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How You Can Start Preparing For Your Company’s Return to the Office

How You Can Start Preparing For Your Company’s Return To The Office

Well, it certainly has been a long, tough winter for businesses, and even longer, tougher twelve months, but it looks like there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel and we can finally start thinking about how and when we can return to the office. In the UK, Boris Johnson’s recently announced roadmap out of lockdown indicates that we could be looking at a return date in June, provided that everything goes according to plan.

But we all know that it’s not going to be as simple as sending an email round on the Friday before to let people know the doors will be open. There are several factors and potential issues that you need to consider in order for the return to go smoothly, and at a pace that everyone is comfortable with. Here’s what you need to keep in mind if you’re thinking about returning to the office.

You Need to Remember That Things May Change

If there’s one thing that we’ve learned over the last twelve months, it’s that what we want to happen and what actually happens are two very different things. We’ve all been through year-long test of our endurance and our ability to roll with the punches, to adapt to each and every new challenge as they arise. Frankly, the fact that your business is still operating is a testament to how well you and your employees have handled the myriad challenges of 2020 and beyond.

What that means is that you need to keep at least one eye on the news and the government announcements over the next few months as Great Britain begins to move out of lockdown. There’s a very good chance that things may change or be delayed, so before you make any major commitments, ask yourself if they are flexible enough to be moved or delayed if necessary. Even if the dates stay the same and we end up heading back into the office when we expect to, there may be new Coronavirus safety guidelines for how to do that. Which brings us to our next point.

Bring a Professional Cleaning Team on Board

It goes without saying that the number one concern when it comes to taking your business back to the office is safety. You want to make sure that you are taking every possible step to ensure the health and wellbeing of your colleagues, employees and yourself, and a big part of that is going to be making sure that your office space is professionally cleaned on a regular basis.

And the fact of the matter is that conducting a deep clean that will help stop the spread of COVID-19 is a different challenge than some companies may be used to. When you’re looking at hiring a professional cleaning team and searching for office cleaning London, it will be very important to check that they have a process and a plan for coronavirus cleaning. Cleanology is a company that has brought in new anti-virucidal products and cleaning regimes to make sure that they are getting the job done safely and with maximum efficiency, and they can offer a pre-emptive disinfection clean before you return to the office. You can find out more at their website and watch the clip of their appearance on Sky News.

You will Need to Rethink the Office Layout

Before the pandemic, the office set-up was all based around efficiency and productivity, bringing teams close together and allowing for a free flow of ideas. Now, there is a wholenew safety element to take into account. You are going to have to think very carefully about how you can maintain social distancing should that law still be in effect at that time. You will need to make sure to provide plenty of hand-washing stations, and you may need to install Perspex screens or other ways of ensuring that the risk of transmission is as low as possible. You should also think carefully about how many people need to be in the office at any one time.

Of course, no one is saying that these changes need to be permanent, but if you want your staff to feel confident and comfortable returning to the office, you need to show that you have taken these precautions. Speaking of staff confidence…

You will need to be Flexible with Your Staff

While you may be raring to get everybody back at their desks and benefitting from the office environment again, it is very important to remember that your colleagues and employees may not all be feeling the same way. It may take a while for some people to feel comfortable returning to the office and you should make it clear that it is absolutely their choice.

Open lines of communication have been vital over the last twelve months, and things are still going to be uncertain and difficult in the months ahead. Keep talking to them about their concerns and the measures you are taking to address them.

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