Don’t Forget Older Friends and Family

BY: MIRIAM GOODMAN

Mother’s Day has just passed, Father’s Day is coming up soon, and the same words are heard around the country…it is nice to have a special day for honoring our parents, but where are you the rest of the year?

San Mateo resident Michael Villalpando is acutely aware of the lack of human contact for so many older mothers and fathers. As the founder of the C.H.I foundation –Communities Health and Wellness Involvement— and a Tai Chi instructor at dozens of assisted living facilities, nursing homes and retirement communities all over California, he sees seniors and disabled adults who have basically been forgotten by friends and family. And he wants to do something about it.

Villalpando’s goal is to establish an awareness of the elderly, ill, and disabled people and encourage young and old alike to visit and spend time with those who live isolated lives in institutions and assisted living communities. He wants to establish a National CompassionHoliday on every March 15…a legal holiday where people will volunteer services at senior centers and care facilities, promote respect and awareness of these citizens and unite all in a spirit of compassion and public service. He is circulating a petition and says when he gets enough signatures, he will submit the petitions to Congress for establishing a day for those in need of compassion.

Interested readers can access petitions at www.nationalcompassionholiday.com. There is no charge and names will not be used for any other purpose. You can contact Michael with questions or support there as well.

As Villalpando says: “I see these people every day and know how just one person smiling at them or taking a few minutes to talk and value them as a person can make a difference.” He believes future generations will thank you for your support and reminds us, “this is not just about ‘them,’ it is about us. We will all be there some day.”

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Public Speaking Have You Tongue Tied? How To Get Your Message Across

“What do you do?‘ is a common enough question, yet it always seems to  take some people by surprise. The question either puts people on the spot and they freeze, or it engenders a lengthy discussion on the process of what they do rather than the essence of their job or career. Either response will lose the attention and even respect of your audience. Classes, coaching, or just a couple of tips can help. 

Plan Ahead
You know the question, prepare the answer ahead of time. Think of ways to relay your message beyond the “I do this, then I do that.” There are various tools that can help expand and focus what you do and how you describe it. Maybe you need more descriptive words, maybe better diction so your are more easily understood, maybe you are painfully aware of the dreaded vocalized pause – that umm. A personal communication coach can get you started and give you the tools you need to improve your vocabulary, practice voice diction and take a moment to pause and regroup before you continue on with your thoughts. They can also teach you ways to convey what you are saying confidently and with purpose.
Come on, Smile
In order to come across professionally, you need to be in control to capture the attention of the person or group that you are speaking with.  Learn to engage your audience (from a small cocktail group to an auditorium size audience). Control includes taking charge of the tone of your voice, inflection, pitch, emotions and body language. Remember how your mother nagged you to stand up straight? Still applies. Stand up, loosen your arms and gesture rather than cross your arms or flail around too much. And yes, smile, it actually goes a long way in audience engagement.
Be Succinct
If you have something to say, come right out and say it. Getting too caught up with details of your work can be boring to others and cause them to tune you out. A coach from sites like Noomii life coach directories can help you pinpoint what is important and special about your work and convey your passion  clearly and objectively.
Eye Contact
Whether you’re talking to one person or a thousand, making eye contact with your audience is crucial. Often, engaging audience members with your eyes is just as important as the words you speak, so you want to practice addressing the individuals personally as you talk. If you can’t bear the thought of looking anyone in the eye as you talk to a larger group – simply focus on foreheads. It looks like you are making eye contact, but you are not, and that can help as you get used to delivering your message.
Slow Down
You may be excited and in such a rush to get your point across that you talk over the other party or parties in your group. Everyone gets to have their say and being a respectful conversationalist comes with being a good listener. it’s okay if you don’t make your point right away. Even if you miss the chance to say your briliiant respote, it’s better to be considered a good listener.  If you still have something to add to the conversation, you can do so once they’ve finished.
Be Compelling  
Look at what you do as a part of a bigger picture.  For instance a DMV employee may grouse that all she does is process papers.  Or she can look at the bigger picture of what she is involved in. Suddenly she is instrumental in getting new drivers on the road – an American rite of passage. A communication coach can also help you address a room full of executives and give you tips on how to relay a story in an interesting way. Emotion, certain inflections in your voice and solid material can engage and motivate your audience.
As you go about your busy life between work, home and social functions, really think about what you are doing; make mental or real notes, create your story. So when someone asks what do you do? You not only have the answer, you may even convince them that you have a really fabulous career.    

