In the Spotlight

Globalworth, the leading office investor in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the leader of the Romanian office market, obtained BREEAM Outstanding accreditation for Globalworth Square, with 99% scoring, placing the building on the 3rd place worldwide.

• BREEAM Outstanding is considered the most rigorous framework for advancing and certifying sustainable development practices in the world.
• Globalworth Square received excellent recognition for Health and Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Land Use and Ecology, Pollution and Management.
• Globalworth Square is the most technologically advanced office building in the Globalworth portfolio.
• The certifying process has been implemented together with BuildGreen, one of the most active consultants in the field of sustainable development, with an expertise that covers over 17 European countries.

“It is an honour to announce that Globalworth Square obtained BREEAM Outstanding accreditation reaching the score of 99% – not just the highest score achieved by an office building in Romania, but the 3^rd highest in the world. I would like to thank the entire team involved in the development and the certification process, who pushed the potential of the project beyond our initial expectations, placing Globalworth Square as a reference building in sustainable development”, stated Dimitris Pergamalis, MRICS, Group Head of Workplaces at Globalworth.

Globalworth Square is a very ambitious project, designed as a business hub focused on sustainability, innovation, and efficiency. Located in the northern part of Bucharest, Globalworth Square is a class A office building totalling 29,000 sqm leasable area distributed over 3 underground levels, Ground Floor and 15 upper floors plus 1 tech level, with a generous typical floorplan of 2,130 sq.m. With this project, located in the middle of the Globalworth District, the largest business community in Bucharest, the landlord is creating a new standard when it comes to responsiveness, well-being, sustainability, and reduced costs of occupancy. The building is using a geothermal system under the slab foundation, capable of considerably reducing the cooling and heating costs of the entire edifice. Since technology plays a central role in the office of the future, a trend accelerated by the pandemic, Globalworth is bringing the future closer with a series of unique innovations. It is one of the few-producing buildings in Romania, an important part of the energy consumption being provided by the photovoltaic roof.

“Placing Romania on the 3^rd position in the top greenest office buildings in the world is a truly great achievement for our client, our amazing team, but also for the entire real estate industry”, added Razvan Nica, BuildGreen founder and Managing Director.

To increase safety, direct contact with the surfaces in Globalworth Square is limited by implementing touchless solutions with IR-sensors in all the sanity facilities, while the access to the building and office spaces are available through Blue-tooth and NFC technologies. In addition, maximum air quality is achieved as the air handling units are equipped with both in-built humidification and innovative air disinfection ensuring germ-free fresh air introduction at the optimum humidity.

Another innovation is the building’s cooling system, consisting of a heat pump, R1234ze ecological freon chillers and boot storage, designed to generate low energy consumption. The implementation of the ice storage system is unique for a class A office building in Romania.     

New infrastructure projects worth more than € 1.5 billion are expected to be delivered in the regional cities of Romania this year, while in Bucharest construction works for the new bypass will continue as part of a € 1 billion investment. At the same time, the first new airport in the last decades will start operating in Brasov from 2022, following an investment of approximately 70 million euros, while airports in other cities are included in major modernization programs, highlights a BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB (BREC) analysis, in partnership with Concelex. 

The main direct beneficiary of these investments are the industrial and logistics real estate segments. In Romania, there are already operating over 5.4 million sqm of modern logistics spaces, mainly in Bucharest and in the regional cities in the South, Center and Western parts of Romania and this year over 700,000 sqm of new deliveries are expected. The Eastern part of the country is beginning to recover in this segment, given the highways and express roads that will be delivered in the coming years in the region.

Bucharest: The new A0 bypass, one of the most expecter new investments

A0, the new bypass of Bucharest, is currently under development. The road will be connected to the main A1 and A3 highways and the National Road DN 1. The construction will be completed gradually, with the first deadlines set for 2023. The development will continue until 2026. The total investment amounts to almost EUR 1 billion.

Cluj-Napoca: Two new highway sections 

Near Cluj-Napoca, a 30 km section of the Brasov-Oradea highway is under construction and it will be delivered in 2023. The project value is estimated at over EUR 282 million. In Alba County, South of Cluj-Napoca, another section of the Sebes-Turda highway, with a 24.2 km length, was inaugurated at the end of last year, following a EUR 111 million investment.

Timisoara: A new 26 km detour 

The bypass road in the Southern part of Timisoara is under construction and will be opened in 2022, according to estimates by the National Company for Road Infrastructure Management (CNAIR). The almost 26 km section is being developed following an investment of approximately EUR 55 million.

