There is already much talk about the impact COVID - 19 will have on the future of workplace – in respect to design, utilisation and occupier expectations. Knight Frank do have an outlook for the medium and long term, but first and foremost, we need to look into and understand how the current workforce, which is working from home, is going to be enabled - in a safe and low cost manner - to return to the workplace at the earliest. This is something that Knight Frank has looked at in depth across the globe. Different countries will have different percentages of their workforce under lockdown to consider, but all of them would be aligned in their view in respect to what the short-term business as usual could look like.
It is important to remember that while an individual’s role or function may adapt well to working remotely, there are a host of individual considerations and circumstances that must be studied, speaking broadly, before employing new workplace practices. As Sid Sijbrandij, Co-founder and CEO, GitLab notes, “Enabling a remote workforce is not ‘business as usual.’ There are critical differences in managing communication and culture in-office and remotely, and management must adjust.” If continued working from home is now to form part of the medium to long term business operations plan, then bespoke advice relating to workplace strategy is more critical than ever. It is likely that businesses will adopt a combination of remote and office based operations, after all, more businesses have now been rapidly exposed, whether they wanted to be or not, to the philosophy of what an agile workplace solution means.
With an eye on the health, safety and welfare of their teams, the need for social distancing will continue, and many businesses will have to rethink their real estate and workplace requirements. At the same time, it is important to understand the realities of the situation and what viable actions must be taken now to ensure that the workplace is productive and safe. There are several workplace solutions that can be implemented in a cost-effective manner in the short term for the returning workforce.
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Reduced densities and goodbye to the typical 9 to 5 working day |
Most office buildings are empty 50% of the time through a 24-hour day cycle, and the future may see planning policies adapt to have greater occupancy become the norm. The typical 9 to 5 working day will suffer erosion in a post Covid-19 world. Businesses may consider different scenarios to reduce the floor densities whilst maintaining access to the office for all:
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Assigned vs unassigned desks |
Whether a business adopts an assigned or an unassigned desk policy will depend on the working hour cycle and importantly, the associated cleaning regime. The case can be argued for either work setting. The most important policy – and the easiest to implement - should be the enforcement of a clean desk policy. A clean desk policy enables surfaces to be properly cleaned. If you propose to work a shift or a roster system, the frequency of cleaning will increase to include cleaning-between-shifts operations. |
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Staggered work settings |
This strategy to be adopted in the short term, is also linked to the working hour cycle and allows simple physical changes to be made in the workplace:
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Respect the individual |
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Ability to control cleanliness |
Most businesses and building owners have already enabled access to hand sanitiser stations. Most offices today have areas outside the amenities specifically for washing of hands. The incorporation of additional hand wash basins to existing kitchenette/ breakout areas is a low cost investment to consider in conjunction with additional hand sanitizer dispensers in high-touch areas such as printing stations and in lobbies. |
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Humidity control |
Since viruses survive better in low-humidity environments, humidity levels should be increased to an optimal 40 - 60 percent to reduce chances of infection. Tweaking the HVAC systems to obtain this optimal range is an action that should be taken up immediately. |
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People & culture
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At a strategic level, businesses can begin by considering how easy, difficult or realistic it was to transition to remote working. The answer will vary depending on several factors including industry, location, staffing, technology and whether an organization was deemed an ‘essential’ or a ‘critical’ business. We would see some changes in HR policies that consider remote work wherever possible, and perhaps go a step further to encourage people to stay home when they are ill. |
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Healthcare |
Design standards followed in healthcare sector will also apply to corporate workplaces. |
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Risk assessment |
Undertake a risk assessment of the premises keeping in mind Covid-19, and in particular what operations involve touch – photocopier, window blinds, doors etc. The outcome will inform the medium term strategy. |
While the full impact of COVID-19 on work and the workplace is yet to be determined, we hope the ideas and strategies shared here provide some direction. It is important to understand the short, medium and long term objectives to ensure a solution is created. The health and safety of people is imperative in all decisions made. No matter where in the world you are located, Knight Frank is able to assist you. We believe in sharing our global insights with all who require it to ensure that they benefit from a workplace that is safe and delivers on business needs.
