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Jeremiah jr Valero, Michael Puzon, Natalia Mykhaylova and others are enlisted in the challenge
Modelling a Safe Return to Work
Modelling a Safe Return to Work
The “new normal” for the workplace in the COVID-19-era
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW
In this challenge, we aim to explore the use of digital technologies for small-to-medium organizations, as well as for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to encourage the safe return to the workplace in the time of COVID-19.
As governments gradually relax some stay-at-home restrictions, organizations are also starting to reopen and welcome their employees back into the office. This, however, will not signify a return to business-as-usual but the start of a transition to the reality that things, workplace measures among them, will have drastically changed due to the pandemic. Cleaning and disinfection will become a top priority; employees are expected to practice physical distancing; meeting rooms and workstations layout will change, and policies and updates will be communicated frequently. In light of this, organizations also need to ensure that they provide safety guidelines and strategies upon their reopening.
While large organizations have the tools and resources to make better decisions and address employees’ apprehensions, safety, and concerns regarding their return to work, small-to-medium organizations and MSMEs struggle to balance health safety and business needs.
How might we use digital technology to support small-to-medium public organizations and MSMEs to provide a safe and healthy working environment for their employees?
Your creative ideas and innovative skills are what we need to provide small organizations tools for a safe return to work!
Potential concepts can include:
- a digital planning tool that can show number and location of new cases on a daily basis and is applicable for organizations with remote offices for organizations
- an application that can determine the number of employees who can safely return to work and can incorporate best practices with an input layout and information about the office space
- a sourcing application to source vendors for retrofitting their spaces or installing socially distanced barriers in the office
Participants are encouraged to consider aspects of accessibility, and inclusion in their proposals, including ideas for how digital divides maybe bridged for those with limited access to the internet. Entries should ideally be open-source solutions that can be adapted and replicated elsewhere.