Navigating What's Next: The Post-COVID Workplace Safety Guidelines - Events Industry Council
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Navigating
What’s Next:
The Post-COVID
Workplace
The Post-COVID Design Considerations Safety
Workplace + Thought Starters Guidelines
Page 03 Page 10 Page 27
Navigating What’s Next About This Guide As we navigate this crisis, Steelcase will draw on the knowledge of our diverse network of global clients, thought leaders and experts to explore and understand the implications to work, workers and the workplace. Navigating What’s Next: The Post-COVID Workplace is designed to share strategies that can help organizations navigate this crisis across three time horizons – now, near and far. Our commitment to you is to share as quickly as we learn: steelcase.com/postcovid © Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 2
Navigating What’s Next
The Post-
COVID
Workplace
Returning to the workplace
will be like reopening the
economy. It will happen in
waves and it will be stressful
for both organizations and
workers. It’s impossible to
predict what may happen next.
But we still need to prepare.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 3
Navigating What’s Next
Navigating What's Next
Reopening the economy will challenge every company
to quickly regain productivity and competitiveness,
without compromising health and safety.
During the shutdown every company was forced to hunker Culture is rooted in community and the “social
down and keep things going. Established teams learned to infrastructure” – places and protocols – that connect
use video conferencing to have meetings and individuals people and shape how we interact. The modern workplace
could use email and enterprise resource planning systems provides the infrastructure needed to foster relationships,
to sustain existing processes. That was the easy part. build communities at work and allow people to achieve
Similar to the yellow caution light in auto racing, during more. Steelcase has worked with clients to provide
the shutdown competitors mostly stayed in their lanes and employees more privacy, more choices and more control
held their position. That’s all about to change. over how they work. We have helped design meeting rooms
that support remote participants more inclusively. We have
As the economy reopens, competition will be intense.
launched new products that offer more flexibility as work
The crisis has created new challenges and new
shifts from individual to team and from formal to informal
opportunities in most every industry. Every competitor
throughout the day. All of this gets more important.
will try to respond. The winners will be those who most
clearly understand their customer’s needs, collaborate to Infection control is a new priority. Employees will not
identify multiple solutions, prototype and iterate quickly, return to an office that doesn’t feel safe, and most of
bring new ideas to market and make the risky decision today’s high-density workplaces, with extensive reliance
to invest at scale. Digital transformation initiatives will on hotelling and shared ancillary spaces will need to be
need to accelerate to redefine every element in the value modified. Businesses understand that infection transmission
chain. Culture will never be more important as companies within a workplace can not only shut them down again, but
focus on innovation, speed, and risk-taking. The winners also damage their brand and their ability to attract new
will be those who can reactivate, redeploy and reengage talent. As we add infection control as a new given, we must
talent most effectively. The losers will be those who stay not “fix” the office in a way that weakens community,
hunkered down too long and miss the moment when the creativity, productivity or the other keys to winning as
light turns green. competitiveness intensifies – that’s the whole reason to have
an office. We also must remember the lessons from the past
This experience has also impacted everyone's wellbeing
and respond to this crisis so that we may adapt over time
at work – their physical, cognitive and emotional
as risks are mitigated in other ways. The opportunity for the
wellbeing. Some people easily made the transition to
workplace is to move forward, not backward.
working from home and will want to have the option of
working remotely in the future. Others struggled because As we navigate what's next, our solutions are holistic and
of inadequate space, furniture, worktools, and bandwidth. consider not just furniture, but also materials, technology,
Some faced challenges balancing work demands and planning paradigms and even behaviors and protocols. Our
family expectations, while others were affected by ideas are rooted in the science of infection control as we
loneliness. Everyone experienced health-related anxiety work with human health experts to define national and local
as we wore masks to go grocery shopping, crossed guidelines for what makes a workplace safe. We also want
the street to avoid crossing paths with neighbors, and to be practical, providing ideas companies can adopt now
worried about those who were not following the rules. as the first wave of workers return to the office, but in a
Everyone will return to a workplace changed in responsible way that also looks ahead to the near and far.
some way, though expectations will be different from The office must immediately be made safe, but also more
person to person, and could create new tensions across resilient and more adaptive to the changes we can only
generations at work. These new sensibilities will affect imagine as competition intensifies in a post-COVID world.
how leading companies attract, retain, and inspire talent
for many years.
