NAVIGATING OFFICE REENTRY: A Best Practices Guide for Landlords.

After more than a year filled with uncertainty and unexpected challenges, the release of the COVID-19 vaccine has made the safe reentry to the office a possibility. Remote work kept the wheels moving, but employers are excited to welcome their workforce back to the office in the coming months. Though the United States has just begun this process, countries in the Asia-Pacific region have already been through this procedure and offer some insight into how to best manage office reentry. In April of this year, CBRE published a document titled "Back to the Office: Global Lessons Learned from Australia's Property Managers" as an overview of best practices meant to assist landlords in navigating the office reentry process. A summary containing the three key findings of this report is included below.

1. Planning for Reentry I Help plan for a safe return by focusing on touchless services, visible cleaning, elevator etiquette and tenant communications.

   Contactless Technology: Contactless technology was regarded as a nice but not essential feature pre-pandemic, but under the new normal, people have a heightened awareness of everything they touch--especially in the workplace.

   Visible Cleaning Processes: The mere sight of disinfection being performed in common areas can play an essential role in instilling trust in the building environment. This entails a shift away from the after-hours and behind the scenes practices of the past.

   Elevator Etiquette: Landlords must balance the need for social distancing with potentially long queues and waiting times. This can be done through practical, low-cost steps such as opening stairwells, regular cleaning and disinfections, and touch-free hand sanitizer. Property managers are also incorporating elevator reservation features so employees can reserve an elevator at the time of their choosing.

   Tenant Communications: Tenant experience platforms and mobile apps can provide building occupants easy access to services and amenities in their space as well as the ability to receive communications about building practices and protocols. They also facilitate the ability to provide real-time workplace status updates.

2. Limited Occupancy: Starting to Return I Ensure a smooth transition back by restoring a sense of community, helping with building access, engaging tenants, and accommodating flexible schedules.

   Tenant Engagement and Expectations; Enticing Tenants Back: Landlords are advised to monitor tenant engagement in...