Current measures at your workplace?

[whatkatydid2013]

Just curious to know how other people who are office based are set up now. I work for a big multinational. Our offices are remaining open only for staff who can’t work from home until at least end of August. In September they are talking about you being able to come in 50% of the time (alternate weeks) if you want to and then making it mandatory to come in alternate weeks (so for at least 3 days per fortnight) from October. They’ve already said those dates may be pushed back. In the office we have temp scan on way in, one way system for stairs/corridors, everyone is in masks unless eating/drinking, screens between desks and dining areas set up to allow distancing. Is anyone else seeing similar or are my firm way over on the cautious side? I’m getting work done on my house at the moment so am in the office and it’s so weird being sat on a floor that would normally hold over 150 people on my own. I do think it’s good my employer are trying to be responsible and do the right thing for the local community but idea of being basically alone in the massive office daily for a month is even worse than being alone at home

My office is doing social distancing, masks when walking between desks, and a one way system- we are also only open on a voluntary basis for those who want to come in, with a capped amount of staff so we're never at full capacity.

I would personally rather an office be over cautious than under at the moment.

Office open throughout, all staff in, perspex screens between desks, hand sanitizer on desks but other than that it's business as usual and has been since May last year.

Office hasn't ever closed, I have been in every day throughout although some staff were furloughed. Desks are 2 metres apart anyway but other than that nothing has changed. We don't wear masks in the office. There is sanitiser around and about the place for people to use, some do and some don't. We don't have visitors, it isn't that kind of office.

In masks unless eating/drinking. That's about it.

99% back to normal. Full occupancy, no one way systems, masks only have to be worn if you use one of the lifts.

All desks 2 metres apart. Masks except when seated. One way system. Limits to toilet occupancy. Around 50% of staff wfh.

we are all at home still, until at least september.

those that can't work from home for various reasons, they have a fixed desk (prior to covid we had a number of hotdesks) all over 2m apart,with dividers still one way systems, masks unless sitting at desks.

The only thing that has changed since July 19th is that operational field staff can now share a car/van, however they must be masked and have windows open - and only if they are comfortable with it.

we have a taskforce who are planning the future, most who have been working from home want a hybrid model to continue.

DH's as a contrast, move into a new office in 2/3 weeks, they will all return full time to the office and home working will no longer be allowed (i'm sure that will change if people have to self isolate all autumn and winter due to colds and coughs!)

We can go in as of last week. In practice, you could go in all through, if you had a problem like broken laptop, and a couple of teams worked on site throughout. Now you have to book a desk, and you're not meant to sit in adjacent desks. You're meant to take your temperature before going in and certify you haven't any symptoms.

We have had to do training about new ways of working, and considering colleagues who may be in different locations and timezones. I did restrain myself from leaving feedback that we've been working like this for 20 years or so in EMEA, but...
we've been working like this for over 20 years in EMEA. Still, if it means that colleagues in the USA realise we don't all work in EST and schedule meetings at a more Europe-friendly time, it'll be no bad thing.
You're meant to agree with your manager whether you're permanently office-based, home-based or hybrid, and if hybrid, which days you'll be in. In practice, our team is split across different countries, so our manager doesn't care, as long as we're contactable, though we will probably be expected in if there's an all-hands, at which point there won't be enough desks. Things are slightly complicated for the next few months because half the building is being rebuilt, and various areas and doors are closed off as a result (it was planned before covid, but the works were delayed by about a year.) But I've seen a map, so I think the only thing which I really need to pay attention to us going in by a different entrance.

I'll be going in on Wednesday for the first time, to go out for a birthday lunch. Haven't discussed it with my manager, as he's on leave. Doubt he'll be bothered either way.

I manage a small team within a large financial services company.

I got us all put on permanent WFH contracts (hooray!) and our former office space is now being used to help spread other teams out a bit to help with SD.

Sounds like it’s very all over the place. I’ve found it so strange today. Only people I’ve seen is the lovely coffee guy in the canteen and security on way in. I think I may try and coordinate with one of my colleagues who is coming in a couple of days a week for mental health reasons as likely would do us both good to have someone to chat to

officially not supposed to be there except for essential work

Unofficially many people are drifting back a few days/week. They got rid of the stupid one way system (Thank Fk). People are masked except at desks.

Reality: hybrid they want to promote, but sounds like a giant headache, not sure what I will do

We can't lick each other, that's about the only rule / expectation.

We were social distancing and had a one way system but we're back to normal now.

Still WFH til Sep, then they want us in 3 days a week. They said the same last August though so don't hold my breath. You can go in if you want to, but not mandated. As of next week they remove all desk booking/distancing, making it a free for all. Numbers of isolating/infected in office has been rising steadily over last few weeks... floodgates open Monday!

FLT twice a week, masks when walking about, limits on people in meeting rooms, distancing between desks and temperature check when entering the building.

No mandate to go back yet, but its looking like it'll be 2 or 3 days a week going forward which is great!

Out of a building that can house over 1000 people, theres probably only about 100 people in at any time right now.

DH works for a large organisation. His team (eight) have a section in a large office with two rooms off. Two had to be in constantly during and following lockdown, so they chose to be in the two rooms. It's been 5/8 in for about three months now, obviously two in the side rooms, the others in the main section. Masks have to be worn when leaving the section for any reason.

@NannyAndJohn

I manage a small team within a large financial services company.

I got us all put on permanent WFH contracts (hooray!) and our former office space is now being used to help spread other teams out a bit to help with SD.

Hope your colleagues are content with that! Wfh is not everyone's idea of bliss...

@Jourdain11 Frankly I don't really care. WFH has been far more efficient for the team as a whole.

There have been a few grumblings from some of the newer younger members but they've all adapted.

Temp scan, no masks, dividers between desks that can be removed if both parties agree. No other measures really, although only two days in the office are mandatory. The others you can wfh if you want to.

Expecting to be back more or less full time in September

I thought the thinking was perspex screens were bad as they restrict air flow. In my work we take it in turns to be in the office. Suits me as my wfh is my kitchen, and with dogs and grown children around it's not the quietest spot to work.

People who do not have space at home or some other reason to prefer an office can go in. Otherwise working from home is continuing and a review will take place mid-August.

The main issue with ours is the travelling to the offices, given all are near busy mainline or Underground stations.

I work across schools and healthcare settings but also in an open plan office, though until May I was working from home when I would have been in the office. Then it was limited numbers in on a rota, social distancing and masks when walking around the office, off when seated. Since 19th July social distancing has been scrapped but we still wear the masks as before. We are expected to be in the office 60% of the time at least. I am fine with this - I am CEV but haven’t been able to shield or anything due to my circumstances so any concerns I had about catching or spreading covid had to be dealt with early on. I enjoy being in the office and seeing colleagues in person and also having the option to wfh when I choose.

Fortunately the managers in my team are accommodating of everyone’s needs and concerns. I’m lucky that what has been proposed works well for me

We’ve had two positive cases in the last two weeks since not needing masks at desks.
We were told to carry on by management.