Jim Keane
President and CEO
Steelcase, Inc.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 4
Navigating What’s Next
Planning for the Today’s workplace • Residential aesthetic:
Workplaces feel less “corporate”
unknown: safety first challenges today and now include a wider
As we plan to return to work, we The dominant characteristics of the range of sofas and lounge seating.
need to make choices carefully and pre-COVID workplace were designed The scale of these settings tends
responsibly. Employee safety and to support new ways of working to be more intimate, bringing
wellbeing must be paramount — and high levels of human interaction people together more closely.
people need to be safe and to fuel creativity, innovation, speed
feel safe. and agility. These attributes now
These characteristics created
pose challenges for the post-COVID
a competitive advantage for
workplace, as organizations strive to
organizations – a means to foster
limit physical interactions.
new work styles, build culture
They include: and attract talent. While many
organizations prepared for employee
• Open plan: The open plan is the
safety in other ways, the workplace
dominant form of office design
was not designed to mitigate the
around the world. The degree of
spread of disease. Companies
openness varies, but within these
around the world were not prepared
spaces air and pathogens can
to think about the workplace as
travel freely.
an environment that needs to adapt
• High density: Over the past quickly to health risks that can
decade, the allocation of rise unexpectedly. Going forward,
space per person substantially they cannot take the risk that rapid
Wellbeing happens when there decreased, yet high density transmission of a virus could
is an intersection between our increases the likelihood of cause a facility or entire business
physical, cognitive and emotional spreading infections. to shut down.
health — safety is foundational
to all three. Organizations need • Shared spaces: Organizations
to take action to ensure that: recognized that people wanted
choice and control over how and
• Physically: People can work in where they work. This has led to
places where they are able to a broad range of spaces that are
stay healthy overall and minimize shared by people throughout the
exposure to pathogens that organization.
cause illness.
• High mobility: Mobile
• Mentally: People are not in fear for technologies and power solutions
their personal safety because that enable people to move freely
distracts them from being focused around the workplace. Workplaces
and productive. have now become highly dynamic
• Emotionally: Everyone needs environments, with lots of energy.
to feel safe at work. They need to • Communal spaces: Cafés
be confident that their employers and social spaces have been
have done everything possible intentionally designed to bring
to create a safe environment — large groups of people together
especially for those who may – increasing density and the
be at higher risk. likelihood of spreading infection.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 5
Navigating What’s Next
The now, near
and far
As we work with our global network
of leading organizations and experts,
we recognize the importance of
looking at the return to work across
the time horizons of now, near and
far. For many organizations this will
happen in waves and differ across
geographies, as they bring segments
of their workforce safely back into
the office.
Now Near Far
This will be the first wave, with At this stage, organizations may be Work environments in the future
portions of the workforce continuing ready to bring back most or all of will require reinvention as science-
to work from home. Planning for their workforce. Building on what based evidence and emerging
now also means retrofitting the we learn from our experiences and technologies offer new solutions.
workplace, based on a common- science, organizations can begin Planning paradigms of the past
sense approach that adheres to reconfiguring the workplace. This were driven by density and cost.
governmental and global health will involve new ways to lay out Going forward they need to be
guidelines, including physical space and change work settings based on the ability to adapt easily
distancing, adding barriers, cleaning to offer longer-term solutions for to possible economic, climate and
and safety measures. enhanced safety. health disruptions. The reinvented
office must be designed with an
Key principles for these first two
even deeper commitment to the
stages will be to focus on:
wellbeing of people, recognizing
• density of the workplace and that their physical, cognitive and
its population emotional states are inherently
linked to their safety.
• geometry of the furniture
arrangements
• division using screens, panels
or other barriers
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 6
Navigating What’s Next
Now: Retrofit These approaches include: ergonomic furniture, lighting and
worktools to help them avoid
• Reduce Density
injury from poor posture, repetitive
To encourage physical distancing,
movements, eye strain, etc.
