Ideas for Employee Appreciation

Ideas for Employee Appreciation

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Family pictures and holiday cards have started piling up on your desk, plates of holiday treats have begun to appear in the break room, and a few employees have strung up twinkly lights in their cubicles. This means only thing; the holiday season has arrived and with its arrival often comes the pressure for holiday bonuses and the like.

 

Without a doubt, your employees are valuable. Without them, you wouldn’t be nearly as successful and you may cease to exist at all. So, how do you show your thanks? Here are some ideas to show your appreciation during the holidays (or all year round):

Office Party

 

We’ve all seen the comical and nightmarish accounts of an office party getting a little out of hand, as portrayed in television and movies, but a party around the holidays can be a great time relax and connect with one another. If you have a planning committee at work or a few people who love to plan events, sit down with them and start exchanging ideas. There are many things to consider, such as making it family friendly or an adults only bash. Although you are planning it around the holidays, be mindful about everyone’s backgrounds. Rather than making it a “Christmas” party, it’s a better idea to make it an end of the year appreciation gathering.

Providing a Meal During the Weekday

 

While the breakroom tables become crowded with sugar cookies, gingerbread people, peanut butter blossoms, and even a few loaves of fruit cake, your employees are destined to have sugar overkill. A nice way to show that you appreciate all the hard work your employees do is by having lunch catered or offer continental breakfast items in the morning. A quality bagel and a good cup of coffee can go a long way.

Close Early and Offer Pay

 

Around the holidays, many people end up taking vacation or personal time to spend time with family and friends. Rather than making your employees use up time they already saved up, why not offer a few half days off with pay? Not only will getting out at noon on a Friday, and still get paid for a full day, bring smiles all around, but your employees may be more eager to stay productive. Can’t afford to let everyone go at once? Rotate schedules throughout departments.

 

Encourage Creativity, Accept Feedback

 

When your employees feel like their talents are being used and their voices are heard, they will not only be more productive, but may feel more appreciated. Even though you’re the head honcho, your employees are just as valuable as what you’re selling (if not more). Take the time to listen and ask for feedback on a regular basis.

Offering Bonuses

 

A little extra money at the end of the year is always a nice token of appreciation and while many businesses do it, it’s up to you if you can do it, too. When offering a cash bonus, consider adding a nice personal note or if you want to offer a bonus in the form of an employee benefit, offer some extra time off or a share of the company. Make it personal and make it matter. Empty gestures are just that and your hardworking deserve more.

 

So You Want To Start a Business

So You Want To Start a Business

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That’s great! You will be one of 3,190 individual’s (2015 figures, via the Kauffman Index) across the United States who is adding to a still-vibrant economy, in spite of war and recession elsewhere. In fact, entrepreneurship is actually up from 2014, by about 10 percent, so clearly some people are still hopeful about the economy, Wall Street aside.

Like many entrepreneurs, you may have to shoulder the burden of the workload by yourself for a while, with part-timers on call when things get really crazy.

Those part-timers can help you get through the sticky stuff, so go ahead and hire them. Young and strong, or older and wiser, they are an important addition to your business. If you are successful, they may even transition along with you to become permanent, full-time employees.

But there are rules, even when hiring part-time or temporary help, and you could lose your precious startup – and everything else you own – if you are not careful to follow them.

What Defines Part-Time

You do. Not the government, and not some anonymous management company, but you. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) applies whether your new employee works 14 hours, or 30 hours. However, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics describes “part-time” as working one to 34 hours per week, so that is a good guideline.

Mandatory Benefits

What are you required to offer, or pay? Mandatory benefits include workers’ compensation and Social Security – or a short-term benefits package for disability, depending on your state. You are required to pay minimum wage in most cases. This is equivalent to $7.25 per hour.

Starting out, you may want to keep it simple and hope that your employees are healthy and capable. On the other hand, a small, simple, very carefully crafted benefits package may be just the incentive your new employees need to work just that much harder to help you succeed.

Health Insurance

Don’t forget the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) for health insurance. Again, depending on your status as an employer, etc., you may not have to offer anything to those working less than 20 hours a week, but your insurer can advise you and help you plan for an acceptable minimum of coverage – perhaps with employee participation.   

