4 Ways to Become More Productive at Work

1. Create Opportunities for Movement

The best way to stay focused during a long day of work is to acknowledge when you’ve hit a productivity wall and to take short, quick breaks to gain a new perspective on what you’re working on. Ergonomic furniture such as stand-to-sit desks encourages changing positions and moving throughout the workday. Standing desks can improve overall mood and vigor in not only the workplace but has been shown to carry through to out of work environments. You can build other opportunities for movement into your workspace, such as putting the copy machine on the opposite end of the room and having a central water cooler. Create reasons to stand and move about.

Productivity is not directly correlated with time spent on tasks, so it’s important to make sure that you’re recalibrating and refuelling once in a while.

Ideally, you want a workspace that doesn’t confine employees to one spot and gives them the option to work in different locations, even remotely, if the business model allows for it.

2. Give Gadgets a Home

Smartphones and tablets can help you stay organized, but they can also be a big distraction and aid in time-wasting. The best way to avoid wasting time is to find a home for gadgets and leave them there.

We have so many screens competing for our attention. Consider putting them in a drawer. Try to keep them in their dedicated place while you do your work so that you won’t be distracted by a constant stream of notifications.

3. Keep Your Space Clean

If you’re sitting in a messy area thinking about how messy it is and how you should really clean it, you’re probably not getting a lot done. It makes it much more difficult to be productive at work.

Take a few minutes every day to organize your workspace. Throw out unnecessary items and maintain whatever organization system suits your style, so those extra distractions don’t build up.

In addition to cleaning or organizing your workspace every day, organize and prioritize a to-do list so that you have a clear idea of what you need to do, which have top priority and don’t waste time at the beginning of your workday trying to figure it out. At the end of the day, sit down and quickly write what you need to get done the next work day.

This helps you reflect on what you’ve accomplished during the day and how you can move forward to produce great work the next day.

4. Get Personal

Personalizing your space can increase your emotional connection to your work, but it’s important to not let the personal touches become clutter and to do this in moderation

Items that you don’t frequently use shouldn’t take up desk space. Add a productivity-boosting plant and keep a personal calendar to stay on track throughout the week.

Plants are fashionable these days and aren’t just for pretty social media photos. They serve a great benefit in the office, too. Make space feel more alive. Although not a traditional method of creating a productive workspace, their impact is not imaginary. Plants assist in creating an environment far more conducive to increased productivity, than traditional, sterile workspaces.

Having plants around the workspace helps produce cleaner air, and it motivates one to be more energetic and creative. Scientific studies have even been able to prove the positives of more greenery for the office. From reducing stress to increasing productivity and creativity, plants have been proven to improve it all.

Choose personal items that inspire you to be more productive. Keep a framed photo of your family, kids, partner, or pet on your desk. Let them be the ones that keep you motivated throughout your workday.

No one is the same. There is no single approach to office layouts, design, or functionality that suits everyone, espcially considering there are now 4 generations in the workforce. Having the flexibility to not be in the office during the entirety of the workday, having some plants and personal touches, and having a space to breath, be creative, and express oneself will make the workplace more productive, and helps everyone to be more successful.

If you are looking for the right office space to create a workplace to help employees become more productive at work, we’d love to help. It is what we do on a daily basis through out the US and Canada. Give us a try. No cost and no obligation. Let us know what you are looking for and we will get right on it.

Benefits of Indoor Plants for Your Office

5 Benefits Of Indoor Plants For Your Office

1. It Improves The Air Quality

The first one on the list is that indoor plants improve the quality of the air. As you all know, plants have the capacity to absorb the gas called carbon dioxide. In the workplace, it can reduce carbon dioxide levels from ten to twenty-five percent. Now that amount is not something you can just shrug off. It is a good way to filter out the air.

Then, it was discovered back then by numerous studies that plants can remove chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde- so it definitely lessens air pollution, which results in people breathing cleaner air.

2. It Reduces Stress

Many studies have already been conducted that plants reduce stress and even anxiety levels.

There is a whole lot of evidence out there that plants do have this ability to mend people somewhat, on about thirty to sixty percent on average. If you are having trouble picking plants for your office, professionals got you. The professionals from Frenchams offer different kinds of plants to create a healthier and efficient workplace. So, what are you waiting for?

