Office workers adjust to redesigned spaces
Firms look to return closer to normalwith changes to avoid virus.
Bergmeyer, a design NEWYORK— firminBoston, has erected higher cubicles, told employees to wear maskswhennot at theirdesksand set up one-way aisles in the office that force people to walk the long way around to get to the kitchen or the bathroom.
“The one-way paths take me a little out of the way, but it was easy to get used to,” said StephanieJones, aninteriordesignerwith thecompany. “It actually givesme the opportunity to see more people and say a quick hello when I might have just walked directly to my desk before.”
Around the U.S., office workers sent home when the coronavirus took hold in March are returning to the world of cubicles and conference rooms and facing certain adjustments:masks,staggeredshifts, spaced-apartdesks, dailyquestions about their health, closed break rooms and sanitizer everywhere.
For some at least, there are also advantages, including the opportunity to share chitchat with colleagues again or the ability to get more work done.
Employers in some cases are requiring workers to come back to the office, but most, like Bergmeyer, are letting the employees decidewhat todo, at least fornow. Somefirmssaytherisksandprecautions areworth it to boost productivity and move closer to normal.
Bergmeyerbeganbringingpeople back in June in stages. It is nowin Phase Three, with60% of the staff back intheofficebut split intotwo groups: HalfcomeinonMondays, WednesdaysandFridays, theother half on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Employees are asked to report anysymptomstoahumanresources directorwho canwork with them on getting tested and quarantining themselves.
Joneselectedtocomebackinthe second wave, in late June.
“I found that I was surprisingly more productive than I thought I wouldbeworking fromhome, but ultimately decided to come back. I live alone, and Iwas missing the social interaction,” she said.The Blue Sky advertising agency in Atlanta began reopening in May in stages, reconfiguring its openplan workspace by spreading out tables, installing plastic partitions andestablishingalimitof10people in the office at any one time out of aworkforceof25, andcapsonhow many could be in certain rooms.
ButasurgeincasesinGeorgialed to another shutdownat the end of June. Nowemployeescomeinonly iftheyabsolutelyneedto,saidDawn Evans, humanresourcesmanager.
Steve Spinner, an accountant in Chicago,wentbackinJunewhenhis officestartedlettingpeoplereturn.
“One, I’m 51 years old, and I’m not very good at working from home. I’m not used to it,” he said. “We’remoreproductivewhenwe are all here together, and there have been no issues or incidents, knock onwood.”
Only a quarter of the 200 employees at the firm are allowed back. Thedeskshavebeen reconfigured so no one sits next to anyone else, and common areas like the kitchen are closed. Mask requirements.
Only three or four people are allowed in the elevator at once, and building workers push the button for them. Spinner said the riskiest part of his day is thecommute.
“Frankly when I come to the office, I’m not worried once I’m here. Everything is safe,” he said. “Thetrainsarealittlemoresketchy, not everyone following rules for masks andwhatnot.”