Is it Time For An Office Makeover?

A lot has changed in the past few years with regards to office lifestyle. Ergonomic studies are always happening, policies are always being implemented, so the workplace is ever changing all the time. It's important to stay up to date on any ideas that could potentially impact your workplace, but how do you know when it's time to redo everything? Well, for starters, asking yourself these questions and then taking the necessary steps to improve your office is a great place to start!

Are You Dealing With Back Pain At Work? 

While this isn't exactly the newest problem on the list, it still remains one of the most common. Back pain and muscle aches at work can take a huge toll on business. Employees in pain have reduced overall health, impaired activity, reduced productivity and efficiency, and often, a sour mood. If you or your employees are still suffering from back pain, perhaps it's time for an office makeover. There have been some truly astounding advances in the field of ergonomic study, and adding affordable ergonomic office chairs for computer users is the perfect way to chase the pain away. Almost all ergonomic office chairs are designed first and foremost to alleviate back pain as it's the most common office ailment. However, a new ergonomic chair may bring a host of bonus benefits like comfortable seating, reduced joint pain, better circulation, and a super affordable solution to many office problems!

Is Your Office Cluttered?

It's never a bad idea to examine behavior on this one before heading off to the furniture store. Cluttered offices can be just as much as result of habit as of not having the right storage space. However, if the latter is your problem, it might be time for an office makeover. Storage space is the key to maintaining an organized office environment. Even adding a few bookcases or small office cabinets for storage can have a huge impact on the efficiency and productivity of an office when everything is in it's place. In addition, making sure everyone takes a minute to wipe down their work area with disinfectant at the end of the day can drastically reduce the spread of germs. Combined, all of these things work together to produce a clean, healthy environment for employees and guests. Probably lemon-scented too!

How Old Is Your Current Desk?

The best part about switching an office desk is that it really only needs to be done every five to seven years. That leaves plenty of time for functional use and loads of time to regain your money's worth if you purchased brand new. However, as cool as a desk from the stone age may be, if you're using one, it may be time for an office makeover. The biggest hindrance to most people's buying office desks is definitely the price, and while desks can get expensive, we're here to tell you it's likely not as pocket gouging as you may think. There are plenty of discount modern computer desks for sale out there at reasonable prices if you're brave enough to look for them. Many computer desks by Flash Furniture and similar brands are some of the most affordable options you'll find anywhere. If you're straining to get work done at a desk that hasn't been upgraded since the '40s, it never hurts to save up in case you see a desk you like.

Is Your Furniture Layout Functional?

This problem may be a bit harder to recognize and solve than the others, but you've come to the right place! You may have the best guest furniture on the planet, but an inefficient layout can deeply hamper effectiveness and efficiency in the office. If this sounds like you, it's definitely time for an office makeover (or at least, some rearranging). In the work area, ergonomic workstations with modular design can have a huge impact on the way an office functions. Modular ergonomic design focuses on keeping everything at arm's reach for the user, so it limits the need to travel around the office for essentials, improving productivity and efficiency drastically. In the guest area, layout has a big impact on the way the business is perceived. Organizing the chairs in groups around a the room's perimeter or around stylish coffee tables for office use is both the most common and the most efficient layout. Just make sure the chairs don't block view of the entryway or the receptionist as it sets a bad impression.

Does Your Office Decor Match Your Style? 

Without a doubt the most fun question on our list for obvious reasons. If your decor doesn't match the theme of your office, it's definitely time for a makeover. It makes sense. It's hard to set an example of adult professionalism when white collar business executives are having to squeeze in colorful pediatric chairs designed for kids. If you want your business to exude polished modern style, bright primary colors and flashy plastic stars hanging from the ceiling probably isn't the way to go. When making over your office, decide the nature of your business and decorate from there. If you're aiming to impress executives, chrome, glass, and dark wood furniture with neutral or gray tones is an excellent decor style. If your main goal is to promote the business as much as possible, going with company colors is a great idea, as long as they don't clash too much. Never be afraid to try a new look, but seek the advice of interior designers and decorating professionals before implementing it, and always aim for a memorable look that shows the individuality of your business!

