is this the end of the office?


“It will be challenging for companies based in large city HQs to transition back to work, with, for example, skyscraper lifts not being able to operate with usual


capacity.” Sridhar Lyengar, Zoho Corporation


conference calls, leaving the more focused style of work for when they were at home. As we got into July, some of the major


drop in Covid-19 cases. A few days later, the storage company, Attic Self Storage, reported a rise in people wanting to declutter to make space for homeworking and even went as far as to say kitchen and dining areas were the new innovation hubs, generating £37.4 billion to the economy during lockdown, with huge numbers saying they were the most productive places they have ever worked. Winckworth Sherwood Partner Louise


Lawrence, summed up current feelings: “It appears that our time in lockdown has had a lasting impact upon the way we will approach working lif. “For businesses to recruit and retain key talent and remain competitive, they need to listen to their employees and embrace flexible working. As well as looking at home working, 50 per cent of employees who are able to work from home said that they wanted their employer to be flexible around working hours and 25 per cent said that their employer should measure their output rather than time spent.” And what’s more, businesses appear to


be listening, with the research revealing that nearly a third of HR decision makers saying they intend to close, or at least reduce their office capacity, arguably signalling the biggest shiſt in working life since the Second World War. This is not surprising. As the weeks


went on, a new way of thinking began to emerge. Employers began to question not what the office they leſt behind was traditionally used for, but rather what it could be used for. Many reasoned that the reduced footfall


freed-up floor space for more productive use. They began to see it as less about desks and back-to-back PCs but more of a creative hub where people could gather to learn new skills and make video


www.smeweb.com


players began to make plans for an ordered return to work. PwC, for example, targeted the end of September for a return, but estimated this would involve no more than 50 per cent of its staff. Others in major cities, notably banks, accountants and law firms, appeared in even less of a rush, many hailing remote working a success and expressing reluctance to put worried employees back on to public transport, particularly in central London. The Square Mile’s 30 biggest employers


say they intend to bring back between 20-40 per cent, according to reports quoting the City of London police commissioner, Ian Dyson, with the rest continuing to work remotely. None of this appeared odd to Sridhar


Lyengar, MD of the soſtware development firm, Zoho Corporation who noted firms were “not rushing to get all their employees back in the office right away”. He said: “The obvious health benefits


aside, Lockdown has proved to many employers and employees that a 100 per cent remote working model can not only work, but it can also boost productivity and reduce overheads. “The tools that have made remote work


possible throughout the crisis include cloud-based communication channels and soſtware-as-a-service applications – not only are these solutions scalable, but they are flexible and easy to operate. “When many return to the office, on at least a semi-regular basis, cloud-based solutions and SaaS applications will be key in bridging the gap between office and home environments, and ensuring workplace culture can remain intact, even in a hybrid working model.” He added: “It will be challenging for companies based in large city HQs to transition back to work, with, for example, skyscraper liſts not being able to operate with usual capacity. This could result in a shiſt from hugely expensive city-located business epicentres to a collection of smaller offices spread outside cities.” This sort of thinking was behind the launch of MyLocalDesk, an online desk match-making service which caters for


Safe surroundings are your legal duty


Re-opening the office should mean more than simply wiping down keyboards and placing hand-sanitisers on desks, according to legal experts. Employers must take steps to ensure they create the sort of safe working environment that will limit their liability should another outbreak occur. Many say health and safety policies


will need to be updated to take account of social distancing rules, and a comprehensive risk assessment should be undertaken in consultation with staff. “Any employer that can be shown to have


been negligent in how it managed risks, resulting in the infection of staff or visitors, could be liable to prosecution, particularly if they have not properly assessed potential risks and put appropriate measures in place,” says Deborah Geering, a Senior Associate with Furley Page. “When the government’s ‘track and


“ A risk assessment needs to consider the welfare of anyone coming on to the businesses premises, not just the employees”


trace’ system is finally implemented, it should become very clear where a new outbreak of Covi-19 has arisen. From both a staff safety


perspective and in terms of the businesses’ reputation, you do not want your offices to be the centre of a new outbreak.” She recommends drafting a return-to


work policy which includes a physical risk assessment. Questions that need to be answered go beyond whether staff can effectively maintain social distancing. They should involve a policy on shared equipment, a one-way system to reduce contact risk in narrow corridors or stairways, the use of communal areas, the layout to ensure people are not facing each other. Deborah said: “A risk assessment needs


to consider the welfare of anyone coming on to the businesses premises, not just the employees, including consultants, clients, suppliers - couriers, Post Office staff, refuse collectors, business visitors and so on. “Staff consultation is an essential


requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Given the current restrictions, businesses should consider circulating a questionnaire to all staff - including those who may be furloughed, on long term sick leave or maternity/paternity leave. “All staff answers should be collated and


consideration given to concerns raised, and any business with 50 employees or more must publish its risk assessment on the company’s website.”


Deborah Geering, Furley Page


SME magazine


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