Guest Editorial by Frank Scala and Mike McGovern

The return of employees to their company workplaces is beginning this Fall as corporate leaders, their HR managers, and facility & security directors plan for the new realities we will all face.

The Wall Street Journal’s recent article summarizes what many large employers are saying to their office employees:  After more than two years, corporate leaders say time is up on avoiding in-person work: “Enough, Bosses Say: This Fall, It Really is Time to Get Back to the Office” (WSJ, Sept. 3, 2022)

Since March 2020, working from home had become commonplace – while downtown office buildings and suburban corporate campuses operated at fractional occupancy.

Corporate and city leaders and commercial real estate providers are wondering if this change is permanent, and if people can work from home as effectively and efficiently as they worked when culled together into their offices and cubicles in office towers on sprawling corporate campuses.

The pandemic has changed the way we look at work and productivity.

Remarkably, initially, we all seemed more productive by staying home. We were quite proud of it. And corporate bosses were very supportive of the “new normal,” as we called it.

But now the tide is shifting back the other way. One extreme measure observed was Elon Musk’s tweet to 100,000 Tesla office employees, “Come back to the office or quit“ (Elektrek, June 1, 2022).

On June 11, 2022, Business Insider reported that Howard Schultz of Starbucks took a different approach, essentially saying he will do “whatever employees want” to get them back at the office.

But Tesla and Starbucks are not alone in their wish to re-populate offices – we can see similar news all over popular and business media today.

In Tim Smart’s US News & World Report article “The Great Return…” he cites the grand plans that some of our largest employers like Google, Twitter, CitiGroup, and American Express have laid out to attract and keep safe their returning employees, be it in full-time or hybrid mode.

In another article,  Harry Stainton’s Workplace Insight piece “What Really Happens When we start Using Offices Again?”, he looks at some of the enticements offered by employers to re-fill their available office space and to encourage interaction and productivity in the group setting.

In some cases, the leaders are getting creative by adding more social interaction space in place of cubicles and desks.

What Happened?

At the start of the pandemic, many workforces showed an initial increase in production at home, but this production slowly started to decrease as longer hours at home also resulted in employee burnout – where the lines of work-life balance became blurred for some.

Many experts agree that the result was a decrease in overall production. Also, company culture had faltered as well, especially with new hires and onboarding. Managers also struggled with staff in ensuring an inclusive and collaborative team environment.

The at-home work environment created “individual islands” which seem to hinder team building – which, when encouraged and fostered – allows individuals to feel a more connected sense of purpose to the company and each other.

For these reasons, we now see most corporations implementing policies with either hybrid arrangements or 40 hours per week in the office.

However, there still may be great resistance from many employees – whether it’s due to safety concerns, perceived betterment of work/life balance, commuting expenses, or production.

So, the question arises, how to attract employees back to work?

Security and Safety are Important

Security, safety, and entrance control professionals have worked throughout the entire pandemic on how to keep employees safe against surface and airborne viruses, and other illnesses.

The answer in many cases has been to provide new technologies for smart buildings that require less touching, less interaction, new disinfecting, and ways to promote safe distancing.

(ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems North America knows that ensuring people’s safety is more critical than ever. And whether it’s safeguarding the public in commercial venues or maintaining and monitoring secure environments in essential sectors and crucial infrastructure, ASSA ABLOY Security Entrance Control delivers complete solutions and services customized to your building’s needs. Courtesy of ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems North America and YouTube.)

At most security entrance-controlled offices today, the trend toward biometric authentication and contactless cards/smartphone identification has grown exponentially – as employers want to be sure to offer a touch-free flow past security desks, through lobbies, and in/out of elevators.

Security portals and security revolving doors, once only considered only for the highest security demands, are now also common in areas where we once would have seen security staffing on hand.

These turnkey security entrance control lanes/portals are installed along with automatic door operators – and are the new norm as we minimize touching of surfaces, maximize security and increase throughput making for a safer, more efficient, and more secure workplace than ever before.

How about Smart Buildings?

Yes, smart building designs that allow for a reduction of on-site security guard staffing increased the interest in automated security entrance control and remote cloud-based management.

Secure entry products like turnstiles, speed lanes/speed gates, mantrap portals, and security revolvers are being integrated with these cloud-based security management systems and visitor/vendor management systems.

In addition, these same technologies allow for better management of social distancing and contact tracing.

These touchless technologies have proven to be notable enhancements for security, safety, and flow management at office buildings across North America.

(Meet one of the newest innovations in door operator technology, bridging the gap between manual and automatic doors. The SW60 from ASSA ABLOY. Courtesy of ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems North America and YouTube.)

What about Disinfection?

Another recent development is blue light (UV) technology combined with POE (Power Over Ethernet) lighting.

This intelligent form of disinfecting helps ensure hygienic conditions for such common spaces as meeting rooms, training rooms, cafeteria, office spaces, etc.

The technology utilizes occupancy sensors and a pre-determined disinfecting cycling schedule to continually clean specific areas, reportedly killing 99.99% of all pathogens.

(Mitigating COVID is as easy as turning on the lights. Indigo-Clean® lighting technology is occupant safe, continuous, and effective at killing Influenza-A, Staph Aureus, SARS-CoV-2* – the virus that causes COVID-19, plus a list of pathogens that negatively impact health and wellness. This technology has been proven effective with available published research conducted by Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai to kill 94% germs*. Courtesy Finelite and YouTube.) 

