Social Distancing Software and Remote Work

All places of physical employment are under the rule of social distance policies, which will be the case for a long time after the coronavirus pandemic has ended. Those in charge should view workplace policies from a long-term perspective. 

Managers need to monitor and improve upon these evolving ideas in the workplace, which go beyond simply relocating some desks and including more walking into daily routines. Insightful workplace software for social detachment is essential for achieving this goal.

Managers may better understand space use and efficiency with the help of workplace software, which is also crucial when establishing new standards for the workplace. 

While there have been shifts in the regulations that apply to the workplace, the methods by which we design and administer effective workplaces remain largely the same. Solutions can be found in workplace software. 

This article will highlight workplace software's important and how remote work can be used for social distancing. 

Why is social distancing software important for businesses? 

To reduce the spread of communicable diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued guidelines encouraging companies to implement social distance regulations. Almost overnight, COVID-19 altered our practices concerning purchasing, transportation, physical activity, socializing, and even working.

In the job, this creates a new and difficult problem. In the post-COVID-19 era, proper capacity management is crucial for a safe return to work. Because of the reduced number of people in each office, staff and visitors have more room to practice social distancing while still being productive. However, it's another ballgame to ensure that people follow those rules.

Using signs, plexiglass partitions, floor decals, and a reorganization of workplace furniture are all good places to begin. However, not a single one of these options guarantees capacity is maintained. Luckily, technological solutions exist for this problem. Without physically being present, you can automate and strictly enforce your new protocols with the help of capacity management software. 

Capacity management in the workplace 

Utilizing capacity management capabilities, businesses can keep close tabs on how many workers, guests, and contractors are currently in the building at any given time. To guarantee you remain in accordance with social distance standards, it is recommended that you impose a capacity limit.

Once the maximum number of persons has been admitted, no further people will be allowed to enter. Setting a building capacity, guaranteeing social distancing measures, and providing a real-time view of on-site staff are three of the most important features of a capacity management feature. The entrance and exit points will each have their own ID-scanning reader. The access dashboard and SIP (Safety Information Panel) will show each area's occupancy levels at any given time.

Real-time updates mean that when a certain level is about to be reached, appropriate security personnel will be alerted immediately. When the maximum number of people is achieved on a site, the doors to occupied areas will lock until the population density drops. 

Change the office culture as per the guidelines 

It is possible to keep a professional gap between employees and management by implementing certain adjustments in the workplace. For these adjustments to take effect as planned, it is crucial that the company's health and safety officer and all department heads successfully communicate these rules consistently.

One guaranteed approach to ensure that workers sitting close to each other keep some physical distance between themselves is to switch where their workstations are. Instead of moving employees' desks, a departmental rota system can be implemented so that workers can take turns in the office each week.

To avoid having too many individuals from the same department near each other, department managers can designate certain days and hours for their team to work.

Employees should do their best to avoid doubling up on days off when their teams have assigned them to work on-site. This is done so that there are fewer personnel errors, which can lead to an unmanageable situation and cause the office to become overcrowded.

Managers are responsible for scheduling breaks for their staff and ensuring enough capacity for the break room. Again, this will help maintain some personal space throughout the lunch hour.

In many organizations, the number of individuals allowed into a building has recently been limited to ensure safety and that everyone has enough room to move around comfortably.

Offices should, if at all possible, switch to a one-way system so that managers can keep an eye on employees' social distances while they move about the building. 

Using signage ​

Maintaining a social barrier between coworkers can be accomplished in part by using signs, plexiglass partitions, floor decals, and the rearrangement of office furniture. To ensure the initial safety of all employees entering your workplace upon their return, it is best to create suitable signage regarding hygiene, direction, sitting, etc.  

Utilize access control solutions ​

Implementing a digitally enabled Access Control solution is crucial when creating a secure and safe working environment when returning to work.

Organizations can greatly benefit from Access Control systems by imposing stricter zone limitations and boosting overall security. Many organizations, including those in the public sector, the pharmaceutical industry, the aviation industry, the education sector, and others, see the value of adopting a system that can create restricted areas and secure the people, property, and assets of each site.

Reinforcing zone limits in your company's building makes some floors and floors less accessible. This approach restricts entry to only authorized or necessary workers at specified times to boost security in restricted areas and strengthen capacity management and social distancing standards. 

How can digital workplace software help businesses? 

Even if you're familiar with the many benefits of working remotely, some may come as a pleasant surprise, such as the fact that you can advance in your career without having to deal with the hassle of commuting to and from an office every day. You can also use intranet employee apps to improve collaboration and engagement.

