Moving Your Business During the Holidays

Why Moving Your Business During The Holidays Makes Sense

The holiday season is a generally slower time of the year for many firms. Moreover, during holidays is when workers get most of the time off during the year. As a result, there are usually fewer people around the office. This means that the equipment, computers, furniture, and other items can get packed with fewer people in the way. Your workers will not be frustrated when dealing with extra noise or items that they need are already packed and on a moving truck.

If you’re planning on moving your business, don’t wait to do it after the holidays. After the holiday season is over, people will start coming back to the office in larger numbers, refreshed from the break, and the chaos of relocating could seriously disrupt their productivity.

Plan Your Office Move Ahead Of Time

As with any relocation, it’s critical to meticulously plan and organize every detail in order for the process to run smoothly and on schedule. This is true even if you’re not moving your business during the holidays. However, planning ahead can make a huge difference during the Christmas season. First, staying organized as the holidays approach can be very challenging, but you shouldn’t give up on your planned timeline. And, second, by planning everything a few months ahead, you won’t have to struggle to find movers at the very last minute. According to Verified Movers, the holiday season can still be a very busy time of the year for most moving companies.

Most Important Steps Of Planning An Office Move

While we did emphasize the importance of planning a move ahead of time, it’s not only about hiring the movers in time. There are plenty of things you should plan when moving your business during holidays. Some of them are:

Create an office relocation strategy

If it’s not possible to move the entire office at the same time, decide what parts should be moved first. For example, some departments are more valuable than others or have more stuff. Take everything into consideration and plan the move in a way that makes the most sense to you and your employees. If a department is still in the office during holidays, consider moving them last to disturb them the least.

Form a moving team and assign duties and responsibilities

While helping an office move most likely isn’t in your employees’ list of duties, they can still help out if you need them to. Make sure you’re explicit about your expectations while also acknowledging that relocation is not part of their regular job responsibilities. Most of the time, your employees would be happy to help out if you just ask.

Make a plan for your new location

If you’re moving your business to a new space, you need to figure out the layout of the future office. Try to visit the new space at least once or twice before the move to get a feel of the place and decide what department will be located where. However, take into account how things worked back in the old office. If everybody is used to HR and payroll being right next to IT, consider placing those two departments near each other again in the new place. This will help people get used to the new space more quickly. Moreover, even before you sign the lease, make sure the new office space fulfills all your needs.

Hire a reputable commercial moving company

Don’t hire the first commercial moving company whose ads you see online. Instead, interview a few companies, get their quotes, and check online reviews to make sure you hired the best movers.

Getting ready for the actual move

This includes everything from packing up to moving day. When packing, make sure all boxes are clearly labeled so they don’t get mixed up at the new office. Moreover, if you have an organization system in place, don’t give it up after the move. And, if you don’t, moving is a great time to start one. With just a few changes, you can organize your new office which, in turn, can improve your productivity.

Discuss The Relocation With Your Employees

It’s not all just about the physical move; you also have to adequately prepare your employees for the upcoming change. That’s why it’s important to lead the entire process by being open and honest with your employees. When you announce the incoming relocation, make sure you answer all of their questions. The most important piece of information to give them is how the relocation will affect their daily routines. Let them give you feedback and make sure they feel heard if they have any concerns.

Throw A Party To Celebrate A Successful Move

Once everything is done, host a special gratitude gathering to show off your new office. This is a fantastic way to express gratitude to your staff and clientele for sticking it out during the relocation. Everybody will be able to check out the new space and have a great time during the office party.

Final Thoughts

Moving your business during the holidays is no walk in the park. As with any move, there will be challenges; you just have to stick through. As long as you do your job as a leader and a boss, coordinate your employees and plan the move ahead of time, everything should go by smoothly. Moreover, don’t forget to let your clients know you will be unavailable during this period. As long as they are aware you’re relocating, it should be an issue for anyone

And if you are looking to move your business, we can help with our free office relocation service. Contact us today to find out more!

Post-Covid Return to Work: Keeping Your Office Clean

Invest in Professional Cleaning Services

One way of keeping your office clean and have a safe post-Covid return to work is to invest in a professional cleaning service. We all know it’s essential to keep our homes clean, but most people forget about their office space being just as important. As highlighted by the team behind Sydney Covid cleaning services, professional cleaners have all the cleaning supplies necessary to keep your office clean, especially for the deadly coronavirus disease. They are also trained in handling dirty services and can do better than even the best office worker.

Professional cleaners will make sure every surface, nook, and cranny is clean, including the desk space that could be teeming with viruses waiting to attack you. Furthermore, if you have any special requests, such as high-level disinfecting or deodorizing for specific areas of your office, a professional cleaner can do that too.

Set a Welcome Station

Another way to ensure your office stays clean is by setting a welcome station for all employees. This will help you create the right environment from day one and train everyone to do their part to keep it that way. A good example would be to set up a booth with PPEs, including facemasks, gloves, and hand sanitizer. This way, employees will know how to stay healthy in the office when they walk in for work and have easy access to the PPEs they need.

