THE country is experiencing a continued decline of COVID-19 cases in most areas, and mobility restrictions, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR) are starting to ease up. Select schools are mulling a return to face-to-face classes as kids 5-11 years old are already being vaccinated. Employees are itching to return to work at the physical office, work and eat with officemates just like they used to.
The easing of the alert levels somehow gave people and business the confidence to go back and work and continue with the flow of business and hopefully, jumpstart the economy’s recovery. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), one of the sectors most impacted by the pandemic, is raring for a comeback.
But is it really safe to return to work now?
As the pandemic situation in the country continues to improve, companies are exploring the possibility of “hybrid work set-ups” consisting of both in-office and remote reporting. This can be somewhat similar to the education sector’s “blended learning” that consists of both online and module-based studies.
In a third-quarter Metro Manila property market briefing of consulting firm Colliers, about 34 percent of the respondents said that they are expecting at least half of their workforce to return to their offices starting 2022, while 31 percent are looking forward to having all of their employees report on-site fully.
Industry experts forecast that mobility-friendly protocols, ramped-up vaccination, increased confidence in business, and pandemic-ready office amenities and guidelines will be the ones luring white-collar employees back to the concrete jungle this year.
The corporate industry is ready to meet the new safety demands of today as shown in the 2020 Restoring Stability Survey by Willis Towers Watson, which reported that 64 percent of employers shall have major improvement plans and programs on employee safety in the new normal setup. Indeed, pandemic-proofing tops office priorities this year, particularly for the communal areas.
“Several studies here and abroad have shown the inevitable – people are going back to their offices, be it fully or partially. And as we further understand the pros and cons of various work set-ups, we must ensure that our employees are safe and well throughout the process. We must improve the pandemic-proofing of our office spaces, especially communal areas such as lobbies and pantries. This is what we at Waterlogic aim to aid in solving through our high-grade purifying technology, Aqua SmartGuard,” shares Windy Goffe-Gomez, Aqua SmartGuard Philippines chief operating officer to FrontpagePH.com.
She said that management teams must be mindful of highly communal areas in their offices, such as breakrooms and pantries. Equipping these areas with technology that makes them virus-free, from air filters and contactless dispensers brings a more contemporary and well-adapted approach to office safety. Joining this roster of safety innovations is the Aqua SmartGuard purification cube.
With its advanced water purification system that uses a cutting-edge, proprietary purification technology to filter water, the Aqua SmartGuard is simply a must-have for small office spaces welcoming employees back. It is equipped with Waterlogic’s patented FirewallTM UVC technology which purifies water with precisely targeted UVC light. This top-tier water purification system guarantees that every glass of water is 99.9999 percent bacteria-free, 99.99 percent virus-free, 99.9 percent cyst-free, and is also proven 99.999 percent effective against COVID-19. Aside from its stringent microbe and contaminant-eradicating process, the Aqua SmartGuard’s carbon filters are able to keep essential minerals that maintain the water’s potability and health benefits.
Medical experts also advise office managers to regularly clean all touch-magnet surfaces, such as door handles, desks, workstations and others. Eliminating risks posed on water purifiers as a high-touch surface, the Aqua SmartGuard has a special protective layer, the BioCote antimicrobial surface protection, that uses silver ion technology to keep microbial cells from growing on the cube’s external surfaces. It significantly decreases the presence of microbes on the machine and reduces up to 99.5 percent of bacteria.
It may surprise many that the Aqua SmartGuard, in spite of its many industry-leading features, comes in a compact size, benefitting companies with smaller office spaces. The cherry on top is its sleek visual appeal and contemporary design.
“We at Waterlogic believe that water is a natural resource that must be enjoyed by everyone without any worries of contracting diseases. As we remain bullish on the economic recuperation of the country, we hope to be part of every company’s adaptation to the new normal of office safety,” adds Goffe-Gomez.
The Aqua SmartGuard by Waterlogic is the recipient of multiple certifications and accreditations worldwide, including those from international health organizations such as the Water Quality Association (WQA) and the Water Regulatory Advisory Scheme (WRAS). It has also successfully met the ISO 9001 and Energy Star standards, cementing its claim of top-notch hydro-purification.
Aqua SmartGuard offers Total Care Service for unit installation, regular replacement of filters and UVC lamps, and maintenance, all included in the accessible monthly price of P1,490. Visit smartguard.ph for details.