Add some leafy friends that you and your co-workers would both appreciate. Engaging with nature helps individuals to become more calm and relaxed. You cannot deny that. If plants have a positive mental effect on our health, then there is more reason to get one- or even more.

3. It Boosts Productivity Levels

In the workplace where there are a lot of things going on, everyone must be a busybody. A lot of research has been conducted and it was seen that plants can boost productivity levels. Although there are a few factors that contribute to this due to the quality of the air, which leads to fewer people becoming sick and falling to the office building syndrome.

Office building syndrome is when you are having a hard time concentrating on your work and you feel like you will get the flu anytime. Get plants to eliminate this syndrome that you will face sooner or later.

4. It Can Lower Noise Levels

People chattering around the workplace cannot be avoided sometimes in the office. This is where plants come in handy. Plants tend to decrease disruptive influence.

Due to their capacity to absorb noises, they can successfully lower noise levels. This will be more successful if larger plant pots are put in various positions around the room’s sides and corner sections.

5. It Makes The Place More Attractive

Adding a little bit of green around the black and white walls of the office will make the place more attractive than ever. If you are looking for a decoration that is cheap yet efficient, plants are the best solution.

Not only you are helping the environment, but it will also bring several benefits to all of you in the long run. Also, talents that look around your place will be joining in no time, knowing that their environment is a relaxing and calm one.

With these 5 top benefits that indoor plants can give to you, there is no more reason to think about it over again and again. Improve air quality, reduce noise levels, reduce stress levels, boost productivity, and make the place more attractive with indoor plants.

And if you are looking for office space, we can help with our network of top local tenant reps. They will make sure you avoid costly mistakes, like poor infastructure. Contact us today for mor information on how we can help. No cost or obligation.

Is Your Business Complying with Payment Card Industry (PCI) Standards

We live in a world where online technology is a big part of everyone’s business. Almost everyone has at least one smart device they use to go online and access a vast array of sites and webpages to stay connected with others, be entertained, and even do their shopping. Since many people do their shopping online and use virtual apps to pay for goods, the payment card industry has developed greatly.

Using card payments does not stop with just online services and products; Credit cards can be used in shops and local stores to save cardholders from having to carry around cash. In order for the card payment industry to survive and stay as safe and efficient as it is aimed to be, rules governing card usage are necessary. Are you complying with those rules? Read on to find out.

Understanding Payment Card Industry (PCI) Standards

In order to find out if you are complying with the payment card industry standards, you must first familiarize yourself with the concept of PCI and its inner workings. The credit card industry is mandated by PCI standards to ensure the safety and security of regular transactions made by individuals and entities alike. This set of standards monitors the technical and operational aspects carried out by credit card companies and service providers who allow people to pay with their cards rather than paying with cash.

PCI Compliance Requirements

The only way to find out if you are complying with the PCI standards is by understanding what the requirements are and how you can effectively follow them. There are several requirements set by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) authorities in order to regulate the work of credit card companies and to keep everyone’s money safe. Here are some of the most important regulations you should pay attention to if you have a credit card payment option in your shop or on your website.

● Installation of a Firewall

One of the first things any online vendor or service provider needs to comply with is the security of their network. Installing a firewall is a must; the configuration of the firewall can restrict any unwanted traffic that may disrupt transactions and lead to financial risks. When installing a firewall for your service or shop, make sure it is properly configured and effective so that you are fully protected from cyberattacks that could breach the security protocols required by the PCIs.

● Data Protection

When customers pay using their credit cards, they often have to share sensitive personal details with the vendor or service provider. It is the vendor or service provider’s job to ensure all data shared with them stay safe so their customer’s identities and financial details are not leaked and misused for cybercrime or financial fraud. This is what makes data protection one of the most pivotal compliance requirements set by PCI authorities.

● Regular Updates of Antivirus Software

Installing anti-viral software on your service website or data collecting machines used for credit card transactions is great, but the installation alone only partially complies with PCI standards. To fully comply with the system standards, make sure you regularly update your antivirus software systems to ensure they are still effective and up to date with any changes or advances in technology. By making sure your software is updated, you can rest assured that any new malware will be detected.