Also, there should be guidelines posted around the office so everyone knows what they should and shouldn’t be doing. For example, you could have a sign that says “Please don’t cough on your hands” to remind employees about one of the most common ways germs are spread in an office setting.

Create an Infection Control Plan

A great way to keep your office clean in this COVID-19 era is by creating an infection control plan. Each workplace should have a written document that outlines how it will disinfect and prevent viruses from spreading around (or at least try). This includes things like what you would do if someone near you is coughing or sneezing, how to clean your desk area and phone each day, the proper way to wipe down surfaces before they are touched by others, etc.

When you do this, the employees in your office will feel more comfortable knowing that there is a plan of action to take regarding germs and viruses. If they know the steps, then their confidence level increases, leading to better job performance overall. This is important for those who are already sick and those with compromised immune systems.

Create a Healthy Workplace Culture

Our health is now more vital than ever in workplaces, and everyone must be mindful of this. In addition to creating an infection protection plan, employers should also work on building a healthy workplace culture that encourages employees to stay well and be proactive about their health at all times.

For example, if your office has a break room where people eat lunch together during the day, you might want to consider making it a “no-touch” zone. That way, employees are not tempted to touch the fridge or microwave with their hands and potentially spread germs around. You can also serve packed lunches instead of bringing in meals from restaurants that could spread germs.

Leverage Touchless Technology

Touching everything in our work environment has become a huge problem during the COVID-19 pandemic because it can spread viruses around quickly – even if you are not sick yet. Touchless cleaning products, high-tech appliances, and other devices that do not require hands are a way to keep the germs out.

For example, you can install touchless soap dispensers and hand dryers in your office bathroom that people will be able to use without touching anything with their hands. You can also consider touchless door locks, touchless water faucets, and other products to make the workplace a cleaner environment.

Follow Recommended Guidelines

COVID-19 has been a global pandemic, and as such, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have put together guidelines on how to stay clean during this time. Whether you are an employer or employee – you must follow the set recommendations so we can all remain healthy.

For example, employers should require employees to wash their hands after using the restroom and before eating lunch. They may also want to encourage people not to travel during COVID-19 outbreaks (if they can afford it) or at least avoid public transportation that could be full of germs. If you work in a large office, it’s best for anyone coughing and sneezing to stay home until they feel better.

It’s essential to take as many steps as possible to clean your office environment during this COVID-19 era. From creating an infection control plan and building a healthy workplace culture to leveraging touchless technology that will protect employees from germs, employers no longer have any excuses for not keeping their offices clean and have a safe post-Covid return to work.

And if you are looking for office space, let us help with our network of highly skilled tenant reps. They know the market and can get you the best deals out there. Even better, they can make sure you don’t make any costly mistakes. No obligation to contact us to find find out more.

Choosing the Right Humidifier For Your Office

Do you need a humidifier for your office? Humidifiers are great way to clean the air and are a good option for using in the office to keep your employees healthy. There are many health benefits connected when you install these devices in your office. They balance the level of humidity in a room for more comfortable enviroment. But all the benefits can only be obtained when you consider using the best device. This is why you should consider the following information before buying your next humidifier. Have in mind that these devices have various uses, and you must determine your reasons for buying them. Therefore, continue reading below and find the best humidifier according to your needs.

Look At The Brand

As mentioned above, there are so many brands when it comes to these Humidifiers. Therefore, you must research the best brand before you settle for one. Thousands of companies have been seen manufacturing these devices, and your investigation should start from this point. Look for humidifiers that reputable companies have manufactured. These companies should be offering their products for more than twenty years. These are trusted companies, and their products have been recommended by the people using them. Ask around, and find out about the best companies before buying their products.

The Type Of Humidifiers

Note that there are different types of humidifiers provided today. Each of them has a specific role when maintaining the level of humidity in a house. When determining the best type of humidifier, you should think of your needs. Since you can buy the device for different uses, you should get one that will offer you everything you need. Read about the types of devices found in the market and get the best. There are basically 5 types and you will find. They are: Ultrasonic Warm/Cool Mist, Ultrasonic Cool Mist, Evaporative Cool Mist, Air Washer, and Steam Vaporizer Warm Mist. The number of humidifiers manufactured each day makes it difficult to choose the best. Finding the best Cool Mist Humidifier might not be easy since there are many brands and types in the market. Make sure to take into account the size of the room. The size of the humidifier should be compatible with the volume of the room.

The Cost Of The Humidifier

Since there are different types of Cool Mist Humidifier in the market, the cost will be different. At this time, have a budget in mind and find an affordable device. At this point, you need to compare the price from different shops and online stores. One of the things used in determining the price of these devices is the quality and the size of the same. The shop selling the device can also determine the cost of the device. To make everything easy, consider shopping online since the prices and descriptions of the products have been posted for your understanding.

