Creating Better Places to Work

As companies begin to transition their employees back into the office environment, the importance of the landscape and overall corporate campus, not just the building, is more important than ever. As landscape architects, HDG helps companies maximize the investment they make in their facilities.

As certain areas of the country begin to reopen  and companies gear up to head back to their physical workplaces, they begin to make plans for the “new normal” that will take place in  office environments. HDG wants to help you think about a safe, thorough, and efficient course of action for your return to the office. 

We know that in this ever-changing situation, new information is constantly being released, so we would like to pass on the material we’ve culminated about what a future work environment may look like. Please note that this is not original content but has been gathered from multiple sources.

1. Not every person may feel comfortable re-entering the office environment. Build confidence and trust in your team by creating a safe environment for them to express their concerns.

2. Utilize signage, graphics, and wayfinding to communicate new measures and protocols.

3. Decrease density in the workplace:

Unless your employees can always be 6 feet from each other, chances are you won’t be able to have 100% of employees in the office. Limit the number of employees that can be in the office at one time or create work shifts throughout the week (if technology allows) for different groups of staff.

Reduce occupancy in common areas (kitchen, conference rooms, etc.).

Utilize technology by continuing to meet virtually, rather than in person.

4. Increase cleaning:

Ensure your office is stocked with masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes throughout the space.

Revisit cleaning protocols with administration.

Look for ways to make the office as touch free as possible.

Discontinue use of hotel workstations or other shared workspaces.

5. Monitor the effectiveness of new protocol and ensure consistent communication with both employees working in the office and remotely.

6. Lastly, do not make any drastic changes to your current work environment (buying new workstations or technology, rewiring outlets, etc.) in anticipation of future office function, rather learn about how new workflow’s impact your existing setups.   

For more ways to learn how each individual can protect themselves from COVID-19, please refer to this article by the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html