CBRE to start phased return to the office

CBRE is to reopen its offices in the UK from 26 May, with a phased return for its employees.

A number of staff will be offered the opportunity to either continue to work from home or return to the office.

CBRE is expecting around 20% of employees to return to office working in the first phase, with this to be gradually increased.

In London, the City office at St Martin’s Court is preparing to reopen. However, employees at Henrietta House will continue to work from home, as the building undergoes refurbishment.

The agent is introducing new measures, with new floorplans that would see one in every four desks allowed to be used, while face masks will be optional.

This week CBRE also restarted building inspections and viewings on behalf of clients in line with government and RICS compliant procedures.

A spokesman said: “We have established internal guidelines for re-opening any office. These include complying with local government requirements, adapting our space to ensure social distancing; adhering to cleaning and hygiene supply protocols; and posting instructional signage.

“We carefully consider how to bring employees back to the office over time based on factors that include community readiness, work-from-home options, commuting issues and consideration for our employees who may be at-risk.”

CBRE told its employees to work from home on 16 March as the coronavirus outbreak spread across the UK.

Initially, it instructed all UK-based advisory employees at its corporate offices to work from home for a week, which was then extended as the UK went into lockdown.

The move to reopen comes as the government switched instructions to the nation from a “stay at home” instruction to “stay alert” on 11 May. Prime minister Boris Johnson has said more people should be able to return to work under “Covid-19 secure” guidelines with strict social distancing measures.

Two weeks ago, Avison Young said it will offer remote working until the end of the year, with a return to the office also optional for all employees.

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