Spring is upon us, which means it’s time to get out the dusters and spruce up the workplace to get ready for summer. The long-awaited spring clean is the perfect opportunity to breathe life into the office and de-clutter after the winter months. Having a clean office is vital to promoting employee health and safety, and productivity levels will soar simultaneously. If your team is working hard on projects, you should consider hiring a professional cleaning service to get the job done. If you don’t believe in the benefits of the office spring clean, continue reading below.

Good for the Company’s Image

Having a neat and tidy workplace is fantastic for your overall company image, and spring is the perfect time to get the job done. When visitors, clients, and business partners visit your office building, they will be impressed with how clean the space is; prospective clients will never agree to do business with you if the office is full of unnecessary clutter. The quality of your workplace is an indication of the level of service you provide.

While you’re busy cleaning the inside of your office, make sure the exterior is clean as well. Hire a dumpster service in Miami to come and collect your bins, such as Waste Connections. When your exterior is clean of rubbish, you are less likely to find unwanted pests entering your workplace.

Reduce Workplace Accidents

When the workplace is a mess with wires and trash trailing everywhere, there’s a higher chance that someone will slip or trip, which can result in a costly lawsuit coming your way. Spring cleaning is the perfect time to rearrange the office and make sure everywhere is clean and tidy. When you create your health and safety plan, keeping the office clean and tidy should form part of your risk assessment. Again, if you cause an accident due to negligence, you will waste time and money dealing with the fallout.

Improve Air Quality

Employee health is important in any workforce, and spring is the perfect time to make sure your office is hygienic. Having dusty carpets and work surfaces harbors bacteria and can be detrimental to your health. Scrubbing away the germs will improve air quality and prevent staff from falling ill because of the office environment.

Promote Productivity

Having a neat and cleaned office helps to increase productivity in the workplace. When everything is organized, there are fewer pointless jobs to distract your staff, which means they’ll be focused on their work. When searching for important documents, a clean and tidy workplace will make the job a breeze; your employees will thank you for making their life easier.

Stress Reduction

Working in a dusty office can get extremely depressing and stressful, so take the time to brighten the place up. If your workers need to reach around clutter just to get to a filing cabinet, it will only add to their stress levels. Employees will have a much smoother experience at work if they can access the necessary tools with ease. Keeping your employees as stress-free as possible is the only way to make sure they don’t have to take time off work to recover from stress, which will boost productivity.

Keeps Machinery Safe

Equipment management is an essential part of keeping your workforce safe, and dusty parts can cause serious injuries. Even in the office, simple machinery, like photocopiers, can fail because they become too dusty. Keeping your equipment clean will save you money because you won’t need to consistently purchase replacements.

Encourages a Clean Culture

With the spring cleaning out of the way, your staff is more likely to clean up after themselves. When your workforce takes ownership of keeping the office tidy, the task won’t be so intense next time around. If you want to cement the behavior, you can offer rewards for teams that keep their areas clean. Most importantly, you need to clean up after yourself because positive behavior trickles down from the top of the company.

Creates a Homely Environment

When your employees enter the office and it’s clean and tidy, they will instantly feel less stress. Carrying out the spring cleaning will make your workplace feel welcoming and ‘homey’, which will encourage your staff to be more productive. Employees are more likely to stay at work to finish projects if the office is clean. Furthermore, a tidy office will help you nurture employee relationships and create a positive environment.

Working in an office, it’s easy to let things get cluttered — especially during the winter months. Therefore, you should take the opportunity, as spring approaches, to carry out a little spring clean. Your workers will be more productive, you’re more likely to win new clients, and you’re less likely to be spending money on avoidable lawsuits. If you want to get the job done right, you should hire a team of professionals to set the office straight.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 8 Reasons to Spring Clean Your Office appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Compare the costs

Switching to a supplier that offers competitive rates for the delivery of energy can be a major change in your company’s budget. Comparing the cost of energy distribution from suppliers on www.goswitchenergy.co.uk/ can save your business money in the long run by finding cheaper rates and negotiating a better contract. Even if you’re not ready to switch providers, simply comparing prices can help you understand where you stand and what opportunities are available to you. Sometimes even with the smallest percentile there, you can make a significant difference in the long run.

