With Pressure Comes Innovation.

Re-entry and Agility in the Workplace

Experiencing pressure

COVID-19 has questioned how we think about the physical workplace, changed expectations and challenged how we manage it all, bringing up such questions as:

How do we manage the short term needs for getting people back into the office safely and what do we need to invest in to make our offices safer?
As more organizations adopt a distributed workforce model, what does this mean for long term real estate needs and workplace strategy?
What are the expectations from staff on re-entry? How do we manage these expectations and manage what has changed?

A Catalyst for Change

Much of what we have been talking about for years in workplace has now shifted in priority, including:

1. Short Term

You may have already addressed the immediate short term needs for you office. Many of these initiatives are expected to become the norm forward even in a post-COVID world:

Organizational Policies

Aligning with CDC guidelines, setting up new policies, communicating to staff, and planning for returning safely.

Navigation & Space Planning

Evaluating your floorplans for de-densification and adjusting pathways, furniture, and wayfinding as needed. Utilizing technology to support effective space management.

Materiality & Furniture

Understanding how to clean and protect furniture, high touch areas that would benefit from antimicrobial film, and taking applicable furniture offline temporarily.

Building Engineering & Maintenance

Communicating with your landlord on their building policies and changes. Investigating options for HVAC and air filtration changes to support health.

Wellness

Providing information to staff on best practices for health and communicating policies on sick days.

Employee Behaviors

Providing training to staff on how to use the space prior to reentering. Leading with compassion in communications and offering mental health support services.

2. Long Term

As many are still working from home, and finding benefits to it, companies are rethinking their current workplace models and their strategy for their real estate portfolios. With a distributed workforce including a blend of remote, in-office and hybrid work modes, your workplace and real estate should support this.

What Is an Agile Workplace?

An agile workplace provides the freedom of choice in how, when, and where people work by creating an unassigned environment. This approach recognizes that individuals perform different activities and thrive when a variety of work settings are provided, while giving flexibility to the company as needs change. This is synonymous with activity-based working, hoteling, hot desking, and unassigned seating.

Implementing an Agile Workplace

You don’t need to completely change your workplace, or invest significant funds into it, in order to implement an agile workplace model. Below is a scale of change from minimal to a full new buildout.

What Is Involved in Transitioning to a New Model?

Planning
Identify goals and objectives, as well as opportunities to support these through the physical space and furniture.
Technology
Select the right technology for space booking and utilization systems to support user adoption and provide valuable metrics.
Behavior and Policies
A new workplace model involves a change in how people use the space. Identify and communicate what is required.
Change Management
Decrease level of disruption and increase rate of adoption by preparing staff and communicating what has changed and what the new expectations are.

3. re-entry

Starting now, communication with staff is key, whether everyone is back in the office fully or still working remote. We have created a process to guide you in this endeavor.

Our number one goal is to support you and your company in navigating a successful and safe transition.

What to Communicate

The first step in re-entering the workplace is to understand what this looks like – from an organizational, operational, and people perspective. We can help you with this through:

New workplace model
New policies and procedures
Staff and facilities guidebook

How to Communicate

There’s a plethora of options to consider in how to communicate new polices and behaviors. We will work with you to determine which mediums work best with your organization:

E-mail communications
Video development
Virtual town-hall presentation
Intranet development
Virtual training sessions
Physical or virtual brochures

When to Communicate and When to listen

Effective communication is a two-way street. There need to be effective channels of organization for both individuals as well as organizations. We help you determine how best to have an open dialogue.

Communications schedule
Pulse check surveys
Focus groups
Manager training
Day 1 experience
Post transition survey

Re-Entry Navigation & Wayfinding

Options to inform staff on expectations, as well as help minimize anxiety and uncertainty throughout their day.

Signage
Wayfinding
Videos
Virtual training Sessions