As office reopenings continue around the country, the spotlight is shining brighter on health and safety.

There’s also some uncertainty as to how the “return to work” process will unfold; according to a LinkedIn study from July 2021, nearly 40% of Americans working from home were awaiting word from their employers regarding a return to the office. It’s important for businesses to have a plan and be prepared for now, in addition to when all employees return to work.

While we may not know what the next days and months will bring, we do know there are several measures employers can take to protect the health of their employees while they’re in the office. Not to mention, cold and flu season is fast approaching—so there’s no time like the present to make meaningful changes.

The best part? Many solutions are available from HON, and can be shipped directly in a matter of days.

Featured Product: Accelerate^®

Lessons Learned About Work and Office Health and Safety

More than a year ago, the concept of reopening the workplace began to come into view. Many of the same ideas and principles introduced then are still applicable as we enter the home stretch of 2021.

“The biggest thing that companies are focusing on is the mental and physical well-being of their workers,” said Holli Renaud, Account Merchandising Manager for The HON Company in a ThinkSpace piece from May 2020. “Employees need to mentally feel good about coming into the office, and that translates into some of the physical things companies are doing to promote that comfortability.”

Feeling reassured and comfortable is key to a successful reopening or return—and it’s on employers to communicate clearly about timelines, protocols and expectations.

Shannon Hardy, VP of Flexible Work at LinkedIn says, “...Employees are looking to get more out of their work and their companies. If employers do not communicate about what the future of work looks like for their company, they risk their employees losing trust in the organization. (They) may risk losing their employees altogether.”

Featured Product: Versé^®

The Setup of Your Office Makes a Difference

While collaboration looks different, the principles of effective space design are unchanged: employees want a place where they feel inspired and comfortable, yet one in which they can maintain a safe distance when needed.

Individual workstations, in many office environments, have traditionally been the embodiment of space-saving: you’ll see cubicles or desks clustered together to aid in teaming or employee interaction.

Dividers and screens are now commonplace, and if your office footprint doesn’t allow for increased spacing

between workstations, they’re a useful addition that can help prevent the spread of germs. Before the pandemic, panels were trending toward shorter heights in teaming stations but, in 2020, a pivot to higher panels was necessary.

Featured Product: Voi^®

The Products and Solutions to Help Employees Stay Healthy in the Office

We want you to return to an office that’s energizing and inviting—but we also want to help you do so as safely as possible.

Whether you’re looking for larger-scale changes to your furniture or a few tweaks to make your office environment safer, HON has you covered. Many of these products are available as part of HON NOW, our comprehensive offering that meets your needs while keeping speed as a priority (we know you don’t have much time to wait).

Accelerate® workstations are available in multiple heights ranging from 42 to 65 inches tall (and they still let in natural light), providing privacy and space division with an inviting setup.

Another quick-ship solution is Versé® partitions, which provide a simple and effective way to divide space and ensure privacy in any office (they’re easy to install, too).

Cleanability is a point of emphasis and HON’s panel fabrics can be cleaned with a variety of ready-to-use cleaners, including those commonly found in office settings. In addition, HON’s four-way stretch mesh—available with 80% of our seating options—can be cleaned with bleach solutions.

Other products that will help your safe and healthy return to the office include acrylic screens (table, lateral or extended options), door pulls and hand sanitizer stands.

For more information on HON’s furniture solutions geared toward health and safety, please visit www.hon.com/industry/healthy-workplace-solutions.