What a shock the reality of getting back to work after lock down is for all. The “intermediate” or phase 2  position (the position between the end of lock down until a vaccine has been produced and is widely used) will be an environment within which it will be difficult to function; and by no means can be considered as normal. Reoccupying buildings, or not is a now question for most businesses.

For the Stop and Think! team, the real question is what makes reoccupation viable? There are four simple questions to ask:

1. Can the functions for which the building was occupied originally, given the restrictions of social distancing, be performed now? If not don’t reoccupy
2. If the functions can be performed, but not as efficiently as currently through home working, then don’t occupy
3. If the risks to the business of individual contamination are too high to accept, then don’t occupy,
4. If the cost or reconfiguring the space is significant, then don’t occupy

In built-up areas, where public transport is significantly used by staff, the complexities and costs of reoccupation during the “intermediate” phase are likely to test the viability of doing so. Because a building was active prior to Covid-19, does not mean that it should automatically reopen as a matter of course; maintaining a heavy reliance on the homeworking “space segment” may be best  Of course minimising the cost of running any property that is not reopening is a priority.

Stop and Think! Has the thinking, techniques, tools and systems to aid you in preparing for and managing the working environment in the interim phase and beyond.