Tag: chairs

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Improving the Breakroom

The humble breakroom is often overlooked along with its actual importance for employee morale. The breakroom is named as such though because of its intended purpose; it’s a place where the employees can take mental and physical breaks from work. So, if you want your work team to be satisfied and productive at work, you need to create a space where the employees can relax, sit together and enjoy each other’s company. This also encourages friendships which carry over to the collaboration done in the office as well.

What makes a great breakroom?

Falcon 1900 Series Used 36 Inch Square Folding Cafe Table, Gray SpeckleTo create a breakroom which meets the above requirements, you can do different things. Choosing a paint for the walls that’s relaxing and having comfortable seating with tables and chairs are two things that you can do. If you have a enough space, creating a few separate spaces for employees who like to relax by themselves or gather their thoughts can be a morale booster.

Additionally, the way you decorate your breakroom can make a big difference. You can add wall art that’s soothing or fun, some books or even a TV. A few plants, whether artificial or real, can give the room a back to nature feel too. Adding a refrigerator, a microwave or small stove, a sink, counters and a cupboard will give the room a cozy at home feeling also. The cupboards should have dishes, cups and silverware as well. Tables, chairs and sofas add to the coverall comfort and usability of the space. To create more function in the breakroom, include nesting/folding tables, so they can be easily moved to the side for gatherings.

Herman Miller Caper Used Mobile Stack Chair, Yellow and GrayIn addition to all of this, if your breakroom is large enough it can be a great place for celebrations and parties as well. Birthday celebrations, promotions or even a spread to celebrate the success of a completed project can be enjoyed by all in the breakroom. Also, there should be a maintenance schedule for the breakroom and for the appliances in it to be cleaned either by employees or maintenance.

A separate place

The breakroom should be physically separated from the rest of the office or offices. If not, and the employees can see others taking break, this can cause potential distractions. You can use room dividers, barriers, or curtains if you don’t have a separate room for this. Make the room stand out so that it feels like a different part of the building.

This is good because the breakroom isn’t just about being compassionate to your employees. A workforce that can unwind for a bit in a breakroom means money in the pockets of a business. A workforce that can’t unwind like this tends to have higher turnover rates, costing resources from profits to be used to hire and train new people more often.

Freebees

Free coffee should be a staple in your breakroom. Along with the coffee there should be cream, sugar; cups and stirrers. If you have tea drinkers, tea should be free as well. Free coffee and tea are good incentives for your workers because moderate caffeine use improves focus, attention spans and gives a boost to mental energy as well. Plus, coffee and tea aren’t overly expensive for the return that you’ll get from them. In addition to coffee and tea too, provide water that’s either filtered or bottled, for free so that your employees can stay hydrated during their work shifts. Keeping it cold is an extra bonus.

Staff Enjoying a BreakOther options for freebees could include healthy food being offered. It would be considered an extra by your employees, but the benefit to you is avoiding the afternoon slump of employees. So, with healthy snacks such as vegetables, nuts, yogurt and whole grains; this can curb employee hunger without them having sugar crashes. This will increase productivity.

Ask your employees

A breakroom which is great has features which the employees have asked for. The best way to find out what your employees would like in the breakroom is to just ask them. You could hang a comment box in the breakroom for suggestions on changes or improvements additionally. Then use the suggestions which are the most feasible. This shows your employees that you value their opinions.

If you make an effort where feasible to make a breakroom a place where your employees can be more relaxed and be refreshed, afterwards you will be rewarded with happier and more productive employees.

References:
http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/11/employee-break-room-ideas.html
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/improve-employee-break-room-21314.html

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Create a Space for Guests in Your Office

Do you have frequent guests in your office? If so, it’s important that you create a comfortable, inviting space for your guests in the office, whether they are from within the company or visitors from outside. Guests need to feel welcome no matter the reason for their visit. There are things you can do to make them feel welcome including setting up your office the right way and purchasing certain types of furniture.

Marina by goSIT Modern Fabric Couch, GrayIf guests need to wait for appointments, make sure there is a comfortable area for them to rest while they are waiting. Place an adequate number of lounge chairs in the reception area. You should calculate the maximum number of visitors you could possibly have in your office at any time when you purchase chairs. Be sure to have other items to make your guests comfortable. These include tables, magazines and coat racks. Some companies have restrooms in the reception area to allow guests to freshen up. You could also offer refreshments such as coffee, tea and water for people who are waiting. If your company has a receptionist, he or she should let guests know that restrooms are available and offer refreshments. The receptionist should also let guests know that you have been notified of their arrival and will meet with them as soon as possible.

If the guest is from inside the company, you should have chairs outside of your working space for the person to wait, if necessary. No one should have to stand while they are waiting to meet with you. Give the person the opportunity to feel comfortable while you are waiting. Anytime you have a visitor, whether from inside or outside, do your best to meet with the person on time. Even though you have other obligations, it sends a bad message if you intentionally make the person wait. It’s bad etiquette, even if you outrank the person within the company. Never abuse your power by intentionally delaying a meeting.