To get their organizations running at consider removing chairs and
partial capacity, most organizations spreading workspaces so people • Provide Visual Cues
will need to bring their employees are at least 6ft/2m apart. For Use tape or other visual cues to
back in waves. Many will want benches, consider a checkerboard identify and suggest appropriate
to bring back up to 50% of their pattern – removing spaces distance between employees.
workforce in the first wave of re- directly beside or in front of where Arrows on the floor can be used
entry, and they will need to focus on employees might sit. to direct one-way traffic flow in
retrofitting what they already have narrow hallways and corridors.
• Change Geometry
and take a common-sense approach Arrange and re-orient workstations • Smaller Meetings
based on current understanding of away from a standard linear Establish protocols for the number
preventing disease transmission. approach. Reconfigure of people who can occupy
We have learned from factories and freestanding desks to reduce an enclosed space. Post that
global clients, who implemented early sitting face-to-face without a information so it is commonly
safety precautions as they responded barrier; rotate desks 90-degrees understood. Adhere to local
to the needs of essential businesses. to face in different directions. guidance about numbers of
people allowed in a gathering
• Add Division
and ensure the room supports
Adding screens or panels is
physical distancing.
especially important when
minimum 6ft/2m can’t be • Clean Frequently and Visibly
achieved. Add screens in front, Make cleaning highly visible
beside and behind people - the so employees are assured that
higher, wider and more easily spaces are being cleaned multiple
cleaned, the better. times a day. Make cleaning
wipes and sanitizer accessible
• Hotelling
to everyone, everywhere and
Shift from allowing desks to
ask employees to clean before
be shared by multiple people
and after use of shared spaces;
throughout the day, to a single
include hand-washing stations
use per day. Reinforce a "clean in,
and promote personal hygiene.
clean out" policy.
(See safety guidelines, page 27)
• Ancillary Spaces
• Make Masks the Norm
Furniture such as sofas should
In many countries, it is a social
be marked for single usage unless
norm to wear a mask during the
it can allow physical distancing;
cold and flu season. As scientists
lounge seating should be removed
study how far small droplets
or placed at least 6ft/2m apart.
emitted from people talking can
Tables and lighting will need to
travel, consider making it a new
be cleaned before and after
norm to wear masks during times
each use by employees, not just
when people need to interact
cleaning staff.
in meetings, conversations or
• Work from Home moving around the office. Provide
Returning in waves or working masks for people as well as giving
in shifts reduces density and guidance for proper ways to wear
improves physical distancing – them. (See safety guidelines, page 27)
it also means some employees
will work from home longer than
expected. Employees will require
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 7
Navigating What’s Next
Near: Reconfigure • Flexible Furniture and Power and using Steelcase Flex screens
Introduce furniture that can be with stools to create a space where
easily moved and reconfigured. people can naturally distance
This allows employees to easily themselves and meet without being
As businesses are able to ramp back distance themselves from others stuck in an enclosed space. The
up, they may need to bring 75% as needed and organizations extra advantage is that standing
to 100% of their employees back. can increase density in the future and moving is proven to boost
Businesses will need to reconfigure when virus transmission is less creativity by 60%, making it easier
their spaces to accommodate these of a concern. Mobile power lets to get back to innovation work
increased numbers while still adhering employees work in areas where while maintaining an appropriate
to distancing guidelines. Solutions power is not readily available - distance away from others.
should be highly adaptable so spaces such as cafés or other open areas
can change quickly in response to • Enterprise-Wide Agile Practices
that can be redeployed to support
any unplanned future disruptions. Working from home has forced
individual work.
These solutions should also be based many workers to become more
on science – including what we’ve • Large-Scale Collaboration agile and they may want to adopt
learned about pathogens and how Devices agile practices like “daily stand-
they are transmitted and destroyed. Since travel will still be minimized, ups" when they return to the
global teams need ways to office. Standing meetings can
Reconfiguration considerations connect. Large scale collaboration be helpful in reducing the overall
include: devices, like the Microsoft Surface square footage/meter demands.
