Managing your employee’s payroll checks is a complicated task that should always be carried out with accuracy. You either perform the job using an outsource, a manual system, or an online software service because making errors time and again is a severe threat to small businesses since the employees have the right to report such errors and get compensation. Yet, in the process, the company has to suffer from higher penalties. Even though the claims made by the employees are false, the company can still suffer a significant loss if they fail to keep track of the employees’ payroll checks or manage their records. Therefore, to perform your job efficiently, you need to keep track of the employees’ payroll checks by preserving their working hours, performance level, and salary checks issued in the form of milestones or paystubs. It is a document that businesses usually keep as evidence to hold all the information of the cashed payroll checks. So, here are a few steps to manage and keep records of your employees’ payroll checks.
1. Get Employee Management Software
Growing your business will always require improving your technological tools; today’s world has completely transformed into digital industries. No matter who you ask for advice, they will always recommend using software to manage your employees in the best possible way. Several apps help HR managers manage all employees’ hiring, financing, and other related jobs; businesses often use apps like Connecteam, Remote, Workday, etc., to manage everything.
2. Preserve Employee Payroll Records
All businesses must prove their legal documents, financial deposits, and transactions to be able to get their license. In order to keep an accurate record of the employees’ payroll checks, getting the recording job done correctly should be the highest priority for business owners. Whether they use a paystub creator, an app, a manual sheet, an excel sheet, or an outsource, the medium they choose should always be accurate, time-efficient, and convenient for their business. As a result, companies will be able to prove accounts histories and be able to manage their employees’ payroll systems efficiently and transparently.
3. Apply Diverse Ways to Manage the Payroll System
Diverse techniques should be applied like organizing payroll management by making a strict schedule, following federal and state rules, using different software, websites, and apps to track the working hours, work performance and productivity, etc. You can apply new ways from the following payroll management options:
Issue policies to outline the criteria of the payment.
Choose a standard system for recording payroll checks.
Track the time consumed by the employees by using GPS tracker, software, apps, etc.
Follow the federal and state laws.
Use outsourcing for managing the payroll methods.
Use diverse software to manage and track employee performance.
If you want to manage your employees’ work performance, payroll checks, records, and other financial information, you need to apply several methods to cross-check that your work is done accurately. Besides, staying alert is your topmost priority since you can neither risk your business’s image in the market nor your company’s employees’ professionalism.
How To Better Manage And Keep Track Of Your Employees’ Payroll Checks was last modified: January 31st, 2024 by Allen Brown
On Aug. 8, 2020—during the first spike of COVID-19 in the United States—President Donald Trump issued an executive order to institute a “tax holiday.” If you’re still wondering when it starts, I’m afraid you’ve missed the mark. The tax holiday started on Sept. 1, 2020, and ended on Dec. 31, 2020. Moreover, it wasn’t a true tax cut, but a tax deferment.
So let’s look at what the tax holiday entailed and how it affected businesses and employees.
The Executive Order
The Executive Order contained three sections that directly affected businesses and their employees. Here is what these sections entailed:
Section 1 & Section 2
These two tie into each other. Section 1 states the COVID-19 pandemic is “of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration,” and Trump directed the Secretary of the Treasury (then Steven Mnuchin) to “use his authority to defer certain payroll tax obligations.” In simple terms, it’s like an essay introduction: It states the issue and the way Trump intended to fix it.
Section 2 goes into more detail about Trump’s policy. In it, he directed Mnuchin to defer the “withholding, deposit, and payment” on wages between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. In sub-section (a), the order states the deferral will apply to anyone who makes less than $4,000 before taxes per bi-weekly paycheck (or the equivalent, if they aren’t paid bi-weekly).
Finally, sub-section (b) states this deferment will not incur any penalties, interest or other additions to the taxes deferred. In other words, the tax deferment is almost like an interest-free loan.
Section 4
Section 4 is short and to the point. In it, Trump directed Mnuchin to “explore avenues” through which the deferment might become permanent. In other words, Trump asked Mnuchin to look into any methods through which the deferred taxes might be forgiven entirely.
