SOCIAL - BLOG
@Guy_Stallard Work from home debate &
#Covid19UK - I am so bemused as you why
things have become so emotional/illogical
Chris Diming, PhD linkedin.com/in/
drchrisdiming Although we can’t say for
certain what will happen, a possible outcome of
the rise of #remote working is the emergence
of a ‘hybrid’ #workplace model that is flexible
enough to incorporate frequent off-site working
while being fixed enough to accommodate for
#collaboration, #teambuilding, #training, and
other tasks as needed.
Jacob Aarup-Andersen @aarup_jacob
Today is my first day as Group CEO of ISS - a
day I’ve truly looked forward to since the
announcement. I’m excited to begin this
journey to take ISS to the next level, driven
by every single one of our 470,000 dedicated
and passionate colleagues. Let’s do this!
#PeopleMakePlaces
Health and Safety Executive https://www.
linkedin.com/company/health-and-safetyexecutive/
HSE now chairs the Joint Regulators
Group – a group designed to help Government
develop and pilot new regulatory approaches
to building safety. Subscribe to keep updated:
http://ow.ly/1XVe50Bfwmw
@CIBSE We want to celebrate and shine a light
on the individuals who have taken on voluntary
roles at CIBSE. In our latest blog post, we speak
to Alan Lawrence from the CIBSE Inclusivity &
Diversity Panel on why he decided to step up to
the task! https://buff.ly/3lDC84f #WeAreCIBSE
Simon Houston FIH linkedin.com/in/
simonhouston1 Director at Houston & Hawkes.
So pleased to become one of only two contract
caterers in the UK to commit to the Living Wage
across our business #catering #hospitality
#fairpay #peoplefirst #eatwell #havefun
@RICSnews As we Build Back Better, and
governments look beyond purely the economic
impact of #infrastructure, how can we
consistently measure its social value? Earth
globe americas We take a look at the current
issues with measuring it and analyse best
practice across the industry:
https://bit.ly/31LchiQ
18 SEPTEMBER 2020
BLOG FROM RAJ KRISHNAMURTHY, CEO, FREESPACE
TECH DATA AND
ANALYTICS
The sudden change brought about by
COVID-19 has highlighted several
misconceptions about the workplace.
O ice-based workers, even those previously
sceptical, will now accept that technology is
going to play a key part in how the workplace
is delivered. We have also seen the role
analytics has played as the government
displays data and insights to inform and
educate throughout the pandemic.
The workplace will look and feel di erent as
a result of social distancing, while technology
will add layers of reassurance. Just as people
had concerns when they le the o ice in
mid-March, they will be equally anxious
about returning. An uncertain period is ahead
of us, whether the return to work is phased
or not. The threat of COVID-19 demands a
sophisticated approach when it comes to
facilities and real estate management. Cleaning
and security are high up the corporate agenda,
along with the role they will play in ensuring
people adopt the necessary behaviours to
prevent infection.
The government has introduced guidelines
and it is essential that organisations comply to
protect occupants and prevent a second wave.
But there are other questions that also need
addressing. How do you advise people? How do
you educate them? How do you communicate
the new rules? How do you nudge people in the
right direction? To achieve all this, front-line
intelligence and live occupancy data will be
required. Real time communication transmitted
on to hand-held devices coupled with
workplace signage will influence behaviour.
Occupancy-based data can inform heads
of HR, FM and CRE of individual behaviours,
allowing them to make educated decisions on
optimising real estate space. We are entering a
world where meeting rooms and phone booths
will need to be meticulously cleaned before
being used again. The Freespace Cleanreader,
a handheld device designed to prioritise
cleaning resources, uses live occupancy data
from Freespace sensors or other scheduling
platforms to receive ‘push’ notifications that
inform cleaning operatives a space has been
vacated and requires cleaning.
Raj Krishnamurthy, CEO, Freespace
When integrated with the SPOT system, the
cleaning operatives can use the Cleanreader
to scan the desk or meeting room SPOT tag
which digitally marks it as cleaned, releasing
the space back into the availability pool.
Digital signage showing space availability
is automatically updated and the activity is
captured in the Freespace platform where it is
used for auditing and reporting purposes.
In addition, there is a Freespace App which
allows o ice users to check in to the space so
that their contacts can be traced back in case
someone in close proximity catches the virus.
This increased interest in the Freespace App is
also due to its ability to help plan visits to the
o ice in future days and weeks as well as see
which colleagues are coming in on di erent
days.
It is likely that people will return to the
workplace in stages so that the building is not
fully occupied at any one time. This could be
achieved in a number of ways, based on a need
to work from an o ice basis or in split groups
to enable business continuity at the time of an
outbreak. Regardless of the approach, people
will need to change the way they work in the
o ice. New measures may include working
a desk apart, limits on numbers of people
on certain floors and reduced meeting room
capacity. Organisations can plan their capacity
better using data obtained from the App. Based
on requests for visiting the o ice made for the
future o ice managers may be able to bring
more capacity online to prevent congestion and
enable a safe working environment.
Though preparation of o ice environments
has been discussed here, some of the biggest
challenges surround the use of public transport
even before entering the confines of the o ice,
particularly in the larger cities. Employers
need to reassure their teams that their working
environment is going to be safe with the goal of
being equally productive as it was before. Some
sort of familiarity will be important to help aid
feelings of a pre-COVID o ice space which will
bring with it a welcome dose of reassurance.
ADVICE & OPINION
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