Office

How to Create A Better Office Environment

Posted on August 19, 2013

Creating a better office environment doesn’t necessarily mean that you should have an in-house gym or a designer interior. Ordering lunch or snacks for your employees and taking them on fun-trips is fine, as long as you are doing the basics right. How a person perceives the environment depends to a large extent upon his or her mental state. On the other hand, it is also a fact that improvements in surroundings do help people's productivity. As a manager, it is your job to nurture and build an office environment where everybody feels motivated and happy to work. Even the slightest disturbances at workplace can make people hold back their best efforts, which will affect the organisational performance. While your ultimate goal is to enhance and maintain productivity, there's no direct route to that destination. You have to take a number of small steps and take everybody along. In order to be successful with creating a better office environment, you need to work on two fronts s...

10 Essential Office Stationery Supplies

Posted on August 14, 2013

Ever since the evolution and introduction of technology into the office working environment, bosses and businesses have practically shouted from their corporate rooftops to espouse their ‘paperless office’ credentials. The reality is, of course, rather different. Anyone who works in an office knows it’s impossible to function without some kind of daily interaction without note pads, Post-Its and diaries. And even though your beloved Microsoft Office, Word and Outlook can perform a multitude of functions at the touch of button (or click of a mouse), there’s one thing they simply can’t do – and that’s replace those essential office supplies that have been the bedrock, indeed the life force, of the office world for decades. A PC might be able to do many things, but it can’t replace a ream of A4 paper. And with some of the basics of office stationery comes an extra dimension of something that’s a physical and tactile experience. Don’t tell me you haven’t opene...

Manual Handling - 6 FAQs

Posted on August 14, 2013

Manual handling relates to the moving of items either by lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling. Pulling something may not be the case when it comes to the injuries, you can cause an injury by lifting, carrying or pushing an item. These injuries can be a result of, the amount of times you lift or carry an item, the distance you are carrying it, the height you are picking the item up from or putting it down i.e ground level and above shoulder height. Any awkward positioning whilst carrying out these tasks such as twisting, bending and stretching may cause injury also. Manual handling injuries are the most common kind of injuries covering over a third of all workplace injuries. These injuries include Musculoskelatal Disorder (MSDs) such as upper and lower limb pain/disorders, joint and repetitive strain injuries. These injuries can occur almost anywhere in the workplace. Heavy manual labour, awkward postures and previous or existing injury can increase the risk. Manual...

Safety in the Workplace

Posted on July 29, 2013

There are many health & safety rules and regulations that every workplace has to follow, but every workplace will need some tools to help them enforce these laws. Whether it's to prevent an accident from happening or just following the health and safety regulations, this equipment will help you in your quest to make your workplace, a safer workplace. Slips and trips After the cleaner has been and mopped all the floors, or a member of staff has accidentally spilt something on the floor, you will need to warn your fellow colleagues of the danger of potentially slipping over. Wet floor signs are the best thing for highlighting any slippery surface. In a warehouse or workshop, chemicals and hazardous liquids are spilt then you can buy hazardous...

Six Top Tips to Personalise Your Desk

Posted on July 22, 2013

When you consider the fact that approximately twenty-five per cent of the working population are employed in what is generally categorised as office work, you’ll understand how important it is for staff to make their workstations an amenable combination of private, pleasant and personal. If you’re going to spend the best part of eight hours a days, five days a week on the same spot of carpet within the same few square feet sat at the same desk, it makes sense to make your workstation as comfy as possible. Studies have shown that transforming your desk into a personalised workspace can have a marked physical and psychological benefit – it makes our feel better (you want that) and improves productivity (your employer definitely wants that). Here then are a few suggestions to make your desk a home from home. Have Your Own Screensaver As long as it’s not a download from a dubious source (or image of a dubious nature), most employers are happy to let...

Cleaning up Workplace Cable Mess

Posted on May 23, 2013

Cable management is not going to be the highest priority for most people, but there are a few business benefits to keeping cables neat and tidy in the workplace. The most obvious advantage is aesthetic – no one can say that a rats nest of cables hanging off the back of every employees computer plus wires trailing everywhere is an attractive look. An office with tidy desks and a minimalist feel will generally be seen by customers (and staff) as being an efficient working environment and portray a good image of the business. Another advantage of good cable management is safety. A mass of cables bunched up behind desks can be a fire hazard through the generation of heat and the possibility of damage to cables leading to short circuits. Sometime you see power c...