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

As a corporate trainer in speech and writing, Catharine Bramkamp tries very hard not to correct people during their overly long elevator speeches. To enhance your own abilities there are groups to join like Toastmasters, or you can find help through the Noomii life coach directory.

 

 

Life after ‘Till Death Do Us Part’

5 Real-Life Tips for Widowhood
from Former Romance Novelist

Perhaps the only bad thing about a lifelong romance is, eventually, someone has to die.

Short of an unnatural occurrence – a violent crime, a suicide pact, a plane crash – a wife or a husband will be forced to go on alone. After decades of shared life, love and happiness with her husband, Ralph, Thelma Zirkelbach says surviving “till death do us part” can be like wandering lost in a foreign wilderness.

“Ralph has been gone for 7½ years now; when I first lost him I had no idea that I’d have to get used to an entirely new lifestyle,” says Zirkelbach, author of “Stumbling Through the Dark,” (www.widowsphere.blogspot.com), a memoir about an interfaith couple facing one of life’s greatest spiritual challenges.

“When you’re grieving – whether your loved one is suffering from a terminal condition, or he or she has recently passed – practical things like funeral arrangements, short- to long-term financial issues or even what’s for dinner can seem very conceptual, abstract and far removed from what you’re feeling.”

But the biggest challenge is having no one with whom to share your life, she says.

“Family milestones, major news stories and technological changes are just a few things Ralph has not experienced with me,” says Zirkelbach, a grandmother, speech pathologist and Harlequin Romance author.

She offers five areas in which couples can prepare for both the process of dying, and life after death:

• At the hospital: We tend to take our health for granted until we don’t feel well. Sometimes, it’s something we can’t shake; for Ralph, flu-like symptoms would prove to be leukemia. At one point during her life at the hospital with Ralph, Zirkelbach kissed her husband before he was sent off to isolation as part of his treatment; it would be the last kiss for an entire month. When a spouse gets sick and requires extended hospital treatment, be ready for a shortage of parking, general uncertainty and an irregular schedule. Zirkelbach’s sanctuary during Ralph’s time at the hospital was the hospital’s café, where she “gorged on smoothies and cookies – sweets are my comfort food,” she says.

• Finances: This can be one of the most difficult areas because, too often, couples don’t prepare for the eventuality of a death well in advance. While older couples are more likely to be financially prepared for a death, younger couples are often caught blindsided by the loss of a spouse. Consider getting professional assistance from a financial expert.

• Spirituality: What is often put aside as secondary in daily life can quickly become the primary thought for someone who is grieving. Zirkelbach and her husband were an interfaith couple – he came from an evangelical Christian background and she is Jewish. Ralph was admitted to the hospital as Jewish; he had planned to convert, but as his condition worsened and his family became more involved, he stuck with Christianity. This was emotionally confusing to Zirkelbach during an already stressful period. Understanding each other’s views on matters of life and afterlife before a loss is helpful.

• Bad things can still happen: When Ralph got sick, Zirkelbach’s mother was also beginning a rapid decline, and ultimately died before Ralph. “Just because a terrible thing is happening to you doesn’t cancel out the possibility of another one happening,” she says. “There’s no credit limit for misfortune, which is all the more reason to show love, regularly, to the people you care about the most.”

