CASE STUDY WORKPLACE DESIGN
circumstances, of a more informal, almost
intimate collaboration style with clients and
colleagues is helping to break down some
long-held business formalities. Increasing
de-formalisation in the workplace may
exponentially gain traction across sectors that
have previously side-stepped the idea and
will lead to much flatter and less hierarchical
working styles, cultures and workplaces.
MINE NOT YOURS
We can also expect that with people less willing
to share keyboards, headsets, chairs and even
desks for fear of contamination – ‘owned spaces’
will become more important. In the short and
medium term a ermath of a pandemic this
makes perfect sense and will hopefully be a
relatively short lived departure from the normal
principles of the shared agile environment. For
Flexible work settings and layouts with a mix of
owned and shared spaces so people can chose
the destination for the task they need to do
SAMSIC UK
RETURN TO WORK
SECURITY INNOVATIONS
now, belonging through ownership may
change the landscape of the workplace.
For some organisations this will also be
the perfect excuse to tidy up the detritus of
o ice life – freeing up valuable space and
helping to improve air quality too.
Minimising contact with surfaces will
also become important; powered doors,
sensor taps, smartphone-controlled co ee
machines and access control systems will
become more mainstream in the wake of
COVID-19. Naturally bacteria-controlling
and impregnated materials will be deployed
where necessary to reduce infections.
A NEW SET OF WANTS
With an enforced period of reflection,
employees will have questioned the long
working days, the stress, missing out on
family time, time spent travelling and the
sedentary behaviours associated with their
previous working lives. Consequently, when
they do return to the o ice their experience
must be frictionless and hugely positive. For
example, if a team choose to come together
in the o ice to collaborate on a project –
they need to know they can book seating
together, they can access shared resources
and that technology connects seamlessly. If
they can’t, they won’t go there.
Employers must provide upli ing working
MOBILE PATROLLING - GUARDTEK
Our guard tracking technology adds an additional layer of
accountability to mobile patrolling, so you can track patrol officer
movements around your premises.
experiences and make coming back to work
a pleasure. Good co ee and tea, healthy
snacks, a robust COVID plan, detailed long
term health and mobility plans, access to
natural light and fresh air and a commitment
to wellbeing, are also order of the day.
The needs-must approach to organisational
agility from the last few months looks set
to herald a new attitude that will continue
in a post-virus, recession-era business
world. While business leaders prepare
for an economic downturn, facilities
management professionals must guide
their organisations as to what’s possible
when it comes to true operational agility.
Whether that decision making is motivated
by cost savings or a desire to do things
di erently, the process starts with taking a
close-up look at workplace occupancies and
behaviours as well as overheads and property
commitments. The real opportunity now lies
in using COVID-19 as a catalyst for proactive
change that will help firms stand-out, thrive,
flex and adapt to whatever change comes
next.
Jon Wilson has over 30 years of experience
delivering award winning workplaces for
a wide variety of clients. He has specific
expertise in translating organisations’ needs,
design objectives, business drivers and goals
into workplace design.
INTRUDER DETECTION & ACCESS CONTROL
Our technologies provide secure signing in and out, infrared temperature
tracking, and remote building user authentication without an on site officer.
We offer a full range of solutions from alarms to integrated intrusion installations.
KEYHOLDING - SENTRIKEY
We take the uncertainty out of keyholding with Sentrikey, which provides you
with flexible, secure building access through the use of smartphone technology.
34 JULY 2020
www.samsic.uk enquiries@samsic.uk 02476 339890
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