Turn off electronics when they’re not in use

You know that it’s a pain to have your cell phone die on you, but think about how much energy it takes to charge. The same goes for laptops, TVs, stereos, and other items. Try powering down the equipment if they’ll be inactive for a long time, you can even unplug it to save on energy costs.

As humans, we’ve become so accustomed to the concept of artificial light that even it isn’t necessary anymore. Allowing natural light to enter your building during the day by opening blinds or curtains will reduce your need for artificial light, helping you keep down energy costs. You can also try turning off your lights to those areas where daylight is sufficient.

Use water wisely

When you wash tap water it takes energy and chemicals to heat and treats it before cleaning, followed by yet more energy to dump the dirty water. Try using a waterless cleaning product. If you’re using water to clean your floors, use a mop instead of a hose and suds them up in the tub instead of the sink so that you only need to dump it once. Using this method can cut down on energy costs and save you money in the process!

Go solar, go small?

For some businesses, it makes sense to invest in renewable energy sources like solar power. But for others, you may need only a small change, like simply adding an outlet for alternative power sources or encouraging your employees to travel via bike whenever possible. If you trying to save on the cost of powering large pieces of equipment, consider buying used machines or renting on a temporary basis. We all have to do our part for the environment, so don’t feel guilty about asking your employees to turn off their lights when they leave a room or unplug unused appliances. The planet will thank you, and so will your business.

Take advantage of technological advances

It might seem like what works best is to just keep things the way they are. But it’s important to be aware that technology changes constantly and new options become available every day. Buying a new computer with better energy efficiency could save you hundreds in the long run. You can also invest in devices that automatically turn off when not in use, like chargers and microwaves, or just keeping your phone in sleep mode when you’re not using it.

Make sure your workplace is properly insulated

It might seem ridiculous to consider insulation for your business, but if you have an older office building, you might not even notice it until your energy bill skyrockets. Insulation keeps heat in during the winter and cool air inside during the summer. If you’re having trouble spotting possible leaks, try applying water to different areas of your workplace and watch where it collects.

Part of a building’s heat loss is due to poor insulation, so making sure that your office has the right insulation in place will help you keep down energy costs. Depending on the structure of your business and how it operates, this may take some extra work, but the results will be worth it. The extra money you’ll save can be used to compensate employees or upgrade equipment, so insulation is a win-win situation.

Tune-up, save cash

Make sure the temperature settings in your office are correct for each season. You can do this easily by programming your thermostat or setting a timed change depending on the time of day/year. If you work at night, set your thermostat for the morning so that you’re not wasting energy once all of your employees have gone home. If possible, set your AC to run on a timer throughout the summer instead of continuously cooling an empty building.

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Small changes and adjustments to your business routine can add up to big savings over time. By implementing some of the tips we’ve provided in this article, you can start saving money on your energy bill right away.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Useful Tips That Can Help You Save On Your Business Energy appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Though there are several strategies to develop stronger teams, one of the most efficient places to start is office design. When your employees have a safe, healthy, comfortable, and inspiring workspace, it boosts morale, enhances productivity, and ultimately encourages collaboration. Below is a look at some office design ideas that your employees are sure to appreciate.

Open Spaces

Open concept isn’t just a trend in residential properties; it’s also popular in business. When an office is closed off, it creates unnecessary barriers that cause employees to remain isolated. Essentially, having open spaces throughout the workplace helps to foster teamwork. When employees can easily see and hear each other, they’re more inclined to engage and collaborate with co-workers.

While privacy and quiet are necessary for specific business tasks, the best office designs balance open and closed spaces. Design an area where employees can come together. An open room with couches, comfortable chairs, dry erase boards, refreshments, and even flatscreens on a tv wall mount provides a fun and inviting space for employees to relax, have conversations, bounce ideas off each other, and work on company projects.