• The journey of letting go: Zirkelbach quotes Mary Oliver’s poem “In Blackwater Woods”: To live in this world / You must be able … To love what is mortal … knowing / Your own life depends on it; / And when the time comes to let it go, / To let it go. “I had no idea I could survive all by myself; it seemed like I needed help with everything,” she says. “But I’ve learned a very important lesson — I’m much more resourceful, much stronger and much more independent than I ever thought I was.”

About Thelma Zirkelbach

Thelma Zirkelbach received a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from the University of Texas, a master’s in speech pathology and audiology from the University of Houston and an education doctorate in curriculum and instruction with emphasis on reading disorders from the University of Houston. She has been in private practice in speech pathology, specializing in young children with speech, language and learning disabilities, for many years. She began her writing career as a romance novelist, publishing with Harlequin, Silhouette and Kensington. Her husband’s death from leukemia in 2005 propelled her to creative non-fiction.

 

Enhancing Workplace Wellbeing: Ways To Maximize Employee Health

 

Towards a healthier workplace

Look around most offices these days, and it’s fairly obvious just how healthy we already are. With our water coolers, air conditioning, and bright, comfortable surroundings, those of us who work in a modern office environment are really very lucky in many respects. Health and safety legislation plus advanced technology has meant that the contemporary workplace is somewhere that allows us to give our best in an environment that’s geared towards safety and comfort.

But although we’ve come a long way over the years, there are still things we can do to continuously improve workplace wellbeing and employee satisfaction levels.

Workplace wellbeing strategies and productivity

Studies have often indicated that happy and healthy staff are more productive, and in looking to minimise sickness absence, many organisations are also helping to increase employee satisfaction along the way. Benefits that are offered as part of an employment package can include the following:

• Providing private medical insurance for staff
• Offering an employee assistance programme
• Health & wellbeing benefits such as subsidised gym membership

Having staff health cover means that in the event they fall ill, they will be treated promptly and in good quality surroundings. It also means that waiting lists, which can be lengthy, are avoided.

One useful way of helping staff is through the provision of an employee assistance programme. These provide (among other things) counselling for staff who may be going through difficulties in their life outside of work, such as bereavement or divorce.

Measuring employee satisfaction

While employee benefits such as health cover are popular – and also a useful tool in helping to attract and retain the best staff – it’s also useful to get some feedback on how you’re doing. This is where employee satisfaction surveys come in. There are some good guides on the bigger HR and personnel sites showing how to build an employee satisfaction survey.

In some cases, staff may have concerns about the confidentiality of their survey response. However, one way to guarantee the anonymity of survey returns is to use the services of a third party company.

Employee satisfaction surveys can also be a useful way to engage employees – this can be done by involving them in the survey by consulting them on the scope of the survey, and the kind of things it should ask.

Going foward with a wellbeing strategy

Once your wellbeing strategy is in place, it can be reviewed periodically and any changes that need to be made can be implemented. It’s worth keeping up with all the up-to-date news on employee engagement and wellbeing by looking at the major HR and personnel news websites, as there are often quite in-depth articles on the subject discussing all the latest developments.

About the author: Jen Jones writes on small business health insurance and wellbeing topics for various UK and international health and business websites.

 

5 Hottest Niches for New Business Startups

Oklahoma Health Care Authority (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

The desire to start a business is just the first step in success. Choosing the right business to start can mean the difference between success and failure. For those looking for businesses that are more likely to succeed, it may be helpful to look in these high demand sectors for startup ideas:

 

1. New Tech Trends

 

The face of the Tech industry is changing rapidly. New trends are moving toward iPhone apps and online services, rather than boxed software and game specific hardware. Sales of console games have been steadily declining while phone gaming apps and social networks have gone viral. Even office software suites are now online as a service and not installed on computers. Printing has changed as well. New 3D printers are selling well as print quality increases to a whole other level.

