What will the offices of tomorrow look like?

The layout and occupation of work spaces will evidently change after this weeks-long quarantine and cessation of activities. In fact, the return to work during the Covid-19 pandemic will require adjustments in all work spaces in order to comply with the health measures requested by the government.

First of all, it is essential for companies to ensure maximum security for all employees in order to prevent the spread of the virus and thus possibly save lives. Indeed, what’s currently urgent is to organize the return to normal and the progressive reintroduction of employees to their workplace.

Then, as a second step, business leaders will have to think about a long-term plan to occupy their workspace, after Covid-19. Does this mean the end of open offices which create proximity? Plus, open offices are already a subject of controversy in the field of office furnishings. Only the future will tell!

To help you best prepare for a safe return to work, Lib. has gathered the main recommendations for the physical layout of your workspaces in this first part. Then in a second article, Lib. will offer you other recommendations as well as basic rules to put in place to minimize the risk of contamination and the spread of the virus among your workers.

In addition, Lib. provides you with a free page containing all the documentation you may need such as guides, posters and checklists.

Here are some adaptations to be implemented in the workspaces.

Respect the new standards

Before reopening your premises, you must comply with the new sanitary measures, the standards of the CNESST and those provided by the INSPQ depending on your sector of activity. Click here to find out more: https://www.inspq.qc.ca/en and https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/covid-19-info-en/Pages/back-to-work.aspx

Favor and optimize remote work

Though it may seem obvious, continuing to promote remote work will limit the number of employees in your office space and therefore reduce the risk of contamination. In addition, some companies have found that their employees are more efficient and productive when working from home. This element will also be taken into account for office installations in the post-pandemic period.

You have to make sure you respect the rules of ergonomic workstations for employees in remote work. Ideally, you can develop a standard for teleworking positions that includes:

• An adjustable table 29 ” – 30 ” tall or better

• An ergonomic chair

• A lamp (to light the work surface and / or the face during videoconferences)

• A laptop stand or second screen

• An external keyboard

• Headphones

In addition, you will be able to set up a guide to good practice for effective teleworking. For this, refer Lib’s article from last month: https://lib.space/en/working-from-home-tips-tricks/

Ensure distance

Rearrange your offices to leave 2 meters between each employee and add protective screens, acrylic or other, between the workstations and the reception. You can also review the configuration of chairs and armchairs in common areas and meeting rooms. In addition, set up a system to restrict the movement of these chairs.

See the rest of the measures to be implemented in our next article: Adapting your workspaces to the COVD-19 – part 2