Inspiring Colors

The psychological connection between color and mood is too significant to ignore. Studies have concluded that the right combination of colors can spark creativity, productivity, and, most importantly, collaboration. When designing your office space, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to wall colors. Red, orange, and yellow evoke creativity, boost mood, and increase energy levels. On the contrary, blue, green, and tan are calming.

Incorporating a balance of these color palates into the workspace will garner the most positive results. Of course, it’s also essential to keep clients and corporate professionalism in mind. So, using traditional colors like black, gray, white, and navy (with a splash of color for individuality) in waiting areas, conference rooms, and individual offices works well.

Movable Furniture

It’s kind of hard for employees to collaborate on ideas and projects if the things they need are stuck in their office or cubicle. You can encourage teamwork and provide more flexibility to your teams by investing in moving furniture. When desks, chairs, filing cabinets, whiteboards, and other items are easy to relocate or adjust, teams can quickly create a workspace that is conducive to positive workflow and collaboration.

Whether they need to push desks together to provide more space for their laptops or gather their chairs in a circle for a brainstorming session, movable furniture ensures employees can do this without complication.

Natural Elements

When employees are at their best physically and mentally, they work more efficiently (individually and collectively). Employers have an obligation to ensure that they provide a work environment that enhances health and wellness. As such, incorporating natural elements into your collaborative office design can have a positive impact. For instance, access to natural light helps boost energy levels, improve morale, and increase productivity. On the other hand, indoor plants in the office help reduce stress, increase focus, purify the air, decrease noise levels, and foster creativity.

When employees work in a healthy environment that encourages better collaboration and productivity, they have an easier time tapping into their fullest potential and reaching company goals. Whether you’re searching for a new office or interested in making changes to an existing space, use the tips above to create a workspace that enables your teams to put their best foot forward.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Creating A Workspace That Inspires Teamwork And Collaboration appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The report from the UK’s largest workplace supplies and services company, analyses all the company’s vast reams of sales data from 2020 to identify changing patterns in UK organisations’ office behaviour.

Changes In UK Organisations’ Office Behaviour

It shows a 2,000% increase in headsets, and laptop sales outperforming desktop computers by 512% as people flocked to work from home.  Monitors make it into the top selling list, following employer observations that dual monitors increase productivity by up to 25%.

Meanwhile, companies driven to better ventilate their offices prompted a 622% rise in doorstop sales.

The battle for SMEs to create COVID-19 secure workspaces in between lockdowns, was clear. Sales of general cleaning products rose by 987% and demand for facemasks and hand sanitiser shot up by 3,626%. The use of disposable items such as cups and cutlery also went up by 71%, as employers strove to avoid cross-contamination.

When it comes to providing the right tech for employees, but not breaking the bank, the report highlights that the pandemic has turbocharged the rise of the subscription economy – such as for laser printer services – which is projected to rise 3600% in five years.

The report not only charts the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s workplace supplies and services, but identifies trends which Banner’s experts predict will continue for the long-term.

The Trends Are:

1. Flexi-working and focus on worker well-being
2. Customer drive to greater consolidation of services
3. Cleaning and infection control at the heart of business preparedness strategy

Flexi-working

Flexi-working and the focus on worker well-being was emerging prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, but has been radically accelerated, and its permanent adoption expedited. Its impact extends beyond laptops and headsets. Banner predicts a decline in larger inner city business complexes, in favour of smaller satellite operations, and a blend of office and home working becoming the norm for most businesses.

Employee well-being is part of this flexi-working trend and is now higher on the business agenda than ever before. This is reflected in Banner’s top-selling products list, with ergonomics absolutely central:

1. Chairs
2. Desks
3. Monitor arms
4. Monitor risers
5. Laptop risers
6. Headsets

Banner also predicts that this worker-centric trend will spearhead a leasing revolution.  Companies, challenged by the ‘upgrade culture’ of employees, will increase the use of leasing models to provide best in class equipment without denting the bottom line.

