The # 1 Workplace Complaint is …

The trend continues in office design towards a more open and collaborative work environment and while there’s a lot to be said for the benefits of an office environment that enables employees to share information, there can also be a downside to all that communication as well. 

Unwanted office noise is the # 1 complaint in the workplace.

 According to a recent article in Building Design & Construction magazine, over 70 % of office workers say a reduction in noise would increase their productivity, while only 19 % of executives surveyed were aware of a noise problem.  This lack of understanding often results in a noisy work environment that can have a negative impact on employee productivity, morale and even retention. 

If you’re in the process of planning a new office space, be sure to consider the acoustics. A balanced approach to planning office acoustics includes office furniture, acoustical ceiling tiles and sound masking as the key components of an acoustically efficient workplace. 

The balanced approach to planning office acoustics is as easy as A, B, C. 

Absorb – Design elements such as carpet, acoustical ceiling tile and furniture partitions absorb sound instead of deflecting it back into the work environment. Hard surfaces like exposed ceilings and concrete floors may look cool, but are hard materials and don’t absorb sound. 

Block – For areas that require privacy, sound can be blocked with full-height walls. There are also high performance wall systems that can be moved later as your environment changes. These moveable walls offer accelerated depreciation as well. 

Cover – sound masking systems provide even distribution of sound to prevent workers from easily overhearing conversations. 

While a more open and collaborative work environment can be good for business, just be sure you don’t overlook the acoustics.

If you’d like to learn more about the acoustics in your workplace, call or email Team Office today.

When Does it Make Sense to Reupholster Your Old Chairs?

If you have chairs in need of a facelift, you may be wondering if it makes sense to have them reupholstered or just replaced. The answer to that question is – it depends. There are times it makes sense to give those chairs a new look by reupholstering and there are other times it’s just not worth it.

There are 10 important issues to consider before you choose between reupholstering and replacing those old chairs at home or in the office: 

1. Is the chair frame still in style? Some chairs “ugly out” long before they wear out. Take an honest look at the style and make sure it’s something you’ll want in your home or office 5 or 10 years from now.
2. Be sure the frame is still solid. A good way to test this is to put one knee on the seat while grabbing each arm on the chair. Now lean in and place pressure on the top of the chair arms with your palms. Alternate this pressure from left to right and see if you feel any give in the “bones” or frame of the chair. Give in the frame is called “racking” and is a sign the chair is likely nearing the end of its life cycle. A chair that racks can also be a safety/liability issue.
3. If your chairs are office or desk chairs, be sure to find out if they were designed to be reupholstered. Steelcase and several other popular office furniture manufacturers design chairs with thermally bonded fabric which makes reupholstering virtually impossible.
4. Before you make a final decision, price out new chairs in a similar style. This will give you something to compare to the cost of reupholstering.
5. Determine the amount of fabric you’ll need to recover each chair. If you’re not sure, ask your upholsterer or furniture dealer. If they can’t help, send us an image of your chair and we’ll help you.
6. Select a fabric you like for recovering. There are hundreds of fabrics available. An interior designer, commercial furniture dealer or upholsterer should be able to provide you with samples and even assist you in making a selection.
7. Multiply the net cost of your fabric (don’t forget shipping cost to the upholsterer) times the total number of square yards required to recover your chairs.
8. Get a quote from the upholsterer for the labor to recover the chairs. Make sure he includes pick up and re-delivery.
9. If your chairs are in an office environment, but sure to choose a fabric with at least a 30,000 double rub rating. The Wyzenbeek test is a generally accepted method for determining the durability of fabrics. The higher the double rub count, the more durable the fabric will be.  
10. Consider the environment before replacing your old chairs. Very few chairs can be recycled. Consider donating your old chairs to a local organization that redistributes unwanted furniture to those in need. 

We hope these questions help you make the choice that’s right for you and your organization. If you need a hand or would just like to have a second opinion,  send us an email or give us a call.

Is Your Business Prepared for a Disaster?

The devastating storms this spring in Missouri and Alabama should remind us how quickly tragedy can strike and how important it is to prepare your business for a disaster.

According to the American Red Cross, nearly 40 % of businesses fail following a natural or manmade disaster. Although 94 % of small business owners believe a disaster could seriously disrupt their business within the next two years, nearly 60 % are wholly unprepared for a disaster of any kind. 

To help businesses, organizations and schools prepare for emergencies; The American Red Cross provides a free, self-guided assessment rating program. The American Red Cross Ready Rating Program includes a 123 point self-assessment of the level of preparedness, as well as tips and best practices. The assessment has been aligned with the federal government’s private sector preparedness standards or PS=Prep.

Emergencies are inevitable. Be sure your organization is prepared for a disaster by taking the 123 Assessment today. Please also consider supporting The American Red Cross – where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country, and across the world—in emergencies. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.

Text REDCROSS to 90999 and donate $10.00 now.

5 Keys to Choosing the Right Office Chair

It helps to think of your office chair as a business suit. The only difference is you’re going to wear this suit for 6-8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 5, 10 or more years. If you wore a business suit this often and for this long, you’d never buy it over the Internet and that’s why you should never buy your office chair that way either.

