What a Phased-In Reopening Will Look Like
A new analysis by CBRE found that companies across the globe are taking a cautious approach to returning to the office.
No visitors. Health screenings. Face coverings.
Many companies are thinking through what returning to the workplace will look like in the era of COVID-19, and a new analysis by CBRE reveals that most are taking a cautious approach to reopening when governments allow them to do so. CBRE looked at 203 companies across the globe and identified several trends in how they are planning to return to in-person operations. More than half those companies, for example, aim to use touchless technology to eliminate the surfaces touched by multiple people. And the majority intend to provide face coverings to employees.
“Our analysis of our clients’ return-to-work strategies shows that virtually all are engaged in detailed planning to ensure a careful and reasoned approach,” said CBRE’s Executive Managing Director of Consulting Karen Ellzey. “Most of these companies have established their own criteria for when to return to the workplace beyond local and state government requirements.”
The vast majority of companies won’t be throwing open their doors to all employees at once, CBRE found. Nearly three quarters of the companies—72%—said they will phase in their reopening by bringing back certain percentages of workers over weeks or months. Meanwhile, 52% are giving employees the option to continue working remotely for the foreseeable future. And only 20% of companies plan to reopen as soon as government restrictions are lifted.
And workplaces will look different once employees come back. Most companies have said they will maintain social distancing—45% plan to follow local government guidelines, while 34 have established their own guidelines calling for social distancing of at least six feet. In order to implement social distancing, 82% of companies plan to install signage; 74% intend to use floor decals and other reminders; and 61% said they plan to reconfigure furniture.
Health screenings are also key features of many company’s reopening plans. Nearly half of all companies—45%—will require employees to complete self-health screenings at home, while 13% said they intend to conduct health screenings on site.
“Across the board, we see evidence that companies are taking a thoughtful, measured approach to reopening their work environments in a safe and methodical manner,” Ellzey said.