The law says you must pay for health insurance if you have 50 full-time employees or more. This is the 2016 threshold. This means you either offer health insurance, or pay a tax penalty. You can get around this by cutting hours, or dividing your company into two parts (e.g., manufacturing and sales), and some larger firms are doing just that, but that’s kind of a shabby way to meet the letter of the law while ignoring the intent.

If your employees are seasonal – if, for example, you build sailboats, but only in the summer – you are required to offer health benefits to employees if there are more than 50 of them, and they work for a consecutive 120 days (4 months) in a row.

Whatever you do, remember that any health insurance you offer must meet the guidelines of “affordability”. That is, it must not exceed 9.56 percent of your employee’s combined household income.

There is a caveat, of course. Since you, the employer, are unlikely to know what your employee’s combined household income is, you can take advantage of any one of three “safe harbor” stances. These are:

  1. The amount of wages on the W-2 form
  2. The rate of pay, typically calculated at 130 hours per month or more times the hourly wage
  3. The Federal poverty line, or FPL, takes the position that the coverage is affordable if your employee’s contribution is not greater than 9.5 percent of the FPL for a single individual during the calendar year.

Best Advice

Good employees are a treasure beyond gold. Learn to spot them, and reward them, outside of mandatory state and federal employment guidelines. For example, that Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas bonus may mean more in the long run than all the niggling little attempts you make to stay precisely within the law.

Pets Are Big Business

Pets Are Big Business

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In America, pets are big business. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 65 percent of U.S. households, or almost 80 million families, own a pet.

This figure is 22.7 million more than it was in 1988, the first year the survey was conducted. It’s clear America’s love affair with pets is strong, and growing stronger.

Most prefer dogs, by a margin of almost 12 percent, but cats aren’t far behind. In fact, remove percentages and actual ownership involves 85.8 million cats versus 77.8 million dogs. This is because people who own cats often own two or more, while dog owners typically own one – especially if it is a large dog.

People are also, and increasingly, turning to fish (12.3 percent), birds (6.1 percent), small animals (5.4 percent), and even reptiles, especially lizards, which are no longer seen as cold, uncaring, indifferent creatures but ones with personalities as distinct as those of cats and dogs.

The same is true of snakes and, yes, even tarantulas. Nothing seems to escape our love and fascination with the other members of earth.

Pet Ownership Translated into Dollars

In 2006, Americans spent $38.5 billion on pets, pet care, and pet sitting or grooming establishments. This is the same amount that the Federal government spent on education during that year.

By 2015, that figure had risen to $60.59 billion, with the lion’s share going toward veterinary surgical care. The next largest category covered food. Third were routine vet visits, and fourth were boarding facilities.

Food treats came in at about 25 percent of the actual food total – $269, in the case of dogs (with cats only $20 million behind).The smallest amount, a miserly $28-47 million, was reportedly spent on toys – a figure that seems almost fictional knowing how much doting pet owners spend on their “fur people”.

Pet Ownership, By Age and Sector

When the Great Recession (2007-2009) struck, Americans tightened the purse strings. Retail sales fell, as did sales of vehicle fuel, fast food, vacations, and major appliances.

Pet spending did not, proving yet again that a pet business is good business. This willingness to spend on fur people is very much evident among homeowners, who spend about three times as much as renters. An even better demographic for pet product and service sales is among married couples without children. Whether new nesters or empty nesters, this group spent the most on their pets.

This is also the group, or demographic, that sees their pets as “family” (by a 63.2- percent margin), as opposed to those who see their pets as companion animals (35.8 percent). These are the pet lovers who go online and refer to a beloved animal as “my baby”, or “my kid”.

Millennials Taking over the Industry

The most promising group of pet-product consumers are Millennials, the 18-34-year-old segment, who have seen their futures shrunk to the size of a corporate cubicle and an efficiency apartment. Millennial singles often see pets as their only recourse to companionship: relationships are too difficult to sustain, and marriage is economically hazardous.

For married Millennials, pets serve the same purpose, only more so. Compared to other pet owners, notes consumer marketing agency Packaged Facts in their National Pet Owner Survey, many Millennials seem to regard their pets as surrogate children, and pet ownership as a good way to practice for that “real” family.

Thus, as the Boomers decline in both health and prospects and give up their pets, expect Millennials to take over the pet industry. Because this demographic is inclined to splurge on their pets – sometimes even to the extent of foregoing personal purchases – entrepreneurs can also expect rapid and enthusiastic uptake of fads, fashion accessories, feeding and watering devices, treats, carrying cases, cat stands, pillow beds, healthful foods and, most notably, electronic apps that allow owners to keep track of a pet’s health and safety.

