Business leaders concerned about physical distancing as more employees return to work

As more businesses continue to reopen, many leaders are concerned about how they will be able to facilitate physical distancing in the workplace.

According to a recent survey from Get Working, a new product being launched by enterprise software company Foko Retail, 50 percent of business leaders believe it will be logistically difficult to enforce physical distancing.

Additionally, 50 percent of these same executives believe it will be difficult to reassure employees that it is safe for them to return to work.

“Both employees and employers are anxious about returning to the office given the significant health and safety challenges created by COVID-19,” Marc Gingras, CEO of getting Working, said in a news release.

“Business leaders know that their employees are anxious about offices reopening, and the majority of those same decision-makers admit that it’s going to be difficult enforcing social distancing in the workplace,” he continued.

Further, nearly one in five decision-makers’ top priority is avoiding the spread of COVID-19 in the office and ensuring no one is sick.

“We know businesses will transition to flexible working permanently and that the use of workspace needs to be properly documented for contact tracing purposes. We also know there is a need to remotely test employees before they even enter the office,” Gingras said.

“The question is how do companies manage capacity, contact tracing, and health and safety in a meaningful way that supports the needs of workers and employers alike,” he continued.