As the UK prepares for the post-lockdown return to the office, IoT company and developer of the world’s smallest wireless sensors, Disruptive Technologies, has released new data showing that although the desire to return to work has increased for a third of the population more than half of workers are still concerned about Covid-security in the workplace. In fact, 19% of those surveyed, admitted to being ‘very concerned’ about this issue. This figure has been supported by Infogrid’s 2021 Healthy Buildings Report, which also shows that health risks are the greatest concern for returning workers.
Internet of Things (IoT) enabled smart monitoring provides a number of potential solutions for the creation of Covid-secure workspaces. From occupancy monitoring to automated cleaning routine checking and ventilation management, but how willing are employees to accept this technology into their workplaces?
According to the research conducted by Disruptive Technologies, only 49.5% of people are familiar with workplace sensor technology that monitors the environment.
Once informed about the potential uses of smart monitoring for Covid-security in the workplace, 65.6% said that they would be comfortable with the tech being introduced to their place of work and 74.8% said that they would have no concerns about the application of workplace sensors. However, more than half (60%) of all respondents said that if the tech was adopted within their workplace, they would want their employer to notify them about the sensors and give them an option to provide feedback.
Bengt Lundberg, CEO of Disruptive Technologies, comments: ‘Remote working has numerous pluses, but for many businesses it can’t provide a permanent working model. In the next few months at least some of the workforce will be returning to the office, and that is a point of significant concern for both employers and employees. We can’t return to the previous model, which often saw employees working cheek by jowl.
‘Remote monitoring can help businesses find the best use of space without disregarding Covid legislation or putting employees at risk. For example, with smart cleaning, you can ensure that adequate hygiene measures are not only in place, but being observed – and provide an audit trail to support the work. It can also allow for the seamless management of the office environment, ensuring that temperatures are comfortable without unnecessary energy consumption, and adequate ventilation is provided.
‘These smart and sustainable practices are a great way of instilling confidence in the returning workforce, without undue expense. Many employers have already adopted this technology and I believe that it will soon become the norm.’
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