Every day that goes by during this COVID-19 pandemic, shared workspaces (formerly known as co-working space) are learning something new on how to deal with not spreading the coronavirus. 

Will what they learned or were told to do, be forgotten once the virus is under control? 

Or will what they put in place be part of their new SOP (standard operation procedure)?

In a recent article by MIT they feel what we are dealing with now to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will remain in place forever.

We all want things to go back to normal quickly. But what most of us have probably not yet realized—yet will soon—is that things won’t go back to normal after a few weeks, or even a few months. Some things never will.

Why Shared Workspaces Need To Remain Vigilant

Shared Workspaces’ popularity is primarily based on the opportunity they offer to business people to frequently socialize with other business owners.   Why have an office in a shared workspace if you are not able to socialize?

How will social distancing effect the shared workspace socializing that went on before COVID-19? The obvious answer is socializing will change.

The ability to fly anywhere in the world and walk into an affiliated shared workspace and use their meeting rooms or shared office space is another advantage to being a member of a shared workspace.  How will the shared workspace deal with this after COVID -19?

What Will Be the Norm After COVID-19?

During a quick review of how several of the shared workspaces here in Dallas are dealing with the COVID-19 containment, there were a number of processes they use to prevent the spread that will probably have to be maintained after the COVID-19.

Conference Rooms

• Conference room capacity based on the room necessary to keep all attendees at 6 ft apart. 
• A Mandatory 10-minute separation between scheduled meetings so shared workspace employees can do a complete wipe down of all surfaces and materials.  Remove all trash and spray air cleaner.

Private/Public Events

• Private events will need to be contained in one room that is closed off to the rest of the shared workspace facility. 
• The event should have its own entrance and exit that is not associated with the rest of the facility.
• The event will have to comply with limiting the number of attendees to the number of people that can fit into the room and still have social distancing.

Coffee Pots

• All coffee pots currently being used by the shared workspace’ members and the general public and use plastic water reservoirs to store water onboard will be replaced with stainless steel water tanks and crafts.
• Coffee pots and machines will be cleaned once a week with a vinegar & water mixer or commercial coffee pot cleaner.

Restrooms

• All restrooms will need to have all ceramic tile walls and floors.
• All sinks and counters will be made of synthetic non-porous material. 
• The walls and floors will be cleaned daily with a chlorine solution.
• Floors will be steamed cleaned twice a week.

Snack Bars

• All wrapped foods will be dispensed by a vending machine.  
• No open sources of food will be available.

Common Area

• All common areas and hallways will be vacuumed and mopped daily. Then steam cleaned once a week.
• Couches and chairs will be covered with a non-porous material so it can be wiped off frequently.
• All surfaces will be wiped down every two hours.

Air and Heat

• Heating and Air Conditioning systems will be cleaned monthly.
• Filters replaced monthly

Office Doors

• All office door handles and knobs will be replaced with stainless and wiped cleaned several times a day.
• All door frames will be wiped off several times a day.

Office Cleaning

• Office furniture furnished by the shared workspace will be subject to weekly cleaning.
• All surfaces in every office will be wiped and cleaned once a week.
• Office floors will be dusted, mopped and or vacuumed.

The future of Shared Workspace in Dallas after the Coronavirus pandemic will depend on what the owners of the shared workspace facilities change.  Hopefully, they will do the right thing and take up some of these recommendations