FMJ.CO.UK RETURN TO WORK FOCUS
ROUNDTABLE
MAY 2021 41
introducing QR codes for visitors and
installing sensors, all touch free, for li‰ s,
washrooms and dispensers.
Dan Johnson of Zip Water has observed
this trend amongst many of his clients.
“The overall key message is that the
touch free has revolutionised things for
them, both from a confidence angle and
also because it’s one of the points that
doesn’t need to be cleaned regularly. We’re
seeing a lot of the FMs pointing out that
areas like door handles for the toilets,
microwaves, fridge doors, are
areas of concern. The worrying
point going with that is that
if people are worried they
won’t use the equipment,
so touch free takes away
that concern, and it also
helps with wellbeing
as people can keep
themselves hydrated.”
Other issues range from
ensuring there is enough bike
space for those reluctant to use
public transport, to whether there
is a decent cup of co„ ee available in
scaled down hospitality areas.
And, as Jason Lee of Zip Water observes,
there’s also a mental health element in
balancing infection control and health
and safety with avoiding creating an alien
environment for returning sta„ .
His view is that while many people can
do what is required of them by working
Most won’t come into the
offi ce to sit at their desk for eight
hours and check their emails, they can
do that from home. They will be in the
offi ce to collaborate, see suppliers and
clients, so it’s about determining how
our offi ces will refl ect this change
of use and change of needs.”
Jason Lee, National Sales
Manager - ZIP
Dan Johnson, National
HydroCare Manager - ZIP
from home: “Many others are missing that
social contact and the idea of going back to
yellow and black hazard tapes may scare
people.”
FLEXIBLE SUPPORT
Even when sta„ return, many may prefer to
work from home part of the week, rather
than be in the o„ ice permanently. How can
FMs manage this requirement?
According to a panellist, even
prior to the pandemic an
in-house survey confirmed
that there was typically
just 50 per cent
occupation within their
organisation and they
were already moving
towards a hybrid
model. Lee believes
COVID has only helped
to “push forward the
tech”, with people using
apps to book space and
enabling FMs to manage space
in a much more dynamic way.
It was also suggested if sta„ are
only coming in a few days a week, it’s
important to make it the most productive
environment as possible. Most of the panel
were introducing apps to schedule where
sta„ would be sitting – especially if they
needed to be near team mates. The o„ ice
will be more of a place for engaging with
others, than for individual task work, it was
suggested: “Most won’t come into the o„ ice
to sit at their desk for eight hours and check
their emails, they can do that from home.
They will be in the o„ ice to collaborate,
see suppliers and clients, so it’s about
determining how our o„ ices will reflect this
change of use and change of needs. How
we can help people to be as productive as
they can? How can we manage demand?”
A member of the panel who was half
way through an o„ ice refurb when COVID
hit, had decided to take a “so‰ landings
approach to see how people work and how
heavily we need to go with the changes”.
They also point out: “There is a bunch of
reasons why people might not want to
return to the o„ ice full time, and it’s not
necessarily about the social or wellbeing
side, but practical reasons, from younger
people who’ve moved back in with their
parents to save money to those who’ve
enjoyed spending time with a young
family.”
All agreed however, that while people will
go back into the o„ ice, it’s not the same
place it was before.
SUSTAINABILITY
One area however, which has never
changed through lockdown has been
FM’s responsibility for sustainability. As
a panellist remarked: “Sustainability has
never gone away, though it might have