• Me Within We Hub are touched with a pen or
• Contact Tracing
Give people the choice of having hands, but they can also be easily
Should you become ill, emerging
a dedicated workspace if they cleaned. Innovation work often
smart phone technology can
feel more comfortable not sharing requires large-scale collaboration
anonymously communicate this
with others. They will also need (whiteboards, etc.) and large-
to anyone who’s been near you
ubiquitous access to cleaning scale digital tools can help teams
and suggest to them that he/she
tools; encourage them to clean maintain that over distance.
may want to get tested and/or
their space before they begin • Introduce Standing Meetings self-isolate.
work. If spaces must be shared, Open areas can become the new
then they should be ‘reservable’ conference room by moving the
for longer durations, with the new Microsoft Surface Hub 2S and
practice of thoroughly cleaning Steelcase Roam Mobile Stand
between times of usage.
• Design for Disinfecting
Select smooth surfaces that are
easy to clean and fabrics that can
be cleaned or washed. Introduce
anti-microbial and/or protective
coatings. Consider materials that
don’t degrade with continuous
cleaning. Utilize sensor systems
to provide information about
which rooms have the greatest
occupancy and require more
frequent cleaning.
• Deflect the Virus
Introduce hard or fabric barriers
that are scientifically proven to
stop or deflect the virus.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 8
Navigating What’s Next
Far: Reinvent • Hands-free
More solutions will be available
for gesture or voice-activated
commands (i.e. raise desk-top,
There will be an urgency to not open door, save whiteboard notes).
simply return to where we were,
• New Materials
but to be resilient, move forward
Pure or engineered materials that
and thrive. Innovation, productivity
allow for cleaning and disinfection
and growth can be reignited and
without degrading over time will
accelerated with a workplace that
become the new standard.
is designed to balance diverse
ways of working while supporting • Sensors
people’s wellbeing more than ever Beyond utilization, sensors
and respond quickly and easily will measure different aspects
when faced with disruption. The of wellbeing, possibly including
opportunity ahead is to reinvent behaviors or actions that
a workplace that is inherently indicate illness.
adaptable – able to change as
• Inclusive Design
needed, based on new conditions,
The workplace needs to ensure
whether it be the next epidemic or a
that everyone has equal levels of
new prospect for growth.
safe participation regardless of
This means that planning paradigms age, abilities or health issues.
of the past, driven by density and
• Living on Video
costs, need to shift -- think flexibility
Travel will continue to be less
and fluidity instead of permanence.
frequent and the office will need
Creating “social infrastructure”
to integrate enhanced virtual
– a range of diverse places and
experiences so people can connect
experiences that shape how people
across distances. The use of large-
interact – will allow people to make
scale video conferencing improves
connections and build trust that, in
remote collaboration. Seeing facial
turn, fuels their level of engagement.
reactions and body language lets
The workplace needs to deeply
you “read the room,” plus people
support people’s wellbeing, knowing of connection with others. Nurture
are less likely to multi-task, interrupt
that their safety is directly linked a sense of belonging and purpose.
or speak over one another.
to their physical, cognitive and Reiterate the organization’s
emotional states. • Remote Work Norms strategies and long-term vision.
For some companies, working from Use virtual gatherings to help
Science-based and data-driven
home is not new. They already people maintain that connection
solutions will need to integrate
have policies in place to provide to others.
with technology tools to create
options to their employees. This
environments that are safe for people
will likely become more normative
to interact comfortably and embrace
for organizations, and employees
new ways of working.
will need support for home offices We need time to
Solutions might include: that will provide physical comfort understand how people
and allow them to participate in
• Design for Adaptability are feeling, what
work seamlessly when they're not
Space should no longer be
in the physical office. science is learning and
designed for permanence, but
the technologies that
to change easily, expand and • Create Community
contract, with work areas that Beyond the financial recession, are emerging to fully
can accommodate greater or people are weary from the comprehend the future
less distancing. social recession and the lack workplace.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 9
Navigating What’s Next
Design
Considerations +
Thought Starters
One thing is certain: In This Section
We will design and
Page 11
plan spaces differently Design
in the future. Considerations
Page 13
Workplace
Settings
Page 23
Home Office
Settings
Page 26
Materials:
Cleanability
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 10Navigating What’s Next
Design Considerations
Density. Geometry. Division.
