense against COVID-19 and other airborne threats. These small tweaks to existing systems can prevent outbreaks and potentially save lives.

Fahim: Smart building solutions such as contactless access control, space utilization, indoor air quality and digital workplace platforms all became hot topics due to the pandemic. They’ve

“OUR GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS IN CHICAGO WAS DESIGNED AS A ‘LIVING LAB’ TO SHOWCASE, TEST AND PILOT NEW TECHNOLOGIES ...”

— MO FAHIM, ESD what’s possible and advising on what’s practical we help clients make informed decisions about technologies and systems that are essential for their needs.

Contactless offices rely on more than just the individual components; when there’s a clear plan that’s aligned with a company’s culture and operations, investments in the right technologies will foster greater confidence among the workforce to go to the office.

What types of improvements are you working on currently?

Donahue: We’re tweaking policies to restrict room and elevator capacity as well as the direction of travel in many of our hallways, stairwells and exits/entries.

We’re erecting physical barriers around workstations and replacing temporary barriers around operator areas on our vehicles with permanent shields to

evolved from being perceived as simply tools of convenience and on-demand experiences to essential elements of occupant safety, transparency, health and wellness.

What types of technologies are you deploying in the effort?

Walters: Our contractors and electricians are currently installing thermal scanners that read individuals’ temperatures as they enter a building’s lobby, RFID badges that enhance security and can help with contact tracing, HVAC systems that circulate outside air into office buildings, touchless elevator and door controls to minimize surface touchpoints, and other technologies like germicidal UV lighting to ensure safer workplaces.

Our contractors work collaboratively with building owners, managers and

ROCKY DONAHUE

Executive Director Pace Suburban Bus rocky.donahue@pacebus.com 847-228-4226

occupiers to determine their specific needs and identify technologies that are best suited for their spaces and circumstances.

Fahim: Our global headquarters in Chicago was designed as a “living lab” to showcase, test and pilot new

MO FAHIM

Practice Leader ESD mfahim@esdglobal.com 312-551-8677

technologies and how they can provide added value in a work environment.

Prior to the pandemic, we deployed mobile digital access control and indoor air quality sensors throughout our office, and sensors to help with space optimization. Through mobile apps, occupants can seamlessly reserve office

ELBERT WALTERS III

Director Powering Chicago ewalters@poweringchicago.com 312-989-0724

resources from their own personal devices. Since mid-March, we’ve added touchless thermal scanners in our office while consulting with many of our clients on contactless technology strategies for lobbies, elevators, restrooms and the overall workplace.

Driving Chicagoland to safely return to work.

Safety, service adjustments and transparent communication are just a few of the ways we’re driving innovation to provide a safe commute.

Go to PaceBus.com/Health to learn more and please wh riding wear a mask while public transit.

We’re driven for you.

THE CONTACTLESS OFFICE CREATING A SAFER WORKPLACE Donahue: Transitioning some of our paperwork-dependent processes to digital forms was a priority even before COVID, but the pandemic forced us to think fast and streamline our bureaucracy. An office culture built around face-to-face meetings had to learn to use Microsoft Teams and Zoom—I’m proud of what we’ve achieved technologically. With monthly board meetings and annual budget hearings fast approaching, improving the public’s access to virtual meetings has become our current priority. We’re also exploring new technologies for cleaning and sanitizing our vehicles and facilities, including ultraviolet lights and fogging.

How is your organization protecting your employees/ members/customers in the current environment, and how are you communicating those safety measures?

Donahue: Public health authorities view transit as a low-risk activity when proper precautions are followed, so we’re going above and beyond to keep buses clean. We require all riders and

employees to wear masks. We sanitize our buses thoroughly every day. We set aside certain seats to facilitate greater social distancing, and we’ve even redeployed vehicles from low-ridership routes to more popular routes to ensure that buses never come close to being full. All of these changes have required constant communication through onboard audio, signage, email and text alerts and other media, but it’s paid off— we surveyed over 1,000 riders in August and about 90 percent of them said we’ve done a good job communicating throughout the pandemic.

Walters: Safety is one of the core principles the unionized electrical industry is built upon and that begins at the IBEW/NECA Training Institute in Alsip where IBEW Local 134 electricians are trained. It’s there that electrical apprentices are taught to socially distance on job sites and wear proper PPE such as masks and face shields. On the management side, Powering Chicago contractors are allowing employees to work from home and have set up new office configurations to allow for greater distances between employees. Our

“PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES VIEW TRANSIT AS A LOW-RISK ACTIVITY WHEN PROPER PRECAUTIONS ARE FOLLOWED...”

— ROCKY DONAHUE, PACE SUBURBAN BUS

members’ work is essential and much of it has to take place in person, but the unionized electrical industry has done everything possible to create the safest possible working environment.

Fahim: Contactless office technologies and devices in combination with clear corporate governance, personal hygiene, cleaning/disinfecting regimen and indoor air quality is where we’re focusing our actions as well as the conversations we’re having with our clients. We have a team dedicated to understanding guidance from the experts as well as municipal governance that influences our office policies and investments. We utilize multiple communication tools to keep everyone up to date.