Moldova area, a new development stage. A7 – Moldovan Highway, the largest project in the Eastern part of the country

A strategic investment in the infrastructure of Iasi County will be the new Targu Neamt-Iasi-Ungheni highway, which is in the design phase. The first sections are scheduled for inauguration starting with 2025, according to CNAIR. Additional express roads are being planned in the region and construction should begin in the coming years. The A7 project will be the largest transport infrastructure project developed in the area of ​​Moldova to date. The highway will connect Buzau with Siret and will cross the cities of Focsani, Bacau, Pascani and Suceava.

A separate highway segment will connect Ploiesti and Buzau. Ploiesti – Buzau is the first section of the A7 Ploiesti – Pascani announced for the start of construction after the 16 km section of the Bacau Beltway was recently inaugurated.

Also, in Botosani, a new ring road is being authorized for investment. The project will be developed following an investment of approximately EUR 34.6 million; the bypass will be 10 km long and will be the largest infrastructure project developed in Botosani in over 3 decades. In Bacau, in mid-November 2021, the 30.8 km long detour was officially delivered. The project includes 7 bridges, 9 passages and a road junction and was developed following an investment of approximately EUR 135 million, financed from European sources.

Constanta: Strategic stake on the sea–side  

The infrastructure of the seaside city has a strategic stake, with a large portfolio of investment projects undergoing both in the city of Constanta and in the port area, in the following years. Among the major projects that could attract new investments are the construction of the new sports complex Farul Constanta (a stadium with 18,000 seats and an investment value of EUR 85 million), projects to improve urban mobility both inside the city (Smart City projects) as well as between the city and the seaside resorts, as well as an extensive urban regeneration project of the Downtown area.

New regions under development:  

• Braila – Tulcea Bridge, the 3rd longest suspended bridge in Europe and the longest in Romania.

Over 55% of the total works at the Braila Bridge have been completed. The bridge will be 1.97 km long and will be the third longest suspension bridge in Europe. The entire project will be completed, according to estimates, at the end of this year.

• Craiova: Accelerated development in the South. The Craiova-Pitesti express road is another key project, which will contribute to the development of the Southern part of Romania. The first sections covering 57.5 km are planned for delivery in 2022, based on an investment of approximately EUR 363 million. Another section with a total length of 63.5 km will be completed in 2024, following an investment of EUR 262.6 million.

• Reduced Bucharest – Giurgiu distance. The 3.2 km long Mihailesti bypass was opened to traffic at the end of 2021. After the completion of the Bucharest ring road, the city of Giurgiu and the Southern border of the country will be at a significantly reduced distance.

• Bistrita, a new possible connection between Baia Mare and Suceava. Discussions are underway for the inclusion of the Bistrita bypass road in the structure of the new highway that will connect Baia Mare with Suceava. This project could generate new investment opportunities for the city and the surrounding areas. 

• Satu Mare, a new detour. In 2021, the Satu Mare bypass was opened to traffic. The project has a total length of 19.5 km, and approximately 12 km are designed to allow high speed traffic.

New investments in airport infrastructure in Brasov, Bucharest – Baneasa, Iasi and Timisoara  

The first new airport built in the last decades will become operational in Ghimbav, 12 km from Brasov, following an investment of approximately EUR 70 million. Authorities plan to raise around € 300 million in EU funding to build a rail link between the airport and Brasov, which could boost freight operations in the region. In this year`s Spring, the modernized Bucharest Baneasa Airport should reach its maximum capacity. The airport has recently benefited from major renovations worth approximately EUR 13.4 million.

The authorities also announced plans to modernize Iasi Airport. The total investment budget of approximately EUR 90 million will be used to add new passenger terminals and to develop a new car park. Construction is expected to be completed by 2023, according to available information. In Timisoara, a new terminal for international departures will be developed by the end of 2023 following an investment of 200 million lei (40.4 million euros). The new airport terminal will cover 4,383 sqm and will support an increase in annual passenger capacity to 3 million.

COS, the leader of the office fit-out * market, is expanding its main representative office in Bucharest and is renting a 3.000 sqm space in the new MIRO building in the North of Bucharest – Baneasa area. The company’s 90 employees in Bucharest will relocate to the new space next summer.

