7 questions to help you decide

Chair Mats: aren’t they just another unnecessary expense? 7 questions to help you decide If you’re anything like me, you’d rather not spend money on something you don’t really need. You have to know why you need it, determine if it’s a true need or an artificial “need,” and if it’s something that you can continue to live happily without, even if everyone else considers it a necessity. Maybe you don’t relate to that and are already convinced I must be a stick-in-the-mud. Please keep reading anyway- you’ll still benefit from the information I’m going to share! Because of this reluctancy of mine to part with hard-earned dollars, I’ve often wondered, what’s the big deal about chair mats? Why do I need one? Is it really necessary to have one, or does that fall in the category of products that “feel” helpful, whether they truly are or not, and therefore there is a market for them? (The popcorn bowl that filters out un-popped kernels comes to mind right now. Yes, it’s a fun concept, but is it really beneficial enough for me to give up the bucks for it? Nope. Besides, I like to eat the kernels occasionally, too.) It may sound silly that I’ve questioned the necessity of chair mats, especially since I work for an office supply company that sells chair mats. But just because I work in the office doesn’t mean that I’m an expert on all the products we offer. After hearing so much about chair …

Work from Home

While many are slowly returning back to the workplace after being in quarantine for the last three months, there are still many of us who continue to work from home either indefinitely or, now permanently, as companies weigh best solutions for continued operation. Though some employees may have taken to working from home like a duck to water, many of us are still struggling to find a rhythm that keeps us focused and productive, while at the same time meeting our vital needs for rest, human connection, and a healthy work/life balance. With a desire to help you through these special work-from-home challenges, here are some guidelines for staying on track and remaining sane: 1. Keep regular hours. Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it as much as you possibly can. Make sure that your schedule includes adequate breaks (per your company’s policy on break times) and reasonable start and end times for your workday. 2. Create a routine. Start and end your day with a routine. Develop habits that signal when your day starts and when it’s time to end. What morning routine could you begin that indicates you’re about to start work? Maybe it’s getting up and getting dressed (staying in pajamas all day may be a plus for some but can be a bad idea for others.) Perhaps your trigger to signal day-end could be going for a walk, or even as simple as shutting down your computer totally and turning off the phone you …

Safe @ Work

Keep your employees and patrons safe and healthy with the proper precautions As your business begins to reopen, ensuring the safety and well-being of those frequenting your business, whether employees or customers, is paramount. With that in mind, here are a few tips for maintaining a work safe environment that will offer peace of mind to everyone! 1. Make sure that all high-touch surfaces are being cleaned and disinfected daily. Those areas will include desks, phones, light switches, door handles, etc. (Need to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting? Click here!) 2. When disinfecting, make sure you’re using an EPA-approved disinfectant that is specifically for COVID-19. Remember, COVID-19 is not to be taken lightly, so make sure you’re using a high-quality product! Follow the directions on the product label closely. 3. Increase routine deep cleanings, paying special attention to frequent-touch surfaces like workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, doorknobs, water cooler handles, etc. During this extraordinary time, we are here to help you navigate the obstacle course of opening and running your business safely.

What’s the Difference

We are hearing a lot about the importance of keeping facilities and workspaces safe from harmful germs and viruses. But how can we make sure we’re doing all we can? What do you purchase to make sure your covering all your bases? We think giving definition to some of the terms we are commonly hearing will be helpful in your decision making as you endeavor to create a safe environment for employees and patrons at your business. So here goes! Cleaning: Removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning works by using soap and water to physically remove germs. This doesn’t necessarily kill germs, but it does lower their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Sanitizing: Lowers the number of germs on surfaces to a safe level as determined by public health standards or requirements. This works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces to lower the risk or spreading infection. Disinfecting: Kills germs on surfaces. This method works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This doesn’t clean a dirty surface, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection. We hope this is helpful as you seek to keep your employees and patrons healthy and thriving!