In the years leading up to the Covid-19 pandemic, coworking was rapidly on the rise.
According to a survey published by CoworkingResources.com in July 2020, close to two million people were using coworking spaces globally, with the UK one of the world leaders for the number of coworking spaces - only the US and India possessed more.
We say ‘was’, but despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, coworking remains set to continue its climb, with the number of coworking spaces globally projected to double between 2020 and 2024 to almost 42,000 – that’s with Covid taken into account.
Furthermore, almost five million people will be working from coworking spaces by 2024, an increase of 158% compared to 2020. Eventually, every office could pivot to become a flexible, on-demand space.
What does safe coworking look like?
Research has shown that a significant portion of workers are keen to return to the office, with one survey from envoy.com finding that 94% of workers want to spend at least one day a week in the office.
But can coworking be safe in a post-covid world? Here at FigFlex, we say yes, totally.
Just like going into a supermarket or watching the SuperBowl in an actual stadium, anything can be safe with the proper protocols and measures in place.
Creating a Covid-secure coworking environment demands a group effort, with all coworkers in a shared office space following certain rules. That means wearing nose and mouth coverings, frequent handwashing, and maintaining a social distance of at least two metres where possible.
A safe coworking space will be well ventilated, reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus by simply opening a window. If it’s cold outside, mechanical ventilation that provide outdoor air, such as air conditioning, can pump fresh air into a coworking space.
Coworking locations have the luxury of being naturally spacious, which helps when introducing a one-way system around the building and minimising the risk of coworkers walking into each other.
It’s a drag but that big tray of donuts has to go for now, and even things like the communal coffee and sugar are now individually wrapped to minimise likelihood of spreading the virus.
Wary parties
Even with all of these Covid-secure measures in place, companies should make the effort to understand how their employees feel about coworking in an office again before issuing the call to return to base.
Some coworkers may be wary about being around people outside of their household, unconvinced that everyone is being responsible and minimising the possibility of bringing Covid into the workplace. Others may be living with vulnerable people and simply can’t afford to run the risk of bringing the virus into their home.
Similarly, retain elements of the lockdown worklife and continue with video calls for clients and external business partners, restricting face-to-face transactions to your team.
FigFlex has the knowledge and experience to deliver a Covid-safe coworking environment.
Get in touch and let us show you how we’ve delivered secure coworking spaces in a post-Covid world.
Category: Business Focus