Customer Drive To Greater Consolidation Of Services

The second trend identified in the Post-COVID-19 Workplace Market Report is the customer drive to greater consolidation of services. More than ever, businesses and organisations want a ‘one order, one invoice, one delivery’ approach to receiving goods from suppliers. Aside from the efficiency and economies of scale this delivers, this trend is also driven by environmental concerns and corporate carbon reduction goals. Accelerating this trend was the need to ring-fence vital product supplies to manage the pandemic and possible Brexit disruption. Finally, companies continue to look to reduce the number of orders and deliveries to reduce the risk of contamination.

Banner also highlights the trend for multiuse and more concentrated forms of products, so organisations buy less and store less, motivated by a combination of environmental and practical factors.

Cleaning And Infection Control At The Heart Of Business Preparedness Strategy

The third trend Banner has identified is the permanent impact the pandemic will have on business risk strategy. Many organisations were ill-prepared and ill-equipped to effectively respond to the crisis and they cannot afford to be in that position again – and that is where they can use the help of businesses like Green Facilities. The need to create virus-secure workplaces has changed business behaviour and put cleanliness centre stage.

Frequency of office cleaning has increased from weekly, to 3 or 4 times a day. Communal touchpoints went from weekly cleaning to being cleaned after every single use. From a product perspective, the buyers’ focus will be on refills and multi-use cleaning products, e.g., those which can be used as a hand sanitiser as well as cleaning surfaces such as monitors, work surfaces and office equipment.

Products will also be used to drive behaviour change. For example, antibacterial bin bags, touch-free bins, aerosol-based products for hands-free surface decontamination in one hour. In educational settings, standalone hand washing stations with foot operated taps help to prevent the congregation of numbers of school children in small indoor spaces.

Craig Varey, Managing Director at Banner, comments: “As a leading fulfilment partner to public and private sectors, Banner is uniquely placed to see the shape of reactions across businesses, sectors and industries, and identify the trends that signify a permanent shift in the way we are working.  The turbulence of 2020 brought some significant trends in workplace behaviour and management to the fore, which we expect to impact the products we provide over the coming year. Interestingly we had seen these trends emerging prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, but like COVID’s impact on everything, the effect on these developments has been unprecedented.” 

To access the full report: Click here

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Realities Of Post-Covid-19 Working Life Revealed appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

As professionals, many of us spend more time working and in our workplace than anywhere else. Up until last year, when we shifted to working remotely, we often logged in 60+ hours in the office. 

With the prospect of a return to normalcy, many professionals are looking forward to a near-future return to the office. This is why finding a way to make your workplace a dream environment is one of the smartest ways to attract talent, ignite creativity, and inspire innovation.

Here are 5 ways to get the office environment that is a great place to work. 

Hire a Great Team

The first step for a creative environment is having the right people. Hiring a great team is essential for building your company and achieving your vision.

While attracting talented professionals is key, many experts advise looking for the overall mix of personalities. If one person is extremely experienced yet egotistical, they could do more harm than good for the group dynamic. 

Encourage Socializing

We’ve been social distancing, working remotely, and getting by with zoom meetings. It’s no wonder that we’re looking forward to things, which previously seemed like nothing special. Talking with a colleague over coffee. Meeting in the hallway to share an idea. Connecting up after work for drinks, a walk, and a catch-up.

All these ways of socializing have been severely curtailed. If you want to make your office a happy place, encourage your staff to make up for lost time. You’ll find that socializing is one of the best ways to boost team morale.

Reward Creativity

Creativity is kind of like a seed. You can have the best seeds, but they still need water, soil, fertilizing, and nurturing. While creativity is a distinct advantage, just about every employee thrives with reward and recognition.

Some of these rewards are specific to the employee. These could include direct appreciation, job promotions, and salary raises.

Other rewards are more general to the overall creative environments.