 

Best Tech Ventures

 

• iPhone Apps
• Software as a Service
• Online Gaming Platforms
• Social Network Gaming Platforms
• 3D Printer Manufacturing

 

Online and Phone driven trends help small developers deliver apps without having to manufacture, package and market physical CDs. The entirely online format creates a far more level playing field for individuals and small businesses to compete with huge corporations. The timing is perfect for independent developers to create fun and useful programs to present as online services, games and apps in 2013.

 

2. Think Green

 

While most construction and materials have suffered a serious slowdown, sustainable green building is the one exception. With huge increases in the cost of electricity and traditional fuels, saving energy has become a means of economic survival that will rapidly pay for itself. No matter what effective means a family uses to increase energy efficiency, it will pay for itself in less than eight years.

 

• Sustainable Green Construction
• Green Remodeling and Home Improvement
• High R-value Insulation
• Green Building Materials
• Green Energy Production
• Energy Saving Devices
• Aquaponics Technology
• Solar Panel Manufacture

 

There is room within the green sector for a wide range of skills. Construction workers, craftsmen, would-be farmers, tech developers, inventors and engineers can all find a niche under the green umbrella. Most people find being part of the green revolution intensely satisfying as well as profitable.

 

3. Health Care and Wellness

 

America’s aging population has an ever-increasing need for health care services. Unfortunately, health care and insurance is very expensive. The demand for affordable health care services, wellness measures and ways to reduce health care cost is overwhelming. Hospital security technology and data management are also in demand. The interest in yoga has risen sharply in the 21st century. Millions of American doctors are actively indorsing yoga as an important step toward wellness.

 

• Yoga Lessons, Books and Merchandise
• Wellness and Holistic Care
• Home Health Care
• Online Glasses and Contacts
• Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacture and Sales
• Health Care Technology
• Medical Data Management and Security
• Cognitive Fitness Apps to Combat Alzheimer

 

There are opportunities for people of many different backgrounds and educational levels to build businesses around good health. Both holistic and traditional medicines are in demand. The main point is affordability. Of course, all health care businesses must be safe, legal and appropriately licensed or certified.

 

4. Education and Consulting

 

The need for training and specialized expertise has increased dramatically in the last two decades. Many people are seeking new career fields, struggling with new technology and seeking a bit of motivation as well. It is hard for most people to adjust to the vast and rapid changes taking place. People long to be reassured, encouraged and advised by someone they feel confident in. There is also a need for educational materials including books and instructional videos.

 

• Trade Schools
• Universities
• Education Technology
• Self-Improvement
• Motivational Speaking
• Business Consulting
• PR and Damage Control

 

There are many opportunities in the area of education and consulting. People should consider their experience and hobbies and then create courses and educational materials to help others learn new skills. Much of this type of work can be handled online, creating yet another work at home niche.

 

5. Food Products and Distribution

 

While traditional restaurants are a tremendously high-risk investment, many other food related opportunities are presenting themselves. The demand for candy, hot sauce and low-cost alcoholic beverages is soaring. Another trend is toward food vans and food trucks that serve fast food on routes. Taco trucks, hot dog trucks and burger trucks are very popular in large cities. Small casual fast food restaurants are also popular.

 

• Candy
• Low Price and Wholesale Alcoholic Beverages
• Fast Food/Casual Restaurants
• Food Trucks
• Hot Sauce Manufacture

 

The key to selling food in 2013 is low cost. Keep costs down by providing a streamlined menu and low-cost ingredients. Providing wholesale distribution of foods and beverages is also a great option. Don’t forget about health inspections and all necessary state and local licensing for each food related venture.

 

Featured images:

 

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/633600

 

Eb5investors helps entrepreneurs with EB5 Visas, a program that ensures investment in the U.S. economy and more jobs for US residents.

 

 

Managing Your Office: Success Stems from Well-Planned Space

Real estate can be one of the biggest costs to any business and for many companies the thought of expanding can be something that is out of the question. Instead of paying out more for larger premises you may need to make the most of what you already have so a little re-organisation of your floor plan may be needed. One way that you could make use of the space available to you is by partitioning sections to make new rooms to use. Creating partitions however is more than just a case of putting up some new walls and there can be quite a lot to be taken into consideration.