Some updates also offer new features in the program, which make it easier for users to discriminate between false alarms and actual attacks. This protects customers, as well as employees, of service providers from malware problems and viral risks to their smart devices, while also allowing them the capacity to personalize their anti-virus software system the way they see fit so they can minimize being notified for a false alarm.

The use of a credit card to purchase goods and services is extremely common in today’s society as this payment method is both easy and convenient. No one likes to carry around too much cash, while the pandemic has also made credit card payments a much safer alternative to paying in cash. As the popularity of credit card payments increased over time, there had to be certain rules and regulations in place to govern such transactions and ensure everyone’s safety.

PCI standards ensure credit card companies and service providers are safely accepting money from users while protecting their valuable data. In order to ensure you are complying with the PCI standards, try to do some research and check your system and software programs so you can confirm everything is running smoothly and properly.

How to Make Sure Your Business Gets Top-Notch IT Support

In the era of innovative technologies, no business can grow without quality IT support. However, the IT world is changing at lightning speed, making it more and more difficult even for large companies to keep pace with that constant evolution. Needless to say, small businesses often find themselves in a pretty complicated situation, trying to facilitate reliable IT support within their budgets. Unfortunately, the one-size-fits-all approach is not what can really work for smaller enterprises, all the more so, it is always more expensive.

No doubt, the dream of every business owner (including you) is to provide for their company top-notch IT support that can easily fit into the budget and deliver tailored solutions. Here you have it: an in-depth guide on how to make this dream come true – quickly and hassle-free.

Add Value to Your Business Through Outsourcing

Generally speaking, businesses have two options to get IT support – to build a dedicated in-house team or to outsource. Let’s start with the first option, an in-house team. We bet, having an armed squad of professionals right inside your building and at your full disposal sounds to you really great, doesn’t it?

Well, it does but only if you can afford to hire full-time staff, which the majority of small and medium companies cannot. Why not take a look at some figures and make the situation crystal clear? For instance, at Network London you can see a good infographic that compares costs for a wide range of IT services when using your in-house team or outsourcing. Not only outsourced IT services cost four times less than the in-house option but it also provides for higher performances.

Long story short, IT outsourcing significantly reduces your costs, at the same time boosting the quality of the service through implementing state-of-the-art software tools. Plus, it eliminates the risk of investing your hard-earned money in ineffective or wrong solutions.

Define Your Needs and Wants

To get the biggest bang for the buck, you should look for services that your company really needs – no one-size-fits-all recipe. The roster of IT services available is quite extensive and can vary dramatically from one provider to another. However, the best providers of IT support often have it all under one roof – a kind of one-stop-shop for everything you might be interested in.

It’s up to you whether to opt for a full package that includes all conceivable and inconceivable services, from app and software development or database management to customer service and IP telephones and communications. Other commonly outsourced areas are infrastructure design and management, IT, technical and helpdesk support, email hosting and replication, as well as cybersecurity testing and management, to name a few.

When IT Support Is Really Top-Notch

As soon as you compile the list of services you need, you can start looking for a decent provider. Do not rush to conclusions and do not strike a deal until you are sure, you’ve found your perfect fit. With a plethora of different IT service providers out there, it might be challenging to estimate the quality of each of them. To give you a hand, here are a couple of words on what you should consider top-notch IT support.

To start with, do not settle for less than a dedicated account manager – a person who will know every little detail which is significant to you and your business. There is nothing worse than being unable to quickly solve an issue just because no one seems to be in charge of this particular field or question. The next thing is how fast your every issue can be addressed – make sure that picking up a support call is a matter of seconds for your future provider. Although the great bulk of issues are usually solved remotely, keep in mind that some problems will seek an onsite visit and you do not want to wait for ages – an hour or so for a big city is awesome.

Do not forget that even though IT services largely rely on state-of-the-art software and tools, people are still the main driving force. Look for a team of seasoned IT engineers certified in Microsoft or Apple technology and well-versed in all aspects of their work including network administration.

When it comes to office space, failures and shortcomings within your IT infrastructure not only negatively affect performances and productivity (read revenues) but also dwarf your chances to grow. Before you commit to relocation, check to make sure the communications infrastructure will meet your needs. On the other side, quality and reliable IT systems make a strong base for staying ahead of the competition and reaching your goals in a faster and more advantageous way.

