Picture it. It’s the Monday after the Euros final, the sun is rising and you’re all curled up in bed.
You jolt awake to the familiar whine of an alarm before peeling your heavy eyes open. They’re bleary, they’re teary, and you’re not quite sure which way is up.
Chances are, you were one of the estimated 31 million footy fans that tuned in to watch England bow out to Italy last week.
Besides a terrible national hangover and a bruised collective ego, the Euros highlighted that the overwhelming majority of people are eager to be social again.
And you can bet that translates to the workplace, too. The fact is, the government is no longer asking people to work from home from 19th July, and there’s a real demand to get back into workspaces.
So, with the nation’s fresh hunger for socialisation, it’s time to start thinking about how to make your post-lockdown workplace more human-friendly.
An emphasis on social spaces
If you love Zoom... well, you’re in the minority.
Most people are sick to death of hitting mute and getting a face full of pixels. They want people, they want humans, they want real interaction.
It’s the reason people like to work at coffee shops or hold meetings over lunch. Talking to each other in these sorts of settings encourages different conversations than those that happen across a conference table.
It’s more friendly, more freeing, and, according to the Journal of Innovation Economics and Management, it stimulates more innovation. Plus, collaborative workspaces heighten employee engagement and help you to keep ahold of your top talent. What’s not to love?
So, how can I make my workplace more engaging?
The answer is often in a new layout.
Consider where you or your staff work. If your business runs without assigned workstations you could easily switch out a big desk for smaller, more inviting seating.
Or you could do something a little more radical, like replacing your stagnant office reception for a buzzing morning coffee bar. Even a splash of paint or some new décor could add a more comforting sense of character.
The most important thing is to add variety. You’re bound to do a number of different tasks while you’re working, so it’s only natural that you should have a variety of different working environments available.
Now, this is all well and good in theory, but the world is a different place these days...
Sociable working in a pandemic era
We can talk all we want about how fantastic new integrated workspaces will be, but we’d be ignoring the elephant in the room. You guessed it… COVID-19.
In truth, there’s still a lot of anxiety surrounding the virus, and it’s definitely not gone anywhere.
Sociable workspaces are a hotspot for spreading infections, so keeping your communal spaces clean is paramount. Plus, there’s a good chance government officials will be keeping a closer eye on hygiene moving forward.
So, it’s essential that you keep on top of health & safety in your workplace. And that’s where BrightSafe can help…
Our online health & safety management software gives you all the tools you need to manage any work-related safety issue.
It’s choc-a-bloc with super useful materials, like COVID-19 risk assessments and CPD-accredited e-learning courses, to make sure you’re always ahead of the game.
You can even report a hazard, assign a staff member, and mark it as resolved when it’s done, all from your mobile or computer. Plus, all your data is securely stored in the cloud, and it’s available at the touch of the button.
There’s loads more BrightSafe can do, so get in touch with one of our friendly advisors for more information or to book your free demo. Call us now on 0800 783 2806.