The new space is 3 times bigger than the current COS representative office in Bucharest and this is part of the company’s expansion strategy, both in terms of geographical coverage and in terms of market segments addressed.

“Sarmis investment fund recently joined the COS business as majority shareholder and this is a step forward in the recently announced joint development strategy. We are confident in the extraordinary growth prospects we continue to have, both geographically and in terms of new market segments that we will focus on developing in the future,” said Christophe Weller, COS founder. 

Approximately half of the new leased space will be the work area for the company’s employees and an extensive showroom space for the design objects and furniture provided by COS. The other half will represent a concept of contemporary multifunctional spaces, which can be rented by companies for private events, work sessions, workshops, etc.

From the same developer, Speedwell, COS also rented a space in the Record Park building for the Cluj – Napoca representative office. COS also has representatives in the cities of Timisoara and Iasi. COS estimates a turnover of 30 million euros by the end of 2021 and further aims to expand both in the segment of complete interior design for office space and in the medical segment (interior for clinics and hospitals), educational (especially schools private) and hospitality (hotels and restaurants – design).

Active on the local market since 1998, COS [with the initial name Corporate Office Solutions] is one of the first integrators of interior design solutions established in Romania. On the office fit-out segment, it is the market leader, with a portfolio of over 2.000 large companies for which it signs the headquarters and official representatives office space design. Among the most representative projects signed by COS: Microsoft, KPMG, Accenture, NTT, Porsche Engineering Cluj, Google, Nestle, Reckitt Benckiser, Secom, Takeaway Bucharest, MHP Cluj, Sector Labs Cluj, MHP and Mass Mutual at Record Park Cluj, Cognizant at Hexagon Bus Park Cluj.

COS has exclusive partnerships in Romania with Steelcase and Interface suppliers, international leaders in the furniture, respectively flooring solutions segments, but also with local factories, suppliers and manufacturers of customized furniture, flooring or design solutions.

* fit-out = term describing the activity of providing integrated consulting solutions, concept, design, supply and / or production of furniture and complete design and decoration of interior spaces.

(26.11.2021)

Alukonigstahl Romania, the local subsidiary of the European leader on the aluminum, PVC and steel systems market, signed in the first 9 months of 2021 a business volume worth 17 million euros, representing contracts for architectural systems for curtain walls, doors and windows, for real estate projects developed in Bucharest and the major cities in the country.

Thus, the company signed this year the delivery of 19,000 sqm of aluminum joinery, of which 3,900 sqm sliding doors in various construction variants. The main trend of this year is the increase of the demand for products with high energy coefficients, the energy-efficient windows representing 25% of the total contracted systems.

“There is a clear preference among the developers of residential projects for the use of windows and doors systems with high energy efficiency. It is not just about the new European standard NZEB – Nearly Zero Energy Building or the specific requirements for obtaining the green LEED or BREEAM certifications, but about the differentiating elements that premium project developers are trying to bring on the market for final buyers of apartments (a higher comfort and considerable savings on the heating bill),” says Attila Beer, Country Manager, Alukonigstahl Romania and Moldova. The company contracted sustainable architectural systems for a total of 120 projects so far this year.

Among the residential projects for which Alukonigstahl delivered aluminum and PVC joinery systems this year are compounds such as Nusco City (NUSCO Imobiliara), Cortina North (Eden Capital Development), Avalon Baneasa Residence Park (Prime Kapital), Isho Living 2 Timisoara (Mulberry Development), Buena Vista Residencial (Latres Investii), Triama Residence (Speedwell).

“On the retail segment, although large investments lacked from the market this year, in the first 9 months we delivered or are in course of delivering aluminum joinery systems for 18 Kaufland stores, a Lidl logistics center and 40 other Lidl stores, distributed throughout the country,” the representative of Alukonigstahl adds.

The share of office building projects compared to the residential segment changed this year, according to market dynamics. Thus, 60% of the demand was registered on the residential segment, 16% – retail projects, 8% – office projects, the remaining 16% being registered on the segment of hotels, industrial and logistics projects, sports stadiums or clinics and hospitals.

The most important projects contracted by Alukonigstahl in recent months were One Peninsula residential compound (One United Properties), Cortina North (Eden Capital Development), Equilibrium Office Building (phase 2, developed by Skanska), Swissotel in Bucharest (Niro Investment Group), Unique Residence Iasi (M2M Solution).