The Basics of Promoting your Products and Services Through Coupon Marketing

Saving money is one of the main reasons why customers buy something. Since everyone wants to save money, even if it is a few dollars, coupon marketing has become a way for businesses to market themselves and allowing their customers to get their products for a better price. A few studies showed that customers spend around 20% more when they have coupons than without one.

In this short guide, we’ll share some of the basic rules of promoting your products and services using coupons. And we’ll tell you why you should incorporate coupons into your product’s marketing strategy.

Digital Coupons

Ecommerce retailers are increasingly turning to digital coupons with an intention to sell more of their products. Talking about coupons is another way to make consumers aware of how important coupons are on the market. As an example, on Swagbucks, customers can discover digital coupons for a variety of products. Plus, with more coupons available, they can find new products and brands that otherwise wouldn’t be available.

Of course, make sure that your marketing team can place the offers well on your website and social media profiles.

Lead Magnets

Lead magnets are some of the best tools for attracting new people to your landing page. You can offer coupons for everyone that signs up to your newsletter or in exchange for sharing your product with others. Of course, one of the best types of lead magnet is to offer a discount to all your followers or subscribers and save a percentage on any future purchases.

On your website, you can program your lead magnets to pop up for everyone who spends some time browsing through your online shop or scrolled down your blog. Even if those pop-ups can seem a bit aggressive, many people would react well and click on them only if it would give them a chance to get something cheaper.

Use Offers That Are Time Limited

The benefit of using time-limited offers is the pressure you’re putting on your potential customer. If the ability to get a coupon is set to every Thursday for one hour, your customers will know that that’s the time to take action and redeem their voucher. Some studies show that millennials are receptive to time-limiting offers and motivate them to get the product more than anything else.

These offers are great for product launches or special dates when people what to invest in a product like yours. Time-limiting offers work well on customers that already bought your product, and now you want them to get something else, but they’re having doubts.

If you want your offer to stand out, make sure to research all your competitors and see what they are offering. The best way to attract more people to your social media profiles or website is to give them something that others don’t have. For example, if your competitors only offer their products individually, try to provide yours in bulk and with an additional coupon. Or, you can add free shipping or a coupon for a 10% discount on another purchase.

Email Marketing

You can use your subscribers to send them coupons or let them know about time-limiting offers sooner than everyone else. That way, you’ll make them feel special, and you increase your chances of selling some of your products.

When you send a newsletter with an emphasis on the urgency to act quickly, you’ll have to wait and see how people react to that. Everyone that has been eyeing your offer will be surprised when they see the chance to save money and get what they want.

Create Customer Rewards

Every customer love rewards as they encourage customer loyalty. As long as you send exclusive offers to your customers, they’ll feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. And, as long as they are loyal, your revenue will grow steadily.

However, you analyze the revenue program, it really works. Sometimes, it also good to through in some interesting perks like coupons, free products, discounts, or even have a time-limited offer for your brand’s anniversary.

Studies show that more than 82% of customers claim that they stay loyal to brands that promote themselves through reward programs and offer them special discounts.

Creating an appealing reward program for a brand or an individual means spending some time researching what their audience likes and wants. Sometimes, it can take a bit of time as well as an award-and-error approach.

Activate Various Channels of Content Distribution

Sending coupons via email has never been easier as there’s a 48% increase in revenue for businesses that decided to make this step. Even if email marketing is everyone’s best chance to succeed, it’s important to engage customers through other channels.

It’s useful to include a few social media channels in your coupon marketing strategy since many people follow brands on Instagram or TikTok only to find out about discounts or to get coupons before others. Once you get that amount of exposure, various types of customers will notice you and buy your products.

Of course, you need to be careful not to overuse coupons since you shouldn’t have your products or services on sale all the time. Make sure to plan discounts for special events, customer anniversaries, and holidays. Those are the dates when customers tend to spend more money and pay close attention to deals.

Combine Different Approaches

Coupon strategies work best only when you combine them with other marketing approaches. If you rely solely on coupons, you might get an opposite reaction since your customers might think that your product is not valuable. Using coupon marketing as one of many marketing strategies can help improve sales. If you have not tried this before, give it a try and see how effective it is for your product and services.