Entrepreneurs planning on starting a pet business would do best to focus on this demographic when it comes to advertising and social media (try Snapchat and Instagram, as well as the old faithful apps like Facebook and Twitter). Product focus should be on innovative designs and technologically advanced tracking and monitoring devices.

But a good, old-fashioned dog walking service, or a 21st century Sherpa tent designed for dogs and hot summer nights, would likely be successful, too. Just focus on the right market and make sure you consult the VA Law & Business Review to make sure you and the IRS are on the same page, legally speaking.  

The Importance of Mentorship When Building A Business

The Importance of Mentorship When Building A Business

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When it comes to entrepreneurship, many want to start a business but they may find themselves stomped when defining their objective, which is why seeking mentorship has been beneficial in helping others building out their plans. Creating a clear mission is necessary when developing and growing a business. What is it about your business that is special and unique? You may have started a business that solves distinct problems or provides a valuable service. Starting is just the beginning. The work that comes with building, branding, and establishing business goals and a strong team is a whole other ballpark. Develop a clear vision and goal. You can do this by seeking mentorship in the process.

 

Stay positive!

 

Having a great idea is only part of your success. Determination and having a strong plan is the key to growing a small business. If you’re serious about growing your business, hang around others who are on a similar journey and already have successful businesses. Ask questions and take lots of notes. Learn from them and feed off the positive energy. Motivate yourself with inspirational quotes on leadership and innovation. You and your dream are worth it, and staying positive is your number one goal as you launch and build. You will have difficult days in the beginning, but negative thinking will get you nowhere!

 

Find mentorship and funding programs

 

There are practical ways to grow your small business idea. Here are a few to consider:

 

Find mentorship Ever watch the show “Shark Tank”? Having a successful business owner offer you tips and mentorship on business development and longevity is powerful. Often we may not have a clear objective in the beginning. Entrepreneurs have creative ideas, but may be limited in time and finances. Learn from those who are successful. Take notes. Go to conferences. It may even be worth it to seek a life coach to help you develop a life strategy.

 

Look for grants You may be surprised at how many grants are available to small business owners. Do the research! Contact non-profit organizations and investors. Tell your business idea and get the funding you need to grow.

 

Legal advice. Don’t be afraid to seek out legal advice. A lawyer may help answer all of those questions you have about the legal and financial side of having a business.

 

Networking is the key

 

Entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “You cannot succeed by yourself. It’s hard to find a rich hermit.” You can’t grow a business without networking. Social media networking may not be enough, especially if you have a small business. Consider joining or starting a meetup for entrepreneurs in your area.  Networking is invaluable when growing and expanding a business.

 

If you don’t already have a website, you want to invest into one. Many business owners who aren’t code savvy now have WordPress accounts which make it easier to post content to your site whenever you want. You can’t go wrong with strong business cards. Go to a local community fair and set up a table. Have your business cards at hand and introduce yourself to locals. The more personable you are, the better. Be friendly and reach out. You never know what opportunities will open up for you as you step out!

Hiring Seasonal Employees This Summer

Hiring Seasonal Employees This Summer

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Depending on the type of business you have, you may get busier during the summer months. While some businesses make it work by using existing staff and increasing the workload, hiring a few seasonal employees can not only help with the increase in demand, but can also keep the potential workplace stress low. By hiring seasonal employees, your company is more likely to run efficiently during a busy season and your customer/client base may increase even more. Another plus? Your year round employees can take some time off without compromising your busy season.

 

Although the idea of training in a few seasonal employees may sound like too much work, particularly right before a busy season, if you make the time to train them in properly, you are likely to see positive results in your productivity. Whether you’re planning on hiring a few seasonal employees this summer or twenty, here are some things you should know:

Seasonal Employees Have the Same Rights

 

Even if you’re only planning on only keeping a seasonal employee on for a few months, he or she has the same employment rights as your full-time employees. According to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), laws that harassment, discrimination, and workplace health and safety apply to all of your employees, whether temporary or full-time. Depending on where you live, it’s also important to find out if you need to offer unemployment benefits. However, in regards to Obamacare, you are not required to offer health insurance to seasonal employees unless you staff over 50 full-time employees for 120 days or more.