The main market challenges this year:

The main challenges this year remain those related to the increase of raw material prices, which increased uncontrollably on the international markets, which led to a lack of predictability in the real estate development process, as well as an inevitable increase in purchase prices for the final beneficiaries.  

Another problem is the generalization of the shortage of raw materials, which is reflected in the segment of aluminum profiles, but also in the production of insulators and gaskets, but also of PVC profiles, which leads to an unpredictable increase in delivery times, company officials highlight.

Alukonigstahl is the exclusive supplier in Romania for Schuco (world leader in aluminum and PVC systems) and Jansen (supplier of steel profile systems).

Alukonigstahl is a company active in Central and Eastern Europe and is a property of the fourth generation of Konig family. The continuous investments in innovation have propelled Alukonigstahl as market leader in Europe. 

For more than 60 years, the company formed an alliance with two international premium systems suppliers: Schuco, world leader in aluminium systems and PVC experts and Jansen, steel profiles specialist.

28.10.2021

Sacha Dragic, the founder of Superbet Group and real estate investor Ionut Dumitrescu, the founder of Element Industrial, announce a partnership for the development of ELI Parks logistics network. Anca Damour, a professional with 19 years of experience in the real estate & retail areas, teams up with the new JV. The association is subject to the authorization of the Competition Council.

In the first phase, the project aims to develop 500.000 sqm of industrial space in key areas for the development of the domestic economy, in 4 years. In the second phase, the strategy involves accelerated national expansion and interconnection – including through land acquisitions – with logistic parks in Central & Eastern Europe. The project will be developed by the new entity created from the partnership between ELI and D Craig Real Estate, the real estate division of the investment fund D Craig Holding, controlled by Sacha Dragic. The new entity starts with a capital injection of 90 M €, divided equally between Ionut Dumitrescu and Sacha Dragic. D Craig Real Estate will be led by Anca Damour as CEO.

With the ambitious portfolio it targets, the new joint venture with full Romanian capital will increase the competition on the domestic logistics market, dominated today by multinational players.

Ionut Dumitrescu is the founder of Element Group, with diverse investments in logistics, retail and office. Part of Element Group, Element Industrial is one of the most active local developers on the logistics market. The pandemic created new opportunities in the logistics market, in the context of digitalization acceleration and the growth of the e-commerce market. Through the diversity of products in the portfolio of Element Industrial, the developer aims to be a flexible partner for logistics space tenants in Romania. Besides the investments from the Buftea-Chitila hub, Element Industrial is working on several projects located in cities such as Braila, Ploiesti or Pitesti. All projects under the “ELI Parks” brand are developed to international class A standards, with the main objective of fully covering the needs of potential tenants, regardless of the field in which they operate. In this context, the concepts used in the development of parks allow flexibility in accommodating a wide range of needs, both technical and operational.

Sacha Dragic has become in recent years one of the most important entrepreneurs in Romania, the Superbet group already exceeding the value of 2.5 BN €. In 2019, it gained the trust of Blackstone, one of the largest private equity funds in the world, which became a minority shareholder in Superbet, and this year marked the largest transaction made by a Romanian company abroad – the acquisition of the third player in the Belgian betting & gaming market. Dragic currently has a diversified portfolio of investments – in financial services (minority packages in the Mozaik Investments fund and in Certinvest), but also in companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, such as Holde Agri. Dragic also controls D Moonshots, a direct and indirect venture capital fund (Venture Capital).

Anca Damour teams up with the new JV and becomes CEO of the D Craig Real Estate. After 19 years at Carrefour, during which time she coordinated the successful expansion of the French group in Romania, she supervised M&As such as Carrefour-Billa or got involved in launching new service business models (Bringo), Anca Damour becomes a partner and the new executive director of D Craig Real Estate.

21.10.2021

Globalworth, the leader of the Romanian office market, announces a new refurbishment investment in the lobby of its class “A” Tower Center International (TCI) office building in Bucharest. Current tenants include Mindspace, Tradeshift, Cegeka, E&Y, Hidroelectrica, Deutsche Bank and Anima.

VIDEO: SEE THE NEW TCI OFFICE BUILDING LOBBY AREA:  

Following the strategic positioning pillar, Globalworth – PLACE TO GROW -, the design changes bring a new work experience for the largest business community in Romania.

