Technology can help with safe return to office

Even as part of America's most diversified economy, companies in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs are struggling to navigate the future of work as they face the daunting task of getting millions of employees back into offices.

The task is especially urgent in suburban Chicago: a recent Colliers study found that, while commercial leasing activity in the area is up from the beginning of the pandemic, vacancy rates remain high.

Persistent vacancy stems from the fact that workers do not want to return to a pre-pandemic workplace. In fact, a recent survey found that one in four American workers say that they will seek a new job unless their current employer implements new public health protocols. The same survey found that three in four currently remote workers do not yet feel safe returning to the office. Until a commercial space implements clear guidelines and protocols regarding public health, high vacancy rates will remain the norm.

Technology can help restore worker confidence in workplace safety. One example is new contactless end-to-end elevated temperature detection devices that use infrared technology, facial scanners and other methods to quickly screen workers and tenants. This will make workers feel safe and address their fears about returning to work.

It is also the most efficient method of employee health screening, as many suburban office parks feature multiple entry and exit points across several buildings. While a business could have an employee stationed at every door, it makes much more sense to place scanners and other technology there instead - ensuring that high-volume points in the day, like the beginning and end of the workday, still allow employees to move quickly and get to their desks on time.

These tools, in other words, help promote safety and efficiency for a business or workplace. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has loosened restrictions on fully vaccinated Americans wearing masks outdoors, it is still advising people to mask-up or practice social distancing while inside.

Here mask-wearing detection technology can be another solution companies use in their return-to-work plans to help them detect in large numbers whether their employees are adhering to the CDC guidance. Like elevated temperature detection, mask-wearing detection tools will also help employees feel more comfortable coming into the office and feel confident their health is prioritized.

This alone, though, will not be enough: As with any technological tool, proper deployment is essential. Staff must be thoroughly trained on how to properly use, interpret and maximize the new tools at their office, and companies will need to implement thorough guidelines and protocols to avoid simply checking the public health box without making an actual difference.

Getting the return-to-office strategy is not just important for an individual business but for the continued growth of the entire region. The city of Chicago and its suburbs still struggle with an unemployment rate as high as 8.3 percent in February, considerably higher than the 4 percent pre-pandemic baseline. For the suburbs specifically, businesses need to be implementing bold, innovative solutions now that will help them compete in the long-term - boosting the productivity and growth of Chicagoland generally.

The good news is this technology already exists. It is now just up to leaders to realize that while the end of the pandemic is within reach, our workplace is forever changed. In other words, the time is now to use new technology to solve today's challenges and lay the foundation for tomorrow's suburban workplace.

• Pascal de Hesselle is a Principal at Randstad Technologies Group which helps businesses with strategic support, industry-leading tech talent and innovative data-driven solutions.