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Simple and Easy Tips On How to Keep the Office Clean

It's no secret that offices can get dirty fast, especially around this time of year when companies are pressed for sales. With everyone working hard or hardly woking, papers can fly, desks can get dirty, and if nobody takes the time to sanitize, the whole workplace may end up with a cold. No one likes it, so why endure it all if you don't have to? Practicing cleanliness on both an individual and a group basis can help you better prepare for the holiday season so your workplace can get the sales without getting the bugs. It only takes 21 days to start a habit, and there's no better time than now! Here's some great cleanliness tips to help you get started:

Be Clean By Yourself

Proper cleanliness starts at the individual level. If you want to avoid the runny November nose, start by staying clean on your own. Watch where your food falls during meal times and clean it up right away. Constantly sanitize your office desk, especially things that you or others may touch frequently, like computer keyboards. Tidy up your office space as you go. Instead of waiting until the end of the day or the end of the week to sort through papers, sort through them on the spot. Have designated areas for papers you might end up using later, and toss the ones you know you'll never need again. This kind of meticulous organization not only forces a clean lifestyle, it also increases productivity and efficiency at work. However, while all of these tips are helpful, you must maintain the most important one of all to keep from getting sick - wash you hands constantly!

Be Clean With Others

Individual cleanliness is useful, but it doesn't do very much in a public environment unless everyone practices it. That's why keeping clean with others is so important. Group cleanliness will not only give a good impression of your business, but it also increases workplace efficiency and productivity exponentially! Think about it: cleanliness means organization which keeps important things from getting lost, jumbled, or cluttered, and sanitation keeps people from getting sick so they spend more time working. If you want to improve the cleanliness of your office, start by emphasizing group clean ups. Assign everyone a job and a space to clean with a group of co-workers at the end of the day. This technique is already used in schools in many Asian countries in order to teach responsibility and cooperation. When everyone works together, it works like a charm!

Hire a Cleaning Crew

If your workplace is too big and to bustling to effectively emphasize group cleaning, there is a great alternative. With cleaning crews, the only thing your workplace will have to emphasize is organization. The job of a cleaning crew is not to know what papers go where, but to sanitize, and they usually do a spectacular job of it. Both employees and customers will benefit from an organized and sanitized environment because the clean look gives a good impression of your business, while the cleaned surfaces prevent the spread of sickness.

Don't Eat at the Office Desk

Eating at the office desk can cause all sorts of problems where cleanliness is concerned. Repeated use of retractable keyboard trays for office use is dangerous enough without degenerating food particles festering between the keys. When food particles are lying around it can attract pests in the night, including bugs and rats that carry disease and spread germs even further. The good news is that if you and your coworkers clean your desks regularly and refuse to eat at them, the bugs will have no reason to show up. In addition, you also prevent the spread of germs from sharing computer keyboards. Finally, the greatest byproduct of microbial cleanliness is that, with all the intense sanitation, everyone can see your beautiful computer desks with modern design, rather than leaving them hidden under piles of papers!

Efficient Office Layout

You may never realize it, but the layout of your workplace actually has a lot to do with how your workplace functions. Inefficient placement of furniture can hamper workplace productivity and have a negative impact on the way your workplace looks and is perceived by guests. In this case, the best remedy to promote effectiveness and cleanliness is to change things up! When you've got a lot of employees, keeping them trapped in a field of cubicles or jumbled together at islands of office desks just looks cluttered. Instead, improve the efficiency of your workplace by adding stylish workstations for multiple users, so that they can work closely, yet comfortably. Multi user workstations are efficient, easy-to-power, modular, and often ergonomic. In addition, choosing comfortable ergonomic chairs for desk use can improve the way employees feel, leaving them with more energy and increased work ethic. With a more efficient office, it's much easier to keep things clean and functioning properly. Don't risk losing sales or employees to the dreaded cold season. Just keep things clean, and reap all the benefits!

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