Companies want to bring people back to the office because Minimum Distance
they know it’s the best place for people to come together, Create minimum 6ft/2m distancing
between people in open workstations,
align on priorities and get things done. People have
meeting spaces, cafés and lounge
grown weary of isolation and look forward to being able to spaces. Reduce occupancy by remov-
speak directly to their colleagues and solve problems. As ing desks, tables and seating, or use
organizations plan for people to return in waves, they need alternating desks.
a strategy for the physical work environment that follows
new safety protocols and allows people to create,
Meet in the Open
collaborate and be productive.
Use open spaces for meetings of more
than five people, leveraging flexible
furniture with movable whiteboards and
Three key strategies to consider when retrofitting
screens to create boundaries.
spaces now or reconfiguring in the near term are:
Density: the number of people per sq. ft/m
More Owned Spaces
Geometry: how the furniture is arranged Reduce/eliminate shared desking and
shift to more owned individual spaces.
Division: using screens, panels or barriers
Re-orient Furniture
These strategies should be used in combination to Reconfigure desking to reduce face-
create spaces that, when supplemented with new safety to-face orientation; turn workstations
to 90-degee angles to prevent workers
guidelines, allow people to confidently come back into the
from working directly across or behind
workplace. Going forward, organizations will want to create one another.
a diverse range of spaces that are highly adaptable to allow
them to navigate what’s next.
Separate Desks
Pull workstations and desks apart
to increase distancing.
Add Space Division
Increase barriers for existing work-
spaces by adding screening, storage
elements, plants or partitions.
Moveable Screens
At workstations, consider increased
user-movable screening and privacy
devices to reduce exposure.
Height Helps
Implement the highest boundary
possible above the worksurface (on all
exposed sides) when a minimum 6ft/2m
distance cannot be achieved.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 11Navigating What’s Next
Floor Plan Considerations
The key to preparing the office for the return of people requires changing
the density, geometry and division of the space.
6
1
2
7
8
3
4
9
10
5
1 Higher space division and natural 5 Changing the arrangement 8 Added video conferencing
elements create separation and (geometry) of the desks reduces enclaves enable remote
psychological comfort. face-to-face orientation. collaboration, allowing fewer
people to work in the office at
2 Decreased density in the café 6 Individual seating in lounge
a single time.
allows people to safely interact. spaces helps to maintain a safe
distance. 9 Movable boundary screen
3 Sanitation stations provide easy
protects personal space and
access to cleaning supplies. 7 Individual workstations have been
reduces exposure.
separated to provide 120 sq ft./
4 Mobile boundary screens protect
11.15 sq m of personal space. 10 Reduced guest seating and
a team’s territory and their backs.
Screens provide additional division. adjusted orientation creates
distancing in the private office.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 12Navigating What’s Next
Workplace
Settings
The following design
considerations and thought
starters demonstrate how to
adapt existing settings for
the Post-COVID workplace.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 13Navigating What’s Next
1: Current Design Strategies
Height-Adjustable
Desks and Benches
Ideas for how to progressively
adapt existing worksettings to
meet the new health and safety
requirements for a post-COVID
workplace.
2: Retrofit Division:
• A
dd three 24" AMQ desk screens
per height-adjustable desk.
• A
dd user-movable Steelcase Flex
Screens to shield team space.
• A
dd moveable Loftwall Screen for
boundary and separation between
people.
3: Reconfigure Density:
• Increase square footage per person
by changing desk orientation.
Geometry:
• Rotate desks 90 degrees to
eliminate face-to-face orientation.
Division:
• Add three 24" AMQ desk screens
per height-adjustable desk.
• A
dd lockers to create a boundary
and provide storage for personal
belongings and cleaning supplies.
• A
dd user-moveable Steelcase Flex
Screens between people to create
on-demand boundaries.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 14Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Height-Adjustable Desks and Benches
• Mobile screen for user-moveable
boundary.
• Three-sided, 24" desk screens
on height-adjustable desk.
• Flexible storage boundary.