It’s especially important that guests feel comfortable in your office as this is where they are likely to spend their time during their visit. Typically, you will meet with someone so that you can work together on a project or issue. You may need to spend time collaborating so that you can both accomplish goals together. In these situations, it’s important that you have an adequate working space.

Jersey Factory Clearance Left Return P Top U Shape Desk, MahoganyWhen you want to collaborate with a few people, a p-top desk configuration may be the best choice for you. This type of desk has an area for you to sit down and do work on your own. It also has a built-in meeting table that will accommodate a few guests. You can sit at this type of desk with your visitors and work on a project together around the table. Purchase nice chairs to go along with your desk. Make sure you have an adequate number of chairs to fit around the visitor section of the desk. The chairs should be in good shape and comfortable so that guests feel welcome.

If you have a larger working space, you may opt for a separate conference table to work on your projects. This is especially appropriate when you don’t need to use technology during the project. The conference table will put everyone on equal footing since people are not meeting at your desk. Again, it’s important that you have adequate, comfortable seating for everyone. It’s a good idea to have one more chair than you think you need just in case of an extra visitor.

There are times when people will meet with you in front of your desk. It’s important that when they sit in front of your desk, they don’t feel uncomfortable or intimidated. The best way to handle this is to ensure that they have comfortable chairs that are well-made and in good condition. The chairs should come up to the height of your desk instead of sitting low. When the chairs are low, they can make the other person feel diminished. Don’t use chairs to intimidate people. Instead, make sure that they are raised to the same height as your chair so that your visitors feel appreciated and respected.

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How to Create a Beautiful Conference Room on a Budget

A conference room is an important part of your office. It sets the tone for your company. When you’re looking for deals on purchasing office furniture, it’s important that you consider the conference room seriously. You don’t have to buy the most expensive office furniture to make the room attractive. Often, you can find attractive pieces from furniture liquidators. Sometimes, pre-owned furniture looks just as attractive as new pieces if the retouching is done correctly.Conference Chairs

How can you create an attractive conference room on a budget? One important thing you need to consider is the office furniture in the room. You need a conference table that is attractive and functional. The table should be in good condition. You want a table that is sturdy and free of scratches or other imperfections. It should seat enough people conference table comfortably. How much seating do you need? You will need office furniture that is appropriate for the number of staff members in your office. How large are most client meetings? You should consider this as well when picking out office furniture like a conference table. Always buy a bit more seating room than you need, this will help you accommodate future growth in meeting size.

Chairs are an important part of your conference room. Don’t settle for unmatched chairs or chairs that don’t coordinate with the rest of the office furniture in the conference room. Your chairs should be sturdy and coordinate with the conference table. The pieces don’t have to match exactly but they should complement the rest of the office furniture. Certain colors and patterns, while not matching exactly, work well together and appear to be part of a set.

Chairs can be an extremely expensive investment. Don’t try to save money by scrimping on the number of chairs. It looks unprofessional when you don’t have enough chairs during meetings. It’s always important to have chairs that are in good shape. Chair legs should be sturdy and balanced. The arms should be well-fastened and should not wobble. People should be able to adjust the seat backs and heights easily. Most of all, the chairs should be comfortable. Meetings can last a long time and it’s much more enjoyable for participants when they have a pleasant place to sit. Make sure that you have a few extra chairs in the room just in case. If a client brings more people than expected, you’ll want room to accommodate them.

You don’t have break the bank when purchasing chairs. Don’t go to big box office stores or furniture chains to purchase chairs. Instead, check furniture liquidators. They often offer considerable savings on office furniture like chairs. You can find new or used chairs that look as attractive as the new high-end items without paying the high-end prices. Many times, you can find brand name office furniture like Herman Miller, Steelcase and Knoll at deeply discounted prices when you shop furniture liquidators. Make a budget and shop with your price limit in mind.

Manhattan 4 Door Laminate Storage Credenza with Glass Top, Cashmere GrayMany business owners add additional pieces of office furniture to the conference room for various reasons. You may find that a wide lateral filing cabinets work well in your conference room. These cabinets can also double as tables. The advantage of having a filing cabinet in your conference room is that you can easily access information that is relevant to meetings while you’re in the room. You can also store items in cabinets that you may need during some meetings but not others. These may include projectors, lecterns, notepads, pens, pencils and other relevant items. You can keep these items stored out of site when they’re not needed so that the room looks clean and neat. Then, when necessary, you’ll be able to access them quickly.

A credenza can be an attractive piece of furniture for a conference room. The credenza should coordinate with the other items in the room. Don’t try to save money by mixing different types of wood or finishes. Instead, take the time to find a table that works well with the office furniture that you already have. You can use the credenza to display items that may be of interest to clients. These include awards, newspaper article or magazine articles and other reading materials.