Below are some points to consider when setting up your office at home;
1. Is the lighting adequate?
2. Has any distracting noise been minimised?
3. When seated at your desk, do you have sufficient leg room to allow posture changes?
4. Is your workspace big enough to allow you to work in comfort?
5. Can your chair be adjusted to suit your needs?
6. If your feet don’t sit squarely on the floor, you should use a footrest.
7. The height and angle of your screen will influence the position of your head and neck.
8. The monitor should be positioned so that the top of the screen is at approximately eye level. This gives a 10 to 15 degrees downward viewing angle (to test if yours is set up correctly put your arm out at eye level, top of hand should line up with top of screen).
9. The monitor should be approximately 60cms away from you (roughly at arm’s length)
10. Position the mouse near to your body (the arm should not to be stretched out).
11. The seat should be adjusted so the seat back rest gives good lower back support.
12. There should be enough space in front of your keyboard to support your hands and wrists when not typing.

There are many advantages to working from home, which is why so many people dream of being their own boss. However there are also some disadvantages, like health and safety, which is of course down to you. Many problems can be caused by spending several hours a day sat a computer desk, there are however ways to avoid these problems and reduce the risk of any work related illnesses.

A growing number of people are now working from home, which more often than not involves using a computer for several hours a day. Laptops are used by many people who work from home. However Laptops are primarily designed for short and not long-term use. If they are used for longer periods of time it’s advisable to set up a work station and use a separate keyboard and mouse. This enables you to adjust your work station in a way that is most comfortable for you.

Many people are unaware of the impact on health that a badly arranged work station can have. A poorly arranged work station can be a big contributor in the development of work-related upper limb disorders. It definitely pays to set up your work station correctly to avoid any future pain and discomfort.

1. Set up your workstation so that it is comfortable for you. This will probably mean adjusting your chair and rearranging your desk.
2. Always take regular breaks throughout the day, 5 minutes for every half-hour of computer use is about right.
3. As well as breaks where you move away from your desk you should also take regular ‘micropauses’. Every 10-15 minutes leave the keyboard and mouse alone for 30 seconds.
4. Be healthy and active; keep your body fit.
5. Have a balanced diet and drink lots of water throughout the day.
6. Learn to relax and unwind after work.
7. Try reducing the time you spend using a computer. Only use it when you need to, reduce the number of emails you send and use the phone or visit them instead.
8. Research and use keyboard shortcuts for common commands to help you reduce the amount of time you use the mouse.
9. Have your eyes tested and tell the optician that you work with a computer for several hours a day.
10. If you notice any symptoms of RSI (repetitive strain injury) tell your boss immediately.
11. When sitting on your office chair the height must be adjusted to allow an angle of 90 degrees between the thighs and lower legs.

Stress affects different people in different ways. People feel stressed when they feel that the demands made on them are too high. The result is people start to feel tense and will experience a stress response which is the body’s attempt to manage the situation.

Stress is very popular in the work place, and usually the more stressed you feel the harder tasks get for you to complete. It’s like a vicious circle, you become stressed and things seem harder making you feel even more stressed. For many the accumulation of daily hassles can be as stressful as one larger event. Things such as divorce or separation, or a child leaving home, cause stress, as do long-term illness and disability. Even the things people look forward to in life can cause them a large amount of stress, e.g. marriage, moving house, a new job and holidays.

In the work place worrying about deadlines and feeling that you are not up to the challenges of a particular task may also produce symptoms of stress, such as tension, irritability, feelings of tiredness and sleep problems.

Constructive stress can have a positive effect on your health and wellbeing, as people need goals and challenges to improve their lives. It is all a matter of balance.

The temperature in an office should be “reasonable”; bearing in mind you have to take into account the activities that are being undertaken. Generally, for offices there is minimal significant physical activity throughout the day, people usually spend the majority of their day sat at their desk, in situations like this the temperature should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius.

If you feel the temperature in your office is uncomfortably warm or cool, you should speak to your manager to see if there is anything that can be done about it. People don’t work as well when they are not comfortable.

If the temperature is unseasonably warm, you should consider:

Shading windows
Ensuring colleagues drink sufficient water
Permitting more frequent breaks in a cooler area
Relaxing uniform requirements
Looking closely at working tasks

Alternatively, in colder weather, similar issues may be considered including:

Provision of hot drinks
Permitting more frequent breaks to move around and increase circulation
Relaxing uniform requirements

Particular consideration should be given to individuals who may be particularly affected by warm or cold temperatures e.g. pregnant colleagues /those with medical conditions.

