Deciding Whether Your Team Should Return To The Office This Year

There have been a number of wild changes brought about by the events of 2020. Most notably, the spread of the novel coronavirus has created a “new normal” when it comes to the standards of daily living. For most of the year, offices around the world have been closed and workers taking care of their duties from remote positions. If you’re curious about whether or not you should be transitioning back to the office, there are a few different points to consider in advance. Though you may feel an impulse to rush back, there are plenty of reasons to wait.

Take a look at these points and determine whether it is the right time to transition back. With a little insight, you’ll have an easier time making the best choice for the future of your company.

Look Into Local Regulations

First and foremost, you can’t make any moves to go back to work until it is allowed. In America, the rules for public and private conduct related to the coronavirus is handled on a state-to-state basis. Some areas were incredibly lax with rules at first, leading these states to take more drastic measures down the line. With every state at a different stage of viral control, you can’t base your decision off of information provided from anywhere else. Hearing that the other side of the country is opening up cannot be justification for your own decisions.

What’s more, you may be held to the regulations of your particular county. In a state like Pennsylvania, for example, the governor made a decision to open a handful of counties at a time. Since Philadelphia is a major city in the state, the county where the city is situated was one of the last regions to start the process of opening up. Offices are still closed for the most part, however, and workers have not yet begun returning to their buildings en masse.

Make the Right Office Adjustments

If you are able to start transitioning back to the office, there are precautionary measures you absolutely need to take. You can’t just tell your workers to return without making any moves for safety. First, masks should always be worn within a commercial building. This is especially true when the weather becomes extreme outside and people are breathing in air that has been recirculated through an HVAC system. Research suggests this is one of the easiest ways for the virus to spread, unless masks are worn at all times.

You may also need to make structural changes or upgrades to the building. If you haven’t been in the office since the start of the year, there may be some glaring maintenance issues that need to be handled right away. Contacting a water heater company in La Cañada Flintridge, for example, can be a great decision. Experts can take a look at your water heater and associated components and provide you with detailed insight on what adjustments need to be made in order for the system to work at optimal levels.

Ask Your Staff

Though it was the norm for many years, many businesses are discovering that returning to the office is not a practical decision. With remote working growing in popularity, there are millions of people who would prefer staying at home and getting their work accomplished. Office settings are notorious for wasted time. From pointless meetings to the despair that comes from having to commute to the same place every single day for years, there are countless reasons people may wish to avoid returning to the office. Talk to your staff and gauge interest before making your decisions.

While 2020 might be a year of surprises and obstacles, many people are learning how to move through the turmoil and make the best of things. If you’re thinking about returning your business to the office, now is the time to learn about how you can make it possible. Take your time, conduct a little research, and see which choice is best for you and the people in your employ.