Taxes, Workers’ Comp, & Social Security

 

As you would with other employees, you must withhold part of Social Security and Medicare taxes from your employee’s wages. Additionally, you must provide worker’s compensation for all of your employees, regardless of how long they are employed by your company. When hiring a seasonal employee, make sure you have and know the correct tax information for seasonal workers or part-time help.

Training Employees This Summer

 

If you anticipate hiring a seasonal employee each year, you may want to create a special training program or manual just for seasonal employees, however (for consistency), consider training seasonal employees the same way that you would a full-time employee. Make sure to go over standard operating procedures, all workplace safety information, and any employee rights and company expectations. When you’re in a rush to hire on new employees, it may be easy to go over information quickly or unintentionally skip some information all together, but if you take the time to train properly, you are less likely to face issues at the peak of your busy season.

You May Have Found a Future Employee

 

One of the nice things about hiring a seasonal employee is that if they don’t work out, it’s not as big of a deal than having to terminate a full-time employee. On the plus side, you may have found a future full-time employee or someone who is willing to return when you need seasonal help.

 

Small Businesses & Parental Leave

Small Businesses & Parental Leave

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Without a strong team of dedicated employees, a business of any size can suffer. If you run a small business, you undoubtedly rely on your employees and in turn try to offer them benefits and other incentives for staying with and supporting your small company. While many employees of a small business are offered health insurance and even a retirement plan, parental leave is another story. It continues to baffle business owners and employees, alike, that in a developed country like the United States, women are not guaranteed time off from work to care for their newborn after birth.

Although larger businesses are required to provide employees with 12 weeks of unpaid leave, through the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), smaller businesses with less than 50 employees are not required to provide the same kind of leave. If you’re not required to provide parental (or maternity) leave, here are some reasons why you may want to consider offering it for expectant parents in your company:

Employees May Return After Leave

If you decide to provide parental leave your employees, there’s a good chance that a majority of the employees will return to work after leave. By providing parental leave, giving either men or women an option to take time off after the birth or adoption of a child, you are taking action and showing your employees that you care about them and their families. In turn, you are more likely to have employees that value you as an employer and express mutual respect.

Creating a Parental Leave Policy

Whether you want to include both women and men is up to you, but when you create your parental leave policy it should be clear and you should be consistent with no exceptions and included in all employee manuals and in terms of employment. (Yes, even small businesses with a small amount of employees should have employee manuals and terms of employment.) When creating your policy, consider the FMLA:

  • Employees must be employed with your company for at least 12 months and works a regular work week (or works a minimum of hours per week).
  • The time of leave must be continuous, not broken up over a period of time (such as 6 to 12 weeks).

If you can’t offer paid leave or can’t afford to be without your employee for 12 weeks, consider alternatives such as working from home or allowing your employee to bring the child to work (if it’s safe and suitable).

Prepare Your Business

Just as you would with another lengthy absence in your company, you should have a plan for conducting business without an integral employee. Depending on the type of business you run, you have a few options that may work such as temporarily offering up or delegating tasks to existing employees, hire out your work to freelancers, or hire a temporary employee during the time of your employee’s absence.

Is Your Startup Business Idea Any Good?

Is Your Startup Business Idea Any Good?

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Whether you are still in the brainstorming stage of a startup business or if you’re already a business owner and have ideas for starting another business, the thought that crosses your mind more often than not is, “Is this even a good idea?” When coming up with business ideas, it’s easy to be optimistic and confident until someone tells you it’s not the greatest idea or you find out that a business like yours already exists.

Dreams of starting a business can be a fleeting thought, but if you really want it to work, you can definitely give it a go. Will it be easy? Not always. Will everyone love it? Probably not. However, remember the old saying, “You’ll never know until you try”? Keep that in mind as you come up with a business idea or two.

Got an Idea? Questions to Ask Yourself

Having a long list of ideas are better than none. While you may only have a few viable ideas out of the bunch, it’s a good start. When tossing around ideas, it’s important to ask yourself some questions and see if your business idea can answer them. Here are some questions to consider when planning your business:

Is Your Idea “Trending”?:

When planning a startup business, it’s wise to keep your eye on trending businesses. While not every business that starts out trending and strong is in for the long haul, it can give you a good starting point. Pay close attention to businesses that continue to trend as they grow.

