Newsmail #23, 2022-03-31

Dear all,

We finished the safety inspection of our MMK and ITRL buildings yesterday. The safety inspector noted that some of our chairs has been damaged during the moving process in December, the legs of the chairs are in some cases bent and wheels have fallen off. Since safety is our primary concern at MMK, we unfortunately will have to refrain from using the chairs until they can be replaced, a process which might take a few weeks or even months.

I’m sorry for the disturbance, but the only thing I can say is that we unfortunately will have to do our various work assignments in a standing position until further notice. The service center staff will start removing all chairs from our buildings today, so that no one gets harmed. I trust that all desks can be used while standing up. If not, please contact service center to ask if your desk can be replaced with a more flexible solution.

I believe this might be an opportunity for more positive change as well, with the chairs removed from all meeting rooms, perhaps our meetings will be even more efficient from now on, same with our lunch and coffee breaks.

Please also note that his new rule does not distinguish between remote work or work on campus. Service center will not come to your homes to remove your personal chairs, but due to a KTH rule the regulation applies in your home environment as well, during office hours, so even if your home chair is fine KTH cannot allow sitting during office hours, regardless of your whereabouts. If you travel by bus or subway to campus, sitting down is allowed on the bus or subway before 08.00 and after 17.00 but not between 08.00 and 17.00, so I advice early start and that you utilize a full day at KTH.

I also wish you a nice weekend, and a fine start of the first day of the month (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools'_Day)

Martin