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3 Tips For Maintaining A Safe And Clean Workspace

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While it’s always important that your workplace is safe and clean for both your staff and your customers or clients, these issues are now taking a more front-and-center position since the start of the current pandemic.

To help you in learning how you can ensure that no one who enters your office or workspace gets hurt or sick due to their presence there, here are three tips for maintaining a safe and clean workspace.

Be Conscious Of Air Quality

Although having good air quality has always been a concern, people who spend time in indoor spaces are even more concerned with this now due to the global pandemic. Without proper ventilation, it can be easier for airborne contaminants to linger in the air and make you or others sick.

In addition to this, you should also be aware of other particles that could be in the air and could cause harm to those you work with or for. For example, you should do your best to control dust so that people’s allergies aren’t triggered and sinus issues don’t become rampant. Along with this, you’ll want to be sure that proper air flow comes through your workspace after things like pest control services or major cleanings take place, as these can have irritants that could harm people as well.

If you’re unsure about the air quality in your place of business, Sarah Trotto, a contributor to Safety and Health Magazine, shares that you can always have an industrial hygienist come into your space and test your air quality.

Focus On Your Workstation

To help you and your staff maintain a clean and safe workspace, it’s wise to have everyone start with their own workstation.

Especially if you work in an office environment, Scottie Andrew and Yiwen Niu, contributors to CNN, recommend that you clean anything that you’re touching throughout the day and anything that others may have touched as well. In general, this will include things like your computer, your work phone, your cell phone, any door handles or light switches in your office, and any items that may be shared.

Use The Right Cleaners And Disinfectants

The cleaners and disinfectants that you use within your workspace can help to ensure that you kill off any germs or bacteria that could be harmful to yourself or others.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, you can use products that have ingredients like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, soap, alcohols, or bleach to effectively clean more surfaces in your typical workspace. When you are using these products, make sure you wear gloves to protect your hands.

If you’re worried about how to keep your workspace clean and safe while you’re on the job, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.

3 Ways To Turn Your Kitchen Table Into Your Home Office Space

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For many people, there was hope that life may have returned to normal at this point since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic began. But since it’s starting to become clear that life as we know it may be changed for the foreseeable future, it’s time to get serious about how you’ll implement these new routines into your life, including spending more time working or doing school within the walls of your own home.

So if you’re someone who’s been procrastinating creating a designated space for a home office or home schooling, here are three ways you can turn your kitchen table into your home office space without having to put too much time or effort into the redesign.

Get The Right Lighting

One of the biggest problems of using your kitchen table as your home office space without any additional features is that you likely haven’t been working with adequate lighting. And for the sake of your eyes, you’ll want to be sure that you have the lighting you need to see everything clearly and sharply.

To get the right lighting for your table office space, Michael Desmond, a contributor to The Spruce, recommends that you get a light fixture that can give you direct lighting for whatever tasks you’re doing. If you work on a computer for most of your time, you may simply want an overhead light that gently illuminates the space around you. But if you’re doing any kind of paperwork, having a small desk lamp sitting on your table is ideal.

Display What You Need

Because you’re likely still using your kitchen table to eat at or gather around, it can be a real headache having to get your work items out each morning and then put them away at the end of the day.

To save you from this trouble, Debra Immergut, a contributor to BobVila.com, suggests that you use your work or school items as a form of decoration by creatively and beautifully displaying them around the space rather than hiding them away. This can help you still feel a separation between work and play without the pressure of redesigning your dining room every night.

Control Your Cords

As with any work desk, you’re likely going to have a lot of cords plugging in things like your computer, monitor, lamp, external accessories, and more all around your space. With actual desks, there are usually built-in ways that you can keep your cords under control. But with a kitchen table, you’ll have to get creative.

To help you with this, Gregory Han, a contributor to Apartment Therapy, suggests that you find a way to mount your cords under your table so that they say out of your way. This will help your space feel more organized as well as keeping it safer for you and anyone else who comes around your table.

If you’ll be using your kitchen table as your office space for now, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you turn this area into something safe, comfortable, and functional.

5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Team On Track

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Every individual in the workplace plays a vital role in helping the organization reach its goals and move forward successfully. This is especially true when it comes to teams that have been tasked with taking on specific work. However, a team and those who form it are only as effective as the systems and processes in place that are designed to keep them on track. Are you the head of a team looking to boost your team’s productivity? If so, here are five simple ways to keep your team on track.

 

 

1. Help your employees gain project management certification.

 

One of the easiest ways to keep people on your team on the right path is to have a certified project manager as part of your company. Project management comes in a lot of different “flavors,” so to speak, and having someone who has trained in the organizational and strategic aspects of project management can be a major boon for any business. If you have a few team members who already act as project managers just due to their organizational skills, setting them up in a free PMP prep course can help prepare them to get certified. Project management courses can be completed with an online course, so you can have a certified project manager on your team even during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a PMP certification, not only will they be better-suited to lead teams and projects, but they’ll also gain a wide range project management skills to help your business run more smoothly.

2. Use a goal-setting system that’s proven to work.

 

Part of getting your team on the same page and accomplishing goals comes down to making sure everyone understands how their role fits into achieving those aims. As such, using a goal-setting framework can be a valuable way to align everyone on your team with your overall priorities as a company. One way to do this is by defining your businesses Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). OKR frameworks were pioneered by two of the founders of Google to help streamline projects by clearly defining goals and desired outcomes. If you’re new to OKRs, a software platform like WorkBoard can help you identify, track, and measure what OKRs matter to your company. WorkBoard provides a great tool for defining best practices and helping everyone stay on the same page regardless of whether they’re working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Practice clear communication.