Will My Business Solve a Problem?:

Think as your startup business as the scientific method (in a way). You must ask yourself a question, do your research, and come up with a conclusion. A successful business often solves a problem. Whether you are looking for a way to keep people from losing their car keys or how to decrease the number of roadway accidents, your business should solve a problem. The problem may not be yours, but you’re likely to find someone with the problem.

Are People Willing to Pay for My Business?:

Whether you’re selling a product or a service, a big question you should ask yourself is if people will pay for whatever you’re selling. These days, there are a lot of services available for no cost (which can make for tough competition), so you’ll need to determine what makes you stand out from the others.

Does it Excite You?:

Many people start up a business because they know it’s a good idea, but they only feel a little passion for it. Sure, a business may be profitable, but if your heart’s not in it, it’s not going to thrive as well as it could nor will it last. Although you have a specific audience that you’re trying to capture and excite, don’t forget about your own emotional investment. Remember, if you believe in your business idea and are excited, it’s a great starting point. Ask others what they think, take advice into consideration, but don’t let the naysayers steer you away from something you really want to do.

Startup Trends of 2016

Startup Trends of 2016

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Startups are dramatically impacting modern society, and it is safe to say that they are shaping this new generation. Unlike larger organizations, these agile companies take much larger risks and give opportunities to unproven new visionaries in the hopes of bringing something great to the consumer. New startup launches are everywhere. They appear in developed and less developed countries with equal flare and enthusiasm in pursuing product and service perfection. The year 2015 was recognizable for the startup trend of 3D printing, the exaggerated usage of drones, and the ‘internet of things’. Some inventions were great while others had some issues. Competition and consumer expectation are demonstrably growing bigger and bigger each year. 2016 is expected to be a year of improving the services and products created last year, with that handing out some world-changing ideas. Let’s take a look at the trends we hope to see from startups in 2016.
Tech for Everyday Living
First on the list is the improved usage of Wearables in multiple industries. Consumers are showing great demand for wearables, and it is a seemingly addictive product niche. Almost 80% of the initial adopters of this technology consider the Wearables market to be a significant strategic asset to the future of their business. The spending on Wearables by previous consumers is expected to have a repurchase percentage of 90%. There are also new customers ready and willing to adopt and install them in their businesses as well. Even though Smart home devices were greeted with some skepticism, after additional adoption occurred, and people started actively using them and connecting every tech product in their home to it, the trust factor was developed. Along with Wearables, it is expected that in 2016 Smart homes adoption will hit full market penetration and will become commonplace for many families that desire progress and security in their lives. When you have already connected everything in your life to one system, the risk of having your personal information leak or hacked does increase. To fight this, many companies will work on developing privacy protection for potential consumers in order to meet their needs. This opens up an entirely new market for the cyber privacy business.
More Advanced Technology
The creation of Smart cities really started getting noticed in 2015. These systems allowed zones to be controlled through one, all-connecting system. The aspect of health is also a major focus. Digital health has exponentially grown. Some examples are faster sequencing of DNA, in depth clinical analysis, technological advancements, and online services for mental healthcare. A new movement took shape in the form of autonomous cars. Autonomous cars are becoming more and more popular as people are willing to accept them because of the many benefits they carry (safety, health, environment). This is still in its infancy and the software has many details that still need to be worked on. Even though it is a much more budget heavy endeavor, the space exploration segment of startups will have a significant role in 2016. Small developers are going to be the backbone for the leading two companies, SpaceX and BlueOrigin, in their quest for knowledge.
All things are moving in the tech-direction, and as more and more individuals bring their own ideas to the table, it is only expected that daily life will get better, easier and more innovative.

Customer Base : How to Build

Customer Base : How to Build

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Starting a new business can be terrifying. You pump time and money into your new venture with no idea of how it will turn out. All business owners start somewhere, though. And one thing every new start-up needs is a customer base.

 

Here are five things any new business can do to begin building that brand.

 

Use Social Media (and Do a Good Job of It)

Every company needs an online presence these days. Most businesses realize that, but they often neglect the details. Unless you’re selling a product directly online, you should focus more on social media than on an elaborate page.

 

Few customers will spend time navigating through an elaborate website. You need to go to your customers. A healthy social media presence will allow customers to incorporate your deals and ads into their own time.

 

And make sure your social media presence is up to date. If your page hasn’t been update in three years, no one will know how accurate your information is. Spend the time needed to get good content available online.

