5 ideas to redesign a coworking space to avoid coronavirus contagion and work safely

The coworking or coworking has been growing over the past few years as it represents an option for many professionals from different sectors to have a shared space at a reasonable price to develop their activities. However, the covid situation has complicated its development, as well as working with it safely. For this reason, we bring you this post with 5 ideas to redesign a coworking space in such a way that the spread of coronavirus is avoided.

What is coworking about?

Coworking goes far beyond a simple shared business office, its focus is directed at creating a working community with established norms, it has a manager who is responsible for making the office members meet, creating a harmonious and reliable environment, creating work opportunities that may arise among the various professionals members of the office. We recommend reading our article What is networking and its relationship with coworking?This type of modality is aimed at independent professionals, SMEs and entrepreneurs, who require a physical space outside their home, with basic services to perform their functions, such as telephone, internet and do not have a sufficient budget to cover the expenses of a premises independently.In addition, this type of option offers advantages to those who acquire it as it allows to be located in a professional environment, which can be motivating and become an environment of exchange and relationships with other professionals that can also lead to the creation of joint projects. They foster discipline and respect for schedules. They are offered with facilities for hiring, according to the hours you need, generally they are quite flexible. They have meeting rooms where you can coordinate appointments with clients and make various presentations. Definitely facilitate carrying out the work routine without the interruptions that may arise at home. It makes possible the expansion of your network of contacts by interacting with other professionals.

How has coronavirus affected coworking and how should it be redesigned to avoid contagion?

Like everything in this world, this type of work has also been affected by the presence of the dreaded Covid-19, which has changed our lives, and it is imperative to take the necessary actions to protect these workspaces where there is a high concentration of people. The first thing will be the proper management of biosecurity measures, such as the mandatory use of masks, frequent hand washing with soap and water, a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between people, ensuring strict compliance, both for professionals occupying the shared office and for clients. You must maintain a strict cleaning and disinfection protocol in order to guarantee the necessary care for the prevention of the virus. It will be advisable for the coworking management to hire a company specialized in cleaning and maintenance of offices, thus ensuring the correct disinfection of the place. The selection of this company must cover aspects such as experience, the use of products and resources that do not affect the environment and that work for a total disinfection of all spaces. In order to continue operating, coworking spaces must make a series of adaptations and modifications in order to protect themselves from coronavirus and adjust to the new normality, particularly for compliance with social distancing recommended between people.

1. Installation of protective screens for separation between workstations, to prevent contagion. These separators will fulfill the function of a physical barrier preventing possible particles carrying the virus from reaching the other person and colliding with the screen. Additionally, this measure must be complemented with correct disinfection of all office surfaces to prevent coronavirus.2. Marking the minimum separation distance on the floor in waiting areas, corridors, between workstations and in entry and exit areas. You can also resort to delimiting common areas such as coffee areas and restricting access or reducing capacity to avoid crowds. These measures will affect social activity, but are necessary for the safety of all members of the coworking community and its visitors. The important thing will be communication of the measures and supervision of compliance with them.3. The layout of workstations must be reconsidered, analyzing and relocating the office layout, in order to guarantee the minimum social distance and maintain a prudent space between workstations, in the same way this measure must be applied in waiting areas and meeting rooms. Workstations can be oriented in the same direction also to guarantee the flow of ventilation.4. Shifts can also be applied to office occupancy, thus achieving reducing occupancy capacity and allowing members to access it safely without it being fully occupied. Shifts can be established morning and afternoon, or by hours. The manager will be a relevant factor in this organization and in promoting the correct use of spaces, as well as the necessary communications for compliance with all safety standards.5. Use of informative posters with reminders of all biosecurity measures, as well as adapting at each space from the entrance access control systems that include digital thermometers and disinfection devices with hydroalcoholic gel. Provide in bathrooms the necessary resources for hand disinfection. And a strict control and awareness plan must be carried out so that all members act responsibly in preventing the virus, as well as feeling any symptoms that indicate suspicion of having coronavirus, do not come to the office or if they are already there, they should be removed preventively to a health center where they can be treated according to health protocols. You can also resort to requesting a quick loan that helps in acquiring the resources that guarantee the required security in this type of office.Many people prefer to stay at home and do their work from the safety of their home, but there are many who require more interaction and having an adequate space for the execution of their tasks without the interruptions that may arise at home, whatever the case, the important thing is to act responsibly for the well-being of all and comply with all measures preventive measures for the care of health in the face of the threat of this terrible virus.

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