It is just a matter of time before we have are truly effective vaccine to bring the Covid-19 virus under make under control. This means it is time for you to start planning for the future. Remote working may have been an unavoidable necessity, but it may not be the smartest option once normalcy returns.
However, you cannot expect people to simply go back to the way things were in the past without any precautions or measures to minimize the risk of infections. This means the fashionable open office layout may prove to be a very big obstacle for your business.
Focus On Innovative Solutions
One option is to renovate your office and convert the open office layout into a conventional set up where each worker has a separate and independent working space. However, there are some significant problems with such an approach.
For starters, there is no denying that the open office layout has many advantages and benefits. It creates a sense of unity and camaraderie among the employees. When everybody works together in a common space, there is a stronger sense of team spirit. This advantage will be lost if you switch back to the conventional office layout.
Further, renovation is going to cost you money, which may seem like an unnecessary expense especially when the economy is not doing good.
Finally, permanent alteration of the office may create complications in the future. Instead, it makes sense to focus on innovative and creative solutions to retain the open office layout without increased health risks.
One simple solution to this problem is to use medical dividers. You may seem such dividers in hospitals with a plastic or cloth sheet hanging over a metal frame. Medical dividers are portable, light, and totally functional.
Get rid of cubicles and give each employee an independent work desk. Separate the work desks using medical dividers to retain the open office feel with zero risk of complications or difficulties.
You can also use these dividers in your canteens to allow people to eat together without the risk of getting infected. The best thing about this tool that can be used all over your office is its affordability. You can buy a dozen or more dividers without straining your tight budget.
From team conferences to team building activities, these dividers will be very useful in your plan to return to normalcy in world where the pandemic is no longer a big deal