Safety

Often overzealous health and safety restrictions are much maligned in business and commerce and are often at the butt of jokes. The thing is though that some health and safety regulations are genuinely needed otherwise people could genuinely be at risk of sickness of injury and this needs to be accounted for when building a new partition. Blocked passageways could present an obvious risk and the risk of fires breaking out should never be neglected. Most safety aspects are common sense although if you are unsure a list of guides and regulations will be easy to obtain if needed. With health and safety taken into account when building a new partition you can help make sure that people are not hurt and also that you don’t have any problems with litigation.

Comfort

Depending on where you have built your new partition you may need to take peoples’ comfort into account as comfort is importance for happiness and productivity. Office workers sat in a cold warehouse partition will soon begin to complain and it is unlikely that much work would get done. Other factors such as noise could also be something that could affect productivity negatively and sound proofing and acoustics may be needed to create a suitable working environment.  When trying to create a suitable environment within the partition the experts should have plenty of valuable advice that will help you to achieve what you want.

Space is also important for comfort in addition to health and safety so make sure that you are not trying to cram too much into too small a space. When planning your floor space you could use computer software such as CAD that will make it easier for you to see how your design will work. With the help of some handy software you could create a comfortable environment that anybody would be happy to work in.

Something else to be taken into consideration is light and nobody would want to work in a dark and dingy office all day long. While artificial lighting can help to brighten up any space it just is not the same as natural light so try to make sure that windows are available wherever possible. If there are no windows available but you are still near an external wall then you should consider having windows installed as they can help to make the room a much happier place and therefore much more productive.

Security

There are some areas that you would probably not want everybody to have access to so security might also be a consideration. Server rooms in particular may need to be kept behind locked doors so that sensitive information cannot be accessed or maybe you would rather just restrict access to prevent large numbers of people passing through and disturbing the people working there. From simple locks to impenetrable defences you have just what you need to create a space that suitably keeps the contents inside safe from harm and disturbance.

Industrial partitions could help you to make the most of the space that you already have and could help to avoid increasing your real estate expenses.

 

 

Why Big Leaders need to have Small Egos

Leaders are very important to the success of a business, as they are the ones who inspire others, drive movement forward and provide the company with a goal. However, a leader with a larger than life ego can actually be a detriment to a company, holding it back and causing problems rather than encouraging success.

There is a huge difference between ego and confidence. Self-confidence is an essential trait in a strong leader as they need to be able to believe in themselves and confidently stride towards their dreams. Rather than the calm self-assuredness that confidence brings, a big ego manifests itself in pride, boastfulness, self-centeredness and an inability to admit when one is wrong.

Here are a few reasons why having a big ego is not a very good trait in a successful leader.

Leaders Need to Be Able to Admit When they are Wrong

Even though they might be put in charge because they have the most education or experience, leaders are not always right. In fact, sometimes they can make big mistakes, totally misjudge situations or get things completely wrong. This is nothing to be ashamed about, after all everyone is human and will make a mistake once in a while.

However, sometimes big leaders are afraid to admit that they have got it wrong. They are so unwilling to show any weaknesses that they will follow through with things even though all signs are indicating that they have got it wrong. They will lead their company towards disaster while pretending that they are doing the right thing, rather than admitting their blunder and asking for help.

A good leader should never let their own ego get in the way of realising when they are making a mistake. A confident leader is never afraid of confessing to a mistake and taking a new approach and if this is done with grace it will make your employees respect you even more.

Leaders Need to Be Able To Let the Achievements of Others Shine

Another trait of someone with a big ego is that they are quick to snap up all the credit when it comes to the group’s accomplishments. You’ve probably seen it before, the team leader whose team puts in plenty of effort to achieve something and then when it comes time to receive accolades, he speaks like he did all of the work himself. These are also the types of people who are likely to choose team members who are less competent than themselves because their primary motivation is making themselves look good. In the thinking of an egotistical person, another person’s success means that they have failed so they will feel better about themselves when others achieve and earn less.

