How Workers In General Office Settings Can Defend Against Ongoing Health Risks
Although many traditionally office-based workplaces have transitioned to remote working arrangements, many employees still work out of a general office setting or coworking space several days a week.
When engaging in office-based work, employers and building managers must implement thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols to protect employees and clients from the ongoing health risks they face, including COVID-19 and similar viruses. Meanwhile, employees should take personal precautions to limit the spread of illness and defend their wellbeing.
Protecting Against Ongoing Health Risks In Commercial Buildings and General Office Environments
Employers, employees, and building managers alike face a range of challenges and questions when optimizing their office spaces to reduce the spread of illness, including:
How can our office-based team prepare for evolving safety procedures and guidelines?
How do we alleviate stress for team members working in an office during a public health crisis?
What are the best practices for limiting close contact with office employees, and how can we maintain social distancing in an enclosed space?
To address these questions and more, our Healthier Workplaces guidance documents offer practical advice for how employers and employees in general office settings can protect their health. The guidance borrows from the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice and expert counsel from leading health, government, and business industry organizations.
In the below “Resources By Type,” you will find our Healthier Workplaces: Guidance for General Office Settings Guidance Document, 2nd edition guidance document and other resources to learn about:
The importance of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and best practices to monitor and address any IEQ concerns
How to arrange an office space to enable social distancing
Ways to safely use conference rooms while protecting against the spread of illness, including disinfection best practices
Proactive ways to protect employee comfort and wellbeing
Personal protective equipment recommendations for general office settings
Communication best practices to create a healthy employee feedback loop
Ways to safely use office shared spaces, like a kitchen or cafeteria
Additional Safety Resources For Workers in Office Environments
To access more help and resources to understand and avoid the ongoing health risks employees face in general office or shared workplace settings, we recommend you explore the following resources and networks.