Social distancing wristbands and lanyards have become a popular way for conference and event attendees to signify their level of comfort with physical greetings like handshakes and elbow bumping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now they are being used by businesses around the world (from New York to Dubai) to help make workers feel more comfortable with returning to the office.
According to The New York Times, “Employers who want workers to come back to their desks are trying to accommodate different degrees of Covid risk tolerance. One approach they’ve landed on is offering people accessories — wristbands or pins — that signal their preferences for social distancing, masking and shaking hands.”
Social distancing accessories – including wristbands, bracelets, lanyards, and pins – are color coded to show how comfortable you are with physical contact while networking or in the workplace. Physical greetings like handshakes or fist bumps are an inherent part of networking, especially at conferences, trade shows, and events. That’s why conference-goers and trade show attendees began to use color-coded event wristbands to communicate their preferences for physical contact and space, in a subtle, non-verbal way, during the COVID-19 pandemic. By just wearing a specific color of band or bracelet on their wrists, employees can indicate to others that they do not wish to be touched – without any of the awkwardness of having to verbally communicate their boundaries.
Social Distancing Wristband Color Meaning
Social distancing wristbands come in a variety of sizes, materials, and colors. Usually made from silicone or neoprene fabric, social distancing bracelets or wristbands typically utilize the same colors as a traffic light: green, yellow, and red.
Green Wristbands
Indicates the wearer is comfortable with physical greetings like handshakes or high-fives.
Yellow Wristbands
Indicates the wearer is comfortable with an elbow bump as a greeting.
Red Wristbands
Indicates that a no-contact greeting is preferred, and more personal space is desired.
Social Distancing Wristband Benefits
In 2022, more people are expected to return to the office full-time and more people will resume attending in-person meetings, conferences, and events. Social distancing wristbands offer employers a simple, inexpensive way to help people feel more comfortable as they head back to the office and resume face-to-face business interactions on a regular basis.
Social distancing bracelets provide clear visual indicators of what level of physical contact and social distancing is preferred in the workplace. This can help your employees feel more comfortable around co-workers and less anxious with navigating greetings and social interactions in the office during the pandemic. Extroverts don’t have to worry about accidently invading the personal space of a risk adverse co-worker. People who wear red wristbands can feel safer when given the opportunity to display their comfort level right on their wrist.
Since one’s social distancing preferences may change at any time, a color-coded wristband system makes it easy for your employees to feel safe and supported at work. A yellow bracelet, for example, can be swapped out for a red one, and vice versa, at any time. Color-coded wristbands and accessories can help your employees feel comfortable with communicating their evolving boundaries in the workplace. In turn, this will make them more productive, while also promoting a culture of wellness at work.
For neurodiverse employees, social distancing wristbands may be especially useful in the long term, as they offer a subtle way to communicate one’s discomfort with any physical contact. That’s why many businesses and conference planners may choose to continue offering color-coded social distancing wristbands long after the COVID-19 pandemic becomes endemic.
The Best Social Distancing Wristbands and Accessories for 2022
Our top picks for color-coded social distancing wristbands and other accessories for conferences, trade shows, events, and workplaces:
1″ Tyvek Wristband
Classic event wristbands available in green, yellow, and red.
Universal Source Silicone Awareness Bracelet ➤
Silicone bracelet available in green, yellow, red and a host of other colors, including patterns.
3/4″ Universal Source Polyester Lanyard
Colored lanyards with your choice of hook including swivel clasp, plastic buckle, and oval hook. Available in green, yellow, and red.
Button-Meez
No more pin holes from traditional buttons. The bulldog clip back lets you attach to a lanyard, shirt, or jacket. The price includes full-color digital printing on the front of the button. With six shapes to choose from and a large decorating area, this is a great color-coded button option.
The Easiest Way to Order and Distribute Social Distancing Accessories & Branded PPE
An online company store makes it easy for department managers and satellite offices to obtain social distancing accessories like colored wristbands, KN95 disposable masks, and all of the branded PPE needed to maintain a safe and healthy workplace in 2022 – including reusable custom face masks and mask extenders, PPE kits, social distancing floor decals, desk shields and sneeze guards, and touch-free hand sanitizer dispensers.
Contact us today for assistance with selecting & distributing the best social distancing wristbands and accessories for your office or event in 2022.