How are you managing different protocols for different work environments within your organization?

Walters: Every job site and every customer has a different set of safety standards that our members are ready to adhere to. Whether it’s maintaining a larger distance between workers on a job site or wearing various levels of PPE, our members are trained to handle any job site requirement without sacrificing on the quality of work or the time it takes to complete the job.

Fahim: If a person recently traveled to a location on the self-quarantine list,

YOUR WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL.

Enabling a productive workforce in a distributed environment.

Smart & Productive Workplace PRODUCTIVE WORKPLACE

ESD’s expertise in technology and engineering leads to a healthier and connected workforce.

Contactless Technologies

Indoor Air Quality

Connected Workforce

Health & Wellness

Visit esdglobal.com/ProductiveWorkplace or call us at 312 456 2233 to explore strategies for a productive workforce in a distributed workplace.

IMPROVING SOCIETY THROUGH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

personalized technology integrations between enterprise resource and HR information systems, workplace applications and digital collaboration platforms can offer that person guidance for going to the office or staying remote, while providing options for safely connecting with their team.

One company that offers a platform to manage different protocols is Cohesion, a spin-off of our firm. Its solutions integrate disparate building system and occupant data sets to offer the most relevant data for occupants and owners from the convenience of their smart phones.

Donahue: A cross-functional team of leaders from across the agency has advised me throughout the alwayschanging process of serving our customers and running a company during a pandemic and economic collapse. Everyone’s opinion is important—not just HR and legal, but operations, planning, maintenance and external relations. This is an all-handson-deck moment and I’m proud to say everyone has risen to the occasion.

When we roll out a new protocol or restrict some activity that used to be commonplace, we all understand that the rules are subject to change and we continue to monitor situations even after they occur.

How are you communicating and collaborating with employees as they return to worksites?

Fahim: We have a team dedicated to internal office governance and actions to create a safe and productive environment for our employees. With offices in Chicago, San Francisco and New York City and clients throughout the nation, corporate governance and adaptability has enabled our firm to stay connected while supporting the safety and wellness of our team and clients. We’re piloting virtual desktop and workspace solutions, incorporating technologies to support those looking to connect with their teammates, but who aren’t comfortable enough to be in the office every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Donahue: Every other week I send a memo out to the whole agency detailing accomplishments and challenges, policy changes and important reminders; for the first few months of the crisis, when things were changing more frequently, I sent it weekly. A good portion of the memo is dedicated to responding to an anonymous online mailbox we’ve set up, where employees can ask questions, submit suggestions, commend colleagues, and, occasionally, vent their frustrations to the boss. I’m grateful to have such a flexible, patient and resourceful workforce. We’ve gotten through our agency’s most challenging year by helping each other and staying focused on the essential service we provide.

Walters: We’ve been in continuous communication with our members throughout the pandemic and that need for communication has only increased.

Members of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago (ECA) and IBEW Local 134 are in constant communication with each other and members about safety protocols and other requirements needed to perform jobs safely and reliably.

How are you building trust with customers that visit your offices or use your services?

Fahim: Our Chicago office’s living lab allows us to show visitors how we’re implementing technologies and policies.

Internally, we’re required to go through a daily health verification process before going to the office. Some of this is trust-based while the touchless thermal scanning is very public. Other ways we build trust to support our culture is through transparency of our office environment data. Digital signage— which offers real-time updates related to corporate initiative outcomes, indoor air quality and the overall health of the organization—helps visitors assess the level of risk they embark upon and empowers them to make the right decision for themselves.

Donahue: We’re transparent with our passengers and update them whenever there’s a change. For example, we had to cut service on 99 routes to free up equipment needed to keep our service safe; then we had to shut our system down for the first time in its history during the unrest that followed the killing of George Floyd. These were incredibly difficult decisions, but our riders understood that we’re all in this together. In fact, commendations for Pace employees from the public have gone up despite decreased ridership and all the difficulties that both we and our riders face. We’ve also signed onto our industry’s Health and Safety Commitments Program. More than 100 transit providers across the country have gotten together and said, “These are the best practices to keep our riders safe.”

That seal of approval will start appearing on vehicles soon.

Walters: Our commitment to better construction has never been stronger than it is today. By choosing a Powering Chicago contractor, our customers can feel secure knowing that the IBEW Local 134 electricians and member contractors from ECA Chicago have been trained in the latest safety protocols needed to do the job right.

What challenges lie ahead as workers return to their offices?

Fahim: Occupancy and space utilization will continue to be a challenge. Space optimization will be top of mind for owners and operators; having the right tools and solutions to manage their portfolios will be essential to their success. Another challenge is the continued low office-space occupancy as we begin the heating season. Low occupancy contributes to lack of demand on building systems, reduced water usage and a host of other issues that may develop into major problems over the next several

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“ . . .IBEW LOCAL 134 ELECTRICIANS AND MEMBER CONTRACTORS FROM ECA CHICAGO HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THE LATEST SAFETY PROTOCOLS...”