 

As you can see, clarity is important if you want to keep your team on track. Breakdowns in communication can happen quite frequently depending on the mode of communication you’re using, so it’s always a good idea to practice active listening when attending in-person meetings and re-read your emails before you send them to avoid sowing unnecessary confusion. Beyond that, it might even make sense to invest in a communication platform like Slack which makes it easier to search up and thread different conversations in a much more dynamic way than email allows.

4. Be clear in your expectations.

 

If you have team members working remotely, it’s crucial that you communicate your expectations with them. For example, some employees may think that as long as they work eight hours each day, it doesn’t matter if they’re working early in the morning or late at night. While this can work for some companies, in other industries, not being accessible during traditional work hours can really bog things down. Make sure that everyone knows what’s expected of them in terms of being reachable during the remote workweek to avoid any unnecessary confusion.

5. Have a weekly check-in meeting.

 

Checking in with your team on a regular basis is a great way to understand how things are going. For example, when you have frequent updates, it’s much easier to alter schedules or deadlines based on conditions “on the ground.” This can keep your team on track by maintaining realistic expectations and accurately addressing any obstacles in real-time.

How can brands look to the future when it comes to sustainable packaging?

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Over recent years there has been large amounts of attention surrounding how much pollution the world is producing from using materials which can’t be recycled alone. From plastic bottles littering the planet’s ocean to online delivery companies using copious amounts of unnecessary packaging; the conversation has never been so intense.

As the attention surrounding sustainability continues to grow, it has put increased pressure on brands to evaluate their current processes and materials used for packaging and how they can meet consumer needs for years to come. With this in mind, branding agency 1HQ have created a magazine which looks in-depth at the future of packaging and what consumers can expect from brands.

What does the future hold for online deliveries?

We’ve all been shocked when an online delivery arrives and large amounts of unnecessary packaging have been used, but the company LivingPackets wants to show other brands how you can be sustainably smart when it comes to online deliveries.

LivingPackets have created ‘THE BOX’, which removes the need for materials such as bubble wrap, cardboard boxes and printing labels. Compromised from 98% air and 2% recycled materials, ‘THE BOX’ contains a built-in locking system and GPS which allows the recipient to track their order via an app. Another appealing factor of ‘THE BOX’ is that address labels have been replaced with an E-link, allowing delivery locations to be amended if needed.

How can fast food companies create a more sustainable future?

Some of the world’s most well-known fast food chains have changed the packaging they use to help improve their sustainability; but one company is on a mission to take this one step further.

One of the most favoured takeaway meals is a pizza and more often than not we order more than we need, meaning extra slices of pizza we don’t want to waste. Instead of having to wrap each individual piece in tin foil or use a plastic container, GreenBox have created a takeaway box which can be folded to just how you need it. From arriving at your home as a cardboard box with a whole pizza inside, the box can then be deconstructed for individual pieces, meaning no extra packaging or materials are being used.

With consumers now wanting sustainable packaging when buying products, now is the time for brands to look at their current manufacturing methods and look ahead to the future. With the likes of LivingPackets and GreenBox already leading the way when it comes to improving sustainability, what does the future hold for the world of sustainable packaging?

How To Select Chairs For Your Perfect Home-Office Duo

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When it comes to finding the perfect chair, there is no hard and fast rule that applies to everyone. Over the years, people buy furniture from their trusted sellers, but there’s no harm in trying new places or sites.

If you wish to simplify the process of buying töötoolid, then make sure to visit the mentioned link. Moreover, keep reading this article to gain more insight about choosing your dream chair.

Types of chair

There is a constant tug-of-war between comfort and style. In the end, everything boils down to your preferences. The basic goal of an office chair is to improve your overall productivity.

Some of the commonly used office chairs are listed below:-

  • Ergonomic chair
  • Task armchair
  • Conference chair
  • Executive chair
  • Fremont swivel chair
  • Ghost chair
  • Lennox chair
  • Pennell chair
  • Mesh chair
  • Shannon side chair

Decide your budget

Once you enter a furniture shop, it’s easy to get confused, and you might end up buying something useless. If you ask a salesperson for help, then you need to keep in mind that they get their commission. So, making you buy an expensive product is a part of their job description.

Start by deciding whether or not you really need a chair. If you do, then plan how much you’re ready to spend on a chair. You can check out different vendors, online as well as offline. At times, different sellers have different prices for the same product.

Availability of space

The way you decide to place the furniture can either make or break the entire look of the room. It would be better if you leave ample walking space in the room. For some people, too shabby rooms can be claustrophobic.

A simple trick to buy the right sized chair is to measure the size of the desk and then buy a chair accordingly. You can ask for suggestions from friends and family. However, there’s a possibility that what works for others might not work for you.

Choose the right color

A wide array of hues can have different impacts on your mood, workflow, and so on. You can either opt for a chair that matches the decor of the room or something completely unique.

If you think that your room is too dull, then you can pick bright colors to amp up the room. Your room will definitely appear to be more lively. You can also base your decision on the amount of sunlight in your room.

Quality of the chair

It would be better if you keep in mind the quality of materials that are used to make the chair. Investing in a chair is a long term commitment. If your chair keeps breaking perpetually, then it might be time to change the vendor.

Moreover, it’s not good from an environmental perspective. It doesn’t matter whether it’s made of plastic or wood, it’s still damaging nature around us. There are some vendors that mention the list of materials that they have used.

Get in touch with TOOL & TOOL when you’re scouring for the best furniture in the market.