Category Archives: Office Space Planning

6 Considerations When Selecting An IT Support Provider

What Is A Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

One of the ways to know a good IT company (or at least, one that will suit your business) is that it provides Managed IT Services. Managed IT Services typically refers to a series of IT solutions and services which allow you to delegate all of your IT-related tasks or needs (including maintaining and monitoring your IT system round-the-clock) to a Managed Service Provider (an MSP).

This is an excellent option, especially for businesses that can’t afford to hire a team of tech experts. But, the most important thing is finding an IT service provider that will get the job done and right. This brings us back to the six things to consider before choosing an IT service provider.

Let’s go!

1. Consider Availability

The last thing you need is an IT service provider that doesn’t show up on time, when you need it, or at all. Availability is the first factor to consider when choosing an IT service provider. You want to know if your preferred IT company can maintain and monitor your IT systems round-the-clock.

Ask the important questions:

- How quickly can you reach your IT company either through email, call or chat?
- What is the average response time?
- How long does it take for them to resolve any issues?

Ensure that you have the answers you want, and if possible, authentic customer testimonials.\

2. Consider Experience

Another crucial factor to consider is the level of experience of an IT service provider. You want to be sure you are working with an IT company with a track record of success. Your IT company should offer access to a team of skilled and experienced technicians who can get the job done flawlessly anytime.

3. Consider Security

Perhaps, this is one of the most important factors in this list. Security is important to any business, and even the minutest breach can cost you a lot. You need to be certain that your IT service provider will monitor your network 24/7 to quickly detect any potential problems and solve them on time. You don’t want a situation where you constantly worry about malware, hackers, or viruses disrupting your business’ productivity. Your IT company should use top-of-the-line tools and technologies to secure your data.

4. Consider Your Budget

Of course, while you want the best IT solutions and services for your business, you also don’t want to break the bank while getting it. A good IT company will offer flat-rate IT support to suit your budget. If an IT service provider’s services are too pricey for your operating expenses, then it may be best to look for a more budget-friendly option.

Note: A ridiculously cheap IT service provider may not be a good idea, as the quality of service may not be good enough to secure your data.

5. Consider Versatility

Look out for IT service providers that offer many different services and solutions to choose from. Instead of outsourcing other service needs (such as wireless services, virtual CIO services, VoIP business phones, hosted cloud services, mobile device management, and more), hiring an IT service provider that offers all of these services helps you significantly cut back on operating expenses.

6. Consider Scalability

It is very important to work with an IT service provider that prioritizes your business growth and success. This means choosing an IT company that completely understands your business needs, goals, and how to achieve them.

Final Thoughts

Hiring the right IT service provider is highly beneficial to any business. It takes away the unnecessary hassles of running a business and allows you to focus on the things that matter. So, if you are considering hiring an IT service provider, these six factors will help you figure out what to look out for to make the right choice.

If you are looking for office space that can provide you with the Information technology you need, we can help with our network of local pros. All at no cost to you. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation to request info. Give us a try. You will be happy you did.

4 Ways to Become More Productive at Work

Productivity is the heart and soul of a functioning workspace. If employees are to be productive at work, it could come down to the structure and setting of the office. Not just the location, but the layout of office furniture and equipment, the flow between employee space, and the overall feeling of the office.

Fortunately, there are resources out there to help boost a business’s productivity and make an office a place where employees want to get their work done. Keep reading for four tips and some advice on how to accomplish a more productive workspace.

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

Adding indoor plants to the office can bring many benefits. Not only it boosts productivity, but it also livens up the place as well. It adds a touch of beauty to the area. In the section below, you will know the five 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.

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.

5 Important Considerations When Purchasing Office Space

Purchasing office space is a big step for any company. You need to consider many things like floor space, price, on-site facilities, parking, and ambience before you spend a considerable amount of money on work premises for you and your employees.

Of course, you can’t just buy the first office you visit. Walk around a few of the best and try to compare each one before you make your final decision. When checking out office spaces, keep these points in mind:

1. Check The Location

The first thing you should consider is the location of your office space. You must find a place accessible enough for you and all the employees who will occupy the office.