In the end, however, these taxes were not forgiven. Everyone who received the tax deferment was required to pay it back through extra tax withholdings between Jan. 1 and April 31, 2021.
What It Meant for You
If you’re the owner of a private company or one of its employees, it probably never meant much at all. Most private entities opted out of the payroll tax holiday and decided to deduct taxes from paychecks as normal. It was never law, it was never mandatory and most private companies thought it was short-term relief with an impending reckoning.
Think about it: Trump gave the option to not pay taxes for four months, but you’d have to pay double taxes during the next four months to make up for it. At best, it would be a lot of work to accomplish nothing; at worst, it would harm employees by cutting their paychecks during the repayment period.
Companies Can Learn From the Payroll Tax Cut
Even though the payroll tax cut proved to be irrelevant to most businesses, it did provide some value. Most notably, it compelled businesses to think carefully about their processes and how they affect their bottom line.
When Does the Payroll Tax Cut Start? was last modified: September 17th, 2021 by Jamesh
Many companies waste a lot of money and resources on training. For example, if a new employee comes on the scene, a current employee will have to teach them all they need to know. Not only will this put extra strain on the other employee, but it will also prevent them from fulfilling the job that they were supposed to do.
Training videos reduce the costs of training to almost nothing. Indeed, you may have to make an initial investment for the equipment and the creation of the video – but after that, you’re all set. This article will tell you everything there is to know on how to create a training video.
What Is a Training Video?
A training video is a kind of video that has an educational goal. Its purpose is to teach a skill or knowledge to anyone wanting to learn. Simply put, training videos are there to teach someone how to do something.
Training videos could be for employees coming on board, software education, compliance training, and many more. They can be corporate or non-corporate, depending on whom the target of the video is. Training videos can spare several resources because rather than using a person’s time, you are getting the information that you need from a video.
Why Choose Video for Training?
On average, videos are much more engaging and compelling as compared to texts. You can access them anytime and anywhere, and you don’t have to wait for your peers to come over and teach you anything. They reduce costs and effort, something that will help not only the employer – but the employee as well.
Types of Training Videos
There are several types of training videos to choose from, all of which will depend on your audience, your goal, your resources – and sometimes, just your personal preferences. Here are some of the training videos that you may utilize for your business:
1. Instructor-Led Training Videos
As the name suggests, these training videos have an instructor at their core. It’s like in-person training – only instead of talking to a live person, you see them digitally on the screen.
With instructor-led training, the instructor will show up on the screen and explain the topic to an audience online. These training videos are also referred to as “talking head videos,” because basically, the only thing you can see is the head and bust of the speaker.
These employee training videos are mostly recommended for beginners and intermediate individuals that are still in the learning process. It’s perfect for delivering the information in an engaging way, as it makes the audience feel like they are talking to someone right in front of them.
2. Screen-Capture Videos
For skills that are slightly more technical, such as a program tutorial or a demo, seeing that person’s face on the screen will not help you much. What you need to see is how to use that program in particular. And this is where screen-capture videos with a voice-over come in handy.
These videos will tell the employee exactly what they need to do from start to finish. It’s a “show and tell” kind of video for people that learn more from seeing than listening.
3. How-To Videos
For processes that require a step-by-step approach, how-to videos are generally the most recommended type. Also referred to as demonstration videos, these training videos will take you step-by-step through a process that you wish to learn.
Various topics may be approached in these training videos. For example, if your company needs its employees to write in an APA format, then a “How to write in APA format” training video might be exactly what you need.
4. Animated Videos
These training videos make use of visuals that are fully animated. They are a great option for explaining data, ideas, and complex processes. It makes explaining much easier when everything is made in the form of animation. Also, these types of videos are much more engaging.
5. Interactive Videos
For many people, interactive videos represent the most efficient way to train someone. These videos work on a scenario basis, where the viewers will see a small clip and be given a path choice. They are less restrictive, and they are also highly motivating.
Resource-wise, they might take the highest budget. On the other hand, they are also very efficient, as they test the knowledge of the person watching them. If possible, these interactive training videos should be used as much as possible when it comes to training new employees.