Under the guidance of the Globalworth team & architect Alin Dobrescu, between June and September 2021, there took place works for the reception’s transformation, interior restoration, facilities’ modernization, renovation, and repairs, equipping the space with furniture and interior & exterior decorations. Thus, the 300 square meters indoor areas and 150 square meters outdoor have undergone a metamorphosis, resulting in an innovative space, inspired by the hospitality industry.

“We are glad that we have completed the TCI refurbishment process for which the majority of the works were carried out after working hours not to disturb our business community. The project was challenging for our team, due to the transformation of an office lobby into a more relaxing “hospitality-like” space. So, what our new TCI lobby wants to offer is a leisure type break during office hours”, said Raluca Ghica, Head of Globalworth Workplaces Romania.

The TCI lobby has a green living wall with moss and green areas with natural plants, a screen with 6 state-of-the-art LEDs and latest generation technological and aesthetic turnstiles, which also allow access for people with mobility disabilities. Electronic automation for the revolving door at the main entrance has also been added. The warm atmosphere was enhanced by the comfortable furniture in organic shapes and the spectacular lighting powered by “local luminaries”, as well as suspended fixtures and floor lamps in the waiting areas. One of the main additions following the refurbishment was the opening of a coffee shop.

Tower Center International is a landmark Class “A” multi-tenanted office building located in the central business district of Bucharest – Victoriei Square area, very close to Kiseleff and Herastrau Parks. It benefits from underground parking and excellent public transport with easy access to any point in the city. The office building is certified BREEAM Very Good.

Read more about Globalworth

• Large employers have turned the work from home period into an opportunity to invest in design solutions for their office spaces, in order to attract employees and prepare for the new work formats. The most active sectors: IT&C, professional services, financial services, companies with online activities (eg. food delivery, betting).

• Hospitals and clinics, private schools and the hospitality sector are investing more and more in design solutions adapted to the new health, safety and wellbeing trends.

• Along with the regional offices in Cluj and Timisoara, COS inaugurates a new office in Iasi.

COS, the office fit-out* market leader, reports almost EUR 23 million business volume in the 4th quarter of 2021, representing advisory, concept and complete interior design solutions contracts, up by 12% as compared to the same period of 2020. At the same time, the company continues its regional expansion, by inaugurating a new representative office in Iasi, considering the recent years` accelerated development the Eastern part of the country.

75% of COS business in 2021 comes from the office segment, the main field of activity for COS [Corporate Office Solutions], the demand coming mainly from large companies operating in industries such as software / IT & C, financial services and consulting and companies with online activities. However, there is a growing demand from other new segments of the market, which are beginning to invest aggressively in their interior spaces, given the new occupiers` requirements on health and safety.

„The medical sector (public and private hospitals and clinics), the educational sector (especially the private schools) or the hospitality sector (hotels but also restaurants) have started to invest more and more in design and their interior spaces, both as a result of the new health and wellbeing concerns, as well as from the point of view of increasing competition. The interior design and comfort have become strongly differentiating elements for the end customer, given the increasing competition between the players active in these segments,” says Christophe Weller, founder of COS.

Along with the official representative office in Bucharest and the two regional offices in Timisoara and Cluj, COS recently inaugurated a new representative office in Iasi, in United Business Center 3.

“All the transformations that the business environment in general is going through and the way Romania is developing across regional cities are opportunities for COS. Romanians are more and more concerned with design, with improving the spaces interior comfort and we see an increasing concern for quality. The price is no longer the main differentiator in the market and factors such as the efficiency and safety are gaining more and more ground,” COS official adds.

COS has almost 100 employees throughout the country and runs a continuous recruitment campaign, given that the interior design sector is also facing an acute shortage of specialists and skilled labor.

In 2020 and 2021, COS signed projects totaling over 160.000 sqm for large multinational companies (fit-out for office spaces), clinics and hospitals, private schools, companies in the hospitality sector (hotels and restaurants).

Active on the local market since 1998, COS [with the initial name Corporate Office Solutions] is one of the first integrators of interior design solutions established in Romania. On the office fit-out segment, it is the market leader, with a portfolio of over 2.000 large companies for which it signs the headquarters and official representatives office space design. Among the most representative projects signed by COS: Microsoft, KPMG, Accenture, NTT, Porsche Engineering Cluj, Google, Nestle, Reckitt Benckiser, Secom, Takeaway Bucharest, MHP Cluj, Sector Labs Cluj, MHP and Mass Mutual at Record Park Cluj, Cognizant at Hexagon Bus Park Cluj.