Is it close to public transportation and is there parking available? Is the office space in a good neighborhood or business district? Are there any restaurants or banks near your office? By answering these questions before you settle into an office, you can pick which one would be at the most effective location.

2. Utilities Should Be Working Well

Before you settle into an office space, first check if the electricity, water, and internet lines work properly and meet your needs.

If you’re not very familiar with these details, it’s best to bring an inspector with you. This way, you can determine if all the lines and connections are properly installed in the office.

The electrical lines should conform to safety standards, and the main water line shouldn’t have any leaks or damages. Likewise, the internet service in the area should also be working correctly. If anything is not up to par, you should talk to the selling representative about repairs or search for other offices without any utility issues.

3. Space And Ventilation

Aside from the main utilities and location, you should also consider how much space is in the office, its layout, and the ventilation inside.

Is the air-conditioning or heating system centralized, or can you regulate it per room? Does the office feel stuffy when crowded? Asking yourself these questions will help you chose the best commercial space for your new office.

Also, estimate how many people can occupy the office. For example, if you’re planning to move a company with 20-30 employees to the office, make sure there’s enough room for everyone to set up their desks, as well as essentials like filing cabinets, printers, and photocopy machines. Hiring a space planner for this is both affordable and recommended.

4. Price For Value

Before you purchase an office space, evaluate whether the money you’ll be paying is worth it.

Try to factor in the costs you’ll pay for your monthly bills and the insurance for the place. Also, do s lease vs buy analysis to make sure you are making the right decision. Do all the aspects of the space justify its price? Can you still negotiate the selling price of the office?

Once you’ve calculated all the expenses, you can determine whether the office you’re eyeing is worth its price.

5. Do You See Yourself Building Your Company In That Space?

Of course, the most crucial factor you should consider before purchasing an office is if you can see yourself and your company staying there for a long time. You are investing a significant amount of money in an office space, so it’s best to get your money’s worth.

Consider if the office space is a positive work environment that will help you grow your company.

Does it fit with your company’s ethos and values, and does it feel comfortable enough to work there daily?

The office you’ll work will play a part in how well your company will function. It will also influence how efficient your employees’ work will be. So, think about how you’ll thrive in the office you’ll purchase.

Final Thoughts

Of course, we recommend you use a buyer’s broker when purchasing office space to make sure all of these and many other considerations are evaluated correctly. Purchasing office space for your business is a big decision and one that requires careful analysis. These are only a few considerations listed here that you should delve into. Once you’ve evaluated all the aspects of the potential office spaces you’ve checked out, you can decide which one is the best option.

Contact us if you would like assistance finding the perfect office space to purchase. Our local reps are not only experts in their market, but also great guides to make sure you avoid any costly mistakes.

4 Ways To Create A More Productive Work Space

After hiring a couple of employees and renting an office, it seems that you’ve done your part, but that’s not entirely true. Although you’ve done what’s necessary, it doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile by helping your employees settle in on their jobs and create a productive work space. After all, once they adapt to the business, their productivity will soar.

More productivity means more work done, and more work done means more money for the company.

The best part is that you don’t necessarily have to guide them each step of the way. Creating favorable working conditions would be more than enough to help them become more comfortable, and that’s what this guide is all about. Below are four ways to breed productive employees through improving their workspace:

1. Incorporate Natural Sceneries

You may have heard from somewhere or someone before that greeneries and natural light can improve your mood, and yes, it’s true. Humans have a desire to connect to nature, which is why a study has found that even just a minute with nature can lead to a feeling of relaxation, which may increase productivity.

While it’s true that nature itself can lead to relaxation, there are other ways to make the workspace much closer to nature, and that’s by getting air filters that eliminate pollution. Of course, you can buy some plants and place them in your employees’ desks, but if you find a custom filter that pretty much does the job, there’s no need to bother with buying greeneries.