There are hundreds of different office chairs to choose from and no one type is necessarily the best. Choosing the chair that’s right for you is a personal choice. The chair that feels comfortable to you might be uncomfortable for someone else. While there are many choices and options, there are 5 key factors to consider that will help you choose the chair that’s right for you.

- Size  You wouldn’t buy a one size fits all suit and you shouldn’t buy your office chair that way either. The average adjustable office chair was designed for users between 5’2” and 6’3” tall and no more than 250 lbs. If you don’t fit within these parameters, you should take a look at a chair made for people your size. There are several manufacturers that specialize in this type of office seating.

- Adjustability  It’s important your chair is easily adjustable. Those adjustments should at least include; seat height, arm height and lower lumbar support. The seat height should be a minimum range of 16-21 inches. The arms should be height adjustable and preferably width adjustable as well. Your chair should also have excellent support in the lower lumbar region and adjust in both height and depth. The spine is curved inward and as we sit for long periods of time and slouch, that inward curve begins to flatten. This can lead to lower back pain. A chair with inward lower lumbar support will help the spine maintain its natural inward curve.

- Seat Material  The material on the office chair seat and back should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. Having a cloth fabric that breathes is more comfortable than harder surfaces.

- Design  Design does matter. You wouldn’t buy an ugly business suit and you shouldn’t buy an ugly office chair either. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, some office chairs are better looking than others. Take a look around before you buy and be sure to consider looks.

- Get Fit  This is the most common mistake people make when buying a new office chair. Always be sure to you have a professional “fit” the chair to you before you buy it. This means sitting in the chair while a professional adjusts all the controls to fit your body shape and comfort preferences. Once the chair is properly fit for you, it’s also important you “test drive” that chair in your office for at least one full day. Skip this simple step and chances are very good you’ll end up regretting it.

Most of us spend more time in our office chairs than we do our cars or furniture at home. Follow these key buying tips and you’ll end up with the chair that’s right for you.

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy Your Office Furniture Direct

 

1. You won’t have a pesky middle man to deal with when something breaks or doesn’t work or look quite the way you thought it would.
2. You prefer to work with a third party installation company instead of the company that sold you the furniture.
3. You like someone to nickel and dime you every time you make even the smallest change.
4. You enjoy paying for every single bit of value you receive.
5. You don’t want anyone to bother you in a month or a year just to make sure you still like your office furniture.
6. You really enjoy dealing with warranty claims and chasing down out of state manufacturers.
7. You’d rather not support a locally owned business.
8. You’d rather not build a relationship with someone who might be the source of your next client referral.
9. You love the parts intensive nature of office furniture and relish the idea of double checking a long list of materials.
10. You have no interest in choosing from dozens of manufacturers and would much prefer to be locked into what one company can offer.

Obviously, I’m having a little fun here, but you get the point. There are still a few manufacturers out there that will sell office furniture direct. Most organizations know why this almost never works out well, but every once in a while, I see someone try it anyway.

I recently had a friend buy some furniture ”Direct” (thanks, buddy) and what he ended up receiving was not what he ordered. With no dealer involved, my friend got to spend an afternoon boxing it, dealing with the freight carrier and then paying to return it. Two weeks later, the manufacturer charged him a 30 % “restocking fee”. 

Lesson learned. 

It just makes good business sense to buy your office furniture from a full service dealer and there are several in this market. On the surface, a furniture dealer might seem like a middle man, but when you get through the entire process of space planning, specification and installation, I think you’ll see they more than earned their keep.

Can Your Office Furniture Pay for Itself?

It’s no secret office furniture can be very pricey. Your business needs the right furniture at the right price, but before you use precious capital to pay for your furniture upfront, it might pay to look at all your financing options.

Is it better to just pay for the furniture or does financing or leasing make more sense? According to Doug Andring, Regional Representative for Key Equipment Finance, the need for financing is no longer limited to the type of asset you’re acquiring, but more a question of how you want to use your capital and cash.

“Over the last 18 to 24 months, business owners and economic decision makers shifted from accounting-based decisions to capital-based decisions knowing that cash is king and conserving that cash is a top priority in the new economy”, says Andring. “Regardless of the overall strength of a business, financing furniture at a low rate makes more sense than reducing the company’s capital.”

As long as historically low interest rates are available, it might make sense to get the furniture you need and start using it right away, while spreading the costs out over time. The extra capital can be invested to help grow your business. Another huge benefit to financing your furniture is most of your “soft costs” can be included in your payment.

 If financing makes sense, it might also pay to look at leasing. Most leases allow 100 % financing which means no down payment and no payment for 30 days. In many cases, monthly lease payments are deductible (pre-tax) dollar for dollar. This is because lease payments are usually considered an operating expense.

 How do you know if leasing is right for your business?

 The right choice is the one that meets the individual needs of your business. Common factors to consider are:

 -          Estimated useful life of the furniture.

