As COVID-19 continues to soften in North America, more and more people are returning to the workplace. Some offices and event venues are now recommending a colour coding system to help people signal their degree of comfort with social distancing. Everything from stickers and pins to lanyards and wristbands are being implemented to convey an individual’s boundaries. The system that appears to be gaining the most speed is the red/yellow/green approach. Like the universal hierarchy established with traffic lights – red indicates no physical contact, yellow means cautious elbow touching and green welcomes high-fives, handshaking and even hugs.
As straightforward as this system sounds, it can cause some confusion. As the Wall Street Journal points out, “Carefree greens can overwhelm the reds, who are often hiding in the corner, throwing shade on the group. Ambivalent yellows might act red around some guests and green around others. Then there are the chameleons—people-pleasers who can’t commit to any particular hue and don red, green and yellow wristbands all at once.” Only time will tell if this unconventional form of communication will catch on. So if you find yourself in traffic, be aware of those who are slow to respond to a green, the ones who dawdle through yellows and the speedsters who like to run reds.