Choose The Best Shop

As mentioned above, there is an increase in the companies producing these Humidifiers. In the same way, there are also different shops selling these products. So, it is important to look for the best shop when buying a humidifier for your office. Make your work easier by shopping online. There is an online store selling the best humidifier that can offer you all the benefits you need. Read the description of the products to understand how important they are and how well they will serve you. These are the basic information you should think of when buying a humidifier. Go for the best product if you want to enjoy some benefits from using them. Check the best products at sites like everlastingcomfort.net.

And, if you’d like some free assistance, make sure and take advantage of the services of a good tenant representative. We can help with that. Contact us today for a no-obligation discussion on how we can help.

Advice for Business Owners Preparing for Office Renovations

Regardless of whether you plan to renovate a home, office, or retail space, the planning and work involved can be laborious and create some headaches along the way.

While there is plenty of advice out there for renovating homes top to bottom, when it comes to commercial spaces, helpful resources can come at a premium. Fortunately, we’re eager to provide you with some tips to get the ball rolling.

If you’re a business owner, here’s what you should know when undergoing or preparing for office renovations.

1. Set a Budget and Identify Goals

First things first, you need to establish a budget based on what you’re capable of and willing to spend in terms of renovating your office space. Next, jot down all the changes you want to make and prioritize them. It will come in handy when unexpected repairs come into play and you have to cut some costs.

Moreover, pay extra attention to functional details like desk placement, efficient office layout, the number of essential meeting rooms, spaces for a kitchen and bathrooms, as well as balancing individual needs for open space and closed offices. Design elements come second but are nonetheless important for workers’ overall mood and focus.

2. Research Vendors and Distributors

Ensuring quality office renovations work is done on a specified timetable is of the essence for any business. In order to ensure a smooth, timely project, while also staying within budget, you’ll want to work with reliable vendors and distributors. Choose companies with solid references and experience in the field that can guarantee a well-done job from start to finish. Depending on the complexity of your office renovation, you might also need interior designers, architectural designers (if you intend to break down walls), and a trash disposal company to handle debris disposal accordingly.

3. Evaluate the Space and Get a New Design

Besides making sure projects are completed on time, the aforementioned specialists can also help you evaluate the office space, especially if the building is older. This step is extremely important, as there may be hidden flaws that must be addressed before starting your initial renovation plan.

Whether it’s asbestos, mold, faulty electrical systems, old pipes, or even structural damage, it’s often best to expect the unexpected. Once you make sure these crucial aspects are operational and aren’t experiencing any issues, you can adjust your remaining budget according to functional and design priorities.

4. Create a Timeline and Keep Your Employees Updated

Renovations are known to be rather time-consuming and, like all large-scale projects, you need to set a realistic timeline and stick to it. To ensure you get everything done on time and without added unnecessary costs, consult with all the specialists involved and get accurate estimates for each stage of the renovation process.

To minimize the impact the office renovations has on your business and employees, see if there are tasks you can overlap. Notify employees of the changes you want to make and the duration of the project, ask for their input, and check to see if this also affects any of your clients. Keep everyone informed with timeline adjustments and it will all go smoothly.

Seize This Opportunity to Prepare for a Successful Office Renovation

Hopefully, the above advice can help you have a rather effortless and successful experience with any future office renovations plans. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, reach out to specialists and keep in mind that office design directly affects workers’ productivity and morale. That should be motivation enough to push through with your business renovation plan.

If you are looking for a new office, we can help. If you would like assistance of an experience local commercial real estate agent, we have some of the best available to assist you. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request information.

5 Methods To Improve Productivity at the Office

Productivity is a huge factor in workplace success, and it can be difficult to maintain a high level of productivity. Luckily, there are many methods that can help you improve productivity at work. Some of these include setting deadlines for tasks, blocking time to complete those tasks, and creating a workspace that is conducive to being productive. If you’re really having trouble being productive at work, try thinking about what it is that blocks your productivity, and then try to figure out a way around it! This article will explain some great methods that can help you increase your productivity at work.

There Are Technology-Based Methods to Improve Productivity

There are many technology-based methods that can help you increase productivity. For example, apps are available for your phone or computer that have timers on them which you can use throughout the day to track how much time you spend working on tasks. Apps like this are great because they allow you to set goals for yourself. Other types of apps allow you to block social media sites for a set amount of time so that you can focus on completing tasks. You can also find different software solutions for hand-off time allocation and inter-connection between teams. These are just a few examples of how technology can help improve your productivity at work.

Ask Employees What They Need to Improve Productivity

One great way to make a more productive environment at work is asking your employees what they think will help. Some good ways of increasing productivity among your team include creating a working environment that is conducive to productivity (e.g. minimizing distractions) and encouraging team members to communicate with each other about their status on projects. Other ways to improve productivity among your employees include setting a good example by being productive yourself and making sure they have access to the necessary tools for completing tasks. All of these strategies can be implemented at your job, and they all have the potential to increase productivity in a positive way.

