How to ensure office social distancing with plants
COVID-19 has reshaped our concept of the workplace. The rise of working from home suits many people, but others are desperate to return to the office. With the recent reintroduction of ‘lockdown light’ measures across Europe—including calls for employees to go back to home office—footfall in office spaces will likely fluctuate over the coming months.
While it’s hard to know how the situation will progress in the next 6 months, one thing is certain—office social distancing will be essential if employees are to return to their companies’ workspaces. And as society continues to adapt in response to the pandemic, companies are getting creative with finding ways to safely bring people back to the office.
Social distancing in offices
No business would want their employees to catch COVID-19 at the office. Social distancing is one of the most effective ways to prevent transmission in the workplace. Cushman & Wakefield have put together guidelines for the 6 Feet Office—they suggest measures such as one-way systems to ensure 1.5m distance is always maintained.
Reducing office capacity, closing meeting rooms, signage, sitting employees side-by-side, and floor tape to mark distances—these are some of the government-recommended office social distancing ideas. A number of companies are looking to technological solutions: such as installing smart sensors that record the number of people in a space, and the distance between each person.
Such measures can work—but only when employees follow these guidelines. A strip of tape on the floor can be missed, and signs ignored. Instructions and blocking off certain areas are uninspiring ways to create safe workplaces, so might fail to encourage social distancing.
Raised plants in the Forto, Berlin office divide the communal space from walkways. Photo by Dustin Jaros.
Green social distancing
Along with masks and constant hand sanitizing, social distancing can make the working environment feel increasingly clinical. Using plants to maintain social distancing requirements offers a green and imaginative way to keep your employees safe.
The pandemic has accelerated a shift towards adopting biophilic design principles (the concept of bringing aspects of the natural world indoors) in the workplace. More and more companies are taking an interest in lighting, air quality, ventilation, and other factors that prioritize employee health and wellbeing. Embracing green social distancing forms part of this shift.
Along with providing a beautiful and engaging way to implement social distancing, bringing plants into the workplace has a host of other benefits. Plants are proven to improve concentration and productivity, as well as health and mental wellbeing. In such uncertain times, the importance of designing spaces that make us feel good can’t be overstated. Here are a few tips on how to use greenery to create safer office layouts during the pandemic.
Social distancing with plants
Mark out 1.5m distances with standing plants in places where queues form—like by the coffee machine or in the kitchen. Not only does they look beautiful, but plants offer a much clearer physical marker than tape.
Place table-top plants on every other desk to signal those in use. This is a more inspiring way than signs to show which workstations are safe—while adding a touch of greenery to improve productivity and focus.
Make stunning green dividers between desks with raised box planters. These keep people safe, as well as providing a relaxing working environment.
Install natural signposts—using plants instead of arrows—to guide people in one direction around an office and avoid interactions in the hallways. This green alternative to signs is engaging, making employees more likely to stick to the regulations.
Set a number for maximum occupancy in larger spaces to limit contact. You can replace chairs with standing plants or mark safe seats with table-top pots—to implement socially-distanced seating arrangements in meeting rooms or communal areas.
Create partitions between different zones in your office with a row of standing pots. Using big planters is the perfect way to divide space, and offers an attractive alternative to office social distancing screens.
Use large pots to block the doorways of meeting rooms and other out-of-bounds areas—it’s much harder to move a palm tree than to walk past a ‘no entry’ sign!
Through working with top companies in both Berlin and Hamburg, at Plantclub we’ve developed a wealth of experience around navigating the challenges of COVID-19 in the office. Want to know more about how plants can support office social distancing and help your company bring employees back to the workplace? We’re here to help.
Plants ensure social distancing by signal blocked spaces at the Bonial office in Berlin. Photo by Riccardo Contrino
Plantclub.io provides you and your colleagues with the benefits of plants, wherever you work. Rent office plants and transform your space into a green oasis, with flexible monthly membership options to suit your size. Diversify your employee perks with a dedicated company store, where you can give green gifts and your team can buy plants for their home office. Book a time to chat with us today.