You may be wondering why OfficeFinder is providing information like this. After all, we help businesses find office space. We are providing businesses information we hope will make them more profitable. If you think anything like the way we do, we are always looking for ideas to improve our business. Hope this helps.

4 Reasons To Support Employee Continuing Education

Why Is Employee Continuing Education Important?

Learning is a vital factor for human development in general. With new and improved information coming in regularly, education has become an ongoing activity. Employees need to stay up to date with the latest development, enhanced skills, and well versed with the latest technology to match the constant change in industries.

In many professions, employee continuing education is mandatory. For example, a doctor has to learn new treatments introduced to better support their patients, just like a lawyer needs to be updated on a country’s laws as the country progresses.

A false belief that trained employees change their jobs for better opportunities has held back many employers from offering this continuous education option. Contrary to this belief, when employees feel more appreciated and taken care of by their investment, they tend to be more loyal to employers. Progress and growth in job profiles tend to be among the top five motivational factors for employee retention.

Let’s take a look at the top four reasons employers should consider Employee Continuing Education:

1. Employees feel appreciated and are happier

With today’s competitive market, an employee enhanced with more skills and knowledge provides them with security. Security of jobs motivates them to stay on their current job and work productively. Online education, like at Degree Planet can help employees learn at their own pace and perform better at work. It is always better to train and invest in a current employee rather than finding new ones.

2. Better Performance Boosts Overall Morale

Every employee aims at pleasing their management with their excellent performance. With continuous education, they can learn to perform tasks in a much more productive way. This boosts the morale of the employee as he can perform more efficiently and the performance of the business. A competitive advantage to better problem-solving skills and technical skills creates a win-win situation for both the employee and the company.

3. Increases Company’s Profits

Every business aims at making more profits. It is a no-brainer that efficient employees are better able to help a company make more profits. Therefore, training and educating employees will show a higher margin of profit for businesses than those who don’t train them. Though investing in employees may come across as a cost, it is a good investment that pays off in the future.

4. Creates A Learning Culture

Adopting a learning culture at the workplace where everyone understands the value of training and development through continuous education creates the right pulse for all employees. A team that is continually improving its performance creates a positive environment too. Being stuck with old and traditional methods with no motivation to improve can make employees feel frustrated and unhappy at their jobs. Easing their job difficulties by providing education programs will help them realize that a learning culture is good.

Employee Continuing Education For A Better Future

With so many improved and enhanced forms of education available now, the earning process has become more flexible and can accommodate all work schedules. Learning can now take place online or even in the workplace. Continuously education can boost confidence in your employees and help them also to have advanced career options.

Happy and satisfied employees have set many examples of a sound and flourishing business. Isn’t it time for you to start considering your business’s growth by enhancing your best asset, your employees?

And if you are looking for office space, we can help with our network of local tenant reps. Contact us today for mor information on how we can help. No cost or obligation.

Protective Measures Offices Can Implement to Prevent COVID-19 Transmission

We live in an age where a global pandemic is quickly spreading between people wherever they go. Since life has to go on and some people have to keep going to work in their offices, it is important to know how you can protect yourself and those around you from the dangerous virus. Offices often have numerous employees working side by side in teams or individually to keep their establishment running smoothly and making profits. Here are some protective measures your office can implement in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission and ensure everyone is safe.

Wear Masks

Masks have been proven to be one of the best ways to avoid transmission of COVID-19. Make sure that when your employees are moving around the office that they are wearing masks. It is a very simple and effective way to keep them safe.

Encourage Hand Washing

One of the main things you should really focus on in your office to protect everyone against COVID-19 is encouraging your employees to wash their hands regularly. All the global health organizations are swearing by the effects of regular hand washing for at least 20 seconds each time to remove all kinds of harmful viruses and bacteria effectively. Regular hand washing will greatly minimize the risk of infection and help keep everyone safe in case someone is infected with the virus but is not showing any symptoms. Make sure you raise awareness of the importance of handwashing and personal hygiene in the office and hang signs everywhere to remind your employees to wash their hands so that everyone stays safe in their work environment.