2. Provide Proper Equipment

Surely it must be evident that one of the best ways to improve productivity is by providing the proper equipment. Employees may feel disheartened knowing that the business they’re working for cannot provide them with the necessary tools for the job, resulting in less productivity.

The pieces of equipment you’ll need to prepare to differ according to what business you run. For most office jobs, employees must have their own desks and gadgets such as computers or laptops. Other than working equipment, you also have to consider buying equipment that brings comfort such as ergonomic chairs.

3. Mind the Temperature

Electrolytes, a compound that serves as energy for the body, deplete much faster in hot conditions. On the other hand, excessive coldness can lead to discomfort and even vulnerability to diseases. In other words, the temperature must be perfect. You can either use air conditioners during hot climates or heaters during the cold weather.

4. Introduce Colors to the Office

Is there a feeling of relaxation when you see the color blue all around you? Do you feel a sense of excitement when you’re surrounded by red walls? That’s probably because colors can affect a person’s mood, just like nature.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to paint your office walls with a color that improves productivity, but which color? You may have already guessed it, but red is an excellent color since it keeps the heart pumping, which might be necessary to employees if they somehow feel bored during work hours. Blue is also a great alternative as it exudes a calming atmosphere, which can help your employees focus on their tasks.

Wrapping Up

No matter how high the pay is or how nice you are to your employees, you can’t guarantee that they’ll become much more productive. What they need is a good productive work place, one that suits their needs and provides them with comfort. While it’s not an easy task, this guide should make it less complicated. However, remember that great things aren’t free, so don’t be afraid to invest in your business and your workforce.

And if you are looking for office space wher you can creat a productive work space, we can help with our network of local tenant reps. Contact us today to find out more. Our services are free to you! No obligation either.

How To Handle And Organize Important and Sensitive Documents

There are numerous sensitive documents, files, and information that every single business should keep in a secure location. These documents earn the name “important and sensitive” because these items should not be distributed widely due to security concerns.

As most people are aware, it is essential to protect your sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands. All of this information could cause serious repercussions if a third party accesses it, so it is important to take precautions. With the way that technology is moving, businesses need to make sure that they are doing everything that they can to protect their clients.

Common Behaviors that Put information at risk

Security breaches, identity theft, and insider threats can put sensitive documents and information at risk, but common human behaviors and insecure tools can make it easier for hackers to get your sensitive data. Some of the practices are:

Employees attach and send sensitive documents in plain text From the office using a web-based personal email address.
Staff downloads sensitive data to the public to communicate with business associates and access and use data on tablets.
Staff members upload, temporarily save and transfer sensitive documents in plain text from a laptop to a common USB drive.
Employees upload sensitive data to the public, enabling other workers to access then use that information from different mobile platforms.
After registration with Dropbox, workers transfer a range of huge datasets containing sensitive business details to the software without the employer’s consent.

How Do You Handle and Organize Sensitive and Important Documents?

In a world where information is king, there are bound to be loads of important and sensitive documents that require keeping in a secure location. We all have our ways of organizing, but how do you handle and organize sensitive and important documents?

Control Access to the Sensitive Documents

To control who can view and who cannot view Documents of a sensitive nature you need to make them accessible only with the use of passwords which are to be made available to employees only on request and one at a time.

Employee Training

Training your employees is necessary to retain an effective workforce. The best-trained employee is one who understands the basics of your company’s policies. These guidelines help create a standard of behavior for all employees to adhere to. Make sure all new employees are trained in handling and organizing important and sensitive documents to ensure the appropriate use of company property.

By implementing a policy of identifying sensitive documents, reviewing them with new hires, securely storing them, and monitoring login attempts for inappropriate activities, professionals like Contract Hound assert that your business can reduce risks associated with unauthorized access to documents containing sensitive information.

Make Use of Confidential Waste Bins and Shredders

Confidential waste bins and shredders are an excellent way for businesses to protect their documents from prying eyes. When used correctly, confidential waste bins and shredders can help your business in various ways, from saving time to improving security. Having a confidential waste bin to dispose of the vital material is an asset in your organization’s security policy.

