Re-boarding: Tools and tips for returning to the office safely

The proposal to work from home will finally expire in a year and a half, which means that many Dutch people will return at least partially to the office after September 25. This also brings digital and physical risks and challenges. Let’s take a look at some tools and tips to make the return to the office as smooth and safe as possible.

ICT companies are scrambling to expand their services with solutions to facilitate return to the office. Companies such as Macaw, HeyDey, and BeeSafe have developed apps to book workplaces. Software manufacturer Leviy has developed an app that can show whether and when a room has been cleaned. Some companies prevent people who may be infected with Covid-19 from entering office buildings and create a source of infection. This can be achieved with advanced hardware, such as Siemens’ hardware, which scans the body temperature when an employee arrives, but it is also easier to use smart applications.

For example, ServiceNow provides its customers with a so-called Contact Tracing application, hoping that employees or guests who come to the office can complete questionnaires. This allows them to indicate whether they must have a cough, fever, or have someone in their environment infected with Covid-19. If the employee is completely healthy and has not been in contact with a Covid-19 patient, they will receive a QR code to verify this. The QR code is scanned at the reception desk, after which employees can enter the building.

Michael Maas, vice president and general manager of ServiceNow’s EMEA North region, said that the specific inspection content depends on the company itself. “According to the policy, you can add something, such as asking someone to have a negative PCR test or have been vaccinated. We can also add a QR code according to the organization’s policy to understand where employees use it when entering a meeting room or other building facility The company badge. It’s important that the organization can effectively balance policies without compromising the employee experience.”