This is where you’ll see office environments that are more reminiscent of a spa or boutique hotel. These settings often include features such as:

A Kitchen With Bells and Whistles

The kitchen area should include options for coffee drinkers, tea drinkers, and water drinkers. Many office kitchens have coffee makers that don’t even require knowledge of how to make coffee. The maker is simple, easy, and fun to use.

A Relaxation Zone

The relaxation zone may include comfortable chairs, couches, and hammocks. Some offices have outdoor spaces to encourage employees to take a pause and rejuvenate in nature.

A Refreshing Zone

The refreshing zone can be a bathroom with lotions, aromatherapy sprays, and face wash. Many offices ask their employees to suggest popular products.

Plan for Flow

In creating space, architects often talk about flow. What does the space invite people to do, see, feel, and sense? This is influenced by your choices of color, furnishings, surfaces, and layout.

Many creative offices speak about flow. They use the principle of pattern language to create architecture that fosters relating. This concept drives decisions and helps focus on creating spaces that invite teamwork.

Creating natural flow makes sense for organizing workplace creativity. Is the copier in a central location? Is there a hangout space for casual conversation? Is there open access to team members and teams?

By planning for flow, you can prepare for great teamwork—in advance.

Invite and Listen to Input

Finally, you’ve got the best source for input and ideas…your team. Your employees and peers know what they want out of a work environment. If you ask, they will tell you.

For some leaders, inviting input is not familiar. You may be used to calling the shots. You might think you’ve got more than enough ideas to create a fun and stimulating workplace. But you’re not the only one working here. That’s why it pays to ask your employees, and listen to their suggestions.

Sum Up

Creating an attractive work place is a key part to attracting the best candidates for your team. It may be above and beyond what you’ve done in the past, but with a little effort, you can establish a reputation for being the best place to work.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Ways To Make Your Workplace A Dream Come True appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

New research into injury incidents in the UK reveals that a shocking proportion of the population has suffered a severe injury at work within the last five years. 

The research into 1,000 adults across the UK, conducted by Fletchers Serious Injury, revealed that 27.6% of those who have suffered a serious injury within this timeframe, such as spinal injuries, burns, and damage from slips, trips and falls, sustained the injury via an accident in the workplace. 

The findings also revealed a concerning unwillingness amongst those who had suffered an injury to pursue a claim in order to receive the compensation and support they need to get their life back on track, with almost a fifth (19.1%) saying that they would not pursue a claim if they suffered a serious injury. 

When asked the reasons behind this reluctance, one in eight respondents (12%) admitted to being worried about incurring a backlash from their employer and having their career prospects damaged by claiming for a workplace accident.

When quizzed about their other motivations for not pursuing justice following an accident at work, 41% admitted that they would not know how to pursue legal action. This points to a potential shortfall in employers making their employees aware of their legal rights and ensuring they have the correct legal documentation (such as detailed employee handbooks and health and safety manuals) in place. 

Men were also revealed to be more at risk than women, with a third of men (33.1%) having suffered a serious injury at work, compared with 18% of women. Young men, here defined as those aged up to 35, were even more severely affected, with almost six in 10 having experienced some form of serious injury (59.2%). 

Age was also a contributing factor, with younger workers noticeably more likely to suffer an accident at work than their older counterparts. On average, 36.6% of those aged 18-44 had suffered an accident at work, compared with 13.3% of those aged 45 and above, making younger workers almost three times as susceptible in this area. 

Adrian Denson, chief legal officer at Fletchers Serious Injury, commented: “When a person suffers a serious injury at work, coping with the direct physical and psychological consequences is extremely difficult indeed. And as they focus on each small step along the long road to recovery, it can be easy for the person to put their legal rights to one side. The very thought of bringing a legal claim can be daunting with many people not really knowing where they would start. 

“Even more concerning is the substantial number of people that may be suffering in silence out of fear that seeking the help they need will affect their career further down the line, as well as their employer’s bottom line. This is a false, and damaging misconception – particularly when a serious injury can lead to a person being unable to return to work for a long time and often, when they do return, can still limit their ability to carry out their work without pain or worry.

