Defining Collaboration
1. Cooperation
The first key to successful collaboration is to select new or used office furniture that promotes cooperation within the company so that it improves productivity. Ask and find out what appeals to the majority of your staff so that they take ownership of their workplace. Along with cooperation is coordination. Sometimes a machine is easier to oil if the parts all fit right. That is, the coordinated aesthetics in branded environments and consistent office furniture are conducive to employee coordination, too: less visual dissonance, less bickering over the chair that isn’t the broken one, more impressing and more satisfying to work in.
2. Comfort
Nothing is worse than feeling completely uncomfortable at a long board meeting. The better you feel in your chair, short of falling asleep in it, the better chances the quality of your work and energy level will increase. Nobody likes a grumpy client or team partner, so ergonomic chairs, padded lobby and reception area seats and adjustable office task chairs are good ways to encourage collaboration with less negative outbursts.
3. Consolidation
If you’re growing too big for your office building’s britches, you may need to consolidate in a way that allows for collaboration without the drawbacks of annoying sound levels, distractions, and lacking privacy. Cubicles with sound absorbent side paneling are a good way to keep your employees happy in this respect, maximize the amount of usable space to expand the business size and to give everyone their fair share of personal workspace. Pod layouts for cubicle workstations work well to form teams within office work groups.
4. Communication
It is important to note that communication and the ways we use technology have an affect on the possibilities with office furniture, and vice versa. Conference tables for video or telephone conferencing are a must-have staple of corporate culture. Call-centers are a great way to support that function while hiding untidy wiring. Desks with nested computer monitors are another way to allow for greater surface area and reduce the amount of glare on the screen. There’s an abundance of possibilities with workstations that include shelves, drawers, wire holders, and storage solutions.
5. Compensation
The bottom line is the bottom line. Effective collaboration can lead to increased profits for the company and a better outlook on future growth. However, the return you get back from it is a function of the quality of the office furniture you order and the cost, along with the impact on team and worker productivity.
Chase Office Interiors has a vision to redefine excellence in the office furniture industry and we want to earn your business! Visit www.chaseoffice.ca to read more about how you can improve productivity.
In today's fast pace work environment, creativity often happens spontaneously, and very often in the company of others. This has created a new trend of office furniture design that accommodates group interaction and works together in many different ways, just the way you do. So any area in your workplace, anywhere people come together, can become more productive and more inspiring.
Well designed (and well planned) work tables promote effective collaboration, whether in the formal environment of a conference room, the focused environment of a training room, or the informal meeting and gathering spaces of an individual office, reception area, or open plan.
With the increase of technology continually increasing we have the freedom to work whenever and wherever we want. This freedom has created the need for more face to face collaboration among employees, however most office designs are based on maximizing the provision of individual space or “I” space. Employees are demanding more and more collaboration or “we” spaces. By designing around processes and people, we can create work environments to encourage interaction which promotes workers to share content, information and knowledge.
With the advancing trend in integrated communications, virtual and physical networking, telecommunications and technology, and work group teams segmented by unique skill sets, businesses are experiencing a major shift in the way they manage their operations. Hence the rise in demand for collaborative workplace environments, especially the office furniture and the space planning associated with laying out the office furniture. Sensitivity to a consistent company image has led many firms to go for a branded environment in their office, which has an impact on the types of office furniture selected as well as the colors chosen for the office furniture. Collaborative office furniture can be used for a wide variety of functions, including:
At Chase Office Interiors we are constantly studying the trends of the workplace so that we can educate our customers which will help them improve company culture and performance. Our vision is the redefine excellence in the office furniture industry and we would love to show you how. Visit our website, www.chaseoffice.ca, to read more educational blogs about the workplace. Or call us at 1-877-922-0118.
Even though the commercial office furniture industry (also referred to as contract furniture) is “made to order” for each project, however, there are other avenues you may want to consider. Almost every manufacturer will have a “quick ship” program which means the manufacturer will select the most popular products and color options and be able to ship them out in 5-10 days. This option is not often thought of because it does limit the ability to get the exact size/layout/shape that your office space may require. However, every year each manufacturer increases their quick ship offerings which could be a “perfect fit” for your office design. It is certainly worth asking your office furniture consultant more about the quick ship program to see how it could fit your needs. Some may ask, “Why does contract furniture take 6-8 weeks (and sometimes more) to get when some suppliers can deliver it the same week?” Well there is a major difference between commercial grade furniture and non-commercial grade furniture which most retailers offer. First of all contract furniture typically has literally hundreds of components and options so you can virtually build whatever you want and you can get as creative as you want. It would be impossible to “stock” every component and color for each product line so that is why your contract furniture order is manufactured just for you each time. Whereas, non-commercial grade furniture is “stocked” mostly for the home based business and it only comes in a few configurations and a few color options at best. It is also recommended that you do not move or reinstall non-commercial grade furniture more than once b/c the hardware and fittings will quickly breakdown and the desk will not maintain its rigidity.