Kitting Out an Office

Posted on April 22, 2013

Not many offices have the luxury of open spaces, especially if a large number of staff are working in a small space. One of the problems with not having a large office is the storage space, whether it would be for personal or department use. You are given a desk to work at and no personal storage or space. Although it is important to consider the available space in the office, you need to ensure that the needs of your staff are met otherwise productivity could be reduced. When kitting out an office, think about what are the most important aspects: - The staff - Space - Making it look professional Let's start with the basics – desks. The type of desk you choose will be the star of the show – so to speak. They take up most of the space but they have to look great. Depending on your preference you can have wooden or plastic desks. In thi...

Why Choose Safety Steps?

Posted on April 08, 2013

Here at The Workplace Depot we have a range of mobile safety steps to suit any height and any type of access you need. Whether you work in an office, a warehouse or a supermarket storage facility, these steps will prevent any accidents and injuries to workers if they want to reach a high shelf. But why would you use safety steps rather than a ladder? One of the most common cause of injury when using a ladder is when the user carries out excessive overhead reaching which can lead to sprains and strains. Other injuries include, slipping off a ladder, the ladder wobbles and falls from under the user and the ladder breaking whilst in use. All of these can be prevented with a few safety checks listed in this table below, courtesy of HSE. ...

10 Workplace Security Tips

Posted on March 04, 2013

10 Workplace Security Tips Every company needs to have a security policy in place to keep employees, equipment and goods secure and safe. Having the right security measures can help prevent and deter burglars or people who intend to enter the property without permission. Security is something to always be concerned about, so take the time to carry out some security checks. 1. Check that all windows and doors are securely locked before leaving and closing the workplace. In the morning, check them again and see if anything is missing. 2. Keep all entrances and exits secure at all times. A combination door lock is ideal for controlling access into a building as a code is needed to gain entry. Or issue either cards, keys or ID badges to regular staff of your workplace. A door access kit is also another way of controlling who can access the building, with a choice of access kits, you can choose the right kit for the correct purpose...

Energy Saving Tips for the Workplace

Posted on March 01, 2013

Energy Saving Tips for the Workplace Improving your business's energy efficiency makes great business sense. In uncertain times for the UK's economy, more and more businesses are having to make cuts, just to keep afloat. Saving energy in the workplace, can change your business dramatically and save you more money than you think. Following on from our case on 'Becoming a 'Greener' Company, here are some energy saving tips: Appliances -Turn both the PC and the monitor off at night – switching off your monitor and computer could save around £100 each year. It could also save the same amount of carbon a year that is emitted from driving a car 3,000 miles. -Turn off any appliances th...

Case Study – Becoming a 'Greener' Company

Posted on November 06, 2012

In 2012 the Workplace Depot decided to become a more environmentally aware organisation and set a good example for staff and customers. Having implemented a number of ideas we applied for and won a Green Apple Award in recognition or our environmental efforts. A number of companies have asked us what things we did to win our green business credentials, so here is an outline of most of what we did. Reduction in paper use The Workplace Depot produces a 500+ page workplace supplies catalogue which we distribute to all our customers and network of distributors. The number of catalogues we send out runs into many thousands but our next edition will use a smaller paper size and require less paper. As part of this strategy to reduce ...

Four Essentials to Ensure the Perfect Business Meeting

Posted on November 05, 2012

Business in General If attending or conducting a business meeting there are many things to consider. What is the aim of the meeting? Who will be there? What input is expected from participants? Everyone has attended a meeting where you leave and feel nothing has been achieved or thoroughly discussed. So what key points should be considered to make the perfect business meeting? Communication For a successful meeting, communication is important from all participants. Not just verbal communication but areas of communication such as active listening. For a conversation to achieve a positive output, active listening is essential. Whether chairing the meeting or there as a participant, try not to let the conversation run off with a select few. If this happens, a true perspective of what attendees are trying to achieve will not come across, therefore leaving the meeting in tatters. As an individual, be firm in what you are saying, straight to the point statements which...