It also helps reduce and minimize harmful exposure for cleaning staff.

The cloud-based systems integrate with the security management system and will keep doors that are electronically locked from being entered while the system is operational.

The occupancy sensors can utilize people counting/ management technology to ensure social distancing rules remain in effect.

For exterior doors, new nanotechnology has been used to ensure a clean surface on handles and rails.

Tenant Engagement Apps!

Corporate real estate managers and developers have also learned that a connected building creates strong and happy communities for their properties.

The new tenant engagement apps give employees a virtual remote control for both digital and physical resources, creating a truly frictionless experience for such activities as desk or room booking, visitor registration, and simplified access control.

They also provide an easy way to order lunch, and find local services, like dry cleaning or salons, and discounted parking. Management is informed because insight into your workforce is provided through data analytics in the hybrid work environment.

The result is that the apps provide a greater sense of community, a platform for employee events, and feedback to management.

As a bonus, the use of these apps helps create an important dividing line for improved work-life balance.

Imagine event notifications like free food on Wednesdays or free fitness classes on Tuesdays; we all need to be around people and have social interaction, it’s just human nature.

These new technologies help us engage one another in a safe and collaborative matter that will enable us to re-create/improve upon the vibrant communities we had or wished for, even pre-pandemic.

(For example, this Mobile Access, Visitor Management, and Tenant Engagement offering from Sharry, trusted by commercial real estate leaders. Courtesy of Sharry and YouTube.)

The Bottom Line:

The return of the office workspace is here to stay – and welcomed by many of us.

We believe that even the most reluctant employees will eventually come around – once they see and experience the benefits of security entrances, safety, other workplace technology, and additional perks.

Workplaces are safer and more secure, and indications are that we are all more productive at the office among our peers.  And wonderful new tenant engagement apps help increase engagement, promote healthy lives, and support much-needed separation between work and home.

Welcome back to the office, everybody!

About the Authors

Frank Scala, RCDD, PSP®, CTS is a Senior Technology Consultant in the Digital Services with Arup.

Frank’s expertise spans all phases of advanced technology analysis including reviewing building plans and architectural building technology issues, design concepts, security plan development and assistance with budget estimates.

He has contributed to a number of award-winning buildings, and is sought after in the physical security, and smart building space for design and consultation.

Mike McGovern, PSP® is Business Development Manager at ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems where he designs installed/turnkey security entrance control systems.

Mike is an access control and security entrance control industry veteran, member of ASIS’s Physical Security Community Leadership Council, is a frequent contributor to ASIS speaking panels, and to AST’s articles.

Related Technologies…

Luminator Technology Group Takes Platinum in 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

Luminator Technology Group

Best COVID-19 Emergency Response Solution

• Renew Air Treatment System

• Luminator develops and delivers technology with tangible benefits that support transit bus and rail car manufacturers as well as public transit operators around the globe.

• Luminator’s Renew™ Air Treatment system dispenses Grignard Pure, an antimicrobial air treatment through a connected, technologically advanced system that measures and automatically adjusts the amount of Grignard Pure that is dispensed in the air.

• The adaptive system utilizes on-board sensors to automatically adjust the system based upon the fresh air intake and other conditions in the vehicle, maintaining proper concentration for efficacy – even with doors opening and closing as passengers embark and disembark the vehicle

• As conditions change, such as fluctuations of fresh air intake throughout the route, the system maintains an effective level to continuously kill virus particles in the air.

• Luminator Technology Group delivers globally-recognized technology solutions that increase intelligence, safety, and efficiency for public transit operations

(Grignard Company, a manufacturer of atmospheric effect solutions, and Luminator Technology Group (Luminator), a global leader in transit technology and communication solutions, announce a partnership focused on providing new safety offerings for public transit amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of Luminator Technology Group.) 

Final Days Accepting Nominations in the 2022 ‘ASTORS Homeland Security Awards

Final Entries are being accepted for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

Comprehensive List of Categories Include:

Access Control/ Identification	Personal/Protective Equipment	Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism
Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System	Interagency Interdiction Operation	Cloud Computing/Storage Solution
Facial/IRIS Recognition	Body Worn Video Product	Cyber Security
Video Surveillance/VMS	Mobile Technology	Anti-Malware
Audio Analytics	Disaster Preparedness	ID Management
Thermal/Infrared Camera	Mass Notification System	Fire & Safety
Metal/Weapon Detection	Rescue Operations	Critical Infrastructure
License Plate Recognition	Detection Products	COVID Innovations
Workforce Management	Government Security Programs	And Many Others to Choose From!

Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher, at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.

These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.

The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.

And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.

As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads more than 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.

Register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today

(Hear a recent interview with Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino held at Identity Week Europe on leveraging biometric comparison technology in U.S. air, maritime, and land border environments for the security of passengers, enhancing the customer experience and limiting the transmission of biological pathogens while respecting personal privacies and educating the public as the CBP further expands the implementation of biometrics to keep up with threats to the aviation and other border sectors. These new technological tools are there to automate administrative functions so that the most valuable component of the process, the officers, are able to focus on critical issues as they arise. Courtesy of evie kim sing and YouTube. Posted on Jul 13, 2022.)

Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.

The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. #MentorshipMatters

So be on the lookout for Special Guests, Presenters, Book Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2022 in NYC!