It’s that time again – Preparing your office for the New Year. 2012 promises to set the bar high with the focus continually shifting towards sustainable goals and more efficient technologies and practices. Is your office ready to take on the New Year?
Staples Advantage has provided a tip guide to get your office ready for another year of performance.
Cost-effective, high-impact improvements:
Promote collaboration – Furniture and design can facilitate collaborative workflows and communication. Consider incorporating lower-height cubicle panels and more open layouts to promote teamwork within the office. With mobile furniture – including stools, whiteboards and partitions with wheels – it’s easy for departments to collaborate dynamically and instantaneously when the need arises – and then rearrange the furniture quickly to suit their subsequent needs.
Be warm and welcoming – When new visitors walk into the office, furniture can help create a first impression. Make it a positive and inviting one with warm lighting, pleasing artwork and an accessible reception area that’s open and doesn’t feel “walled in.” Companies are increasingly applying furniture and design to create open, intuitive layouts and interesting shapes and patterns that help welcome visitors and keep them coming back.
Stress sustainability – In addition to promoting carpooling and recycling programs, companies can also achieve their sustainability goals through furniture and design. Environmentally preferable options abound – from chairs and cubicle panels made from recycled materials to energy-efficient lighting, and more. Forward-looking organizations can also leverage these sustainable options to earn credits for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Simplify Sustainability:
Multitask – Use a multi-function cleaning solution such as a multi-surface cleaner/glass cleaner/carpet spot remover/bathroom cleaner/floor cleaner. All-in-one cleaning solutions are effective and simplify the cleaning process by reducing the number of cleaning products used throughout the facility.
Re-think traditional – Companies can also reduce the amount of inventory required to keep facilities operating smoothly and sustainably by utilizing highly-concentrated cleaning products over ready-to-use products. This also lowers the amount of chemicals introduced into the environment. In addition, business can replace single-use wipes and mops with more durable and lasting microfiber cloths, and conserve energy and realize cost savings by selecting cleaning products that utilize cool water instead of warm water.
Protect – To ensure the continued well-being of both the physical building and employees, consider replacing caustic cleaning products with safer alternatives. Also, discontinue cleaning techniques that dislodge dirt and dust into the air. Replace these with cleaning tools and methods that capture and contain soils. For instance, use a wet cloth wiper or wool duster instead of a feather duster.
Examine Your Office Technology:
Improve – Consider replacing your desktop printers, fax machines, copiers and scanners with multi-function devices that accomplish all four tasks. These machines are now very sophisticated, allowing for wireless printing from smartphones and tablets; offering recommendations for smarter, more sustainable printing decisions; and helping companies establish office printing standards.
Supplement – Research shows that employees are more productive if they have a tablet to use outside of the office to check email, review documents and make client presentations. These relatively new devices are extremely portable and easy to use.
Organize – Start the New Year with new data storage drives to readily store documents and files on the go. Portable flash and external hard drives offer a range of storage capacity for an extremely low price. Many drives also offer encryption and password protection for additional security.
Is your office ready to ring in the New Year?