Consider Implementing Remote Work

If you can, consider implementing remote work at your company. The ability to telecommute has the potential to decrease stress among workers and increase productivity. Not only this, but it also saves companies money by allowing employees to work from home. There are many systems that will make remote work easier, including board meetings or video chats that include a whiteboard. Other ways to work remotely would be to have a phone conference with a written transcript or even just email documents back and forth. All of these options are available for employees that want to work from home, and they can all improve productivity at your company.

Write Down Daily Tasks and Prioritize Them

One great method for improving productivity at work is to write down any and all daily tasks that you can think of. Not only will this help prevent you from forgetting tasks, but it also allows you to prioritize them into an order of importance. If there are many different things on your to-do list, start with the most important task first and then move on to the easier or more enjoyable tasks later. This will help you stay productive throughout the day, and it will prevent you from wasting time on easy but unnecessary tasks. Additionally, if you have a bad habit of procrastinating on your work, this method is a great way to get around that problem.

Relax More

This may sound crazy, but one of the best ways to increase productivity is to relax more. Taking breaks throughout the day has been shown to improve mental health among workers and make them feel better while performing their work. This means that if you take a break after working hard on a task for an hour, you’ll likely return feeling refreshed and ready to finish it up. Not only this, but taking breaks also prevents mental burnout and allows you to enter your work with a clear mind. To make sure you don’t waste time on social media or watching too much TV while relaxing, you can use the Pomodoro technique. This method involves working on a task for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. Repeat this process throughout the day, and not only will your productivity at work increase, but you’ll also feel great about yourself whenever you get back to work!

If you’re struggling with productivity at work, it may be due to a lack of organization or an inability to focus on the right tasks. Luckily there are many strategies to improve productivity – from setting deadlines and choosing what tasks matter most to taking more breaks throughout the day. We hope this article has helped you,

If you need an office where you can be more productive, we can help. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request information. Services are free to you in most cases.

What To Do If an Employee is Injured at Work

Injuries at work are a common occurrence, and employers have a responsibility to make sure their injured employees get the medical attention they need. It’s important for businesses to follow certain procedures in order to protect themselves from fines or lawsuits that could arise when an employee is injured on the job.

In most cases, if your worker sustains an injury at work and is unable to continue working, you must report any workplace injury or illness within 24 hours of its happening. You can also be fined for failing to report such incidents. As long as the business has followed all necessary precautions when it comes to safety measures and training workers on how best to avoid injuries, then they’re unlikely going face legal action over this issue.

First thing you need to do when an employee is injured

First thing youshould do when an employee is Injured is to call for medical assistance and report the incident within 24 hours. Make sure that they feel comfortable and ensure that they don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed about the injury and if necessary, provide a change of clothes for them to wear home. If you want to contact their family, you can do so with their permission. You could also find out if there is anyone who should be contacted such as a partner or relative who might need to know about the accident (if they are injured badly).

The employee needs to have all necessary medical assessments by a doctor. You will also need to decide what kind of accommodation is needed for the employee. This could be anything from using different equipment or machinery to assigning another person temporarily to do the tasks of the injured employee. Also, it wouldn’t be bad to contact your company’s law firm and make sure you have a lawyer ready just in case anything happens. This way, if anyone tries to accuse you of anything, you and your company will be ready.

Make sure that you are complying with all federal, state, and local laws when it comes to workplace injuries

There are many regulations for this in each state and community. You will need to comply with them when you report the injury and when you’re assessing what to do in order to accommodate your injured employee. There are also laws about medical treatment and time off from work when an injury like this occurs.

You should make sure that you compensate the person who got hurt and if they can’t come back, find someone else who is able. This way, they don’t feel replaced quickly and it’s a transition for them slowly go back into work instead of feeling rushed or pressured.

As long as your company provides what your worker needs in order to get well again or go through whatever accommodation process they need to go through, then you won’t be facing any fines. It’s only if management doesn’t take the injury seriously and respond quickly that other actions can be taken against your company.

Furthermore, your working conditions must be a safe working environment. This means that if an employee is expected to run around a lot, for instance, there must be enough space and time allotted to make sure they don’t injure themselves because of overcrowding or busyness. The company needs to do whatever it takes to make the workplace safe even if it costs more money or requires more effort on their part.

Follow through with necessary paperwork

You must get all the necessary paperwork in order and make sure it gets to the right places.

The person who was injured needs to fill out accident forms. This should include the date, time, and severity of their injuries. You will need to fill out a few other forms in order for your company to be able to get help with paying any medical bills that may have come up because of this event.

Also, if there are any reports or work logs about the particular employee’s injury you’ll need them too so you can backtrack how it happened in case someone tries to sue you later on. These are all necessary steps when dealing with workplace accidents so make sure everything is done correctly by following all instructions given. Doing things at random could result in fines for your company – don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

If you do get sued

The injured person may sue your company depending on how serious their injury was or if they feel something could have been done about it beforehand (there must be proof though). Their family members could also try suing if they die from work-related injuries or get really sick.

