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As more people get vaccinated for COVID-19 and employers wrestle with how to reopen their offices, employees are finding they have mixed feelings about going back, especially older adults

who may have underlying health conditions or other safety concerns. While some workers will welcome the opportunity to reconnect in person with coworkers, others may want to keep working

from home — at least part time — after the pandemic. "As we attempt to restore a sense of normalcy, COVID-19 has greatly impacted our sense of socialization. This will definitely filter

into the workplace as many are returning into the office from the comforts of their home,” says Shanee M. Hunter, founder of HR Philosophy, an Oak Lawn, Illinois, human resources consulting

firm. As employers make decisions about the best ways to return to the office, one thing is certain: It won't be the same as it used to be. Here are 9 ways your office could change

when you go back. 1. ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES Most workplaces will have enhanced COVID-19 safety measures in place to keep the risk of infection as low as possible, Hunter says. That may

include requiring vaccine records, using apps to report symptoms or checking workers’ temperatures. It's likely that many offices will require masks or some other kind of personal

protective equipment. Be sure to ask your employer about their safety protocols, and don't be afraid to seek help if you're having trouble with any new technology being introduced,

Hunter says. Your workplace may also provide extra cleaning and sanitizing products and do deeper cleaning on a regular basis. Employers are also being advised to ensure that their

ventilation is adequate and upgrade systems if necessary. (So it might be a good idea to bring a sweater.) 2. STAGGERED SCHEDULING One of the biggest takeaways of the past year is how many

jobs can be done remotely. And employees are going to want to have that option, Hunter says. As a result, the office is likely to be less crowded than it used to be, with a significant

number of employees working from home on any given day, she says. So-called “hybrid” workplaces will be the norm, both to meet employee preferences and to help companies abide by social

distancing practices. Employees may be assigned days to work in the office, or they may get to choose what two or three days a week they want to come in. Others may remain remote, if that

option is available. 3. MOVABLE OFFICE FURNITURE The open office floor plan saw some backlash before the pandemic, but it's likely not going anywhere soon, says Rachel Zsembery, vice

president of Bergmeyer, a workplace design firm based in Boston and Los Angeles. Employers will be using those open spaces to maintain social distancing by moving cubicles and workstations

farther away from one another, she says. In addition, offices may invest in furniture that can be moved, both to form small collaboration areas and to accommodate employees who have

different comfort levels with being around others. “And in some of those confined spaces, the perceived risk is still really, really high, no matter what the actual risk really is,” Zsembery

says. Employers will need to arrange offices to help all employees feel safer, regardless of their comfort levels.