Working from home has been a different experience for all of us. For some, WFH is turning into a disastrous reality with extended work hours, unnecessary zoom meetings and no healthy demarcation between work and household life. For others, WFH has been their life’s greatest dream come true. Whatever the case, we all have to return to our offices after some point or the other.
But if the point of returning to work makes you excited, hold on because your office experience won’t be the same anymore. It will be a bunch of complex rules that one would have to follow to ensure that we’re not putting ourselves or anyone else in danger.
How Offices In India Will Look Like Post Pandemic?
Here’s how office life will change dramatically when you return to work:
1. As soon as you reach your office gate, you will be welcomed with a thermal screening gun that will be pointed at your head to check your temperature. And only if you’re found asymptomatic, you shall be allowed to enter. You will also have to sanitize your hands as all office entrances are expected to have a hand hygiene provision.
2. Remember the times you rushed to fit yourself into one of those crowded elevators just so that you can could punch in on time. Well, no more running. As per current rules, the number of people in the elevators will be restricted to maintain social distancing norms. Also, elevator wait lines and spaces within the elevator could be demarcated to ensure the same.
4. You would have to wear a face cover or mask at all times inside your office premises.
5. There will no more cramping at your workplace. As per new rules, seating arrangement has to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained. So now, all those years of accidently (or purposefully) kicking each other because of cramped up office spaces will just remain a long lost memory.
6. You will be required to work in staggered work timings and days, so you might not be able to meet all your colleagues. Also, forget about having a meal together as one big team as there will be staggered lunch/coffee breaks too. The government mandate requires seating arrangement to ensure a distance of at least 1 meter between
patrons as far as feasible. So goodbye, eating huddled together as one team!
7. Meetings, as far as feasible, will be done through video conferencing. That sounds like a relief right, given our extremely crowded meeting spaces.
8. Large team gatherings in common areas will be restricted so will be employee movement between floors.
9. You could also expect tape or paint demarcations in your office space so as to enforce distancing and spacing. According to Economic Times, Tech Mahindra has already started drawing boxes on the floor in lift areas as well as inside its offices and washrooms.
10. Offices have to ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitization of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs, elevator buttons, hand rails, benches, washroom, fixtures, etc. They have to be cleaned using 1% sodium hypochlorite. Similarly, lavatories, drinking and hand washing stations/areas also have to be sanitized frequently.
11. All washrooms are expected to have a regular supply of hand sanitisers, soap and running water at all times.
12. Since ventilation systems in office spaces are extremely important, the government has issued a set of rules for them too. As per the guidelines of CPWD, the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30 degree celcius; while relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70%. Hence, your office spaces should ensure intake of fresh air and cross ventilation as much as possible.
13. Routine issue of visitors/temporary passes will be suspended. However, visitors with proper permission can be be allowed only after being screened properly.
14. For those coming in their private vehicles, a provision will be made for disinfection of the interior of the vehicle. A proper disinfection of the steering, door handles, keys, etc. is expected to be done using 1% sodium hypochlorite solution/ spray. Similarly valet parking will also entail the same procedure with operating staff wearing face covers/ masks and gloves.
15. In the parking lot and outside the office premises, crowd management and social distancing norms have to be observed.
16. Installation and use of Aarogya Setu App will be encouraged for employees.
Well, some huge changes in there, right? While some of us will happily accept these restrictions in order to be back with colleagues and the that energy an office brings; for others, so many rules and restrictions will dim the excitement of going to work. Whatever your view, the future of working in the post-lockdown world will definitely be a big challenge. No wonder a new Survey Says That 93% Indian Employees Are Stressed About Returning Back To Office Post Lockdown.
Also Read: 100% Government Employees To Work From Office Starting 14 June