In this day and age many businesses are embracing the use of new technologies in the office. This can take the form of whiteboards, projectors digital signage and other network solutions.

You may wish to arrange for the installation of this new equipment in designated rooms such as meeting areas and the boardroom, while other new technology can be compatible with desks and workstations.

All these solutions have been designed to move a business forward with state-of-the-art communication and ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a company.

As you can now conduct important meetings remotely using teleconferencing, where participants in two or more locations can interact via telephone or video facilities, this means that many business owners are changing the way they do things.

The use of digital signage to relay business news to employees or an interactive whiteboard to help with presentations, the possibilities are now so much more expansive than they have ever been in the past.

This is why modern office furniture is quite often designed with these types of technologies in mind, to make the world of business as productive as possible. When planning your office designing, it is certainly worth bearing these points in mind.

In this ever changing business environment, firms have to adapt to different ways of working. With mobile technology leading to remote working becoming more and more commonplace, the office is certainly changing from the set 9-5 daily routine it was in the past.

This means that if you have a number of workers who work from home and come in to the office occasionally for meetings or to hot desk, you need to provide these facilities for them. You may wish to order office desks with features designed for use with laptops and other equipment.

Also, when designing your office layout you should take this into consideration. You could designate an area of the office where people can come along and hot desk. You also need to remember to purchase enough office chairs for your mobile staff to sit while they work.

When looking to purchase office furniture for your business it is necessary to take all these things into account. It is also worth investing time and effort into how you utilise the space in your office to ensure the productivity of the business and provide your employees with the perfect place in which to carry out their work.

No matter what kind of business you run, the chances are that it will be somewhere where the expectations are high and employees are under pressure to deliver. And while this is all well and good in terms of productivity, if you want your staff to be well motivated then you need to ensure there are systems in place to escape the pressures of work.

By this I mean that workers are allowed to relax during their break time, and the most effective way this can be achieved is by giving them their own space to get away from things for a while. The breakout area or staff room should be somewhere where they do not feel they have to be on their best behaviour, although certain standards still need to be maintained.

You could provide an area that has bright and comfy furniture with tables and chairs that are differentiated from when working at their desks. A drinks and snacks vending machine is a great way of encouraging a relaxed atmosphere where staff can eat their lunch in peace. You may even wish to provide entertainment in the form of a video games console, plasma TV or magazines to read at break time.

If you consider an area for your staff to take time out, then you should start to see the benefits in terms of motivation and overall the office should be a more enjoyable place to come and work.

In the last article we looked at the various ways you could choose to stay healthy when working in a job that requires you to remain seated at your desk for long period of the work day. We touched upon the fact that there are a number of exercises you could perform at your desk when you have a free moment.

Here are some of the exercises you could do. However, always bear in mind that if anything makes you feel uncomfortable or strained you should stop this activity immediately.

The first exercise you could perform quite easily is by taking deep breaths as this helps to relieve any tension in the muscles.

Next you may wish to try a finger or hand massage which can reduce the risk of cramp and stiffness. As well as this it can also warm your hands.

Stretch exercises are always very good in relieving tension and getting a change of posture when seated. Shoulder shrugs are also good at this too and can relax the upper back and neck areas.

When it comes to your feet which may get used to being in the same position, you can perform foot rotations to improve the circulation of blood.

Other things to consider are yawning, blinking and constantly changing the focus of your eyes.

All of these exercises can be used to keep you relaxed and refresh you every now and again while at work.

When you spend most of your working day sat at a desk on a computer you do not usually think too often about getting some exercise. However, it is important if you want to stay fit and healthy, plus it gives you a break from repetitive tasks and movements while sitting in front of your workstation.

In any office it is necessary to take breaks every now and again. It is a legal requirement to get a rest from work every few hours so make sure you utilise this time by getting up and moving around the room. If possible, you should try and get outside for some fresh air and a short walk.

As well as going outside, there are also plenty of exercises you could try while sat at your desk, whenever you get a few spare moments from your work. These exercises will help you to feel more relaxed and refreshed.

In addition to these exercises and remaining active, you can also watch what you eat at lunchtime and in your breaks. And while it may be tempting to get a can of your favourite soft drink each day, just think of the calories you would save by just getting a drink of water or a fruit juice.

It is important to any business that their workers are able to get on with what they do in a comfortable and efficient manner. One of the best ways to do this is to make a few changes to ensure that you get the most out of your employees and they feel content with their working conditions.