A great leader needs to be able to step out of the spotlight and be gratified by the achievements of others. They must realise that they cannot accomplish or control everything, so they need to invest in fantastic team members and value their contribution to the organisation. Good leaders will know how to let another employee shine.

Leaders Need to Be Able to Unite Rather Than Divide

One of the most important roles of a leader is to be able to make each and every person working with them feel like they are valued and appreciated. They need to create a positive and optimistic working environment which makes employees feel engaged and motivated.

Unfortunately, a leader with a big ego will be too focused on themselves to make this happen. The people working with them will become increasingly fed up with their egotistical behaviour and will not be inspired to do their best. They might even cause conflict in the workplace, which further distracts people from doing a good job at work.

Instead of a big leader with an even bigger ego, it is better to have someone who does not deny reality even when it is negative and is able to admit their own mistakes. They will be able to help people get through difficult times, let the achievements of others shine and encourage everyone that they work with to put their best performance in.  You will be amazed at the different that a calm and confident leader without a big ego can make on your organisation.

Having a big ego can really get in the way of providing excellent leadership and here are some of the reasons why. To find out more about our leadership programs, visit Cirrus today.

 

Why Dogs Can Be A Workplace’s Best Friend

 

We all work harder than ever these days – with longer hours becoming ever more common. And there’s not always a pay rise to look forward to at the end of the year either!  Just one more reason people get stressed in the workplace. Combating that stress isn’t easy. But recent research has shown that having dogs in the workplace can make a big difference to the health and mood of staff.

That may sound surprising to some, but the fact is, putting a pooch in the workplace (especially an office environment) is a strategy based on sound science. And here are just a few reasons why.

Increasing the feel-good factor

One of the main ways to combat stress is to encourage the release of endorphins – our body’s natural feel-good chemicals.  Research in the US has shown that stroking a pet (particularly a cat or dog) can trigger for this process. Some zoologists believe that’s because it taps into a primal need to act out ancient grooming rituals.  What is known for sure is that increased endorphins can reduce anxiety and – as a result – act as preventative measure against all too common stress-related illnesses such as heart attack and stroke. Which should give anyone paws for thought!

A welcome distraction from the grind

We all know how easy it is to get immersed in work and miss out on breaks or a proper lunch. The trouble is, while it may mean hitting that deadline or target, it can mean hitting your health too. Tired, tight muscles or strained eyes are not good for anyone’s productivity levels. Having a dog on hand means an extra incentive and focus for a well-earned break from the day-to-day grind.

Mood-enhancing and team building

It’s remarkable to think that many major organisations still spend silly money on elaborate team-building exercises. If only they’d discovered how much man’s best friend can influence how work colleagues get on. Studies have shown that with a dog in the workplace, the collective mood is enhanced and people are more inclined to co-operate to get the best result for the ‘team’.

But, some things to bear in mind…

So, dogs in the workplace: a good thing? Well, there is strong evidence to show it offer real benefits. But remember, some breeds work better than others (quiet calm types of dog work best!). And of course, practically, you need to make provision for the animal’s food, water and toilet requirements.

David Grieves knows a lot about dogs because he has been the proud owner of a golden retriever for years and regularly takes his dog to work. David work dealing with car accident compensation claims in Glasgow.

 

 

The 411 on Employee Wellness: What a Modern Executive Needs to Know

 

The term “employee wellness program” has been making its way around businesses and has become quite a popular term. Some companies have grasped the idea and have implemented a wellness program while others still have no idea what it means.

If your company is struggling to understand the concept of an employee wellness program, the following information will help you learn the basics about what they are, what purpose they serve and why you should implement one.

What is an employee wellness program?

An employee wellness program is a health program designed by the company to promote and improve overall health and wellness among their employees.

 

What is the purpose of an employee wellness program?

