Most Employers Favor Phased Return to Workplace
Most companies plan a gradual, cautious approach to bringing employees back to their workplaces as governments begin to lift restrictions tied to COVID-19, said CBRE, Los Angeles.
“Virtually all [of the 203 companies surveyed] are engaged in detailed planning to ensure a careful and reasoned approach,” said CBRE 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.”
Ellzey noted almost three-quarters of firms surveyed said they plan to bring employees back in phases rather than all at once.
CBRE surveyed account leaders that oversee client relationships spanning 4.2 billion square feet of workspace in offices, industrial and logistics real estate, tech space, data centers, retail and healthcare real estate used by more than 38 million workers. The analysis included data collected through May 4. Key findings included:
–Social distancing: Forty-five percent of companies said they will follow guidance from local governments and health agencies on workplace social distancing. Another 34 percent have set their own standard, which may exceed local guidance.
–Face Coverings: Fifty-nine percent of companies said they will provide face coverings for employees. Nearly 30 percent will require face coverings at all times at any company property. A larger portion–42 percent–will require masks only at company facilities where mandated by local government or health agency guidelines.
–Visitors: Only 21 percent of companies said they will allow visitors to the workplace in the reopening’s early phases.
–Health screening: Forty-five percent said they will require employees to “self-screen” for COVID-19 symptoms before they arrive at the workplace, while 13 percent plan to screen employees on-site at every facility. Of those allowing visitors, 35 percent will screen visitors on-site.
–Reopening timeline: Only 20 percent of companies intend to reopen as soon as government restrictions are lifted. A greater amount–42 percent–will do so after their internal standards are met.
–Reopening approach: Nearly three-quarters of companies will conduct a phased reopening with defined percentages or groups of employees admitted over weeks or months. Meanwhile, 52 percent expect to give employees the option to work from home for the foreseeable future, although this will vary widely by industry sector and type of operation.
–Space preparation: Among the most common steps companies have taken to prepare their workplaces include installing signage (82 percent), establishing space-use policies and guidelines for social distancing (78 percent), outlining social-distancing zones with floor decals and other reminders (74 percent) and reconfiguring furniture layouts (61 percent).
“With so many essential workers already performing their jobs at commercial properties, there is much that the industry is learning and adapting,” Ellzey said. “At the same time, companies must continually monitor local health conditions as they undertake further reopening efforts. 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.”
