Is It Time To Get Back To The Office?

I have been reflecting over the weekend on the UK Prime Minister's comments that it is “very important” that people think about going back to work now. and that the stay at home message has outlived its usefulness.

I have checked this morning and the official Government guidance has not changed – businesses must make every reasonable effort to enable working from home as a first option. A confusing picture perhaps, but in reality most employers will already be thinking about their long-term strategy in relation to home-workers.

It seems to me that any plans to return to the office will be guided by three drivers:

1. Safety (first and foremost): Most employers are reconfiguring workplaces to make them COVID-19 secure. A risk assessment may also need to take into account how employees get to work and access the building – with concerns about crowded trains and long queues outside the office. There are also complications in shared workspaces or multi-occupancy