“Virtually all employers are required to carry liability insurance, meaning that any legal action would be against the insurer rather than the employer directly. And there are important legal rights that protect a person who does pursue their right to claim for an injury at work, meaning that any decent employer should be very unlikely to hold it against their employee.”

Of course, there are various ways to ease pain and relieve inflammation resulting from these injuries, and individuals may opt for that route in case they do not want to pursue their legal rights.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post One In Four Serious Injuries Occur In The Workplace, According To New Research appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Smartway2’s next-generation workplace scheduling platform, that already includes social distancing and contact tracing solutions, now enables employees to self-certify that they are low risk and gain management approval before returning to work; while gathering feedback on employees’ feelings around workplace safety amidst COVID-19

LONDON, UK and MARLBOROUGH,  – Smartway2, a next-generation technology company specialising in workplace scheduling solutions, today announced the expansion of its COVID-Safe Workplace capabilities to include the automation of approvals and certification processes for those who want to come back to the office, as well as employee surveys to gauge how people feel about their return to work.

These new capabilities reflect the rising demand for technology that can adapt to fast-changing needs as the pandemic continues. These needs are twofold:

•The ability to roll out new health and safety procedures on the fly

•The ability to forecast demand for resources – from desks and meeting rooms, to parking and other facilities

Many organisations are facing uncertainty about which risk is greater: could too many people flood back to work, jeapordising physical distancing measures; or will remote working continue, prompting the need to downsize real estate amidst a challenging economic climate.

Smartway2 enables organisations to take a data-driven approach to optimising space utilisation. By using advanced workspace analytics and data visualisation to help companies understand precisely how meeting rooms, desks and other resources are being utilised, they can boost employee experience, collaboration and productivity, while right-sizing real estate. These capabilities have become increasingly important during the Coronavirus pandemic, as the role of the workplace undergoes a fundamental shift.

Part of this shift demands that organisations control and monitor access to facilities more closely than ever before, given that a free-for-all workplace in which people use any desk or meeting room they desire, without regard to social distancing and sanitation procedures, would clearly endanger health.

The way to achieve this is by ensuring employees book what they need, when they need it.

When someone books a desk in Smartway2, they can be prompted to disclose why they want to be in the office – such as not having a suitable workstation at home, loneliness or a business reason. This information helps managers gauge levels of necessity and manage risk, while generating valuable data to predict demand and provide additional support to employees.

Likewise, people can be prompted to self-certify that they are free from symptoms such as a fever and have not been in contact with anyone displaying symptoms, to avoid putting others at risk.

Another important aspect of managing a safe return to work – or indeed managing any change – is providing employees with the opportunity to give feedback throughout the transitionary period. In Smartway2, organisations can pose survey questions to people when they book resources, in order to measure sentiment, address concerns around perceptions of workplace safety, or predict demand by asking how many days per week they would like to come into the office.

“Our ethos is all about Extreme Flexibility,” says John T. Anderson, CEO of Smartway2. “This key design principle is something we’ve obsessed over since day one. It manifests in our uniquely flexible ‘rules engine’, that allows the system to be rapidly configured to support almost any workflow. We had no idea it would be so well suited to helping organisations safety return to work amidst a global pandemic. That is a scenario I fully admit we did not plan for, but we are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference during these challenging times.”

Organisations are already using Smartway2 to automate social distancing, contact tracing and sanitation procedures. When someone books a desk, the system automatically takes desks out of service within a specified radius. Once the desk is vacated, a countdown timer in the system will prevent anyone else booking it until it has been sanitised, to prevent touch contamination; and sign-off and release procedures for desks and rooms are fully automated. Usage data gathered in the system then informs contact tracing reports that identify the risk levels of employees in the event that someone falls ill.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Smartway2 expands its ‘COVID-safe workplace’ solution with new capabilities to help protect workers when they return to the office appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The future of work is here, but is your business ready? Technology continues to improve year upon year. This is especially true within the networking sector. While these improvements can make running a business much more efficient and effective, a large number of businesses are yet to implement them into their operations.

