Work Place Changes After COVID-19

As leaders within companies examine the potential to bring employees back into the office, health and safety must be a priority. The Covid-19 virus has changed the way we interact with one another. Which means that there will be work place changes after we return to the office.

Addressing these 3 organizational changes in the work place can help to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the office. These changes will require adaptations by employees and office spaces.

These work place changes in a typical office will help you know what to expect as you return to work:

Personal Health and Hygiene

Increasing your personal hygiene practices could help protect you and others in the office. This change is an individual responsibility, and it may also be the most important way to prevent spreading the virus.

According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act)  guidelines on workplace safety during the Covid-19 epidemic, the virus is spread by person to person contact and microscopic respiratory droplets.

Here are the personal health and hygiene steps you should take in the office:

1. If you are experiencing symptoms like cough, fever, and/or shortness of breath, do not go into the office. Communicate with your manager and/or human resources.
2. Inform your work place if someone you live with is experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, and do not go into the office.
3. Work places may check employees for fever or other symptoms as you enter the office
4. Many companies are providing face masks for employees returning to the work place
5. Cover your mouth and nose with a face covering while interacting with other employees or customers.
6. If you cough or sneeze, make sure to cover your mouth and nose.
7. Properly dispose of tissues, face masks, and gloves in trash cans
8. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands
9. Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching surfaces in public areas:
   • Elevator buttons
   • Doors, knobs and handles
   • Light Switches
   • Printers, badge readers, and other technology

Social Distancing

New social distancing practices will be implemented in the work place after Covid-19. Social distancing could help to slow the spread of the virus by limiting person to person contact.

You may be able to expect these work place changes in the office to maintain social distance:

1. Keeping 6 feet of distance between yourself and others (Recommended by the CDC)
2. In-person meetings or large group meetings are likely to be replaced with video meetings or conference calls.
3. Work places may limit the number of people gathering in the break room or other group spaces at one time.
4. Avoid touching phone, computers, and supplies in other employees office spaces, if possible.
5. Plexiglass partitions may be used to protect both customers and employees providing in person customer service.
6. Your work space may be moved further away or separated by a barrier from other employees work spaces, if possible.
7. Employees may be asked to alternate working hours to limit the number of people in the office at time.
8. Traveling for work may be restricted for a period of time.

At TexasLending.com we have an online mortgage process that allows our customers to get a mortgage from the safety of their own home.

Cleaning Practices

Additional cleaning and organization in the office may be required to protect everyone in the office. You can expect changes in work place cleaning policies in the entire office. Many companies have added scheduled disinfecting cleaning services, for your protection.

These changes in cleaning practices may be a part of your new day to day routine in the office:

1. Increased access to hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.
2. Strict cleaning guidelines for kitchen, lounge, and break room spaces.
3. Routine cleaning of your workspace (Your office space may be your responsibility)
4. Professional disinfecting services for public and shared employee spaces.

All of the new changes happening in you work place in the Covid-19 epidemic are in place to protect you and those around you. While your office is adapting to new safety measures, so are many many others.

We hope you, your co-workers, friends, and family are safe and healthy during this time of change and new challenges.