6. Videos Created by Employees
We learn the best from our peers, which is why employee-created videos are usually the best options to go for. After all, it’s not the employer that usually knows best; it’s the employee that has already been doing this for a while.
Plus, by creating these videos, the employee will get a better understanding of their tasks and the right ways to put their skills into practice. The employees will offer their tips and tricks so that the newcomers will know exactly how to do their job.
Steps to Create a Training Video
There are five steps to keep in mind when creating a training video, and they go as follows:
1. Set Objectives and Goals
The first thing that you will have to do is to understand your goal. What outcome are you planning to achieve by creating this video? Understand your goal, know your audience and then define what the learning objective should be.
2. Plan the Video
You already have a big idea in mind – now it’s time to move onto planning. Build the staff, decide on the video type that you plan on using, prepare the equipment, and create a project plan. Set up the atmosphere for your team. Get to know your SMEs and make a video knowing that your SMEs are most likely busy.
3. Design and Script
The planning is done, now you need to move onto the designing part. Write a script for what you are planning to add to the video. Sketch out the ideas and try to figure out how to make them more entertaining. Decide on the tone; can you add jokes and other stuff, or does it have to be more on the serious side? Plan everything out nicely.
4. Record and Edit
This is where the action starts. Take your tools and start recording. Whether you want to create an instructor-led webinar or you want to set up an interactive workshop, use the tools that are most convenient to you. You may film yourself, record the screen and your voice, and then edit them in the way that you see fit.
5. Share the Video
Your video training piece is done. Now, all that is left for you to do is to share it. LMS platforms are good for smaller companies, but for larger ones, you may use other tools as well. Vimeo and YouTube are the most popular options in that regard.
Requirements for a Good Start
To start on a good note, you’ll need certain pieces of equipment. Here is what you need to put on your checklist.
· Equipment
First things first, you will need a webcam, a computer, and a good microphone. When it comes to microphones, you might want to go for a lavalier microphone, as you clip that one onto your clothes. This way, you can make sure that the audio quality is high.
· Software
To have a good start when it comes to video creation, you might also want to be very careful about using the right creation and editing software. There are various tools that you may use here, such as iSpring, Wistia video software, Kapwing, and FilmoraX. If you want a more accessible online video editor, you may also try Fastreel. All of these options are great when it comes to creating an online course.
Depending on the type of video that you are making, you might also want to get a screen recorder program. However, some video editing programs also have the option of recording your screen.
Examples of Effective Training Videos
There are many examples of effective training videos that you may learn from. Here are just a couple of examples:
Retail POS: After upgrading the POS of their system, many employees would once more have to learn how to be productive.This is why Retail created a 10-part video series that would teach the users how to efficiently use the new system.
Supply Chain eLearning Video: Supply Chain has more than 12,000 employees, and more people keep coming around each time. This is why they created very effective 12-course learning videos on best practices for the end-to-end supply chain.
The Bottom Line
Training videos are a great way to maximize time and productivity. This is why, as a business owner, you should ensure that you make the most use of them. Check the tips above, gather your equipment, and start filming.
How to Make Effective Employee Training Videos was last modified: November 20th, 2023 by Anna Yurovskikh
Evidently, there’s no success formula to establish your own business and boost its expansion. Maintaining your business and managing its growth does not happen overnight, unfortunately, it can be quite challenging and demanding. In fact, it requires a lot of hard work, knowledge, patience, and perseverance. Having a clear perspective and working towards achieving it is the key to a successful business. Here are 6 important things to do to boost your business growth.
1. Build A Strong Sales Funnel
A sales funnel is the potential journey of customers to complete a purchase. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a customer not complete the purchase, especially after spending hours looking around, chatting with the sales team, and questioning about different products.
Well, you can never stop this from happening, but you can lessen lost opportunities by creating an automated sales funnel and getting the right help to manage the process.
You will find that creating a strong sales funnel will increase your business growth and decrease the lost opportunities.