If this does happen, it’s important to get a lawyer that specializes in workplace safety and knows what they’re doing when it comes to these kinds of cases. If you don’t do this, you could end up losing your company if there are multiple lawsuits coming your way all at once and the compensation is too high for you and your business to afford. Some court cases can drag on for years and if that happens, you need to be prepared for the costs of your lawyer, court fees, and other lawsuit-related expenses.

Be sure not to let any of this scare you or make you want to stop taking necessary precautions about injuries! Accidents can happen no matter how hard we work so make sure everyone has enough space and time to move around plus whatever else they need to keep themselves safe at work!

It is important that employers are aware of what to do when an employee sustains a workplace injury. The employer has the responsibility to report injuries, provide medical care for their injured worker, and bring in another person to replace them if they can’t come back. This alleviates any possible lawsuits against the company by ensuring that all steps have been taken following proper protocol after an injury occurs at work. If you would like professional help with making sure your business complies with these laws or managing other aspects of it, you can always contact a business law attorney near you. We hope this article was helpful in providing information about what to do when an employee is injured in the workplace.

The best bet is to provide a safe workplace for your employees to help prevent injuries!

If you would like assistance of an experience local tenant representative, licensed real estate agent, we have some of the best available to assist you. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request information. Services are free to you in most cases.

8 Ways To Ensure Peak Efficiency In The Office

In any workplace, it’s crucial to maintain peak efficiency at all times. Always remember that productivity depends on efficiency. When you have an inefficient workspace, it’ll take your employees a long time to finish tasks, and the productivity level drops. A good work environment will allow your employees to tackle tasks relatively faster.

Implementing small changes to habits and incorporating the right tools can help improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace. If you want to increase the efficiency in the office effectively, here are several ways to make it happen soon:

1. Follow A Simple Schedule

One of the ways to boost efficiency in the workplace is to make improvements with the scheduling.

The initial task is to streamline the work schedule by utilizing an application that works best for the specific needs of your business, especially those with alerts and notifications. Look for one that allows push notifications to remind employees when they have scheduled tasks.

2. Set Realistic Goals And Offer Support

One of the common issues among managers in the workplace is not providing a clear sense of whether or not the performance of their employees is good or not.

It might be necessary to provide your employees with an incentive to keep up with their tasks. A good approach is to provide clear directions to help clarify expectations or concerns. Doing so will improve their productivity since they have clear objectives to focus on.

3. Provide The Right Tools

One way to improve the efficiency in the office is providing the right tools so your employees can perform their duties on time and efficiently. It might be best to ask your employees if they need specific tools that could help. If workable, implement the necessary tools into the workflow. Doing so will avoid any frustration among your employees when doing their tasks.

Today, several modern programs, applications, services, and tools impart significant improvement in the workplace, but also in the reputation of your business. A good example is an online fax service.

An online fax service will make it convenient to send and receive faxes. It involves sending documents electronically with the help of the Internet. The service is an excellent upgrade to the physical fax machine that takes up space and requires maintenance.

An online fax service will also come in handy if you’re out in the field and need to send documents. By searching using keywords like ‘fax near me‘ using your mobile phone, you’re likely to get a list of online fax services.

4. Deal With Disruptions In The Workflow

When your business operations frequently experience disruptions to the workflow, productivity can be affected. Generally, a disruption can range from data overload, a department with poor performance, or hardware problems. Make it a priority to deal with these disruptions immediately.

5. Delegate The Tasks

Once you decide to delegate tasks, it’s a good step in boosting efficiency and productivity. When delegating, avoid hastily giving away tasks, especially to those who lack the skills and knowledge. Before delegating, you need to determine individual strengths and assign the tasks accordingly to your employees.

6. Provide A Conducive Work Environment

A good work environment has a positive effect on the workplace. When your employees work in warm conditions with a cluttered desk, it can significantly affect their efficiency.

An environment that’s too cold or hot can be a distraction, urging your employees to walk around or find ways for their bodies to adjust. One improvement to the workplace environment is to ensure both air conditioning and heating systems are functional throughout the year.

Additionally, you also need to provide a clean work environment since clutter can be a distraction. In the long run, you’ll have happier and satisfied employees.

7. Avoid Micromanaging

If you’re micromanaging, you make your employees feel incompetent with their assigned tasks. Once you delegate the tasks, avoid the urge to micromanage.

Remember that it can negatively affect their confidence, resulting in poor efficiency and productivity. Your employees will greatly appreciate the autonomy and often show more initiative if you don’t micromanage.

8. Minimize Distractions

In almost any workplace, various types of distractions can negatively affect efficiency. One of the culprits is social media, which can lower the productivity level.

Although it’s impossible to implement a no-phone policy, it might be best to keep your employees focused and engaged with their tasks, while allowing enough breathing room.

