RETHINKING THE WORKPLACE - Developed for Law Firms

ZIEGLER COOPER

RETHINKING

THE WORKPLACE

Developed For Law Firms

ZIEGLER COOPER

We’re here to help you adapt your current office or plan your next workspace!

The Law Office of the future will incorporate the latest safety measures regarding office sanitation, physical distancing, and flexibility. By taking a comprehensive approach to these new requirements, employers can reduce concerns surrounding virus exposure in the workplace and ultimately create a safe, healthy working environment.

WORKPLACE TRENDS

WORKPLACE PLANNING

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

WORKPLACE TRENDS In light of the current pandemic, we’ve had time to pause and examine what’s essential in office design. While we anticipate many of the latest design trends and functional spaces to remain, flexibility will be essential in the law office of the future.

First Impressions

Informal Collaboration

Break Room

Glass-Front Offices

Access to Daylight

Workstations

Offices

Meeting Spaces

Sit-to-Stand

Hospitality Amenities

WORKPLACE PLANNING The post-pandemic world will require physical distancing, density reduction, hygiene strategies, and the evaluation of remote working and alternate work schedules.

Things to think about:

Workstation Seating Strategy/Reconfiguration / Modifications

Graphics and Signage

Recommended occupancy for shared spaces

Surveying Employees

Traffic Pattern Modifications

Location for Hygiene Stations

Opportunities for “Touch Free� Technology

Checklist/Guidance for Maintaining a Healthy and Safe Workplace

ZIEGLER COOPER

REMOTE WORKING & TECHNOLOGY Technology allows for a smooth transfer from in the office to work-at-home, and vice versa, as work, meetings, and client communication can continue via messaging platforms, virtual conferencing software, email and phone.

In many cases, attorneys already had the ability to work remotely when traveling while the support staff have been generally required to be in the office.

However, support staff may now perform most duties remotely through the use of technology.

Working from home is generally going well for most law firms. Remote technology has allowed each administrative person to have easy access and instant support.

While cooperation in the same physical location may remain the ideal situation for certain areas of practice (e.g., litigation), many administrative tasks can be performed remotely with equal efficiency.

ZIEGLER COOPER

ENTERING THE WORKSPACE Once the courts open for in-person cases, litigation teams need to have access to their office for trial preparation. Creating re-entry policies with daily symptom checks is critical to detecting symptoms before entering the office.

25%

50%

75%

100%

Before occupying the workspace, Employers may wish to have employees return in small numbers, such as starting with 25% occupancy and increasing occupancy over time.

Depending on the building’s occupancy numbers and size, staggering start times should be considered to avoid crowded elevators or long check-in wait times.

If spacing in the office allows for physical distancing, but access to the floor (elevator wait times) is challenging, look at an “A” and “B” alternating work schedule to meet the desired office density.

ZIEGLER COOPER

CHANGES TO THE WORKSPACE Create safer circulation paths within the offices. In areas with generous corridors, circulation is easier to stay six feet apart. In areas with corridors less than 5 feet, review floor plan and provide traffic flow signage.

Survey the equipment and identify your potential problem areas inside break rooms. If a coffee machine has a touch screen to operate, provide wipes adjacent to the device.

Remove food and utensils that are not individually wrapped. Offer options that are individually portioned and easy to keep sanitary. Discourage sharing reusable cups.

Hands-free devices, such as elevator call & door openers, will likely be the design solution that becomes the new standard.

ZIEGLER COOPER

BEST PRACTICES BY WORKSPACE AREA Within the office’s corridors, improve circulation routing, install informational signage, encourage social distancing, and require face masks.

In reception areas, install informational signage, encourage social distancing, supply & require face masks, remove excess seating, and provide sanitation stations.

Inside conference areas, limit room capacity, remove excess seating, require face masks, and provide sanitation stations.

Within break-rooms, limit room capacity, remove excess seating, require face masks, install informational signage, encourage social distancing, and provide sanitation stations.

Inside war rooms or multi-purpose rooms, limit room capacity, remove excess seating, require face masks, install informational signage, encourage social distancing, and provide sanitation stations.

Within private offices and secretarial workstations ensure that proper distancing can be achieved.

ZIEGLER COOPER

CONCLUSION

1

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every solution is tailored for each client.

2

Every client with an existing office requires a re-entry plan to define remote working, entry to the workplace, and changes to the workplace.

3

Change management services can be provided to assist clients and employees with workplace changes and protocols.

ZIEGLER COOPER

ZIEGLER COOPER

Ziegler Cooper Architects 700 Louisiana, Ste 350 Houston, TX 77002 t: 713.374.0000 www.zieglercooper.com