Lockable Document Storage Cabinets

Another common office supply that you might not have heard of is lockable document storage cabinets. Lockable document storage cabinets are just what they sound like. They are a box that you can lock and store fragile files or paper documents in. These are better than regular file drawers because they are more protective and secure. Another common use for these boxes is to store important documents containing Social Security numbers or personal information.

Ensure Secure Delivery of Confidential Documents

The passing on or delivery of documentation can never be taken lightly. There should always be a degree of security in place to prevent the documents from ending up in the wrong hands. Not only would this be extremely embarrassing for the company, but it could also mean that sensitive details become public and also put information at risk. For this reason, it’s important to ensure you have the relevant service or system in place to move and organize such essential paperwork.

We all know how important it is to be able to organize and secure your files from prying eyes. Taking the time to create a good system will make your life easier in the long run.

To wrap it up, all important documents and records usually come from various sources. Be it your organization, customers, or employees who leave them behind. In this post, we have discussed how to handle this sensitive information to keep them safe.

And if you are looking for office space that is secure, we can help with our network of local tenant reps. Contact us today to find out more. No obligation and our services are free to you!

The Interesting History of the Ergonomic Seating

Keeping your employees healthy is important. Ergonomic seating and furniture for office space have been around for a few decades now, however it is just recently that they have begun to get popular. A question to ask is where did ergonomics originate from and how did it get implemented into the workplace? How did it evolve into what we have today? Ergonomics has actually had an interesting and has been an area of study for a long time.

Ergonomics Was Created In the 1850s

As early as the 1700s, people were documenting work-related injuries and what was causing them. You might think of workplace injuries as a modern issue, but as early as 1713, people were studying why injuries occur from labor. This led to the creation of the word “ergonomics” in 1857 which was a method to help increase comfort while working and reduce injuries. It is interesting to see the evolution of the word move from basic labor, towards pieces of equipment such as office chairs that are used to increase productivity and comfort. Ergonomic chairs are still a long way off at this point in history, but the wheels have been set in motion to get us to where we are today.

A Way To Increase Production

The next time we saw ergonomics mentioned was in the 1900s, as factories and bosses were trying to find ways to increase the productivity of their employees. They tested a variety of different methods, such as more comfortable seating, and different tools to accomplish tasks. What they found was that while they had to spend money to help employees out, the employees were able to triple their output at times. This led to many factories and workplaces looking for ways that they could help employees reach full production.

World War II and Post War

When it came to the war, many areas in the country were converted into factories to help with the war efforts. Because human labor was extremely high, they had to find ways to speed up the process and allow people to produce as much as possible. This led to creating more machines that people could use and interact with. Along with that, creating proper workspaces for someone to sit while working would allow them to work longer without fatigue.

Once the war ended, serious research began to be put into ergonomics and how the human body responds when sitting. These findings helped to prove what everyone thought about ergonomics. They did in fact increase the productivity of an employee but creating an environment where they are able to work longer and work more comfortably. The industry began to brainstorm different ideas of how they could incorporate ergonomics into their work more and how they could better the processes that were already in place. This led to people looking at pieces of equipment such as the chair for example and experimenting around with it to determine what made a person work best.

Fast Forward To Today

Looking back, we have come a long way from World War II, especially when it comes to the ergonomics of sitting. Science and the medical field now fully understand what happens to your spine when sitting in a chair that is not comfortable. With the medical field pushing out data to show the importance of an aligned spine and ergonomic seating, the furniture industry has responded by finding new ways to incorporate these levels of comfort.

You will find in your standard ergonomic chair there is going to be a headrest of sorts for your neck muscles to relax, armrests so you can rest your arm muscles, a cushioned back to soften the impact on your spine, and finally a soft surface to sit on which will reduce the amount of pressure that you put on your hips. If you look into fancier ergonomic chairs, you can find ones with lumbar support, that will help your lower back and reduce pain. It is interesting to see in the past twenty years how much the design of the chair has changed.