Encourage your employees to turn off their mobile phones or mute the notifications during working hours, but take regular breaks to check on their phones. This approach ensures that the time they spend in the office is more productive.

Conclusion

Maintaining a good work culture and environment is crucial in maintaining a peak efficiency level and boosting office productivity.

If your business is starting to show lags in productivity, it might be time to consider making adjustments. Implementing these practical measures in improving the office environment will add an excellent boost in efficiency.

Looking for a new office? We can help! If you would like assistance of an experience local commercial real estate agent, we have some of the best available to assist you. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request information.

What Can HR Leaders Do to Effectively Improve Employee Retention?

Many companies are struggling to retain employees. Some estimate that, on average, it costs 2 to 3 times as much money to find and train a new employee as it does to keep an existing one. It’s important for HR leaders in the workspace with high turnover rates and low retention rates to take steps now which will help them improve their employee retention.

HR leaders have many tools at their disposal, some more obvious than others, which enable them to positively impact employee retention rates by influencing both the company culture and individual experiences of employees within the organization. By doing so these professionals can create a culture where people want not only to work but also stay with the company for years or decades rather than just months or years. This article will provide tips for how HR leaders can improve employee retention.

Provide Clarity on Organizational and Individual Goals

A detailed sense of direction in daily tasks helps employees focus and remain engaged at work. And engagement in itself is a crucial component for an effective employee retention strategy. HR leaders should help employees find that clarity in their everyday routine.

Organizations should establish guidelines and goals with their employees, whether it is for the day or for a specific project. Furthermore, HR leaders can address clarity of roles and expectations by providing training and development opportunities to help ensure that all employees feel they are growing within their position; this enables them to see value in their time with the company and inspire them to want to stay with the organization.

Implement Continuous Performance Feedback

In order to improve employee retention rates, it is crucial to implement a thorough system of performance feedback. This helps employees continuously add value and feel satisfied, contributing to the success of their team, company, and themselves. The focus on continuous feedback should start from an individual’s first day at work, where HR leaders can ensure that managers have the tools and resources needed to help people understand their tasks and areas for improvement. Using HRIS can help leaders manage that aspect. This will help keep employees engaged with the company, feeling responsible for their own progress, while developing new skills that can increase their value within the organization.

Another element of performance feedback is to make sure managers are not only asking for input from employees but also listening; this way they can make any adjustments needed to improve employees’ satisfaction with their jobs. By encouraging open communication, HR leaders can decrease the number of stress employees face, which contributes to increased job satisfaction and reduced turnover rates.

Focus on Strategies for Organizational Success

An effective employee retention strategy should involve an employer’s employees and address their concerns, ideas, and opinions about their own professional development. It is also essential that HR leaders understand what motivates employees and create incentives that allow people within the company to be inspired by a sense of purpose. HR leaders need to have the organizational skills and the ability to identify common threads within an organization’s workforce so that they can build on them for success. For example, if employees consistently seek out feedback from managers, then this iterative process should be encouraged by HR leaders through structured evaluation processes or informal daily interactions.

Create Opportunities for Professional Development

An organization’s culture should inspire people to want to stay with the company. Create this environment by providing opportunities for employees to develop themselves both personally and professionally; these might include learning opportunities (e.g., mentoring), skill development, social events (e.g., team building), etc. By doing so, employees can stay motivated, increasing their satisfaction with the company.

Another way to help build professional development opportunities is to offer both formal and informal coaching programs to employees at all levels of an organization; this depends on each individual’s needs within a given time frame. Furthermore, providing feedback for managers sets expectations for how employees should be managed while helping individuals determine whether or not they should continue to invest their time and energy in a particular position.

Create an Engaging Work Environment

Offering free food, casual dress days, and flexible hours are easy ways to make an organization more appealing. However, HR leaders should also look beyond these basic perks and create meaningful engagement opportunities to boost productivity. Additionally, creating a supportive work culture by offering feedback and communicating honestly helps employees remain motivated and feel valued within the company.

HR leaders should also offer opportunities for employees to find a sense of purpose in their work, whether this means being able to help customers, having a positive impact on the environment, or building up to something from nothing. It is important that employees see how they fit into the big picture in order to feel more engaged in their work and excited about what differentiates a company from the competition.

Stick With Remote Work Options

As more companies are turning to remote work options, HR leaders should make sure that this is an option for everyone. Not only does it allow people the flexibility to manage their time in a way that is most efficient for them, but working outside of the office also gives employees another sense of autonomy, which can help boost job satisfaction and decrease turnover rates.

HR leaders should also encourage employees to use the same policies and procedures that are used in their physical locations for remote work options, such as having a clearly defined procedure for what happens when people are on vacation or need time off. Furthermore, by giving employees the opportunity to easily share documents with each other remotely (e.g. through Google Drive). HR leaders can encourage collaboration outside of the office and keep people working as a team even when they are not in the same place.