• Three 24" height AMQ screens
on height-adjustable desks.
• 24" AMQ screens to height-
adjustable Ology desk.
• 120-degree orientation of Ology
desks to reduce face-to-face
orientation.
• Two 24" high AMQ screens on
height-adjustable desks.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 15Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Height-Adjustable Desks and Benches
• Three-sided, 24" high AMQ
screens on FrameOne benching.
• 54" high Turnstone Groupwork
mobile markerboard screen.
• Three-sided, 24" high AMQ
screens to Ology height-
adjustable bench.
• 71" high Steelcase Flex
markerboard with stand.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 16Navigating What’s Next
1: Current Design Strategies
Panel-Based
Workstations
Ideas for how to progressively
adapt existing worksettings to
meet the new health and safety
requirements for a post-COVID
workplace.
2: Retrofit Density:
• Increase square footage per
person by changing desk
orientation.
Geometry:
• Rotate desks 90 degrees to
eliminate face-to-face orientation.
Division:
• Add 28" high AMQ screens to
two sides of the height-adjustable
Ology desk.
• Add 18" Answer glass screens to
the center panel.
3: Reconfigure Density:
• Increase square footage per
person by changing desk
orientation.
Division:
• Add 18" glass stack to the top
of the 48" Answer panels.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 17Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Panel-Based Workstations
• 28" AMQ high screens on height-
adjustable Ology desks.
• 48" Answer panel with 18" glass
screens.
• Rotate desks 90 degrees to
Answer panel to eliminate face-
to-face orientation.
• 24" high AMQ screens on height-
adjustable Ology desk.
• Desk orientation perpendicular to
the panel to eliminate face-face
orientation.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 18Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Panel-Based Workstations
• 54" Answer panel with 12" glass
screens in workstations.
• Rotate desks 90 degrees to
eliminate face-to-face orientation.
• 54" Answer panels for full shielding
at the fixed desk.
• Rotate desks 90 degrees to
eliminate face-to-face orientation.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 19Navigating What’s Next
1: Current Design Strategies
Ancillary
Ideas for how to progressively
adapt existing worksettings to
meet the new health and safety
requirements for a post-COVID
workplace.
2: Retrofit Density:
• Break multi-seat lounges into
individual seats by introducing
table elements to reduce density.
Geometry:
• Arrange seating to eliminate face-
to-face orientation.
Division:
• Add Steelcase Flex Screens to
increase shielding.
• Move storage to create separation
between lounge settings and hold
cleaning supplies.
3: Reconfigure Density:
• Break a single setting into multiple
smaller settings with increased
separation and reduced density
Geometry:
• Arrange seating to eliminate face-
to-face orientation.
Division:
• Add individual Lagunitas lounge
seats with personal screens.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 20Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Ancillary
• 96" high V.I.A. demountable walls.
• Individual seating and personal
tables.
• Storage holds cleaning supplies
and sanitizer.
• Turnstone Bivi Rumble seat sofa
with Hoodie protects people.
• Turnstone Clipper screens create a
boundary behind people.
• Appropriate distancing between
seating areas.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 21Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Ancillary
• Brody WorkLounge with screens
and extensions and Brody desk
with extensions.
• Appropriate distancing between
seats.
• Individual seats and personal
tables provide distance between
people.
• Storage holds team tools and
cleaning supplies.
• Orangebox Pod enclosure provides
shielding and privacy.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 22Navigating What’s Next
Home Office
Settings
We’ve designed these home
office solutions to help you
work better at home — whether
you’re creating a small office,
multipurpose space or large
dedicated office.
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 23Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Home Office
A freestanding desk and office chair
with a more residential aesthetic can
easily be added to any existing space.
TE4DX9SX – Link to Planning Idea
Featured Products
Blu Dot Desk 51
Coalesse Bindu Conference Chair
Blu Dot Dang File Pedestal
Blu Dot Punk Table Lamp
This dedicated home office combines
performance and expression. The
height-adjustable desk allows you to sit
or stand throughout the day, while the
accent pieces add a personal touch.
