The world changed in the beginning of 2020. Life as we knew it underwent a radical shift as our collective focus went from our daily tasks and to-do lists to staying healthy and protecting ourselves and loved ones from COVID-19.
As we begin 2021, it’s clear the changes that 2020 brought aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but the world keeps spinning, and we keep adjusting. Social distancing has become a way of life for many, and the measures taken for social distancing at work are likely to carry on into the future.
Public health experts say “coronavirus safeguards, such as masks and social distancing, are likely to remain in place for several months at least.” According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, “by the time we get to the end of the summer, i.e. the third quarter, we may actually have enough herd immunity protecting our society that as we get to the end of 2021, we can approach very much some degree of normality that is close to where we were before.”
Even with this optimistic outlook, the fact remains that we will be feeling the effects of the coronavirus for a long time to come, especially in the work environment. To reach the threshold for herd immunity, between 75% and 80% of the population will need to be vaccinated. This could happen by the fall season of this year, but with variant strains being discovered, the real trajectory of the virus and the timeline of when we can get back to normal still ends in a question mark.
At this point in the pandemic, certain practices are pretty close to second nature. According to a YouGov and Imperial College of London poll, most Americans, between 75 and 80 percent report wearing a mask in public. From stickers on the floor and plexiglass partitions at the grocery store checkout aisles to workplace mitigation measures, it’s hard to imagine that they will all disappear instantly once herd immunity is reached.
Even after getting the vaccine, the CDC recommends continuing to wear a mask and avoiding close contact with others because “experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions.”
No matter how many people are vaccinated, it’s likely many things will stay the same as we reach the end of 2021 and even into 2022. Because of this, the things that your business does now to prepare for employees returning to work will serve you well as the pandemic runs its course and will allow you to get back to business.
Creating safe working spaces and taking necessary sanitation measures could mean the difference between employees who are ready to get back to the office or employees who are nervous and not able to do their best work for fear of infection.
The following strategies will help you integrate social distancing at work while still providing for connections between employees and clients alike.
Set Up Individual Offices
In offices that had an open floor plan pre-pandemic, erecting individual offices is a great way to ensure safety and decrease the spread of germs. Glass partition panels will maintain the feel of an open office but will go a long way to providing the necessary social distancing at work.
Integrating natural touches such as a timber door can keep the space warm and inviting while also maintaining the social distancing necessary for safety.
Separate Spaces with Glass Partition Dividers
A strategy that requires little renovation or disturbance to the workplace is to turn one large office into two. An Elite™ Freestanding Glass Partition System stands independent of structural elements, so it can be installed anywhere it is needed.
Completing the design with Eclipse™ Sliding Glass Barn Doors allows for easy access. These modern touches slides closed quietly without disrupting the office and create sound privacy in individual offices.
This solution means that employees will be disrupted as little as possible. Rather than undergoing a complete renovation to construct offices with traditional walls, forcing employees to relocate, installing a glass partition system means that there won’t be any disturbances to their workspaces.
Add Character
Custom frosting, logos, and graphics can be added to glass partition systems to create privacy and add character to the office, which can go a long way towards putting the goals, mission, and purpose of the office on display.
Flexible Partitions
When privacy and social distancing at work need to be achieved quickly, erecting freestanding partition systems is the perfect solution. Textured glass panels at the top of each partition ensure that it isn’t dark or gloomy, but rather bright and welcoming.
Create Social Distancing at Work
Creating social distancing at work doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming. Choosing glass partitions from Avanti Systems allows you to create distance instantly. Another benefit is that they can be reconfigured, so when the world does eventually go back to normal, you can rearrange them to fit your changing needs.
Contact the partition experts at Avanti Systems today for more information on making your office safer.