Here, we’ll look at what the future of work is and how your business can embrace it.

What is the future of work?

The future of work relates to the digitalisation of the workplace and the steps that need to be taken to improve current challenges. Workers are currently frustrated with the amount of unfulfilling smaller tasks that take up their time. Improvements within technology have provided solutions to the frustrating challenges workers are facing. However, businesses are being slow to adopt them.

So, the future of work relates to making the changes necessary to provide a better way of working. A recent report by Workfront, discovered that a staggering 90% of workers in the UK are craving the introduction of modern technology into the workplace.

Utilising the right data

One way that businesses can get ready for the future of work, is by ensuring they are utilising the right data. Better, faster decisions can be made with real-time data. A lot of issues often present themselves when decisions are based on assumptions instead of solid data.

When you’re using data correctly, it can help you to actively manage your workload, identify problem areas and ensure you are reaching the right customers.

Invest in a solid network

Perhaps one of the most effective ways to embrace the future of work, is to ensure you’re investing in a solid network. You’ll need network services that are reliable and secure.

While high-quality networks do cost money, they can actually save you money in the long term. This is because they can significantly reduce downtime, as well as keep your workers happier. Networks today are intelligent and flexible, able to adapt and change to fit your business needs.

These are just some of the ways you can embrace the future of work. Ensuring your business is utilising the latest technology is key to pushing he company forward. The future of work is here, but are you prepared? If not, now is the time to start future proofing the business and addressing the challenges your workers are currently facing.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Is Your Business Ready for the Future of Work? appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Health and Safety Regulations

The first thing you need to check out is the health and safety regulations of your industry and your location. You might not be an expert at this, but there will certainly be companies that can help you get it right and avoid hefty fines. Whether you need fire doors installed, keep a report on absence and return-to-work meetings, or ensure that your workplace is free from pests with the help of someone like https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/exterminator/arizona/, you will need to adjust your health and safety policies accordingly. This will help you look after your staff better and protect your reputation at the same time.

Reward Schemes

When it comes to a healthy workforce, carrots work much better than sticks. You can create health related reward schemes that will allow you to encourage your workers to live a better life. From offering discounts for gym memberships to encouraging them to move more, exercise in the office, or change their diet, you will both benefit from the initiative.

Air Quality

One of the hidden dangers of workplaces is the air quality. It is not enough to have regular cleaning and check your ventilation; monitoring the air in the workplace has several benefits. Make sure that you talk to a health and safety executive or advisor, and find solutions, especially if you are running a manufacturing business or one that uses loads of chemicals and toxic materials. Get your air filters and air conditioners, as well as your ducts regularly checked for debris and pests.

Accident Prevention and First Aid Training

It is crucial that you train your staff to be able to prevent accidents and spot risks at the workplace. You can get some of your employees signed up for a first aid course, where they can learn how to effectively assess the situation, treat shock and minor injuries. As an employer, it is your responsibility to make sure that your staff is supported and safe all the time.

Water Quality and Pollution Reduction

Apart from reducing waste and toxic materials in the air, you will also have to pay attention to the other sources of pollution, such as water. You can get an assessment and find out whether or not your company could benefit from the installation of a 24 well plate to reduce the waste and pollution in your organization and go healthier and greener in the future.

If you would like to have happy employees, the first step you need to take is looking after their health. Make sure you implement the right policies and procedures, and you will be ready to embrace lower absenteeism and higher commitment.

This is an article provided by our partners network. It might not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of our editorial team and management.
Contributed content

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post How to Make Your Workplace a Healthier One for Your Staff appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Once you’ve got your business up and running, you might think that everything starts to go smoothly, right? No. It’s at this point where you need to capitalize, not just in a financial sense, but in a personal and professional one. A workplace culture that is thriving and dynamic is as important as the relationship you have with your customers, clients, or supply chains. But creating a workplace environment is one thing, but creating a workplace culture that is everything your employees wanted to be is very difficult. Are there any simple ways to get cultured?