AJ2DF3KG – Link to Planning Idea
Featured Products
Migration SE Height-Adjustable Desk
Amia Air Chair
SOTO LED Task Light
Blu Dot Peek 2 Door Dresser
Blu Dot Perimeter Floor Lamp
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 24Navigating What’s Next
Thought Starters
Home Office
Sharing a space? This shared home
office provides ample space for two
with a back-to-back desk. The nearby
lounge chair creates a place to step
away and reflect, refresh or work in a
relaxed posture.
QP9TS2UT – Link to Planning Idea
Featured Products
Turnstone Bivi Table for Two
Turnstone Bivi Trunk
Coalesse Massaud Conference Chairs
Coalesse Bob Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Coalesse Freestand Personal Table
Focus on solo work at home in this
stylish and inspiring home office.
Tackle your to-do list at the standing-
height table or join a virtual meeting
from the sofa — all in one space.
XR3VR4XQ – Link to Planning Idea
Featured Products
Blu Dot Strut Bar-Height Table
Gesture Stool
Blu Dot Ready Barstool
Blu Dot Bloke Chaise
Coalesse Freestand Personal Table
Thread Power Hub
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 25Navigating What’s Next
Materials:
Cleanability
Cleanability of the surfaces in an Some high-performing textiles have
interior is more important than ever. a colorfastness that allows them to
Without sacrificing aesthetics, we be cleaned with a bleach solution.
can make some intentional material The CDC recommends diluted
decisions that will help promote bleach for disinfecting surfaces, and
a healthy, highly cleanable, and our bleach safe textiles are designed
beautiful environment. for a 10 parts water to one part
bleach solution.
The cleaning guidelines for Steelcase
products in the Surface Materials All soft surfaces, including seating
Reference Manual align with the upholstery and vertical surface
guidance from the U.S. Centers for fabrics should always be cleaned
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). according to the manufacturer
recommendations.
Laminates, painted metals, and
other hard surfaces can be cleaned https://www.designtex.com/
with commercial cleaning products media/pdf/Designtex-Cleaning_
which have shown to be compatible Manual.pdf
with our products through Steelcase
testing, when used in accordance
with manufacturer instructions.
https://www.steelcase.com/
cleaning-steelcase-products/
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 26Navigating What’s Next Safety Guidelines A holistic approach to health and safety will allow people to be safe and feel safe when they come back to the workplace. Recommendations focus on three key areas beyond the design of the physical workplace: new employee protocols and communication, sanitization and disinfection and personal protective equipment (PPE). The information contained in this section provides general recommendations for reopening the workplace safely and aligns with governmental and global health agency recommendations to the greatest extent possible. There may be unique circumstances that require organizations to adapt these recommendations to address facility requirements or laws specific to a region. Parts of this guide are adapted from Lear Corporation’s Safe Work Playbook which has been published for public use. © Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 27
Navigating What’s Next
Plan and Prepare Set-up a Pandemic • Develop illness protocols. If
employees present symptoms
Before Bringing Response Team (PRT) of exposure to a virus, follow
A PRT is a cross-functional team led isolation or self-quarantine
People Back by a workplace manager to address procedures. There should be a
the health and safety of employees trained coordinator on-site, a
returning to work. designated isolation room and
clear protocols that have been
• Designate leaders and teams
communicated to all employees
in key areas including physical
and require strict adherence.
space, employee protocols and
Similar protocols should be in
communication, sanitization
place to determine when someone
and disinfection, and personal
is ready to return to the office.
protective equipment (PPE).
• If someone presents with an
• Develop protocols and train leaders
illness at work, coordinators
and teams prior to a return to the
should be contacted by
workplace. The PRT should meet
an employee or coworker.
daily and have a plan in place to
Protocols should limit exposure
adopt and coordinate the execution
while seeking help from a local
of this framework while also
health authority.
developing site-specific protocols.
• Clearly communicate when
employees need to self-
Develop new employee quarantine. Employees should
protocols and remain off-site for 14 days
communication plans if COVID-19 symptoms are
present, if they have a positive
Organizations will need to develop
test, or have been exposed to
and communicate new protocols to
COVID-19. Return to work in
address new work behaviors and
compliance with governmental/
manage illness.
global health guidelines.
