News

With some businesses transitioning back to coming into the office, sitting in collaborative spaces might seem foreign after a year of isolation. Because of this, it’s crucial to make sure that you and your employees are ready to make the safe transition into working in a physical office space. For this week’s article, we’re breaking down how to create clean, collaborative spaces for you and your employees that will make the transition back to the office productive and fun.

Setting Up Work Circles

The first thing you want to do is find a suitable area in your office to create this space. Lounge areas, or even a separate conference room can make for the perfect space to set up for collaboration. Ideally, you want an area with a few windows that is open and bright, as spaces like these can increase productivity and overall satisfaction amongst employees. In addition to natural light, filling the room with ergonomic furniture can have a positive impact on the workspace. Things like standing desks, open tables, comfy chairs, and outlet areas are all extremely beneficial in bolstering collaborative dialogue between employees. 

Keeping Collaboration Clean

Establishing a collaborative workspace is a challenge on its own, but what about keeping it clean and safe for everyone in the office? This step doesn’t need to be as intimidating as it sounds, as keeping these spaces clean can be an easy job when you get everyone to pitch in. Encourage your employees to clean up after themselves by having signs posted around the space in regards to throwing away trash and making sure they keep their belongings organized so nothing gets lost or misplaced. Additionally, because collaborative spaces are high traffic areas, keeping things like disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer close by in your collaborative space will discourage the spread of germs and help make your employees feel safe to collaborate with others.

Revamping your space and adding in an area for collaboration is a great way to make the home to office transition easier and more productive. Applying the tips and tricks in this article will help you create a welcoming, productive space for you and your employees, ensuring success and productivity for your business for years to come.

Sharing a space can be challenging, especially a busy office space. As we so often see in our homes, clutter can be quick to take over and disrupt our lives. With most businesses transitioning back into working in an office environment, it doesn’t come as a shock that there might be an adjustment period for some employees. Organizing the office doesn’t have to be an overwhelming challenge. In fact, organization can be achieved just by chipping away at the workplace little by little during the week. If you want to maximize your organization skills, read on for some helpful tips to tackle clutter and keep your office running efficiently.

Providing On and Under Desk Storage

Things like pens, sticky notes, and notepads are easily accumulated when you work in an office setting. It sometimes seems easier to just have everything in neat piles on a desk, but that doesn’t leave a very good impression, especially for customers. Messy office spaces can give off the impression of disorganization and chaos, and even decrease productivity in the workplace. Having small things like pen cups and drawers under desks, can greatly reduce the amount of visible clutter and increase productivity among employees.

Supply Closet Disaster? No Problem

Every office has that one small space where all of the supplies are stored. Usually areas like this aren’t as high traffic as the rest of the office, leaving them untouched and collecting dust. Checking in on this area of the office and wiping down the surfaces in the closet is one small way to take care of your space. And the next time someone has to grab something from the closet, your future self and your employees will thank you!

Keeping the Kitchen Clean

Kitchens are some of the messiest rooms, both at home and in the office. The more people you have using a kitchen, the more potential you have for a mess. One way to keep this area clean is to regularly assess the space at the end of the day, wiping down any spills or crumbs that may be sitting on the counter or in the fridge. If you have a microwave, cleaning it out once a week is beneficial to keeping this space tidy. Additionally, keeping the fridge stocked with essentials such as water bottles and having a few snacks on hand, can have a positive impact on your employees.

Checking In On Your Filing System

Despite being in the digital age, many companies still have important paper documents and files that need to be filed properly each day. In some cases, these documents may get out of hand or seem overwhelming, even if you have a filing system in place. That’s why it’s so important to regularly check up on these documents and keep your filing up to date. Depending on how many physical documents you have, taking some time out of your day – or even just once a week – to assess your files and organize as needed, can save you from a file pile disaster and increase productivity.

Implementing all, or even just one of these tips can make a big difference in the workplace. As you spend just a little bit of time each day organizing, they will eventually become habitual, saving you many future headaches and giving you more time to focus on your work.

We’ve all been through some of the most trying times these last two years with the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the holiday season bearing down, it might seem like that stress has increased. Many businesses are preparing to celebrate the holidays with an office party, so it’s probably no surprise that thoroughly cleaning and organizing your office space would be a top priority. How can this be achieved to ensure everyone’s safety as we gather together this year? We’ve got some tips to help get you covered.

Cleaning High Touch Surfaces

Whether you have a large corporate office or a small business, there are always going to be high traffic areas in your space. Doorknobs and light switches are just some of the things in your office that can gather germs quickly. Wiping down these surfaces is just one small thing you can do that will ensure a thorough clean of your space. Some other techniques you can incorporate for a deep clean are:

• Dust and wipe down desks and other flat surfaces with disinfecting wipes, such as Clorox.
• Vacuum and mop floors to get rid of built up dirt and grime
• Thoroughly clean restrooms and keep them stocked with supplies for your holiday party

Considerations for Your Party-Goers

Before hosting an office party, it’s important to be up-to-date on the latest information regarding COVID-19 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, having disposable masks on hand for guests, as well as hand sanitizer dispensers, can help your employees feel more comfortable when gathering for the holidays. 

Clutter Be Gone

It’s no secret that shared spaces can get very disorganized, very fast. For many businesses, keeping a space organized can be a challenge, and throwing the holidays into the mix can make it seem even more daunting. Keeping small bins handy underneath desks for extra storage, as well as small on-desk organizers can help keep clutter at bay, and make your office space look organized. In addition to this, keeping waste bins underneath desks and around the office empty before your employees arrive can ensure added cleanliness and organization to the space.

Combine all of these tips and tricks, and your office will be ready for a safe holiday party in no time. Need a little help getting your space ready? We offer disinfecting and office cleaning services to give you that extra support while you prepare for the holidays.