Clean All Surfaces

Offices often have numerous employees going back and forth from one desk to another and touching different surfaces as they go. Keeping your surfaces regularly cleaned and disinfected is essential when it comes to protecting everyone working in the office. Make sure you use proper cleaning products to clean all the surfaces in the office, from desks to floors, and even walls and mirrors. As seen on HealthySole, you can even invest in new gadgets that are made to facilitate the process of cleaning surfaces automatically, or even cleaning shoes when people are on their way in or out of any room so that the risk of virus spreading is greatly reduced. Anything that can be touched by any of the employees in your office is something that should be disinfected on a regular basis to reduce the risk of COVID spreading.

Install Disinfection Booths

Many of those who get infected by the COVID-19 virus do not show symptoms until after a few days or may not show any symptoms at all, yet they can still be spreading the virus everywhere they go. To reduce the risk of your employees infecting one another when they walk into the office, it can be a good idea to invest in a disinfection booth on the door of your office to remove any lodging bacteria or viruses on people’s clothes and faces before they enter the workplace. It can also be a good idea to have someone measure people’s temperatures with a digital thermometer before they walk into the office to ensure nobody is infected without realizing they actually are.

Keep Employees Distant From One Another

When it comes to protecting your employees from COVID-19 transmission in the workplace, one of the most effective measures to implement is social distancing. You need to make sure all your employees are standing or sitting at a safe distance from one another to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, and ensure everyone is safe while working. You can start by making some space between each desk in the office and reducing the number of employees you have by giving them alternate shifts so that they can all keep their jobs but stay safe at the same time. It can also be a good idea to have some of your employees work from home whenever possible and start a virtual office environment rather than risk everyone’s safety. This way, you will be saving your employees from all the hassle of having to come to the office every day and reducing the risk of transmitting the virus. If your employees have to go to the office, then make sure they are distant from one another and wearing face masks at all times.

Implement an Agile Workplace

An Agile Workplace concept is an activity-based work space that makes the work space flexible. It is an office hoteling reservation technique or set up in a workplace. It is a way of utilizing a work area more efficiently, utilizing non-assigned seating arrangement and desk-sharing to maximize and creating collaborative spaces. Employees who don’t need to be in the office daily can make reservations to come in when they or you need them to do so. This way will limit the number of employees in the office at any one time and therefor reduce the risk to those employees wh are in the office.

A Scary Time for Employees

Living and working through a pandemic can be pretty scary. In order to keep yourself and all your employees safe in the workplace, you need to make sure you are following all the basic protective measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission by reducing the risk of infection and ensure the work keeps running smoothly. Make sure you raise the awareness of your employees about all the safety procedures they need to take to stay safe against the virus. It can also be a good idea to put some effort into creating a virtual office space where your employees can work from home and nobody has to risk their health in the first place.

If you are looking for a professional to discuss your office space options, we’d be happy to talk with you. Use our contact form to have one of our local pros get in touch with you, even if it is just to discuss options. We know office space and can help you identify what would work best for your company.

Is Coworking the Solution to Childcare Work Issues?

The arrival of a new baby brings joy to the parents. However, it isn’t long before the family realizes that their focus on career and work has gone down. A recent report shows that nine in ten families with a new baby have at least one working parent. This means that one or both parents must continue working after the arrival of a new child and has the potential for childcare work issues.

Although remote working and freelancing have replaced the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. employment, the majority of people still have to go to work during the day. Most companies are yet to create kid-friendly workspaces. Similarly, daycares are nowhere to be found in most corporate environments. Parents soon discover that they spend very little time with their children because they have to go to work every day.

Some parents try to take new careers, reduce their working hours, or come up with a flexible working schedule as they raise their children. While this can increase the amount of time you spend with your child, you’ll still be facing several problems. So, is everything lost?

Enter Coworking Spaces

The first coworking space in the US was opened in 2005. Although coworking spaces did not sprout quickly, they have become very many across the country in the recent past. Here, you will find remote workers, freelancers, and professional teams sharing one office. Studies have proven that people working in co-working spaces have higher productivity levels than those working in traditional offices.

As the demand for coworking spaces increases, many coworking companies are creating new features. One of the most famous updates is the introduction of a child care unit within the coworking environment. The child care unit has various purposes and features. Many resemble the standard daycare models, while others are more like babysitting services or ‘after school’ style learning experiences that encourage skills like math, science and even coding. The entire idea is to enable parents to work as they know they have the care of their children.