Protocols: • Create new lunchtime protocols.
Implement extended hours and
• Schedule how people will return.
staggered lunch schedules for
Decide how many people and
café/food service areas. Use
how often. Some organizations
signage on the floor to delineate
may choose to rotate employees
safe distancing practices.
by day, week, month and even
shut down intermittently for deep
cleaning. Communication:
• Develop and deliver safety training
• Develop health screening
for all workers before returning
protocols. Require employees to
to the workplace, using virtual
self-screen daily before arriving
learning tools as well as written
to work. Request a verbal or
and verbal communications.
non-verbal confirmation. Conduct
on-site daily temperature checks • Localize presentation materials
upon arrival (38°C or 100°F or to be consistent with each facility
higher should contact HR to follow environment.
necessary protocols).
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 28Navigating What’s Next
• Review new policies and conduct a deep clean anytime an Determine personal
protocols with employees and active employee is identified as
leaders. Review COVID-19 signs COVID-19 positive. protective equipment
and symptoms, self-screening
• Deep cleaning is defined as a
(PPE) guidelines
procedures, on-site screenings, Employees need clear direction,
more comprehensive cleaning
isolation and self-quarantine training and demonstrations of how
using advanced technologies and
protocols. to properly use PPE and frequent
more aggressive cleaning solutions
• Host first-day training and administered by a third party. reminders to comply.
orientation to reinforce physical • Determine usage guidelines of PPE.
• Take site-specific circumstances
distancing, hygiene and sanitization Response teams such as medical
into consideration when sanitizing
practices and new procedures. employees, screeners and cleaning
and disinfecting. Pay special
• Create and install signage attention to restrooms, cafeterias, crew should be required to wear
throughout the workplace to visibly lockers, common areas such as face coverings, gloves and glasses.
communicate new protocols handrails and vending machines, Based on guidelines, confirm at
and safety procedures. Signage computer screens and keyboards, minimum a 30-day supply.
should include health screening elevator buttons, light switches • Appoint COVID-19 supervisors.
checkpoints, isolation areas, and other common touchpoints. Designate team members to train
visitor checkpoints, sanitization employees on proper usage of
• Develop protocols for ongoing
and disinfection guidelines, social PPE and ensure compliance with
cleaning, disinfection method
distancing requirements and PPE policy.
and frequency. The PRT should
personal hygiene tips.
supervise. • Anticipate making masks the norm
• Use all internal communication for all employees in the office,
• Assess and maintain inventory of
channels available including particularly at times where people
disinfectants. Confirm facilities
intranet, email, instant messaging, need to interact. Provide masks and
have at minimum a 30-day supply
email signatures, and signage give guidance on how to wear them.
of soap, disinfection spray, hand
to reinforce new protocols.
sanitizer, paper towels and tissue. These guidelines are based on our
Pervasively communicate
desired behaviors for cleanliness, • Encourage employees to self- current understanding of the safety
distancing and PPE usage. clean individual workstations precautions required. They will be
and shared spaces before and updated as we gain science-based
• As we all learn more about how to data and learn more about how to
after use. Provide “Sanitization
prevent the spread of the virus and effectively address this pathogen
Stations” that include disinfectant
as protocols need to change, have and any future pandemics.
spray, wipes and hand sanitizer
a plan in place to communicate
to encourage new cleaning
evolving guidelines.
guidelines.
• Implement hands-free experiences
Create and reinforce wherever possible. Leave doors
sanitization and open or incorporate door opening
disinfection protocols sensors, automatic lighting based
on occupancy, or voice-activated
Deep-cleaning and ongoing
experiences.
sanitization practices should be
planned and prepared for before
reopening.
• Develop a sanitary baseline before
reopening. Conduct deep cleaning
and disinfection prior to a return
to the office per environmental,
health and safety guidelines. Also,
© Steelcase Inc. Edition 1 | The Post-COVID Workplace / 29Our Commitment
We know that employee and
organizational needs are going
to evolve as people return
to the workplace. We will
continue to work closely with
our global network of leading
organizations and experts and
share our observations and
insights with all of you.
steelcase.com/postcovid
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