Back to the office

The work from home directive has ended in England and many employees are heading back to the office. What do employers need to buy to ensure they are ready for this?

When the government ended social restrictions in England on July 19 it also removed the directive for employees to work from home if possible. As a result, many employees are returning to the office for the first time in nearly 18 months. The Office of National Statistics reported that 40% of businesses expect 75% of their workforce to return to their normal place of work, going forward, although 85% of those currently operating from home are anticipating a greater balance between office-based and remote working in the future.

Those responsible for purchasing office supplies are going to have to consider what is needed and ensure that everything is in place when most employees return.

Break it down

Steve Plaistowe, business development manager OP channel for Spectrum Industrial, breaks the checklist for buyers down into several zones. This includes the office zone, where buyers should consider things like social distancing equipment, fire equipment and guillotines for cutting paper.

Then there are shared zones, where things like provisions for hand hygiene in washrooms and kitchens/canteens should be considered, along with first aid kits and janitorial supplies/cupboards and, finally, there are operation zones where hazard warnings should be considered, such as signs for fire doors and fire action notices.

“After safety, you can then move on to the next step, which might be reviewing furniture, hot-desking, putting pods in place, reviewing stocks of stationery and tea and coffee, for example,” he says. “Breaking it down into an easy, step-by-step ‘getting your workplace back’, allows the dealers to see where the opportunities are – and to be proactive with their customers using this approach, as well as selling more product!”

Safety first – disrupting the disruptors

Lawrence Savage, marketing manager at ExaClair, agrees that safety will be uppermost in many buyers’ minds for the return to the office. “There are still a number of safety measures wanted by the working population as they migrate back to the office,” he notes. “Social-distancing, enhanced hygiene precautions and having effective PPE available are the key concerns listed, along with the need for additional health and wellbeing facilities in place.

“It’s expected that the demand for items such as screens, sanitising stations and social-distancing and safety signage will continue to remain, as will the need for antimicrobial products.”    

Marianne Chamberlain, sales director at Data Direct, points out that hygiene measures should not just address the risks posed by COVID-19; there are many other potential workplace disruptors, such as ‘flu, E-coli, MRSE and Norovirus. “All of these can affect your reputation, productivity and continuity,” she warns.

Marianne recommends that businesses look to implement complete hygiene solutions which reach every touch point in a room, meaning that business owners can operate with peace of mind. This includes things such as SmartMister which, when combined with SmartMister Solution, kills 99.99% of harmful germs, viruses and spores, including COVID-19. “This can help to keep your business going, employees productive and customers loyal,” she adds.

More than just hygiene

Jim Roberts, commercial manager at Beaverswood, adds that there are other measures employers can use to help reduce personal contact between colleagues and visitors and, in turn, reduce the spread of airborne viruses.

For instance, there are anti-microbial adhesive vinyl products, such as Visuclean®, that protect people and surfaces. “This semi-permanent adhesive vinyl can be applied to any surface of any size including door handles, push door plates, trolley handles and other high-contact surfaces,” says Jim. “It inhibits the transfer of germs and bacteria.”

In addition, things like Modulean® modular shadow boards can be used as hygiene stations, fitted with equipment like hand gel and disinfectant wipe dispensers. “These shadow boards are simple-to-store, simple-to-transport and simple to install,” explains Jim. “You can easily customise your workstation as the system is designed to be modular.”

Finally, floor markers to communicate instructions to staff, such as directing walk ways, with highly visible, clear instructions and safety messages, are becoming increasingly important. Jim recommends ones with strong adhesive backing as these are a safer option than cheaper alternatives which can peel off, or tear easily.

Safety seal

Keeping employees safe will require making changes to all sorts of existing practices you may not initially think of – for example, how they seal envelopes! “Historically many people have sealed envelopes by licking them,” explains India Broad, marketing manager at Blake Envelopes. “However, in the midst of COVID, many have become concerned about spreading or contracting the virus. As a result, people are now searching for alternate methods for sealing envelopes.

“Peel & Seal envelopes have a tear-away strip which uncovers an adhesive seal strip, while Self-Seal envelopes work by applying pressure to the envelope flap when closed, which activates the adhesive properties along the seal strip,” she explains.

Dealer role

Dealers have an important role in ensuring a successful return to the office; they should take a more consultative approach with customers to create solutions tailored to the business’ needs, Lawrence Savage explains. “An increasing number of dealers are now utilising office layout design software to help them demonstrate how the customer can integrate their product recommendations into their office spaces effectively.”

However, Lawrence admits that, with varying restrictions still in place in different parts of the UK, it may take a time for the market to return to where it was pre-pandemic. It’s not all bad news though. “In addition to the antimicrobial and PPE market trends, we have seen a continued shift with consumers increasingly looking towards more innovative products that form part of a circular economy, especially as they are becoming more ecologically aware. For example, a recent survey shows that 62% of members of Generation Z prefer to buy more sustainably sourced products.

“With a growing number of people from this demographic cohort now integrating into the workforce, this is set to become an increasingly greater influence on purchasing decisions.”