Some people experience discomfort when spending several hours sat at a desk using a computer. Additional equipment can be used to ensure the safety and comfort of your employees. Here are some of the things you can purchase to help your employees.

Footrest
To improve posture when the feet don’t reach the floor.

Copyholder
When referring to written material when using the PC, raising documents off the desk helps avoid repetitive head and neck movement, which may contribute to neck/upper back strain.

Wrist Rest
Wrist rests should only be used to rest the hands when not typing. Using them during typing restricts the free movements of the hands (meaning fingers have to stretch to reach the keys), this also places pressure on the underside of the wrist which can aggravate the nerves and tendons in the wrist causing discomfort.

Mouse
Available in right or left-handed, small, medium or large. The ergonomic shape supports the palm and so helps maintain straight wrist alignment which allows the mouse to be used with less finger “pinching” force resulting in reduced wrist strain. Sculpted elevated buttons also help to reduce strain on the fingers

Anti-Glare Screen Filters
For use with CRT monitors, not Flat Screen Monitors.

Most people would love to work for themselves, earning their own money and not having anybody to answer to. You shouldn’t let the recession kill your ambition, now is a good a time as any to make plans for your future.

It’s a good idea not to give up your current day job; you will need a regular income until your business really takes off. It can’t take months sometimes years of hard work before you start to make enough money to quit your regular job, but the hard work will definitely pay off in the end. It can be very daunting setting up a new business, but you have to have faith in yourself and in your ideas. Don’t let people knock your confidence, if you have enough drive and determination you can make it work.
Always remember why you want to be your own boss; what was the reason for wanting your own business? Were you stuck in a dead end job, bored, had a passion for something, there are many reasons, you should remember these when the going gets tough.

Remember that success doesn’t happen overnight, you may have set backs on your way, but you have to keep going, follow your dream and you will reap the rewards.

It’s hard spending up to eight hours a day sat next to someone who you don’t get along with. If that person is really bothering you here are some tips on what to do:

1. Try to tell them how they are affecting you, try not to be confrontational, but just ask them if you could have a word and tell them how you feel. Chances are they won’t even realise they have upset or annoyed you and will be pleased that you have told them.
2. Listen to what they say to you, maybe you have done something in the past to offend them and they are using it against you now. Look at yourself and how you treat people.
3. If things are really bad, keep a detailed diary of anything that they say or do which upsets you. You can then show this to your boss if need be.
4. Don’t gossip to everyone else about this person, make sure you only speak to the people who can help you, like your boss or HR.
5. Don’t be worried about speaking out, you are entitled to be happy at work and don’t have to put up and shut up.

There are lots of things that can help relieve you of the symptoms of stress and also to provide longer term protection for your future. Here are some stress busters for the times when you feel everything is getting on top of you.

• Relax
• Take time out from your daily routine
• Keep a diary of when you have good days and bad days
• Try to avoid situations which cause you to feel stressed
• Do some exercise, which will help to improve your fitness levels too
• Get a good night’s sleep and try to have a regular sleep pattern
• Eat healthily, this builds the foundations of good health to help you manage the pressures of stress
• Share your thoughts and how you are feeling
• Team work – involve yourself with your team
• Develop and improve your self esteem
• Learn to switch off – leave your worries behind you
• Have a work/life balance – identify the things that matter to you most in life
• Manage your time – prioritise and plan your private time too
• Concentrate on the things that make you feel good
• Laughter can relieve the tensions of stress
• Smile – It will change your mood instantly.

Many companies don’t know, or simply don’t care, how satisfied their staff are in their current role. Job satisfaction affects many things, including quality of work, productivity, and sickness and absence levels.

Colleague opinion surveys are crucial to running a successful business and creating a happy workforce. Many employees are unhappy in their roles but too scared to say anything for fear of losing their jobs or being treated differently. Colleague Opinion surveys can be done anonymously, which encourages more staff to participate. However, it is just as important to give your employees feedback from the survey as it is to do the actual survey. When asked about completing colleague opinion surveys a lot of employees have the same feelings, “What’s the point in filling them in when we never hear anything else about them?” Employees need feedback, they need to know that their opinion has been heard and that it counts, and that the company is actively trying to improve the areas that got the worst results.

Another good idea is to have 10-1 sessions, which is when a person from higher management will have a question and answer session with ten colleagues from different areas of the company. Again it is essential to provide feedback from these sessions.