Editor’s note: This story is part of WRAL TechWire’s ongoing “new normal” series.

RALEIGH – To drill down into the changes unfolding at the region’s coworking spaces and startup hubs, take a look at what’s happening at the Loading Dock.

Clark Neal Rinehart provides the following update about its new policies:

  • Social Distancing 

Ensure that everyone maintains the appropriate social distance. We are fortunate to have a lot of outdoor spaces at our locations and desks that are on casters, so members have been utilizing those more and more. We have started creating one direction flow, as best as possible, throughout our spaces to avoid contact in hallways.

  • Murphy’s Natruals Hand Sanitizing Spray

Our parent company, Murphy’s Naturals, has produced hand sanitizer, so we have ample around the space for use, especially in common areas. We are requiring members to wash their hands when entering the spaces as well. We have also given 2 and 4 ounce bottles away to members, for their friends and families, throughout the last few months. Our staff is actively cleaning the space along with a professional cleaning crew coming more often.

  • Mask/Face Covering

We are strongly encouraging our members to wear masks indoors and, especially, in common spaces. All of our staff members are wearing masks while on the job.

  • Flexible Space, Offices and Conference Rooms

We have reduced the number of chairs in our common, coworking spaces by about a 1/3. We have encouraged our office suite members to stagger their teams’ use of the space to ensure that everyone is safe and has the appropriate space to be together. If they need it, they can always use the conference rooms and larger meeting spaces. Conference rooms are set at 1/2 capacity to ensure everyone has the appropriate space to conduct business while remaining safe. Again, we are fortunate to have outdoor spaces and furniture that moves at our locations, so members can flex out on the dock, for instance, if needed.

  • Member Access

We have locked the doors at all times at our locations so that members have access to the space as they need it, but guests/unscheduled tours are not just walking into the spaces without being accompanied by a member who knows the policies and procedures.

  • Guest Check-In

We are requiring members’ guests to check-in at the front desk. We hope to not have to use the list for contact tracing, but it will give us data about who has used the space (outside of normal member use), if necessary.

https://wraltechwire.com/2020/05/18/the-new-normal-a-different-raleigh-cary-entrepreneurial-community-takes-chape-at-coworking-hubs/