Business owners and landlords are having to swiftly reimagine and rethink the workplace not only to ensure it meets Covid-19 regulations but is sustainable and promotes productivity and well-being. Here are seven ways on how to achieve it.
Businesses navigating the Covid-19 pandemic successfully have demonstrated an ability to read the industry climate and make effective micro-adjustments to the commercial workspace.
Fresh, sustainable, and productive spaces can re-energise the workplace and provide a sense of safety for you, your team, and your customers. Finding a space that balances employees’ health, financial sustainability and beautiful design should not be underestimated in its power to help us settle into the “new normal”.
Great commercial design is centred around accommodating clients, facilitating optimal workflow, and epitomising the company’s brand to communicate the company’s culture and ethos. The fundamentals of corporate design, though influenced by regulations, have not changed. Now more than ever, the call for businesses to focus on their employees’ wellness and productivity must be brought to the fore.
Here are the top 7 ways to transform your Covid-19 commercial space:
- Analyse your daily operation, industry, and company culture to clarify your company’s mission and vision. Working remotely is not all it’s cut out to be. It’s important to analyse whether allowing staff to work from home is in line with your company’s core values and beliefs because aspects such as inclusion and collaboration are trickier to navigate in a remote working environment.
- Start small. Cutting down on existing furniture, shuffling reception and canteen areas around, modifying modular desks and introducing regulations like Perspex screens will ensure compliance with limited spend.
- Redesign your office with the input of your team/s. Your space can be effectively and economically redesigned by getting your employees’ opinions of its current and future purpose. Collaborating with colleagues, design consultants, and landlords will ensure compliance and efficiency for your team that is sustainable for years to come.
- Be creative with your design. Compliance does not have to be tedious. Ribbed, or coloured Perspex screens make for a unique and retro office design feature, while a beautiful rental plant placed strategically between desks on the left and right of individuals is a softer way to ensure social distancing.
- Formally assess your health and safety protocols. A safety officer can inspect your company’s interpretation of health and safety rules and match it with Lockdown legal requirements demanded by the National State of Disaster Act and give you a good idea of where to start modifying your space.
- Keep an eye out for a flexible landlord. Although, many have offered rental holidays or reductions to preserve their relationships with their tenant, if you feel your landlord is not reasonable, re-negotiate or look for alternative working arrangements.
- Co-working offices have a part to play. Many are designed to accommodate private offices which could offer short term relief to your team. Co-working spaces are especially handy because of the facilities they offer which employees may not have at home. These include access to high speed, uncapped WIFI and conference areas for teams.
IMAGES: Google