Offices Prepare for Workers with Health Security Top-Of-Mind

Now that Gov. Ned Lamont is allowing offices to reopen for non-essential businesses on May 20, office managers are preparing for the workers to arrive with a new concern for their health security.

At Office Suites of Darien, for example, new cleaning and operating systems have been tested and are now in place. Hospital-grade electrostatic disinfectant plus 350-degree steaming have cleaned surfaces. Tenants and visitors can avoid being within six feet of each other as separated doorways are designated either “in” or “out.” Hallways are now one-way too, so that people can control how close they follow the person in front of them. Central doorways are kept open during business hours to minimize touching common surfaces.

Office Suites Manager Jennifer Squillaro said she is preparing for “the way people want to work – with security and peace of mind about their environment.”

Water, coffee and snacks will be wheeled around the offices by a staff person so the tenants can stay away from the kitchens. Commonly touched areas are now cleaned midday in addition to the deep cleaning that the building gets each evening. Mail and packages are wiped down before they are made available clients.

Other adjustments now in place are the number of occupants allowed in meeting rooms and reception areas has been cut to 40% of the former occupancy standard to allow for continued six-foot distancing, and large screens for video conferencing are now available in the meeting rooms for the expected increased demand.

Expecting higher demand

Office Suites of Darien is a coworking facility where unrelated companies share building space and a variety of technical and administrative services, often with short-term or flexible leases. General Partner Llew Smith said he expects to be busier than ever after May 20, as people live with a new awareness of how some viruses spread.

“More people may want the security of being able to come into their own private office and shut their door,” Smith said. “And senior-level executives may not want to go to the City, or they may want to avoid the crowded trains and have an office near where they live.”

“We have gone the extra mile to make Office Suites of Darien the quintessential safe social distancing home for local businesspeople,” Smith said.