As a workspace provider, the safety and wellbeing of our team and our members is our priority. With that in mind, we are implementing a number of safety measures across our locations. These measures will be put in place to ensure that our workspaces can operate efficiently and safely, and enable everyone in our spaces to feel safe on their return to the office.

We’re currently meeting virtually every day, reviewing and updating these social distancing measures in line with the latest government advice. As and when the government provides new guidelines, we’ll add to these measures.

Here are the initial social distancing measures we’ll have in place at Work.Life coworking spaces and Yours. by Work.Life managed offices, to ensure a safe return to our workspaces for everyone.

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Work.Life Coworking – Safety Measures

In line with government safety measures, the capacity of our spaces will be significantly reduced to allow for the recommended 6ft distance between each person. In communal workspaces, members won’t be sat directly beside or opposite another person, but spread across the area with a safe 6ft distance between them. Signage will be installed to ensure that everyone knows where they can and can’t sit. Communal areas such as the kitchen and breakout areas will be closely monitored to ensure there is no overcrowding. Our usual community events, many of which are held in communal areas, won’t be taking place for the foreseeable future, and will be replaced by virtual events.

Across our spaces, we’ll be replacing hot desking with ‘dedicated desking’. In order to minimise physical contact, you will be allocated one desk for the entire time you’re in the space, which will then be cleaned after your departure. It will be clearly labelled which desks are free and which are taken, so when you leave the desk for a while, you can rest assured it won’t be taken by another member.

On arrival, you will be given a paper desk mat, which you’ll be required to put on your desk and then dispose of on your way out. The disposable desk mat is designed to limit the need to touch the desk itself, reducing the amount of physical contact.

Increased cleaning will play a big part across of all our workspaces. Our cleaning staff will be present in the spaces throughout opening hours, ensuring that all areas are cleaned multiple times a day. High touch points will be sanitised more regularly to ensure they can be used safely. All our spaces will also receive a thorough sanitisation every morning prior to the start of the working day. Cleaners will be wearing necessary PPE.

Hand sanitiser and hand washing facilities will be available around the spaces. Members will be encouraged to wash their hands regularly, as well as after visiting higher-touch-point areas like the coffee machine or printer. Signage will be installed as reminders to wash your hands, and to identify sanitiser stations and wipe down kits.

Throughout all of our workspaces, there will be a one-way system to ensure we adhere to proper social distancing. On the floor of the spaces, you’ll see arrows and footpaths clearly signposting which way to move around the space. You’ll be required to follow the direction of the footpaths.

The recommended occupancy for our meeting rooms and breakout spaces will be reduced. Recommended occupancy will be clearly signposted in rooms and online when you book. In meeting rooms, we’ll also advise sitting 6ft apart where possible.

Our usual in-person events schedule won’t be returning just yet. Events will continue to take place virtually through our digital events schedule Work.Life Anywhere – which includes fitness, learning & development, round-table, and community events designed to bring Work.Lifers together online.

We’ve sanitised all internal fan coil units in our air systems to ensure high quality air – and in line with government advice, this will be regularly monitored. We’re working closely with landlords on further measures to ensure high quality, fresh, air – such as ‘fresh air blasts’ of the system and replacing filters throughout the systems.

We’ll be using a fogging treatment which provides cleaning and disinfecting of both hard and soft surfaces, dealing rapidly and effectively with an extensive list of bacteria, viruses, fungi and moulds, including Coronavirus. The treatment lasts for 30 days and will help to keep all surfaces sanitised and safe to use.

We are using the NHS Track and Trace system in all our spaces. To ensure a quick and seamless check in, please ensure you have downloaded the app before you visit the space. This applies to visitors, too.

For those using spaces, or planning a return to work, we’ve also prepared these ‘stay safe’ suggestions. These guidelines are to help keep individuals, teams, and other members safe and healthy within our office spaces.

1. Keep your seat for the whole day
2. Wash your hands frequently
3. We recommend a good old walk-and-talk instead of the phone booth, but if you choose to use the booth please remember to wipe it down after use
4. Maintain a 6ft distance from your coworkers and other users of the space
5. If you start to show symptoms, or live with someone who may be vulnerable, please stay home

Posters with the above suggestions will be displayed around all spaces to help ensure a safe return to work for everyone.

For Resident members:

We have additional safety measures available for you to purchase for your team or office. These include latex gloves, masks, antibacterial door handle covers, hand sanitiser, desk divider screens, and surface cleaning spray. If you wish to purchase any of these extras through us, please contact your membership team directly.

Yours. by Work.Life – Safety Measures

We’ll use our expertise to help you re-design your workspace floorplan in line with government safety measures. Working with you, we can help provide the team with a new workspace layout.

Our cleaning staff will be present in the spaces throughout opening hours, ensuring that all areas are cleaned multiple times a day. High touch points will be sanitised more regularly to ensure they can be used safely. All our spaces will also receive a thorough sanitisation every morning prior to the start of the working day. Cleaners will be wearing required PPE.

Hand sanitiser stations and hand washing facilities will be set up around the spaces for your return.

We’ll be laying out arrows, signposting which way to move around the communal areas of the space. The one-way system will help you to stick to social distancing.

You’ll have access to online events from guest speakers, on a range of topics. You’ll be notified by email when these events are taking place.

We’ve sanitised all internal fan coil units in our air systems to ensure high quality air. These will be regularly monitored. We’re working closely with landlords on further measures to ensure high quality, fresh, air – such as ‘fresh air blasts’ of the system and replacing filters throughout the systems.

We’ll be using a fogging treatment which provides cleaning and disinfecting of both hard and soft surfaces, dealing rapidly and effectively with an extensive list of bacteria, viruses, fungi and moulds, including Coronavirus. The treatment is long-lasting and will help to keep all surfaces sanitised and safe to use.

We’ll work with our cleaners and engineers to minimise them being in the workspace at the same time whilst conducting routine works. We’ll reduce the number of individuals attending the space by having the same staff working in circulation.

We’re here to help

If you have any questions regarding these measures, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We also know that many businesses will currently be reviewing how best to return to work or distribute their team. If you would like to discuss how to return to work safely with a member of our team, please contact us at members@work.life.