During the last 12 months, since the pandemic triggered mass lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, the focus of the commercial real estate sector has been on buildings being empty and how or when they can safely welcome occupants back. The truth, however, is that buildings have not been completely empty because, even in a lockdown, buildings need to be maintained. Maintenance staff are viewed in many countries as essential workers, and while neglected in the wider discussions about “returning to work”, these essential workers are the ones that are keeping buildings functional and facilitating that highly anticipated return. “While most people now work in the safety of their homes, essential facility workers don’t have that luxury. Facility managers and maintenance workers have been working tirelessly to maintain buildings and to ensure they’re ready for reopening,” says Tim Curran, CEO of BuildingEngines. “Without the hard work of facilities’ essential workers, a return to some semblance of normal […]