Be Competitive With Compensation Packages

While it may seem counterintuitive to use compensation packages as a way to increase employee retention, offering competitive benefits can help set an organization apart from the competition. By making sure that all employees are receiving adequate salaries and have access to top health care plans, HR leaders can ensure that employees feel valued within their company while also providing incentives for people to stay instead of looking for a new job.

Even though it may not always be possible to offer the same benefits as smaller companies, HR leaders can still have an impact on employee retention by making sure employees at all levels are being compensated adequately and have access to the same top-of-the-line opportunities.

In today’s ever-changing world, it is essential for organizations to have the ability to provide employees with new opportunities and ways to learn. By creating a culture that supports learning and development, HR leaders can instill a sense of security in employees and reduce turnover rates.

If you would like assistance of an experience local commercial real estate agent, we have some of the best available to assist you. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request information.

4 Questions To Ask Before Signing An Office Space Lease

If you’re operating a business and planning to have a physical location, an office space lease will be one of the things that will put a dent in your overall budget. In fact, committing to any office space for your business presents more complexities than simply renting a house. For one, most leases will oblige you to rent the space for three to five years, which can be intimidating. It is always best to take advantage of the services of a qualified tenant representative, like the ones we have at OfficeFinder.

There are a number of important factors to consider before signing an office space lease, including not only the location but also having an understanding the intricacies of the contract. It would also be best if you’re equipped with the right questions before signing a deal with the landlord. Once again, here is where the services of a good tenant rep will be beneficial.

To help you out, here are 4 questions you need to ask a potential landlord before signing a commercial lease agreement:

1. Is the lease assignable?

If you’re not sure if your business can still operate within the years stipulated in the lease agreement, it’s essential to ask your potential landlord if they have the right to terminate your lease in case of an assignment. A lease assignment is when you have someone take over the office space in the case that you want to sell your business.

Assigning a lease is important for the tenant since it’s a way for them to get out of the lease agreement. Hence, a tenant won’t technically violate the lease agreement. Keep in mind that a landlord also has the right to approve and renegotiate new terms with the assignee. The landlord may also decline any assignee if they find them financially incapable. A key clause to include in the lease is that the Landlord will not unreasonably grant approval.

By knowing if the lease is assignable, you’ll rest assured that there’s a way to get out of the lease agreement if ever your business fails to grow without burning a hole in your pocket.

2. Do you have any policies for moving in or out?

Inversely, if your analytics are showing promise for your business for years to come, then time is of the essence––you want to establish a physical location immediately. In this case, ask the landlord about the policies for moving in. How soon can you move in? Is there any free rent available? What are the payment options?

Additionally, you may also want to know the moving-out process. For one, you don’t want to break the agreements contained in a lease agreement as it comes with grave consequences. To paint a picture, here are some common penalties you may face if you break a lease agreement:

Pay large fees: Technically, landlords are running a business. As with every business owner, they don’t want to give up any financial opportunity. By breaking a lease, you may ruin the landlord’s flow of income, which is why breaking a lease comes with a fine. Sometimes, the fine may be around one or two months’ worth of rent.

Face legal consequences: If your landlord is litigious and you want to break the lease agreement, then there’s a huge chance that you may end up with a lawsuit. However, a lease termination has a rare chance of going into court, as it can be quickly settled by paying a fee, but it’s still a possibility.

Hurt your credit score: Credit scores are the ones that’ll determine your creditworthiness, which means that lenders will use this score to gauge if you’re financially capable of paying any debts. If you terminate a lease before the contract, then your landlord may send your debt to a collection agency, ruining your creditworthiness.

3. Can alterations be made?

Since businesses operate differently, you may want to make a few changes to the space so you can make the perfect working environment for your workers. But since you’re leasing the space, you’ll need permission to change something, even the carpet and paint color, which is especially true for a shorter-term lease. Hence, ask your landlord if they’ll accept any alteration to the office space.

4. What’s included in the rate?

The rental rate may not just be the payment of the space. In fact, some building owners may have some inclusions in the rental rate like taxes, insurance, utility and cleaning costs, know as a fully service lease. Still, some landlords may require you to pay for those services yourself, know a a NNN lease. And others a combination of the two.

Moreover, if the space comes with an HVAC, ask whether the rate already includes any possible repairs and replacement, or will you be the one covering the cost for those. Knowing what’s included in the rental rate will allow you to set aside some money for any possible repairs. Additionally, you’ll be able to set aside a monthly budget for any recurring fees, like electricity and water.

Also, find out if there are annual cost pass-throughs of amounts over a base year. These are usually in fully serviced leases where the Landlord pays the base year expenses of the leased office space and tenantss pay a pro-rata share of increases over the base year.

Final words

Before committing to any office space, you must ask the questions above and learn some tips and tricks to negotiating as any mistakes may end up costing you. For instance, if you expect that you can simply change the space but the owner didn’t agree to this, you may end up returning the office space to its original condition, which is surely an expensive endeavor on your part.