Everyone, even those who can't or won't work from home during the current COVID-19 crisis, must admit that working from home has many advantages. 

Reduce the travel requirement 

It's draining on both your wallet and your sanity to make the daily commute to work. You have to pay for gas and, if you own a car, insurance as well. And if you're driving during rush hour, you'll have to deal with traffic, which can be a major source of stress.

While every situation is unique, it's safe to say that if your workers can avoid their daily drive, they'll save money, avoid stress, and have more time to devote to your company's projects. 

Reduce expenses 

Employing or transitioning to a remote workforce saves money for businesses. Since your employees are all working from home, you can save money on an office. Office expenses, including internet, computers, energy, air conditioning, and heating, are also avoided.

Instead of spending money on these things, you might invest it in top-tier remote work software that improves teamwork by letting people work from anywhere and checking in on everyone's progress and time online.

Promote relationship building

The days of employees having to pick between employment and staying in touch with their loved ones or living in their hometown are over.

Workers who are required to be at their desks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday have very little time for personal pursuits and family obligations. The same is true for employees who must relocate to a different city because of their job. In addition, they may have to forsake important relationships in order to join your company.

The ongoing conflict between work and family responsibilities might negatively impact employees' mental health and disposition. These choices can coexist more peacefully if people are given the opportunity to work from home using a set of remote work tools.

By switching to remote work and using remote work software, you may alter this setting and help your employees strike a better balance between work and personal life. Pros devote a large portion of their lives to their daily jobs. By allowing employees the flexibility to work from home, companies are encouraging their staff to prioritize their own happiness and well-being.

Increase in productivity

 Nobody has the same needs or desires in a work-from-home arrangement. In a team, everyone is bound to bring something unique to the table. Some workers just can't bring themselves to get work done at home, where they are surrounded by distractions like TV and family. Conversely, some employees have a hard time concentrating in the office and do better when they can escape to a quiet place.

In this case, the second group can benefit more from remote work. These workers are effective in their roles because they are able to apply their preferred methods of operation within their ideal workplace settings.

Companies can mitigate some of the risks associated with remote work by shopping around for the most effective remote workforce management software. These systems monitor employee output by keeping track of individual and team workloads, client billable hours, and the total amount of time spent on each activity, even when employees are physically located in different locations.

Helps to stay focused on important tasks

The workplace is rife with opportunities for distraction. It's impossible to avoid having visitors, whether they be potential clients, coworkers, or friends and family members.

Workers that need to get their most done in a day can consider a more regimented environment. That's because people can focus more intently on their work when they're not physically in the same place. This is a win-win for businesses, as remote workers can execute tasks more quickly and accurately.

Businesses can use this substantial benefit by examining a remote work tools list and using the recommendations made therein to create thriving virtual teams.

With the help of various platforms, businesses can now have crystal-clear calls and instant messages with their employees, no matter where they may be physically located. Moreover, there are tools that facilitate communication within an organization and help to sustain a healthy company culture. The potential outcomes are, in fact, limitless.

Better employee retention

The ability to work remotely is a major selling point for both prospective candidates and current workers. Working from home is a perk that keeps many people at their current jobs and helps to keep turnover low. In addition, a rise in staff retention rates has a domino effect on a number of other positive outcomes. Companies can save money on new hires, save time in the hiring and training processes, and boost output overall.

Improve the use of technology ​ 

Technology and techniques have advanced to the point where it is now possible to work remotely. More people have access to Wi-Fi, cloud storage, and smartphone apps, making it easier to keep in touch with colleagues. Once upon a time, supervisors had to visit each worker's workspace to assess productivity physically. However, thanks to modern tools like project management software, managers don't need to stand over employees' shoulders to keep tabs on their productivity.

Implementing social distancing in the office ​ 

How do you begin constructing a seating area based on your area and capacity with local requirements remaining in place, given that the guidelines currently stand to require a 6-foot or 2-meter distance?

To begin, you and your office managers will need to get an accurate headcount of everyone employed by your company, whether they work from home or in an office, whether they have set work hours, or are on a flexible schedule.

The subsequent action is to count the number of available desks in your business space. Provide workers with access to multiple offices. Think about everything I've said.

Once these figures are known, the next question is how many workers can be accommodated in the office at once, given the desk-to-person distance. Make a blueprint with this.

Wrapping up 

When workers return to the office, they must feel safe and secure and do everything they can to keep it that way. 

To minimize the possibility of further disease transmission, you must put stringent cleanliness protocols for their return. You can also opt for remote work with the help of digital workplace software.