Employees spend a long time at work, therefore, it’s important to provide them with a workplace that motivates them and maximizes their efficiency. Creating a dynamic workplace with the right office furniture impacts employee productivity positively by keeping them motivated (LACEY, H., 8 TIPS FOR CREATING OFFICE SPACES THAT MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO WORK, FORBES, 2014). Therefore, organizations should pay close attention when buying furniture, be it wooden office furniture or metal furniture. Here are four essential kinds of furniture that organizations can purchase to create a dynamic workplace:
When designing a workplace, its best to buy an Office furniture package. This will help organizations furnish a dynamic workplace at an affordable price. One company that provides furniture for a workplace is AJ Products. More information can be found on their website.
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Whether used personally or for professional purposes, a desk is a staple fixture found in an office of any kind. For example, executives working from their homes might need this vital space to plan projects, read architectural designs, compose reports on their laptops or PCs, or hold meetings over a cup of coffee with business partners and clients. Irrespective of the kind of business for which a home office is set up, the right use of available space and furnishings and the appropriate work style can help one in being efficient and productive (Kim, 2015). Home offices that are set up in a pleasing and efficient manner also make a good impression on clients and visitors and can bolster their confidence in the business or the professional capabilities of the home-office owner.
There are many factors to consider where furnishing for home offices is concerned. Choosing the right desk is one important factor as this is the area where an executive or a professional will be spending most of their time.How the workstation is set up, how comfortable and easily movable it is, how it is organized, etc, can all contribute to one’s work efficiency. The following are some points that could be considered when investing in executive office desks for home offices: Comfort A home-based workstation should be comfortable but not too casual as this can dampen the professional energy in the room. Going for ergonomic chairs and an adjustable height desk is a good way for one to keep their health and posture in mind, as well as maintain professional furnishings in their home office. This is because furniture that can be customized to suit the physical needs of individuals can go a long way in keeping them energetic and active (Gumpel, 2009). Placement The work area of a home office must be segregated from the rest of the house. This is important for privacy as well as for a sense of professionalism and work efficiency. However, some work-from-home professionals might wish to set-up an additional workstation inside the residence. Placing an additional executive desk inside the living room can be a handy way for one to tackle less stressful tasks during off hours. Organization Keeping work desks neat and organized can sound simple in theory but over the course of time, papers and files tend to accumulate on surfaces. Searching for misplaced documents can be a big source of anxiety and inefficiency. In order to avoid such scenarios, one should ensure desks are supplemented with cabinets and paper trays in which items can be organized and stored neatly. Design Design is always an important consideration where furniture is concerned, especially desks and chairs. With the right shape and size, the desk or workstation used in a home office can transform the work area into a dynamic and creative space. For example, a curved executive desk can make the best of a larger room, providing a more defined work area. One could scout online for desk design ideas and places from which to purchase such items. One retailer with office furniture catalogues is AJ Products. Workspaces have to be designed and furnished with thought and care. Apart from the aesthetical purposes of selecting quality furniture, equipment, carpets, wall-hangings, etc, organizations must also keep in mind the functional value of such items. For entrepreneurs, small businesses and start-ups, hiring an interior designer might not be a viable option. However, such organizations can still plan and set-up their workspaces in a productive and pleasing manner. By investing in acoustic wall panels, ergonomic furniture, workstations, and good lighting, organizations can help make their workspaces more productive and efficient. This is because factors such as ergonomic furniture and workstations help employees’ health and thus directly impact their efficiency (Newtek, 2013).
Organizations might find it easier to plan and arrange workspaces if they divide offices into functionality-based segments. Where furniture is concerned, in particular, companies can invest in furniture appropriate to the following areas in an office: Executive Offices Stylish and compact executive office furniture could be selected according to the size of executive cubicles.Companies could consider investing in sturdy wooden or light-framed metallic desks that could be paired with an executive chair. The table or desk should have enough drawers for storage of files and folders. Picking laminated wood in muted tones could give executive rooms a professional look. Companies could match this with brighter toned wall-hangings. Workstations Employees might conduct various manual filing and writing tasks or computer-based activities from their workstations. This usually involves a lot of sitting, which is not good for health. Keeping this in mind, workstations need to be ergonomic. There are options in height-adjustable tables as well as ergonomic chairs that provide back-support. Employees can adjust these items to best suit their needs. Each workstation could also be paired with a locker for employees to store their personal belongings. This could help keep desks uncluttered. Conference Halls Glass oval tables are great options for conference room furniture. Metal chairs with black or white leather coverings could be paired well with a glass conference table. Companies should also consider allocating space for projectors and whiteboards inside conference rooms. These furnishings not only add aesthetic value they also perform valuable functions. Reception Areas The reception area is the first thing visitors to an organization’s office see. The area will set the tone for how potential clients perceive the business. The business’s name should be clearly displayed somewhere in the reception area. Comfortable seating should be provided for visitors to sit and wait. Companies can purchase metallic or wooden office furniture, as well as office accessories from AJ Products. More information is available on their website. Bulletin boards are one of the channels of communication at a business’s disposal. Offices should make better use of their bulletin boards. Often boards become cluttered with too many fliers and memos. If boards are kept organized, their effectiveness increases significantly. Businesses should consider using boards as a complement to using digital channels for communication. Information can be shared with employees via email and also presented visually on a board. Boards can also be used in other creative ways. Businesses should put some thought into the most effective way to integrate notice boards into their workspace and culture. Mentioned below is information businesses should keep in mind to make more effective use of boards:
Office design and furnishings have a significant impact on employee productivity and potential. Boring and bland furniture can put employees in a lazy mood. Employees will feel disinterested and this will reflect in the work they produce (Newlands, 2014). Office furniture also contributes to work related injuries and ailments. Sitting for long periods of time can increase the risk of obesity, musculoskeletal problems, diabetes, etc. Poor employee health will lead to increased absenteeism and lower productivity (Lifelong Learning Programme & Hesapro, 2016). Increasing awareness regarding the link between office furniture and productivity has led to innovations in office design. Some of these innovations are mentioned below:
Rethinking Open Plans Office places have evolved significantly in the past decade. Organizations today prefer open plan offices over traditional cubicles. Such offices encourage open communication, collaboration and peer-to-peer engagement. However, research has also shown that employees who work in open plan offices are more susceptible to distractions. Multiple conversations, phone calls, group meetings, etc., can all impair an employee’s ability to concentrate. This can lead to decreased productivity. Using plants to absorb noise, creating enclosed meeting areas, placing quiet signs around the office, etc., are some of the solutions that organizations can implement to reduce distractions in an open plan office (Moore, 2014). Curves over Lines To create modern and fresh spaces, office designers are opting for curves and shapes instead of conventional lines. An easy way to incorporate this aesthetic is by investing in curved executive desks. Round or oval shaped conference tables can be used instead of rectangular or square options. Using curves instead of lines is a way to break the monotony in interior design that employees are used to seeing during rest of their day. Colour Blocking Certain colours are known to boost creativity, productivity and happiness. Organizations can segment areas of the workspace with the use of colour blocking. A cost effective way to implement this idea is to give employees sitting close to one another accessories in contrasting colours. The in and out tray, mouse pad, pen pot, etc., for one employee could be bright orange while the same accessories for an employee sitting close by could be in blue. This simple idea can help employees keep their thoughts organized (Dishman, 2016). Ergonomics Ergonomics should be an important consideration in office design. Ergonomic furniture reduces the occurrence of aches and pains in the body. This reduces absenteeism and increases productivity. Organizations should invest in ergonomic solutions like an electric height adjustable desk. Such desks will give employees the option to stand and work. Standing for as little as an hour at work every day can reduce the occurrence of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc. (Leech, 2016). One organization from whom companies can purchase ergonomic executive office desks is AJ Products. More information can be found on their website. There are various possible dangers in everyday life at work, but many choose to ignore these. According to the Health and Safety Authority, Ireland, most workplace injuries are caused by slips, trips and falls. Around 24% of those injured tended to miss work of a month following accidents (Health and Safety Authority, 2016). This leads to lower productivity in an organization. Most of these accidents can be prevented if organizations implement proper safety measures. Mentioned below are a few steps organizations can take when trying to implement safety measures at the workplace:
Implement a Clear System Every organization should have systems to manage health and safety, for instance, have a policy, designate people and have clear procedures. It’s best to have a written document that states all the policies and procedures. Organizations should be able to show how they plan, organize, control, monitor and review preventative measures. They also need to appoint a capable person who can help them with any legal obligations. Assess Risk Every organization has some form of risk to its employees. Therefore, organizations should assess such risks and again, record these results. Risk assessment is the key to figuring out what needs to be done. Identify the main things that could cause harm and take whatever measures need to be taken to prevent harm from happening. But it’s important to keep the safety measures and steps all relatively simple. A risk assessment is only useful if it can be used as a working tool. For instance, the risk of slips, trips and falls in pantries and restrooms is high due to the fact that these areas could be wet. In such areas, its best to install anti slip rubber matting, which provides enough traction to prevent falls. Risk control measures For the most part, the law sets certain ‘benchmarks’ when it comes to health and safety goals yet organizations need to make sure their risk control measures are adequate and that they are used and maintained well. The main priority should be to reduce or eliminate a risk or hazard at the source. For instance, organizations should invest in rubber entrance mats since Ireland sees a lot of rainfall (Irish National Meteorological Service, 2016). This simple measure would reduce the likelihood of wet footwear causing accidental slips. Apart from setting up measures, it’s also important to train and supervise employees. Therefore, these are the few steps organizations should take when implementing safety measures in the workplace. Well placed safety measures could help ensure employee safety and prevent loss in productivity due to accidents. One company from whom organizations could purchase various types of mats like anti slip mats, entrance mats, rubber mats, etc. is AJ Products. More information can be found on their website. Under the Public Health Tobacco Acts 2002-2015, smoking in Ireland is forbidden in enclosed spaces of work. This includes office blocks, inside buildings, public houses/bars, restaurants, etc. The purpose of this ban is to offer protection to employees and the public who are exposed to harmful toxic effects of tobacco smoke in the workplace. Moreover, smoking has also been identified as a major cause of heat diseases and a significant contributor to lung cancer (Citizens Information, 2015).
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June 2017
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