 

Hire a Few Reliable Employees

The more employees you have, the more time you’ll need to spend in human resources and management. A large staff may sound appealing, but remember that each person will need wages, paperwork, and maybe even benefits packages. And the more people you’ve got working together, the more likely it will be that people will feud and cause problems.

 

Find a few good people. Hire them. And keep your staff lean. Good employees—so long as your treat them well—will be loyal and hardworking. They will also attract customers. Customers like to go to a business where they know the people working. That customer-business relationship is key to growing your start-up.

 

Get to Know What Everyone Does

Learn the basics of what every one of your employees does on a normal day. This will help you build rapport with your staff; you’ll understand how hard their work is, and that understanding will help build the mutual respect between employee and employer that is necessary for building a strong workforce. It will also prevent your employees from thinking you don’t understand how the place actually works.

 

Know Your Customer

Again, customers like going to places where they know the workers. Learn your customers’ names, talk with them about their days, and slowly build that relationship. Remember to be sincere, though; nothing turns potential regulars again like a slimy conversation with the owner.

 

Once people know you, they will feel personally invested in your establishment. If it’s home to them, they’ll keep coming back, and will feel the importance of spending their money on you instead of the similar shop a few blocks down.

 

 

Do Good Work

This one should go without saying, but it pays to remember that customers will be happier when they get high quality service. Whatever it is you do, do it well. Solid product or content will be the best marketing tool you’ll ever have. Quality is the first thing customers consider when planning a shopping trip.   

 

How Strategic Office Design Influences Employees’ Output

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First it was the cellular office, then the open plan office and then the group office. Those were the types of office concepts in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, respectively. After that, in the 1980s, companies introduced a combi-office, whose main role was to create a more communicative business environment. How does office design function today and how does it affect workers’ output?

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Small offices – easy to adapt

Today the team is the main cell of every business, be it a small local business or a multinational company. This is why many companies nowadays create offices that can host smaller teams of workers. When employees are divided into smaller groups,their productivity rate is much higher. However, it is not enough only to create teams and expect that things will simply develop in a desired way. Both small and large teams need to be encouraged to keep a positive attitude. Lounge areas can contribute a lot to such atmosphere

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Relaxation zones

When you have a look at the work areas of the largest international companies, such as Facebook, Google or Microsoft, your first thought might be that you are looking at a playground and not the headquarters of the most renowned modern enterprises. They offer their workers well-equipped relaxation zones, providing them with a wide range of flexible work stations. There are bean bags, sofas, armchairs, standing desks, offices that look like living rooms, gaming lounges and many other features that boost creativity and decrease stress. You can have a look at the photos of Google’s London headquarters on the Telegraph website. The common denominator of all these companies is that they are all IT giants with outstanding productivity. It is a clear signpost to every small business that their office(s) should be designed in a flexible, worker-friendly way. However, there are some limitations when it comes to such an approach.

 

The boundaries of office freedomimage 2

Is it really possible to organize your office and things inside in such a crazy and modern way? First of all, such an approach is not applicable to every office in the world. While it is a perfect choice for an IT startup, it could be a terrible option for a furniture-manufacturing plant. So, first of all, office design depends on the type of business. Secondly, if you want to give your workers a more relaxed work environment, they need to have a sort of a safe background. Translated to the modern corporative lingo, your business has to have a backup solution. If a software tool can perform some tasks instead of a worker or with their help, it is much easier to organize a laid-back office, because there is some safe ground behind your workers. The good news is that more and more companies will be able offer their employees a higher level of work freedom, since modern technologies are changing business in general, improving work conditions and unburdening workers.

 

When things get serious

Although flexibility and an easy-going attitude definitely help workers reach a higher output level, there are certain contexts in which only a serious and traditional approach to office design is acceptable. For instance, let’s say that a group of team leaders need to come up with a special brand name for a new product. They will be much more efficient is they sit down at one of those inspiring boardroom tables and keep brainstorming and communicating until they reach their goal. In general, when you have to make some supreme business decisions, working in a traditionally arranged environment, such as an open plan office is a more productive approach. Only when the basic business guidelines have been made should you apply a more relaxed work strategy for their implementation.

If workers are satisfied with their work stations and office organization in general, they will be more productive and loyal to their company. Office managers need to be flexible and listen to their employees’ suggestions. Only a joint effort of management and workers will ensure that your office becomes a well-designed place, yielding remarkable business results.