COS has exclusive partnerships in Romania with Steelcase and Interface suppliers, international leaders in the furniture, respectively flooring solutions segments, but also with local factories, suppliers and manufacturers of customized furniture, flooring or design solutions.

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* fit-out = term describing the activity of providing integrated consulting solutions, concept, design, supply and / or production of furniture and complete design and decoration of interior spaces.

(18.10.2021)

Real estate developer Element Industrial announces a new project in its portfolio, ELI Park Braila, a total investment of over 25 million EUR. The logistic scheme is localized on an 11-hectares plot in Braila Free Zone. Element Industrial plans here the development of a 50.000 sqm GLA logistic park in 3 phases.

“We have recently received the building permit for the first phase of 10.000 sqm, an excellent option for distribution, production or logistics, with direct access to E584”, said Andrei Jerca, Managing Director, Element Industrial, also adding: “Braila has all the advantages a business needs: positioning in the road-naval junction, labor force, the opening given by the bridge over the Danube and, last but not least, local authorities that make every effort to attract investors in the area.”

ELI Park Braila Logistic Park is to be built according to class A standards and for the future phases the developer also targets “built to suit” constructions.

Element Industrial is one of the most active Romanian developers on the logistics market. The developer is working on a series of projects under the ELI Parks brand, logistics parks with areas between 50-60.000 sqm in Bucharest, Bacau, Braila or Ploiesti, as well as warehouses with smaller areas, grouped under the name ELI Xpress in cities such as Bucharest, or Pitesti. The developer also offers an integrated package of built to suit services for production and storage facilities, starting from the identification of the lands suitable for such developments, authorization, design and delivery according to the specific requirements for each project.

Managers have a significant impact on the successful come – back to the workplace of the employees, their actions and behavior being able to influence the employees` capacity of returning to work, points out an ONV LAW analysis over a series of recommendations of the European Union (EU) made via the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work

One of the highlighted aspects in the EU recommendations is the distinction between the « acute Covid-19 » stage, in which the most severe disease symptoms manifest and which can take 2 up to 4 weeks and the « long evolution Covid-19 » stage or « permanent symptomatic Covid-19», with symptoms lasting 4-12 weeks and the « post-Covid-19 syndrome», with symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. 

“The European Union shows that the long-lasting symptoms are usually ignored, although they have a significant impact on the employees` work capacity, thus most of the ones who report persistent symptoms will need workplace adaptations and a slow come back,” states Lorena Ciobanu, ONV LAW Partner.

The 5 main EU recommendations for managers:

•   Keep permanent contact with the employees in their work absence period
•   Prepare for the employee`s return to the workplace
•   Have a conversation with the employee about coming back to the office
•   Offer support in the first days after return
•   Offer permanent support and organize regular meetings with the employee

The ONV LAW analysis also shows that it may be necessary to apply temporary policies regarding Covid-19, especially regarding absence due to disease and necessity to support versus sanction those who need a prolonged absence period or adjusted tasks. The absence or the diminishing of work capacity for a considerable number of employees can cause pressure on continuing activities or on the employees who remained at work.

EU recommends supplementary work volume at the lowest possible level for employees affected by Covid-19

The EU recommendations also include maintaining the extra work volume at the lowest possible level, as well as limiting supplementary work as much as possible. Direct managers have an important role in monitoring the situation and avoiding employees` overload, thus it is recommended to respect the rules and agreements regarding the work schedule and rest periods; also employers are recommended to allow employees to relax when they are not at work.

Regardless of the vaccination or the return to office rate of the recovered employees, the EU recommends maintaining sanitary measures, including physical distancing, hygiene, using protection masks to prevent virus spread. These measures remain important, even if the vaccination rate increases.

There are numerous actions that can help the returning employees to manage their health and work, thus the telemedicine professionals remark that the best results are registered when the manager and employees collaborate in this regard.

“In conclusion, we can notice that due to the duration and the impact of the post-Covid-19, people may need a slow come back to work, also known as <progressive> return. It is less probable that a standard, instant come back to be adequate for those affected by long evolution Covid-19. Progressive returns can be adapted in time and may last weeks or even months. For employees with fatigue symptoms, remote work and diminishing the work rhythm, meaning working with rest pauses depending on symptoms are important according to the EU recommendations,” concludes the ONV LAW specialist.

A study by Ipsos Romania quoted by ONV LAW shows that almost half (48%) of the employees who worked from home wish very much to come back to their workplace.