So make sure that you’ve meticulously understood the agreement as well as any upfront costs before signing a commercial lease agreement.

Safety in the Workplace: How To Manage A Safe Working Space

Basic training and general safety knowledge are essential in the workplace, even for office workers, because you will never know what might happen in the future. As an employer, you should make sure to protect the welfare of your employees at all times. It will help if you put the health of your employees as the most critical element of your company.

It would be best to create a safe working environment that protects your workers from injuries and illnesses. Consequently, their welfare significantly improves productivity, quality, and at the same time, boosts employee morale. A safe and healthy working environment also produces greater work participation and inclusion. It increases job satisfaction, thus a higher probability of employee retention. So, how do you create a safe space for your employees?

Start A Safety Committee Or Department.

When you are planning to improve your working environment, it will help if you establish a health and safety committee that would oversee the workplace’s safety. The committee should consist of employees from different departments, and they would meet at least once a month. They would discuss related safety topics, inspections, and statistics regarding safety and illnesses during the meeting.

Concerning this, it will always be better to be prepared at all times. Having regular company-wide meetings that talk about workplace safety or prevention can help your employees be more ready. It is also a great time to hear feedback since there may be instances that your safety committee is not aware of. Through this, it can help them realize what the employees are going through and feeling.

Partner With Outsourced Safety Management.

Since the primary goal in a safe environment is the health of your employees, it would be best to have experts work in this type of area. You will need committed and experienced professional people to make safety management more efficient and increase productivity. Aside from that, outsourcing also comes with lots of benefits.

Partnering with i ndependent health and safety consultants will help you save more time and reduce costs from staffing. Hiring experts in this field will also reduce the risk to the welfare of your workers and your company. Additionally, you will also get to identify areas with higher risk and receive expert advice for better decision-making.

Train Your Employees.

Extensive training concerning safety, security, and health to prevent workplace injury is essential. Ensure that your employees are aware of the possible hazards they might encounter and how to protect themselves. You may also prepare a general safety orientation for your workers, especially for your future recruits, to help them be more knowledgeable about these hazards and how they can cope with them.

You can also take this chance to educate them about basic safety when natural phenomena like earthquakes or fire might arise. It would be best to make sure that you use your resources to guarantee that your employees are ready when emergencies occur.

Identify And Eliminate Potential Hazardous Materials.

One possible reason that causes a hazardous workplace environment can sometimes be a messy and unorganized workplace. Ensure that the workspace is clean, free from cluttered floors, and properly organized tools. Tangled cords, large stocks of boxes, or even mislabeled equipment can cause unnecessary accidents. Ensure that potential dangers and problems are minimized to reduce the risk of the injuries of your employees.

You may also enhance information communication by establishing proper labels and signs to dangerous areas such as wet floors or places under construction. Labels are most important, especially with companies that deal with hazardous chemicals and the likes. You do not have to worry since you can easily make the signs and labels, but they should be visible and simple. Tools like this are excellent warnings and reminders for your workers.

Encourage Breaks And Rests.

To reduce the likelihood of stress, burnout, or overall fatigue from work, encouraging your employees to take breaks in between work will significantly help. Besides, breaks are an excellent way of improving the health of your employees.

More or less than five minutes of break is significant enough to help them ease muscle tension and stretch a little. This act can help in recovering from stress while working. What’s more, taking a break can also improve their performance. Furthermore, reduce the likelihood of severe health problems.

Establish An Approachable Safety Committee.

Approachable in a way that makes it easier for your workers to come to you when they have any health and safety concerns. Making your employees feel that they can confide in you and talk about their problems will help in reducing issues significantly. It will also help the safety committee identify different areas of concern.

Concerning this, appoint a reliable and empowered committee leader who can connect to the employees and address their concerns. They should communicate with them with an open mind and discern important information clearly while respecting their barriers.

Commit And Continually Improve Your System.

Above all, you should be able to commit to what you have started. Continue to review and investigate the illnesses and accidents that have happened in your company. Ensure that the hazard intervention has been refined every year or if it is still effective. Your organization must put great importance on safety and promote it all year round.

You and your committee can establish effective programs that can function for longer years. Then, you can evaluate its effectiveness and continually enhance what is needed. Do not skip regular meetings, and examine your goals and progress. You can never be too safe with too much preparation and prevention.

Takeaway

While safety is necessary, you can still creatively showcase a healthy and safe workplace without undermining its true importance. After all, handling the health and welfare of your workers is a highly vital responsibility. You can add a little fun that can also engage your employees that can assist them in retaining important safety information.

Again, you should commit to this duty and ensure that everyone is comfortable and can work productively. As an employer, it is also important that you call for experts to aid you in protecting your employees and offer a safe workplace for your employees. Make use of what you have to provide them with the highest security.

If you need help finding office space where your employees can be safe, whether conventional or flexible space, we can help. Contact us today for a no-obligation discussion on how we can help.