Aside from improving the health and wellness of employees, these programs can also increase awareness on health topics, decrease the cost of insurance premiums, increase employee morale, decrease the amount of sick time used by employees, increase employee productivity and reduce the turnover rate.

How do I create an employee wellness program?

Before you waste your time and money implementing the program, you may first want to poll your employees to see who would be interested in the program. This way, you can see if you’d generate enough interest to make creating the program worthwhile.

The company can either designate a team to create and implement a program throughout the workplace or they can hire an outside health and wellness agency to help create and implement the plan.

If you opt to do it yourself, you will first need to assemble a team together to get to know what type of wellness plan would be best for your business. Companies that have a large number of young staff members will not need the same type of wellness plan as those companies with a large number of older employees, so it’s important to research your business to determine what your employees would want.

Create the team and allow them to get to work meeting, planning and organizing the different aspects and perks of the program. This team should collaborate to determine the best plan, and then they need to let all the employees know about the plan, the perks and how to get started.

If you decide that hiring an outside company is the right choice to implement your program, take your time to ensure that you’re choosing the best and most experienced company for the job.

 

What type of perks do I provide in my program?

You can do just about anything that is related to health and fitness. You can replace old vending machines with healthier food options. You can provide fitness classes to employees or give them a discount on memberships at a local gym. You can offer free massages to your employees or bring in a doctor for free vaccines or health screenings. The list of possible programs is endless—you just need to determine what’s best for your business.

Are employee wellness programs available to everyone?

Absolutely. Everyone from the CEO to the intern can benefit from the wellness program.

Employee wellness programs are 100% voluntary, so your employees can join if they want to or not join if they don’t want to. Though you can offer incentives to those who do join, you cannot discipline those that don’t.

Employee wellness programs offer an array of perks to your employees and your business. If you have yet to implement a program into your business, you should consider doing so as soon as possible. Your employees will thank you.

Anayeli Ramirez works for Engagement Health a group offering health and wellness plans.

 

 

Top 5 Tips To Improve The Office Environment

Many people think that those who work in an office have it easy but only those people who sit in that same place for 8 hours a day know how difficult it can be, mentally and physically. Therefore it is vital that the environment in the office is the best it can be.

Here are the top 5 tips to improve the office environment:

Organisation

Organisation is an integral part in ensuring that your business runs smoothly. Therefore have procedures in place to designate tasks and handle paperwork. Monthly planner display boards are great for having a visual on the tasks that have been delegated to different members of staff. For larger companies CRM systems are a form of organising tasks electronically.

Ensure that paperwork is filed and stored so that it can be accessed easily and quickly.

Refreshments

If your staff are sitting in the same place staring at a computer screen for the whole duration of the day then it is important that they have ‘rest breaks’ where refreshments are available for them throughout the day. Their brain will need to be kept active so having hot and cold drinks is important. Dehydration will have an effect on their productivity. The law for rest breaks is 20 minutes for every 6 hours work.

Comfort

Office workers are known to suffer from back problems. Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous system. This can cause long term pain and health problems, therefore it is vital that your staff are comfortable at their desk. Ensure that the mouse wire is long enough so that staff don’t have to stretch for it and that the chair height and seating position can be adjusted for optimum comfort. Foot stools and arm rests can also be added.

Space

The office space can have a great effect on the atmosphere in your office. An office fit out company will ensure that desks and other furniture are arranged so that space is utilised effectively. They will also ensure that you have enough storage for your business requirements.

Reward

It is important that your employees are rewarded. People are more than likely encouraged to work harder if they know there will be a reward for their hard work. There are many ways in which you can reward your staff, anything from staff bonuses to afternoon cakes on a Friday afternoon will make a difference.

All of the above tips will ensure that your office environment is the best it can be and if you put in place any of the recommendations you are bound to notice an improvement in productivity.

Jade is employed at an online markeing company in Birmingham she enjoys blogging about various topics from health and safety to gardening.