— ELBERT WALTERS III, POWERING CHICAGO months. Continuous remote monitoring of facilities using the appropriate technology and conducting regular assessments with a trusted advisor will help mitigate these risks.

Walters: Because the threat of contracting COVID-19 may not fully disappear before workers return to their offices, how to adapt workspaces for the current circumstances to keep people safe is our primary challenge.

We’ve developed a variety of materials to educate building owners, managers and occupiers about how technology can be deployed to ensure the safest possible working environments for employees. Technologies like thermal scanners, RFID and air filtration systems have been deployed by our members for many years, but there’s an increased need for these technologies now to keep Chicagoans safe as they return to their offices.

Donahue: All eyes are focused on Pace’s budget. We were fortunate to receive money from the federal government that let us continue operating despite a massive drop in the farebox and sales tax revenue we depend on to run. Keeping our system clean and safe during the pandemic is not cheap, so cutting costs in other ways will be the primary challenge of 2021. We’re hopeful our leaders in Washington will continue to acknowledge how important public transit will be to getting through this crisis and eventually rebuilding our region’s economy.

How are you working with other stakeholders, such as communities, public health officials, schools, other businesses, etc., to plan the path forward?

Fahim: Through partnerships with our clients, we’ve been involved with the rapid conversion of McCormick Place into a COVID-19 alternate care facility, devising HVAC strategies for Northwestern Memorial Hospital, conversations with school districts about distributed learning, and deploying state-of-the-art touchless technologies and indoor air quality programs in office buildings. We’ve also created smart building strategies and workplace technology initiatives, helping our clients’ key stakeholders build a better path forward from reentry to recovery and beyond.

Donahue: Our community relations representatives are in regular contact with officials from the 280-plus municipalities we serve. It isn’t always easy coordinating with as many government bodies, businesses and other community institutions as there are in our six-county service area, but

it’s a skill we’ve honed over the past 35 years. I’m confident we’ll continue to manage our relationships with stakeholders well. We’ve also conducted employee, business and passenger surveys to gauge the needs and perceptions of our workforce and those we serve.

Walters: The leadership of IBEW Local 134 and the ECA have been in constant communication with city, county and state leaders to help build a pathway out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our unionized electricians and contractors were deemed essential when the pandemic struck in March and have continued to help move Chicagoland through these challenging times.

What practices and technologies do you expect will remain with us after the pandemic subsides?

Walters: Systems that filter fresh air into commercial properties is one example of a technology upgrade that’s likely to remain after the pandemic subsides. Germicidal UV lighting that’s gaining mainstream acceptance now is another example of something that’s likely to continue long after COVID-19.

In both of these examples, adding them to new offices or retrofitting them during office remodels has long-term benefits. We may not be worried about COVID-19 in five years, but we’ll certainly want as much protection as we can get from more common illnesses like the flu or the common cold and we’ll have new awareness about how technology can help.

Fahim: Owners will require better tools to measure, track, operate and optimize their real estate portfolios in real time. Connected IOT sensors C will collect data to enable smarter M decisions about people density, space usage, occupant circulation and more. Y These sensors will also help occupants CM to remain finely attuned to their MY building’s indoor environment and air quality performance. Reception and CY facility staff will be augmented with CMY autonomous robotics for security and cleaning, allowing for instantaneous K sanitization deployments when and where it’s needed with minimal human disruption.

Donahue: Our ability to communicate and collaborate from across a distance has gotten a lot better over the last few months. Being able to conduct business without reams of paperwork will be a boon to staff and vendors alike. And studying the way germs spread through our business practices and coming up with ways to stay clean and safe will help us for countless cold and flu seasons to come.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS ROCKY DONAHUE is executive director of Pace Suburban Bus, the Regional Transit Authority division that provides public transportation services to residents of nearly 300 municipalities in six Illinois counties. A Pace employee since the agency’s 1984 founding, he has spent much of his career focused on the agency’s external relations. He was named to his current role in 2019 and since the pandemic began has focused on three core principles: safety, transparency and the essential need Pace serves.

MO FAHIM is practice leader - intelligent building technologies for ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.), a Chicago-based global consultingengineering firm focused on the delivery of highperformance buildings. In his current role, he shapes the vision of the connected workplace, intelligent buildings and the future of commercial real estate properties through the use of technology and smart building solutions. He joined ESD in 2004 and in 2011 moved from Chicago to Abu Dhabi for six years to help establish the firm’s first international office.

ELBERT WALTERS III is the director of Powering Chicago, an electrical industry labormanagement partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 electricians and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) of the City of Chicago. He leads Powering Chicago’s more than 100 annual philanthropic and community impact initiatives and plays a key role in its daily operations as the voice of metro Chicago’s unionized electrical industry. He is a longtime member of IBEW Local andPrint formerly served its business 6 x 6 134 Crain's Ad.pdf 1 as 10/6/20 11:33 representative.

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Chicagoland’s Union Electrical Team

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