As cities begin to roll back quarantine orders, employers have begun thinking about how they’re going to have their employees return to the office. This is no easy task! There are so many factors that go into safely having any number of employees return to the office, from how they’re going to get there to how you’re going to rearrange the physical office setup.

We know commuting isn’t a top priority for many people and employers right now. But, as quarantine regulations begin to be lifted or extended, companies are going to need to analyze how they’re going to move forward. Part of the process is building a commute management strategy that complies with local regulations while providing safe commute options for employees.

As quarantine orders are lifted and people begin returning to the office, there’s going to be a want and need to make common areas as safe as possible. Providing touchless amenities will become a necessary change for the majority of commercial office and residential buildings. Although some of this will require changing human behavior inside offices, it will also require dramatic changes to the physical office building itself. We’ve outlined a few essentials here that commercial office property managers, developers, and owners need to consider to prepare for the post-COVID future.

One purpose of implementing office amenities is to attract potential employees. Maybe more importantly though, it’s to retain the talent you already have. Offering useful amenities is more conducive to creating a positive employee experience than superficial additions.

You’ve already decided  to provide commute-based office amenities for your employees — now you have to decide what you’re going to provide. Like we said, it’s important to pick what is best for your office, your employees, and your location. 

When you think of office amenities, the first ideas that come to mind are probably cold brew on tap, ping-pong tables, and beanbag chairs. These amenities are nice to have, but they’re more superficial than functional in the workplace. When considering new office additions, you might want to think about what’s going to make a real difference to your employees’ happiness.

Providing a private shuttle for your employees is a huge benefit to them. Shuttles transport more people in one vehicle, reducing drive-alone commute rates. They qualify for HOV lane access, leading to faster travel times. And they give time back to employees by allowing them to get a head start on their daily tasks during their commute!