To learn more about contract furniture and the quick ship programs that are out there please do not hesitate to call us at Chase Office Interiors, where our vision is to ‘Redefine Excellence in the Office Furniture Industry’. We provide office furniture solutions in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kelowna and Edmonton, however, we do projects all over Canada for our National accounts. Phone: 1-877-922-0118 or email sales@chaseoffice.ca. Visit our website, www.chaseoffice.ca, to read more useful resources about the office furniture industry.
Standing at your desk is much more common in the workplace for very good reasons. At Chase Office Interiors we strive to bring you the latest trends in the office furniture industry. One of the latest trends is making sure your desk is height adjustable so that you can stand at it periodically throughout the day. There’s a growing amount of medical evidence that hours of uninterrupted sitting can be surprisingly bad for your health.
>> A 2010 editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that those who sit for prolonged periods have a higher risk of disease than those who move a muscle every now and then in a non-exercise manner, such as walking up the stairs to grab a cup of coffee.
>> Researchers at the American Cancer Society found that even if you exercise nearly every day, those health benefits can be undone if you spend the rest of your time on your keister.
>> Scientists at the University of Missouri have found that the act of sitting seems to shut off the circulation of a fat-absorbing enzyme called lipase.
>> A study published by the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that sitting for long stretches, more than six hours a day, can make someone at least 18% more likely to die from diabetes, heart disease and obesity than those sitting less than three hours a day.
>> Scientists at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana analyzed the lifestyles of more than 17,000 men and women over about 13 years, and found that people who sit for most of the day are 54% more likely to die of heart attacks.
54%
Fifty-four percent! That’s an attention-getting stat, and it’s helped push corporate drones and coders into using height adjustable desks. Switching to a standing desk can take a little adjustment, especially for your feet, but many of those who’ve tried it say they’ll never go back to sitting down. For more information about height adjustable desks and ergonomic solutions in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kelowna and Edmonton please do not hesitate to call. At Chase, we want to earn your business. Phone: 1-877-922-0118 or email sales@chaseoffice.ca. Visit www.chaseoffice.ca to learn more about the latest trends in the office furniture industry.
“I can barely type a sentence anymore because my wrist and arm hurt so bad.”
This is a common complaint that doctors are hearing more often as a patient issue and it is often related to a workplace injury. Computer programmers, hairstylists, prep cooks and even your average office employee all run the risk of injury from their everyday work responsibilities.
Carpal tunnel, tendinitis and nerve disorder injuries from incorrect body positioning at the workstation or from a task requiring the same repetitive motion for long periods are constantly growing in number. It also does not help that people are working longer hours without proper ergonomic chairs or equipment for the task.
Carpal Tunnel and Tendinitis are now making their way to the WCB arena on a large scale. Most workers spend a large amount of time in their workstation, therefore, proper positioning is critical to good body health and employee productivity.
When workstations are designed with proper ergonomics in mind, it can help in both the prevention of injuries and in creating employee productivity. A comfortable employee is a much more productive employee. Many ergonomic devices have been invented to help with the prevention and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects a person’s wrist and fingers with many different levels of seriousness and can progress quite quickly to a serious problem. Affecting both typing skills, mouse use and everyday tasks, such as phone use, carpal tunnel can easily put an employee on full leave, due to their inability to complete tasks as needed.
Carpal tunnel can be treated in many different ways and is said to be completely correctable with surgery, with many patients experiencing a full recovery after going under the knife. Braces can also be worn to help keep the wrist stabilized and ease the pain experienced with movement.
Some massage therapists are known to treat and help to alleviate carpal tunnel as well as tendinitis through an array of massage treatments. Tendinitis and carpal tunnel are treated with emphasis on the spine and neck area to help with the pinched nerves and muscles that helped to cause the problem in massage therapy.
Proper ergonomic positioning of the body while sitting and keeping the desk, keyboard and mouse at the correct height is key to prevention of injury and can save workers and employers a lot of hassle, time and money. Carpal Tunnel and tendinitis are problems more widely recognized by most companies as an important issues for overall employee health and hopefully continues to be. With education, avoiding a ton of hassle for both the employees and employers is simple.
Mobile Pedestal is versatile and stylish...
