Using tech to build a more agile workspace
The workplace in a post-covid world needs to re-evaluate priorities and be prepared to respond with swiftness and agility to the next big disruption. To start with, minimising the transmission of virus and other pathogens as well as ensuring employee health are top priorities for all organisations. To that end, we’ve looked at how reconfiguring the workspace to allow physical distancing, and using technology smartly can go a long way in upholding these new priorities. In a pre-covid scenario, the open office plan that we worked with accommodated 50 people in the focused workspace with a total office capacity of 120 people. It comprised six types of spaces: High impact like the reception, which lent itself to face-to-face interactions; Plaza, like the pantry, which allowed free flow of movement; Learning centre, where people would sit and collaboratively work; Open and e ncl osed j ump s paces, equipped with digital tools to allow teleconferencing and white boards to facilitate group discussions; Hive zones or focused work areas, which accommodated high density of employees; and Leadership work zones, for senior members of the company.
In the post Covid scenario, the reconfigured open office will seat fewer people, as the space allocated to each employee has increased with larger workstations and higher partitions, in keeping with social distancing norms. Agile workspaces like hive zones and jump spaces have been redefined. Close collaborative and communal spaces have made way for staggered seating; workstations are connected through digital tools that allow multiple users to work simultaneously and attend video conferences from their
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NAVIGATE Demarcate paths, such as a clockwise route on entry, to avoid free flow
movement; stagger entry and exit times
RECONFIGURE The focused work zone will accom
modate 28 instead of 50 people, ensuring 2m distance with use of barriers, staggered seating
TECHNOLOGY Virtual reception with digital screens; sensors to minimise touch points; gadgets in work
stations to allow faceless collaborations
Dynamic/experiential space; sliding and writable panels Indoor air quality with indoor planters Sanitisation stations