Arranging your work area

Place the desks out of the way of heavy traffic areas so your staff can get on with their work, keeping the area clear of obstructions. It is part of health and safety requirements in the workplace to ensure that slips, trips and falls are avoidable. Therefore, always keep the floor clear of clutter.

Around the desk

Arrange the desk so that all required accessories and files are within reach of the employee. Stretching can cause injuries and so it is best to ensure that there is ease of access to important working tools. Also, be sure to keep the mouse near to the keyboard.

The computer screen

It is necessary to try and structure your office environment so certain risks can be avoided. Make sure the monitor is kept at eye level and the contrast ratio enables you to see the screen quite clearly. Also, try not to locate the desks near to a window as the glare may affect the computer screens. Alternatively, purchase some blinds to reduce the impact of sunlight.

Even if you have just purchased an office chair that provides you with extra comfort and back support, there are still things you can do to improve your posture and ensure you are sitting comfortably while at work.

If you have to sit in a chair all day working on a computer then it is imperative that you look after yourself to ensure that you have no long lasting bad habits. Here are just a few tips to help you while at work:

• Be sure to sit in a comfortable position near to the desk, and make sure that you don’t keep twisting or reaching too far ahead of you.
• Try continually changing your posture so you are not in the same position for too long at any time.
• Ensure that your back is well supported in the chair.
• When you are not typing, a palm rest and wrist support can come in really handy.
• Do not use the desk edge to support your palms and wrists, remembering to always keep your wrists straight.
• You may want to get a foot and leg support if you cannot find a comfortable height to place your office chair.

In today’s business environment managers are expected to do more work in less time with less staff. There are ongoing distractions that can slow you down or completely divert you from your intended plan for the day or week. The art of saving time and managing tasks effectively is an important one if you are going to survive in the competitive world of the office.

The key to effective time management is good organisation skills. This can mean dividing your day so that you have allocated time to action all your tasks by the end of the day. The first thing you need to ensure is that you keep your office desk uncluttered. If you keep a clear and tidy office desk you’ll keep a clear and organised mind.

Here are some tips to help you manage your day:

Make sure your office equipment is fully functional and report any faults with office equipment such as office chairs or computers immediately.

When carrying out a task, make sure you have all the office tools you need to finish the job. If you take time to plan in advance you can order any missing stationery to make sure you complete the task to the best of your ability.

Utilise administration staff by delegating tasks to them such as binding documents or helping with PowerPoint presentations for example.

Take control of your own deadlines and acknowledge it if you know a deadline is not feasible.

When a new recruit arrives the first few weeks can seem something like a honeymoon period. Both the new recruit and the employer are weighing up the other and deciding whether they suit each other.
However there are a high percentage of people who leave their job very quickly after first starting a new company. Why is it that things can go so terribly wrong?

1. The wrong person is chosen

If the company have been looking to fill a position for some time desperation can set in. It can feel like the company is picking the best of a bad bunch or things are so desperate the first person to sit down in the office chair gets swooped up.

2. The wrong person does the interview

It can also be the case that the wrong member of existing staff carries out the interview. Some companies rely on Human Resources to handle all the interviewing. Although there are some advantages to this there are also downsides. The HR manager may not be fully aware of what is required in the job or understand fully how the team works.

3. No Induction

There are still many companies that do not have inductions. It is essential that a new recruit has an induction to explain the role of departments, to get a feel for the history and culture of a company and to understand the protocols.

On average a British office worker will have around thirty seven hours of unfinished work sat on top of the office desk in piles of paper, faxes and bulging email inboxes. Often they are the jobs that we all love to hate that keep being shoved to the back of the queue for other pleasanter jobs. It can also be the case that you spend most of the day fire fighting and some of the more strategic tasks that can make life easier in the long run get sidelined as you react to phone calls and emails.

If you are seen by your boss to drowning under a mountain of email and have desk that is covered corner to corner in paper and documents they will assume that you are simply busy. However what should be considered is whether the employee needs help with time management and prioritisation. Bad organisation skills and the inability to delegate can lead to even senior managers putting off more important tasks to react to day-to-day crises.

If you know that you suffer from mounds of paper consider how you can address your time management. Look carefully at the types of papers you have stacked on your desk. Make some simple files – ‘To Do’, ‘To Read’ and ‘To File’. Split the papers into these different files. You’ll find that much of the clutter is down to delayed decisions. You can organise yourself straight away by putting incoming papers and emails into these three files. Next, look at prioritising tasks and delegating where possible to others. This new approach will make clutter a thing of the past.