Question: How can offices and contact centres ensure social distancing at work?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Offices and contact centres
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.3 Workplaces and workstations
section_content: Objective: To maintain social distancing between individuals when they are at
their workstations.
For people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain
social distancing wherever possible.
Workstations should be assigned to an individual and not shared. If they need
to be shared they should be shared by the smallest possible number of people.
If it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should
consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate
and if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of
transmission.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Review layouts and processes to allow people to work further apart from each other.


Using floor tape or paint to mark areas to help workers keep to a 2m distance.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side by side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.


Managing occupancy levels to enable social distancing.


Avoiding use of hot desks and spaces and, where not possible, for example, call centres or training facilities, cleaning and sanitising workstations between different occupants including shared equipment.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This guidance focuses on people at their workplace and does not directly address contact centres.
This is an excellent answer because it provides information as to how employees can stay safe at work.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Offices and contact centres
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites
section_content: Objective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible while people travel
through the workplace.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Reducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example, restricting access to some areas, encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.


Restricting access between different areas of a building or site.


Reducing job and location rotation.


Introducing more one-way flow through buildings.


Reducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.


Making sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.


Regulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts turnstiles and walkways to maintain social distancing.



Example lift practices.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This is an excellent answer because it provides numerous options as to how employees can stay safe in the workplace, which is what the question was asking for.
This only offers information about how to maintain social distancing while moving through the workplace, and not all parts of the office.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Offices and contact centres
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.5 Common areas
section_content: Objective: To maintain social distancing while using common areas.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Working collaboratively with landlords and other tenants in multi-tenant sites/buildings to ensure consistency across common areas, for example, receptions, staircases.


Staggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or canteens.


Using safe outside areas for breaks.


Creating additional space by using other parts of the workplace or building that have been freed up by remote working.


Installing screens to protect staff in receptions or similar areas.


Providing packaged meals or similar to avoid fully opening staff canteens.


Encouraging workers to bring their own food.


Reconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.


Encouraging staff to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.


Regulating use of locker rooms, changing areas and other facility areas to reduce concurrent usage.


Encouraging storage of personal items and clothing in personal storage spaces, for example, lockers and during shifts.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This is an excellent answer because it provides detailed advice as to how people can practice social distancing at work. Therefore, it answers to the question.
This offers tips and guidelines for offices and common spaces to maintain social distancing without addressing contact centres

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable