COVID Safety Policy and Procedures

What changes have been made to the space?

• All desks have been arranged to allow a minimum of 6 ft of distance between each person. Dedicated desks are now arranged in pods of 2 with a privacy screen separating them. For our first phase of opening, we will seat a max of one person per pod or table. Privacy screens have also been added to all of the large wooden tables.
• Sanitizing stations are located in the following areas:
  • Entrance
  • Kitchen
  • Printing area
  • Meeting rooms 
• Phone booths are closed for use until further notice.
• Chairs have been removed from meeting rooms to limit all meetings to a maximum of 10 people (Moby), 8 people (Draper), and 4 people (Shuttle).
• Chairs have also been removed from the kitchen counter.
• We have installed a touchless soap dispenser and trash can in the kitchen.
• Signage through the space will reinforce the following guidelines.

 

Staff protocol:

• Staff will sanitize high touch areas 3x per day: at 9am; 12:30pm; and 4:30pm. These include:
  • Doorknobs on the Maxfield street entrance, main space entrance, and all conference rooms. 
  • Kitchen - refrigerator handles, counter, faucet, coffee station, creamer, microwave
  • Printer keypad
• A weekly professional cleaning service will clean and sanitize all surfaces on weekends
• Staff will sanitize meeting rooms and associated meeting items (markers, remote controls, etc.) between each use
• Staff will maintain a daily cleaning log as well as a daily attendance log
• Staff will enforce an occupancy limit of 12 people/day

 

Member behavior protocol:

Before coming to GW:

• Do not come to Groundwork if you are experiencing any of the known COVID symptoms. We may send you home if you are demonstrating symptoms of any kind.
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell
• We ask that you refrain from visiting Groundwork for 14 days after any travel outside of New England.
• If you become a positive or probable COVID case and you have been at Groundwork recently, report to Sarah immediately. Your privacy will be respected.

While at GW:

• Wash your hands upon arrival to GW.
• Maintain 6 feet of distance from other members at all times when moving about the space. 
• Wear a mask when moving about the space. You may remove your mask at your desk and in meeting rooms.
• You are responsible for sanitizing your work area before and after use. Cleaning products will be available at all flex seating areas.
• We will implement a coaster system in shared work areas: a green coaster marks a clean space and red indicates that it needs cleaning.

 

Kitchen Use:

• Limit kitchen use to one person at a time. 
• Sanitize hands before entering the kitchen.
• Wash your hands before you leave the kitchen.
• It is recommended to bring your own coffee mugs and reusable utensils; however, mugs and utensils will be available.
• We will run the dishwasher on the sanitize setting with bleach every night.
• For the time being, please refrain from eating in the kitchen. Take your food back to your work area.

 

Meeting rooms & guest policy:

• Guests are not allowed to work in the main space until further notice.
• If you have guests for a meeting, you must report all guest names and contact information to Sarah.
• Please meet your guests at the door and escort them to a meeting room. 
• Meeting room capacity is limited as follows:
  • Moby: 10
  • Draper: 8
  • Shuttle: 4
• Office RND has been programmed to require a 20-minute buffer between meetings. During this time, staff will sanitize the space. Please be conscious of running over your scheduled meeting time to allow for cleaning.
• See the front desk for whiteboard markers and remote controls. We will hold them and sanitize them between use.
• Please do not bring food into the meeting rooms until further notice.

 

Bathrooms and common areas:

• Keypads have been installed on bathroom doors.
• Building staff will sanitize bathrooms 2x daily.

 

COVID RESPONSE PLAN:

• If you test positive or are determined to be a “probable positive” for COVID, notify us immediately. Your identity will not be revealed.
• We will notify any members who were in the space at the same time as the positive member. 
• We will also notify DPH of the positive case and the names of all contacts. DPH will provide them with further guidelines and information. 
• The physical space will be closed for a deep clean.

 

MISCELLANEOUS: 

• As our staff will follow strict guidelines, it is possible we may need to close should our staff experience symptoms.
• After-hours and weekend access will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Please speak with us to request access.

 

These guidelines were created in accordance with: Massachusetts Sector-Specific Safety Standards to Address COVID-19 for Office Spaces