Collaboration and Privacy: Where Two Workplaces Meet

In today’s workplace, it is becoming increasingly important for employees to be able to create their own personal spaces and maintain privacy. This is especially true in open-concept offices and other workspaces where coworkers may be in close proximity to others and their workplace furniture. Fortunately, there are many ways that employers and employees can establish personal space and privacy while still allowing employees to collaborate and interact with each other. Here are some of the different ways of creating personal space and privacy in the workplace to help improve both employee morale and overall productivity.

Partitions

In today’s increasingly digital workplace, the need for privacy in the office has become more important than ever. With the implementation of physical partitions, employers can create a work environment that encourages collaboration while still allowing employees to maintain their own personal spaces. While this may seem like a step back to the cubicle of the late 20th century, the partitions of today have been modernized. With glass paneling, whiteboard paneling, sound proofing, and storage available, the partitions offered are state-of-the-art and will work well to create privacy in the workplace.

Panels

Fabric-covered panels can provide soundproofing and reduce noise levels between workstations, while laminate or metal panels can offer greater durability. Glass panels allow for visibility between workspaces, creating an airy and open atmosphere, while still providing a sense of privacy

The best part about using panels is that they can be easily moved around, stacked, or reconfigured as needed. So, you can always switch up the layout of your workspace furniture if you need more space or privacy. With the right panels, you can create a workspace that meets your needs without compromising on comfort or style.

Personalized Workspaces

By allowing for more permanent, dedicated workspaces, individuals are better able to focus on their tasks without interruption or distraction. Moving away from hot desking, also known as desk-hopping, is a great way to reduce distractions and allow each individual to have their own workspace. Instead of having multiple people share the same desk or workstation, each employee can have their own dedicated workspace that they can use on a regular basis, whether they’re hybrid workers or are in the office full time. This allows them to keep their belongings and materials organized, so they don’t have to worry about losing things or rearranging items when someone else uses their desk.

Touchdown Spaces

Improved touchdown spaces can also help employees stay productive in the workplace. Rather than having an assigned desk, some companies are now offering touchdown spaces where individuals can drop in, grab a chair, and start working. This type of flexible work area provides a dedicated space where employees can focus on their tasks while still enjoying the flexibility of being able to move around the office, which is especially attractive to hybrid workers.

By creating personalized workspaces and improved touchdown spaces, employers can help their employees maintain personal space and privacy. These workspaces will allow individuals to focus on their tasks without distractions and be more productive.

Sound Proofing the Workplace

To ensure employees feel comfortable and able to focus on their work, sound proofing has become a must-have feature. There are a variety of ways to achieve this, ranging from partitions to personalized workspaces. No matter what type of workspace you choose for your employees, it’s important to take sound proofing into consideration. This will help ensure everyone has the right amount of quiet space, creating a more comfortable and productive work environment.

With the right solutions in place, you can guarantee your staff will be able to work efficiently and effectively every day.

Seven Ways to Soundproof Your Office:

  • Sound Absorbent Wall and Desk Paneling
  • Dedicated Quiet Spaces
  • Private Meeting Areas
  • Textured Seating
  • Sound Absorbent Ceiling Tiles
  • Noise Cancelling Headphones
  • Dedicated Printer/Copier Rooms

High Touch Surfaces: What Are They and How Do You Clean Them

As we enter the season of sneezes, we need to ensure safety for all who walk through our doors. In general, there are four main ways of classifying surfaces in your workplace:

  • High Touch
  • Medium Touch
  • Low Touch
  • No Touch

    Each one has different implications for the products you use to clean them and the way you go about cleaning them yourself, but all these surfaces need to be cleaned regularly if they’re going to be both hygienic and maintain their aesthetic appeal. Read on to find out how to clean, sanitize, disinfect and sanitize various high touch surfaces around your workplace or home office, and learn which products can help you achieve these goals effectively.

    What Are High Touch Surfaces?

    High touch surfaces are objects that several people come in contact with on a regular basis. These surfaces can be anything from door handles to desks to bathrooms sinks. A high touch surface can be as common as a tabletop or as rare as the base of a chair. They are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing because they’re not always considered “dirty.” However, these surfaces become dirty just like any other surface if they aren’t maintained daily.

    Desktop High Touch Surfaces

    It’s important to clean, sanitize, disinfect and sterilize high-touch surfaces in the office on a regular basis. In your own space it can feel like you don’t have to do it often, but what do you touch when you’re not at your desk? Could those germs be transferred to your workspace? Be sure to always wipe down these surfaces regularly.

    Desktop High Touch Surfaces can include:

    • Phone
    • Keyboard
    • Mouse
    • Arm Rests
    • Back of a Desk Chair
    • Desk Surface
    • Pens
    • Drawer Pulls

    Office-Wide High Touch Surfaces

    It can be startling to learn how dirty office-wide surfaces can become. In some cases, they can be up to 200 times dirtier than a toilet bowl! This is because they are continually touched by dozens or even hundreds of people each day. When left unclean for days or weeks at a time these high touch surfaces become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.

    Office-Wide High Touch Surfaces include:

    • Door Handles
    • Copiers and Printers
    • Toilets
    • Faucets
    • Lamps
    • Light Switches
    • Locks
    • Filing Cabinets

    The Differences Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, Disinfecting & Sterilizing

    Cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting and sterilizing – what’s the difference between these terms? Well, each word is a different level. Cleaning removes dirt, stains or other visible contaminants, while sanitizing kills bacteria or viruses on surfaces that are likely to touch food. Disinfecting is a more stringent level than sanitizing because it kills many types of microorganisms. Finally, sterilizing eliminates all living organisms on an object.

    Cleaning

    This is the process of physically removing dirt, grime, and other contaminants. A soft cloth and soap are often enough to get the surface clean.

    Sanitizing

    To sanitize an item or surface means to reduce the number of microorganisms present on that item or surface. In order to sanitize something, you need to use a substance such as bleach or alcohol that kills 99%+ of bacteria on contact. Chlorine bleach is best for surfaces like countertops while rubbing alcohol is used for hard surfaces like tabletops.

    Disinfecting

    Disinfecting means killing all types of disease-causing germs (bacteria) on a surface with some type of chemical solution such as chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

    Sterilizing

    Sterilizing a surface kills all living microorganisms that may be on that surface.

    The Best Products to Use

    When it comes to the best products for each cleaning job, there are many options, but we recommend using products from trusted janitorial and sanitation brands for cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing your high touch surfaces. At Sundance, we have all the workplace solutions you need to keep your offices safe and sanitary.