This leads us now to looking forward and seeing what the future holds for ergonomic chairs and furniture. Advancements have already been made to create spaces where people can lay down while working. Creating a chair or a piece of furniture is not difficult, creating one that is comfortable and healthy for people is another story. As we learn more and more about the body, we will begin to use that research to create better pieces of furniture and equipment for us to use. Fifty years down the road, our implementation of ergonomics might be incredibly different than what we have today. Do you use an ergonomic chair in your line of work?

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Handling Workers Compensation and Injured Employees

Accidents happen, whether deliberate or by chance, and they are a serious issue in many workplaces. When sustaining work-related injuries care must be taken that workers are fairly compensated and no further harm comes to any side. That is where Workers Compensation plays a part.

Legal trouble concerning these issues can come in the form of employees exaggerating their injuries in order to be compensated much more or the employers trying to minimize the damage to avoid any compensation whatsoever. Both cases have been regularly encountered in the US judicial system.

The best solution is in the middle ground, where both parties are following their legal obligations and rights, but if needed you should be aware of how you can fight for your rights in case of injury.

Finding an Attorney

Even before anything bad happens you could consult a legal expert. From the start, when reviewing your contract with the employer you could ask a legal professional for an opinion if the terms for any injury compensation are agreeable. But in the worst-case scenario, where an injury has occurred, finding a good workers compensation attorney, like the ones at A rizona workers compensation attorney, can literally be a lifesaver. Having someone with experience fight to get your medical expenses covered is a huge deal in the US.

Workers compensation is usually seen only as a net loss in the employer’s books (and not as a human and worker right, as they should be), and as they are often unwilling to make such an expense they need to be threatened with a lawsuit sometimes, so as to make them respect the contract.

Educating and Preventing

Preventing injuries is the first step that needs to be thought out when organizing any job. Considering that blue-collar workers are at an inherent risk of sustaining serious injuries while operating machinery they need to be properly educated about the tools and materials they will be encountering. Though the number of fatal work injuries is relatively low, a much larger number of non-fatal injuries is present or even goes unrecorded if the worker is in the “exempt” category.

Education of employees and employers goes two ways – one is the education about their rights and obligations, as both parties have them defined by law and contract, and the other about safe working practices. The employer is supposed to know the workers’ limitations and not ask them to work beyond them, while the workers are supposed to be fully capable of safely working within their limitations and job description.

Immediate Response

In case of injury, the first response is the most critical in the long run. Reacting quickly and correctly to mitigate any serious or life-threatening injury is beneficial to every party involved and should therefore have top priority in such situations.

If, for example, a worker is badly hurt from a machine malfunction they should be administered first aid immediately, after which 911 should be called. If anyone present doesn’t know how to give proper first aid, 911 should be called first and they will give further instructions.

Filing Appropriate Paperwork

It is the injured employee’s responsibility to file a claim within one year of the injury. This can be done by filling a form at the doctor’s office or by obtaining a Worker’s Report of Injury. If no claim of injury is reported in one year since the accident happened the employer is exempt from providing compensation to the worker.

The employer is also required to submit an Employer’s Report of Injury, though that doesn’t count as a claim, only as a report. Employees should therefore be aware that, even though they do not need to submit a claim as soon as possible it must be done in a timeline manner as there is a limit on how long you can wait. All such claims and reports must be submitted to the ICA.

What to Do After Compensation and Recovery?

Waiting to be compensated can be a tricky period. A serious injury may put a worker out of line for a while and with less income but higher spendings due to medical bills compensation from insurance come as much-needed relief.

When returning to work afterwards there should be a period of adaptation so as to not make another mistake while operating a machine, for example. If all is well both the employer and employee will continue to have a professional relationship and will work out what caused the injury so that it doesn’t happen again.

Compensations for work-related injuries are a basic human right and should be available to everyone in the workforce. Even though nobody wants to get hurt it can still happen even to the best of us and knowing how to handle the injuries and compensation paperwork is a big part of being a responsible worker.

We can help you find the office space that meets all the safety requirements for your employees, whether conventional or flexible space, we can help. Contact us today for a no-obligation discussion on how one of our local tenant representatives can help.