-          How long you plan to use the furniture.            

-          The tax situation of your business.

-          The cash flow of your business.

-          Your company’s specific needs for future growth.

 So, before you sign off on that new furniture, talk to your tax advisors about the benefits of financing or leasing.

Is Your Messy Desk Costing You Money?

I’ve never been a big fan of a clean desk. I walk through a lot of offices and every time I see a really clean and organized desk it makes me wonder how busy that person is. Are they using valuable work time to clean their desk, or do they just not have much going on? It’s possible their desk is so clean because they’re ultra efficient and so productive that they have plenty of time leftover to clean their desk everyday.

My friends who used to work at Marion Merrell Dow tell me Mr. K had a strict clean desk policy. You could have a messy desk during the workday, but there couldn’t be one piece of paper on your desk when it was time to go home. Good thing they had lots of big file cabinets in Marion facilities.

Does a clean desk make you more productive?

According to a 2010 study by Brother International, messy desks and time spent looking for misplaced items costs corporate America $177 billion annually.

The estimate for all those minutes spent hunting for misplaced files and documents added up to 76 hours – or nearly two work weeks – a year.

These costs are also hitting employees’ pocketbooks. Nearly one third of office workers failed to get reimbursed for a business or travel expense because they lost a receipt according to the study.

The Brother International study based its estimates on interviews with 800 office workers and combined that data with current salary statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Over 65 % of survey respondents admitted their desks were unorganized. Organizational experts suggest organizing your work area a few minutes at a time spread out over several days or weeks. Wholesale cleaning sweeps are great, but they usually aren’t sustainable. If you want to get organized and stay organized, you have to make it a habit.

The key to keeping organized is making sure you have a place for each piece of paper. Without a place for every document, the random piling will continue according to professional organizer Beth Dargis. Visit Beth’s website for more great tips on getting organized.

Organizing your desk might not be your idea of a good time, but it just might be the fastest way to boost productivity. It seemed to work out pretty well for Mr. K.

So, how does your desk look? Email us an image of your desk and let us know how your organizational strategy is working.

Energize Your Next Office

For many years, marketers have understood the power color has on people and have used it to help produce business results for their clients. Certain colors are used on websites and in brands not only because the designer liked them, but for the effect they have on people as well.

It only makes good business sense for you to tap into the psychology of color before you plan your next office space. With just a basic understanding of how certain colors affect people, you can use them to not only create the best atmosphere for your business, but to help you achieve those needed results as well.

Research shows human beings have an involuntary physiological reaction to color. The color red, for example, can cause the adrenal glands to release, the heart rate to rise and the mouth to salivate. Blues and greens on the other hand are more calming and produce the opposite physical reactions to red.

Consider the following list of colors and the feelings they typically evoke before you select finishes for your new office:

- Reds: High Energy, Stimulation, Sexy and Danger.

- Oranges: Happy, Sweet and Youthful

- Yellows: Warms, Sunny, Cheerful and Happy.

- Browns: Rich, Rustic, Earthy and Durable.

- Blues: Cool, Dependable, Soothing and Quiet.

- Greens: Growth, Fresh, Healing and Natural.

- Purples: Sensual, Elegant, Spiritual and Regal.

- Neutrals: Quality, Timeless, Natural.

- Whites: Clean, Pure and Innocent.

- Black: Strong, Classic and Powerful.

 As you plan your new office space, make sure your wall paint, trim, artwork, flooring and furniture finishes are the colors that fit with your brand and business objectives. Let the power of color help you grow your business.

Is the Cubicle Dying?

An interesting thing is happening right now in the world of office furniture. The cubicle and the cube farm are on life support and will require major surgery in order to survive.

 We’ve seen this one coming since the tech boom of the mid nineties. Those young, bright and often extremely profitable techies did not dig the Dilbert cube. They wanted to collaborate easily and often with their office mates without having to stand up and walk around a five foot griege panel. They also liked to mix in the occasional game of ping pong or pool. Robert Propst and his team at Herman Miller definitely didn’t have these guys in mind back in the late ‘60’s when they invented the cube. 

It’s 2011 and if you look around you’ll see some of the biggest and best organizations in the country are lowering the walls and encouraging collaboration among the troops. And don’t think for a minute these guys didn’t do their homework before they decided to open things up a bit. Organizations like McDonald’s spend a lot of money and time researching any decision and you can bet they wouldn’t do it this unless they knew it made bottom line sense (cents). 

Here’s the deal. You don’t need an MBA to know a happy worker is a more productive worker. Besides, smaller cubes with lower walls are cheaper and take up less real estate anyway. The new and improved cube is emerging from surgery better, cheaper and much cooler looking than ever before.

Not to worry if your open office doesn’t look like this yet. Very few offices do. This (re)evolution of the cube will take time and in the meantime, you’ve got options. We’ve taken the pain out of this migration for many clients by doing everything from cutting down their panels, recovering them with bright new fabric and rearranging their cubes to buying their old cubes from them and allowing them to start over.

Let us hear about your walls. Are they tumbling?