The average workstation size has been shrinking each year it seems which creates a number of challenges… the Mobile Pedestal is versatile and stylish that can help you solve at least a couple of these issues. It is the perfect solution for having easily accessible storage at your fingertips as well as the perfect solution for those impromptu, collaborative meetings at your workstation. Since it is a mobile piece of furniture that can easily be moved around by any employee, it can be rolled under the work surface to free up open space in the work area OR it can be used as a freestanding element to fill a empty gap in the work area. Available in multiple sizes and with functionality and aesthetics built-in, the Mobile Pedestal can be customized to complement any office or workstation. Simple in detail, the Mobile Pedestal can be enhanced by luxurious finishes such as leather. If leather was your finish of choice, the tops and drawer fronts are cleanly wrapped and boast rounded edges and corners and are available in a vast array of colors and grades.
At Chase Office Interiors we are fanatical about exceeding your expectations and our vision is to Redefine Excellence in the Office Furniture Industry in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kelowna and Edmonton. We have in-house experts to give you the guidance you are looking for to create a functional and productive work environment. We would love the opportunity to earn your business. 1-877-922-0118 or email sales@chaseoffice.ca. Visit www.chaseoffice.ca to read more useful design tips for your office.
Chase Office Interiors has been involved in numerous office moves and relocations throughout the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kelowna and Edmonton regions. Most companies are shocked when they calculate what the total cost of the move actually cost the company and it is typically because of the lack of understanding in the scope of work. You can expect to pay approximately $125 per square foot when all the dust settles. Trying to do a move for less is a challenge. Knowing this up front, are you still committed to an office move?
There are many expenses that will be incurred during your office relocation. These include much more than the interior build-out and moving the office furniture. Some of these expenses include:
- Employee relocation expenses.
- Reprint all stationery (letterhead, envelopes, business cards, invoice forms, etc.).
- Revise your advertising and website
- Repaint company vehicles
- Hire an architect and professional project manager
- Construction cost associated with the build-out of the new space.
- Replace or move your telephone system.
- Relocate your network servers and hubs/switches.
- Install new cabling in the new space.
- Install an access control (security) system
- Replace copiers, fax machines, postage meters or other office equipment
- Buy or relocate furniture.
- Buy new or add to existing modular (Systems) furniture.
- Send move notices to customer, suppliers and vendors.
The big question becomes -- How do you organize all this information in order to make good decisions? Chase Office Interiors is a key resource but only a partial solution to help you with your office move. However, we can make sure you are hiring the right professionals to work with the Chase team and your company to make the process flow seamlessly. To learn about how Chase can play a key role in your office move or relocation please do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-922-0118 or email sales@chaseoffice.ca. Visit our website, www.chaseoffice.ca, to read more useful resources relating for your office.
At Chase Office Interiors we are determined to help our clients make good decisions. And good decisions may vary from one company to the next depending on the many other variables that a company must consider. However, if your lease is coming up for renewal in the next couple years, here are some options that you may want to consider:
Renew the existing Lease
Your current landlord may be willing to play ball and give you an early renewal. By renewing early, you may be able to negotiate some or all of the following:
- Lower lease rate per square foot
- Smaller annual rent escalators
- Shorter lease duration, if that is desirable to you
- More favorable subleasing terms
- Additional parking spaces
- A generous allowance for facility improvements -- Some tenants have received enough allowance to even upgrade their office cabling and phone system, in addition to the standard paint and carpet.
Downsize your Space
If your company is leaning out your team, you can cozy up and take less space. Even if you are not downsizing, you could make some space saving decisions, such as:
- Moving people out of offices and into open plan cubicles. This is the way of the future because even management is starting to lose their private offices in most companies.
- Double-up your offices; have multiple employees share offices if removing walls is not an option.
- Utilize "hoteling" stations and allow some people to split their time between office and home. They would no longer be assigned to a fixed workstation.
- If your business will allow it, split your team into two shifts. Therefore, you need half the workstations in the perfect scenario.
Relocate Now
If you have the ability to sublease your current space, you could hire a broker and start the search for new space. If you have an office space in your sights, now is the time to ask for the moon. Create a wish list of everything you can think of and don't be afraid to make demands. Before you get too excited about the space make sure you have your facilities and IT people view the space. Make sure the parking is adequate, even after the building is full. Get a rough idea of how your team will fit into the space.
Your prospective landlord will provide a document that describes the property and all amenities. This should be turned over to the real estate decision-maker in your company to determine the total cost of occupying the space. Notice we have yet to talk about the lease rate. This can come later.