Benefits

If you find a coworking space that has childcare components, you can expect many benefits from that place. First, you will be working alongside people with similar challenges and opportunities. They, too, will be taking care of their children as they try to cater to clients and their careers.

Similarly, the coworking space comes with shorter commuting distances within the day. You don’t have to travel far during lunch breaks to see your children. You can just be working as your children play nearby.

Typical Hiccups

Unfortunately, not everything goes well in coworking spaces with childcare components. There are fluctuating rental prices, lack of appropriate locations, and incompatible childcare facilities. When somebody starts a childcare facility, they must satisfy many requirements.

For example, they must get the right license for the business and their employees. Similarly, there is a child-to-adult ratio that must be adhered to at all times. At the same time, if you want to take your child to work, you must get the appropriate license.

Places Where It Has Already Worked

Despite the existence of many challenges, some coworking spaces with childcare facilities have seen immense success in the last few years reducing childcare work issues. One of these companies is The Workaround. The Toronto-based company promotes a working environment where creators, artists, and parents can work together. Everybody is a parent with a dream to fulfil and children to take care of.

The main obstacle to establishing coworking spaces with childcare facilities is the lack of proper regulation. Authorities have placed tough ratios and facility requirements on daycare facilities.

Bottom Line

It is seems obvious that coworking is the future of the office. It balances the flexibility of working from home and the professionalism of going to an office. The introduction of childcare facilities at coworking spaces means parents of young children can continue their careers and work when their baby arrives and mitigate childcare work issues.

We can help you find a coworking space that meets your needs. Contact us today to learn more.

7 Best Ways to Keep Your Office Comfortably Heated

As the weather has turned colder and the pandemic continues, businesses owners may be concerned about keeping their office comfortably heated affordably in a time where sales are sparse, and income is not what it used to be. With several cost-effective ways to keep your office comfortably heated, it is possible to maintain a constant temperature in the office without running up a huge monthly bill. To help you get started, we will be providing you with some of the best ways for you to keep your office toasty and warm throughout the cooler months.

1. Your HVAC Heating System

For businesses operating within high rise office buildings, several offices are heated using a state-of-the-art Heating Venting Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. This system can heat several offices within the block simply and effectively. To keep your office heated, it is important to make sure that it is zoned correctly. If you have cold spots, contact your property manager or service company to see if you can reconfigure your zones to spread the warmth more evenly.

2. Get a Radiator Fitted

Though most businesses have a built-in heating system, there are older office spaces and studio environments that may not have the luxury of an up-to-date heating system. If this is the case then you might consider the need to buy radiators online to place within the office space and ensure that is a comfortable space to work in. These radiators can be shipped straight to the office space and can be installed within the office or the studio environment. They come in different sizes and can fit even the smallest of spaces.

3. Electric Heater

Though it is unlikely that a maintained heating system will stop working, having an electric heater in the office will act as a great backup just in case. This can be kept in a storage cupboard and can be placed within a meeting room or within the core section of the office to keep people warm in the unlikely event that the heating system breaks. With electric heaters ranging in size, there are several heaters that you can place in the office that can take the edge off even on the coldest day and keep your office comfortably heated.

4. Dress The Windows In The Office

One of the easiest ways that heat is lost in an office is through the windows, particularly if you are working within an older office space. Therefore, it is important to dress your window with either a blind or a set of curtains that can keep in the heat and prevent the temperature from dropping in the office. This is a great way of keeping the cold out on a cool winters day while still allowing you to enjoy the sun in the summer months.

5. Upgrade The Windows If You Can

Another way that you can go about keeping your office heated is to upgrade your windows where you can. Though this may require you to talk to the landlord. Switching out your windows in the office for an energy-efficient option will enable you to keep the office comfortable all year round.

6. Make Use Of Carpet On Wooden Floors

If your office has wooden floors or even tiles, it may be worth taking the time to implement carpet runners onto the floors. This will allow you to keep heat within the office as the carpet will absorb the hear and help to keep the office warm even when the heating is turned down at night. This is also a great way of showcasing the colour scheme of the brand and bring the whole room together.

7. Use Fabrics On Chairs

The final way that you can keep the office warm is to use chairs that have fabric backings, With a huge amount of furniture absorbing the heat from the heating system throughout the day, this will make the office e feel warmer and will create a more welcoming environment for your employees. This can also be used in larger spaces to provide different areas for visitors and employees all whilst promoting a comfortable working environment.

