In Brief

Here's what office life could look like amid COVID-19, according to new CDC guidelines

News
By published

Office perks such as coffee pots, water coolers and snack bins should be ousted and replaced with pre-packaged items, the guidelines say.

An employee at the Vauxhall car factory in the United Kingdom working in his office during preparedness tests and redesign ahead of re-opening following the COVID-19 outbreak.
An employee at the Vauxhall car factory in the United Kingdom working in his office during preparedness tests and redesign ahead of re-opening following the COVID-19 outbreak. (Image credit: Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images)

Say goodbye to the office water cooler — U.S. offices that reopen this year will likely undergo substantial changes to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to new guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The guidelines recommend offices take a number of steps to help keep workers safe. 

These include conducting daily temperature screenings and symptom checks before workers enter the office, requiring employees to wear face coverings in all areas of the work space, moving workstations to keep employees at least 6 feet apart, placing markings on the floor to facilitate social distancing and installing transparent "shields" in places where social distancing is not an option.

What's more, office perks such as coffee pots, water coolers and snack bins should be removed and replaced with pre-packaged and single-serving items, the agency said. And in addition to frequent office cleanings, employees should be provided with disposable wipes to wipe down frequently touched surfaces before use. 

Some businesses have already announced plans for gradually reopening their offices. For example, Google recently announced plans to open offices on a limited basis in July, keeping buildings at 10% occupancy, and growing to 30% occupancy by September, according to CNN. On the other hand, some offices are not rushing to reopen — Twitter recently told its employees that they could work from home forever if they want, according to the BBC.

Originally published on Live Science.  

OFFER: Save 45% on 'How It Works' 'All About Space' and 'All About History'!

OFFER: Save 45% on 'How It Works' 'All About Space' and 'All About History'!

For a limited time, you can take out a digital subscription to any of our best-selling science magazines for just $2.38 per month, or 45% off the standard price for the first three months.

View Deal
Rachael Rettner
Rachael Rettner
Contributor

Rachael is a Live Science contributor, and was a former channel editor and senior writer for Live Science between 2010 and 2022. She has a master's degree in journalism from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She also holds a B.S. in molecular biology and an M.S. in biology from the University of California, San Diego. Her work has appeared in Scienceline, The Washington Post and Scientific American.