Chase Office Interiors is an expert at office furniture consultation. Our vision is to redefine excellence in the office furniture industry in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kelowna and Edmonton. Whether you are looking for professionals to give you direction on ergonomic solutions, or to help you redesign your existing office to improve efficiencies, or to move you to a new location with a more functional design, the Chase team is your answer. We want to earn your business! Call us at 1-877-922-0118 or email sales@chaseoffice.ca. Visit our website, www.chaseoffice.ca, for more educational resources for your office.
Color of your workplace has a major impact on productivity!
In our previous blog, Chase Office Interiors posted the facts about how the color of your workplace has a major impact on the productivity of your business. As an entrepreneur myself, I can’t help but be interested to know more. We gave you the best colors to choose to create productivity… if you want to know more please visit my previous blog.
The next big question to ask is, what is the worst colors to paint your workplace? And here it is…
1. Yellow: There is nothing more irritating than an overdose of yellow. Yellow has been known to be a frustrating color to work in, especially for the work environment that often work on a deadline—entrepreneurs, this is often you!
2. Purple: Some people find a deep plum color to be soothing and warming for an office space. But the truth is, purple is not a good choice for a workplace because of its tendency to create romantic feelings, which is completely wrong for a workplace environment for obvious reasons.
3. Bright Green, Bright Red, Bright Pink, and Turquoise: Although some bright and bold colors are great for an entrepreneurial environment, these four don’t work. All of these colors have been found to be very difficult to concentrate in. Entrepreneurs who work around these colors often find themselves distracted and overwhelmed.
When decorating your workplace, it is important to determine what colors inspire you the most. Maybe you'd like to create a calmer work environment, so you decorate with blue accents. Maybe you want to reflect your company's logo colors within the space. Whatever the case may be, the office space is yours, so be sure to make it a comfortable, revitalizing place that helps you become an even better entrepreneur.
Creating workplaces that are inviting, uplifting, and energetic is a worthy design goal. Designers need to understand how spaces affect individuals so they can design spaces that counterbalance the chaos and stress of everyday life and create environments of personal well-being. Chase Office Interiors works hard to earn your business and we make sure you make the right decisions for your workplace when we are involved in your office expansion project. To find out more about workplace productivity, ergonomic environments, office furniture solutions, office moves or relocations throughout the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kelowna and Edmonton areas please give us a call. 1-877-922-0118 or email sales@chaseoffice.ca. Visit our educational website and blog posts at www.chaseoffice.ca.
Sounds a little bit out there, don’t you think?
It is a crazy to think that the color of your office can have an impact on the way that your business is run. But it is completely true: the color that is in your workplace greatly affects your mood. And as any entrepreneur can testify, your mood can greatly affect the business environment and what direction that your business goes in.
Do you think that McDonald's arches are bright yellow by chance? No, yellow is the color for happiness, joy, and youth.
Does Starbucks paint their stores deep green and maroon because they like the color? Not likely, both colors ignite feelings of warmth, comfort and togetherness.
Is there a reason that a Hershey's chocolate bar comes wrapped in dark brown paper? Yes, it gives off the chocolate-vibe, but it also sparks emotions of simplicity, wholesomeness and surprisingly, health.
It is important for entrepreneurs when considering office design to surround themselves with colors that promote creativity, energy, hard work, and a touch of relaxation. So the question becomes, what colors can help promote productivity without becoming too distracting?
1. Orange: Orange is often the color of choice of a fitness center because of its ability to create excitement, enthusiasm and energy. It would be extremely beneficial to surround yourself with the color orange, not only in the gym, but also in the workplace. We are not suggesting you to paint every wall bright orange, but rather, use orange in simple, discrete ways throughout your work day; purchase orange pillows for the lobby, use orange Post-It notes, or make the background of your computer an orangey picture. Pale orange and terracotta are two color options for effective office wall paint.
2. Red: Red has been known to increase a room's energy level because of its ability to raise blood pressure and speed up heart rate. This is the perfect color if you want to stir up excitement. Red is also a stimulant for conversation and collaboration as it also has a tendency to bring people together. Additionally, red has been found to be the most "impressive" of the colors and gives off the best first impression. Therefore, if you're an entrepreneur who often brings clients into the office, consider a deep red for an accent wall or two.
3. Pale Blue: A pale blue color, rather than a bold one, does not evoke feelings of creativity and energy, which most entrepreneurs look for. A light blue color does, however, help an entrepreneur to stay focused and productive in the workplace.
4. Brown: Although brown is often interpreted as a "soothing" color, it does not have the same effect that blues and greens do (these colors promote meditation, tranquility, and peace, which can actually slow down a workday). Brown, on the other hand, is more of a "comfortable" color that creates feelings of security, credibility and reassurance.
To Be Continued…