As you can see, there are several ways that you can keep the office comfortably heated regardless of the weather conditions. Which of these will you be trying in your office space?

If you are looking for office space in which your employees can be comfortable in, contact us today. Our local tenant reps are not only experts in helping their clients find and negotiate for office space but are also intimately familiar with various heating systems to ensure your comfort.

6 Ways A Clean Office Enhances Employee Productivity and Well-Being

A vital element to employee productivity is a clean workspace and it all makes sense now why the popular adage says “your space reflects your state of mind.” Aside from the fact that having a clean workspace improves one’s productivity, it also helps to refresh our mind.

Furthermore, it’s not how big or small your business is that serves or gauges the quota of your priority level for the cleanliness of your office; cleanliness is essentially crucial and highly valued for general well-being. The modern office has gone through several evolutions in the last 20 years and the influence of the office environment on employees’ health, wellbeing, and productivity remains to be a trend.

Several research projects and studies have affirmed and corroborated the impact of workplace cleanliness on productivity, and understanding how vital this is, employers tend to opt-in for the service of business cleaners who’ll do justice to the cleanliness of the office environment.

For employees to produce their best work, they need to be calm in their physical work settings and feel comfortable, and if you would prefer to oblige to business cleaning contract services to make your office space sparkling clean, do well to only go for experienced business cleaners who will put good efforts in effectively contributing to the workspace’s productive atmosphere.

Six Ways a Clean Workspace Guarantees Employee Productivity

1. It Makes Employees Happy

Have you ever thought of the kind of bliss your employees will feel when they walk into the office to meet a neat and tidy space? In fact, they’ll always be glad to show up at work and this will foster their productivity. With a clean office, they’ll have more time to get things done and they can quickly and easily track down paperwork if need be.

Keeping a clean work desk means zero distraction and this fully eradicates the need to scamper around wasting time and getting exhausted while looking for a document. Employees spend about eight hours in an office and they tend to treat their office as their second home. Thus, a tidy office is a necessity to achieve a desirable comfort zone that will beef up productivity.

2. It Enhances Creativity

When your employees are clustered with arranging “this” and taking care of “that”, you restrict and deprive them of harnessing their creativity because too much clutter can be detrimental to clear, creative thinking.

Although some people would say the mess on their desk can help them think and be creative, it’s worthy to emphasize that an untidy desk and workspace can hinder you from giving your all to what you are to do for the day because it subconsciously draws you back from tapping into that full creativity level.

As an employer, you can encourage your employees to practice the habit of decluttering their office space daily to help enable them to have a peace of mind of their cleanliness because after all, an agile workplace can go a long way in encouraging creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.

3. It Improves Focus On Work

You’ll find it pretty herculean to focus on your work when you have an untidy workplace because a cluttered office has a lot of distractions and it threatens your sense of personal control. A messy environment is in no way beneficial because it makes you have a short persistence.

On the other hand, you’ll be able to easily focus on the matter at hand when you have a clean space because there’s this sense of calmness and personal control one feels in the ambience of a clean environment.

4. It Reduces Stress

Relaxation and peace, often, don’t necessarily come with possessions of material things — decluttering is a great way to feel relaxed, reduce stress, and combat anxiety. You’ll not be able to focus on work and your anxiety levels will increase when you have too much in your office.

5. It Maximizes Employee’s Working Time.

You’ll be helping your employees to concentrate on the more important things if as an employer, you prioritize the cleanliness of the office workspace. Several business cleaners can provide a variety of services to help ensure employees’ working areas are kept in pristine condition.

Paperwork will be easy to find when the desks of your employees are organized and they’ll be able to spend quality time on getting their to-do lists effectively tackled rather than wasting time frantically looking for a document in a messed up office. Investment in a business cleaning service is worthwhile for employers who truly care about their employees’ well-being and as well desire to improve their productivity and creativity.

6. It Keeps A Healthy Workspace.

Health is wealth and one of the best ways to facilitate good health is to get into the habit of cleaning and decluttering your office space. Employees should know that a messy office can have a severe effect on the overall productivity of the company and there could be several sick leaves and more absenteeism if workers’ health is compromised.