While most companies have taken steps to improve workplace hygiene and social distance since the Covid-19 outbreak, employers need to consider long-term ways to improve the health and well-being of their employees. Offices need to be more pleasant and hygienic to attract employees and promote a productive work environment. Choosing to use shutters may seem inconsequential, but it can actually have a big impact. Anyone who has worked in an office knows that it can be a breeding ground for illness, often caused by the design of the office itself, which even led to the coining of the term “sick building syndrome” long before the Covid 19 outbreak. Employers can take advantage of the benefits of creating safer and more hygienic workplaces for their employees. Here are some tips for designing office-friendly workplaces, even after and during the Covid pandemic.
Improvement in the Equipment
One essential thing is that everyone knows how infectious diseases spread. Hygiene is likely to be a more important aspect of office design in the future. It could lead to a change in building materials. Offices could opt for more hygienic materials that are easy to clean and can withstand strong detergents. Laminate surfaces are preferable to wood. It also applies to office ventilation. Better air circulation improves air quality and reduces the spread of airborne diseases among employees.
Hygiene First
It’s not uncommon for business owners to feel the impact of sick days caused by employees contracting the virus or isolating themselves. It is estimated that the United States spends $576 billion annually on sick days. The annual cost of employee illness is $576 billion. It includes sick days, compensation, and other health-related expenses. Besides, it could become a new trend to curb the spread of other contagious diseases like the common cold and seasonal flu. Therefore, better hygiene can help curb the spread of diseases that could affect your entire workforce.
Touch-Free Office
A touch-free office is another idea that could become commonplace. It means that you no longer need to touch usual surfaces like buttons and doors, like coffee machines and so on. These buttons could be controlled by smartphones, motion sensors, or voice activation. It would help reduce the spread of illnesses in the workplace. These measures will not be accessible to all companies, as they are more expensive than standard equipment. However, the benefits could soon outweigh the costs as employees are happier and healthier.
Better Self-Regulation
The Covid-19 pandemic could bring about the most extended changes in office work, including the perception of employees coming to work when sick and the continuity of companies’ pay policies. Due to increasing job insecurity, many employees have little or no sick pay in their contracts. Companies often set rigid deadlines and goals, which can lead workers to neglect their health concerns. Such work practices can lead to workers getting sicker and potentially affect a higher percentage of the workforce.
It is hard to deny that the Covid-19 pandemic was a difficult time for everyone worldwide. And it is also true that many aspects of their work environment have changed. Employers can be more aware of the risk of illness in the post-Covid workplace and offer sick leave or work-from-home benefits in certain circumstances. One example of a positive change is to put more emphasis on employee health and wellness. It will lead to a happier and healthier workplace. Therefore, employees won’t feel insecure and afraid of working from the office.