Respect

What does it mean to you? How can you create a workplace that is respectful? In essence, it’s very simple, but to accomplish this, can be something quite different. We are still battling with the disparity that old school methods of hierarchy have taught us about the workplace, namely that it’s about the higher up the ladder you go, the more important you are. This is not the case at all, and we need to shift away from this. Respect goes both ways, up and down the chain. And now, in the modern world, it’s more important than ever to treat others as we would like to be treated. It’s a very simple thing, but it doesn’t appear to be commonplace in every industry just yet.

Practice What You Preach

It all stems from the leader, and if you are not practicing what you preach, how can you expect others to follow suit? To lay out what type of culture you would like to have in the workplace is very simple, but to implement these on a daily basis requires a lot of hard work. It all depends on the type of people you’ve employed, but to solidify how you work well together, all comes from you. Of course, every industry needs its leader, someone who can see the bigger picture, and knows which pieces of the puzzle work well together, but if you are working towards a company culture where equality and respect are the very least you expect from your employees, then you need to get in there amongst the teams, you need to champion people in your business, and you need to encourage a culture where people do work well together. Not just the typical team building exercises that people view as paying lip service to the idea, but by highlighting why these team building exercises benefits everyone, and reminding your employees of the common goal, only then will you be able to create this culture where every single component understands the unique vision of the business, but are happy to work together towards it.

Go For The Human Aspect

It has never been easier to become more impersonal. Remote working and digital interfaces have meant that the human side of things has become somewhat sidelined. If you want a company culture that is effective and nurturing, the focus has to be on the people. At the end of the day, happy workers are productive ones. If you are more focused on targets, and this is very clear in how you present yourself, you’re not going to create an environment where people are at the center. Numbers and figures are the rigors of a non-human mindset. Instead, think about how you would like to be treated if you were there. Do you want open and honest dialogue between employees and bosses? An open door policy is one of those ideals that is far easier to consider than it is to implement. By having an open door policy, this creates that transparency you so desperately need in a de-personalized business. How can you make this work? Go back to your core values. In addition to this, when you examine your business model, is it all about profit? If so, it’s hardly a surprise that competition and backbiting is a common part of the company culture.

Positivity

We spend a lot of time focusing on the negatives, what is going wrong, and this is not conducive to a culture of enthusiasm and positivity. Sorry if this is stating the obvious, but we spend so much time focusing on the figures, and why something is going wrong, that we may not even address what we’ve done right, and so, this begins with you. You need to celebrate positive behaviors, as this demonstrates the type of culture you want. Creating a positive mindset will achieve a baseline approach throughout the ranks. A positive mindset can’t be implemented if you focus on the negatives.

Lather, Rinse And Repeat

It’s not just about communicating it once, you need to build on your strengths, and eradicate the weaknesses. If you are trying to create a culture of equality, and being specific in what the values are of your company culture,  it isn’t about hierarchy, it is about behavior, and it’s this ideal that needs to be communicated on a constant basis. The big mistake many leaders make is that they give an order once, and expect it to be followed to the letter, no questions asked. But if you are in the business of creating equality amongst everyone, if you break a rule, it gives others the opportunity to call you out on it. This should form part of your core values, and you need to hammer the point home.

An effective workplace culture isn’t just about the perks; it’s about how your employees feel when they walk into the office first thing in the morning. This is why your employees need to understand the importance of a workplace culture and how it’s meant to affect the business. But the word “culture” is bandied around a lot, and some entrepreneurs merely pay lip service to the idea, but if you really want results, you’ve got to consider the mindset of every single person who walks through your front doors every day. A culture of positivity and encouragement will always yield better results, and negative approach will only encourage others to look elsewhere. When we are looking at creating an effective workplace culture, it’s not just about the values and the vision, it’s about the people.

Contributed content

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Many Hands Make Light Work(load): Creating A Working Workplace Culture appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.