2. Apply a Customer Managing System
It is quite impossible to keep track of demands and customers’ purchase orders unless you have a customer managing system. Now, there are plenty of options available in the market, do thorough research and select the one which is best for the type of your business and utilize it. Having the right CMS will help scale your business and manage to track your transactions.
3. Know Your Customer
If you don’t know the needs of your customers, you will not be able to develop your business according to their needs and demands. Knowing your customer well will give you a wider perspective on how to develop your products and services. Being up to the rapid market changes and the wide variety of similar products offered everywhere heightens the challenge of keeping customers’ satisfaction. You have to work on personalizing your products and enhancing your services to meet the requirements of today’s market.
4. Social Media Platforms
Everyone in business today has to know that their customer is out there using at least one or two social media platforms. Social media is one of the most essential marketing strategies; knowing how to manage it is one of the most crucial key factors for growth and success. Online traffic and leads from Google will help you get more customers. Specialists at Infinite Ace recommend that you apply to search engine marketing in order to grow your business. It is a bit difficult to keep up with social marketing trends as well as the rapid market changes, therefore, getting professional help will get you there faster than you think.
5. Customer Experience
Having to deal with customers is the most challenging part of any business. Keeping up with customers’ perspectives and satisfaction is one goal that you must achieve if you want to expand your business and have loyal customers. Delivering quality products and providing distinguished services will help you keep a successful and growing business.
6. Hire Dedicated Employees
Hiring the right people for the job will ensure running your business successfully. Dedicated employees and delegating tasks will enable you to focus on new and different ways by which you can improve your business. This will also free your mind to implement innovative methods to satisfy your customers and provide them with the best services.
Understanding that growing a business is an ongoing process will give you the power to continue trying and striving to achieve your goal. If you see no other alternative than to make it work, you’ll be able to get there, even if it takes more of your time and effort. In this fast-changing market, you must research and implement different software and techniques to take some burden off your shoulders, so you can focus on delivering the best products/services to your customers.
6 Important Things To Do To Boost Your Business Growth was last modified: August 9th, 2024 by Allen Brown
When it comes to safety measures, you may not be able to stop the determined thief from visiting you, whether it is online or in person. However, you can make it so very difficult for them that they go and find somewhere else and leave your business well alone.
Cybersecurity
With cybercrime ever-present, it is more important than ever to keep your cybersecurity up to date. It is important to use the best security software for your business. The use of SOAR Security (Security Orchestration, Automation and response) is often used if you have remote workers working on personal equipment and saving data to multiple cloud storage facilities. There are alternatives available, though, so you may find it beneficial to speak to an expert to make sure that you have the correct product for your business, as protection given can vary greatly depending on what your business is.
Most reputable cybersecurity businesses will offer more services as well as support on their products, enabling you to get the best out of your software and helping your business in being safe and secure for all the data you hold.
Training Your Employees for Personal Security
One of the best ways in which you can enhance your security is to teach your employees about the importance of all security as well as their own personal online security.
It is a good idea that each of your employees has to have a password to access your database and that the password is unique and private for each employee. Your employees must understand the importance of changing their password regularly and not divulging it to anybody else.
Having a good strong password is imperative as cybercriminals are smart, cunning, sly, and resourceful. Using names, whether it is last names or pet names, important places, and other topics mentioned on social media is a big ‘no-no’ as cyberthieves watch social media sites to gain ideas for passwords as well as personal information.
Password Security
The best passwords need to be at least 12 characters long, preferably longer. It should contain special characters such as the asterisk or question mark. Have a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters and contain some numbers too. It is a good idea not to use words that can be found in the dictionary as these are easy to guess but try misspelling or dotting numbers and special characters throughout your password.
Ensure that your employees understand why they are having to use keypads or swipe cards to enter your building and tell them the importance of not letting someone tailgate behind you to gain access to the building.
It is a good idea to have a person nominated as a go-to person should anyone see an unfamiliar face wandering around if they are not confident enough to challenge the person for work identification.
Physical Security
It is important that you make sure that your work premises are secure and safe for your employees, as well as the information you have on-site for your customers.
There are many things you can do in order to make your premises secure, such as erecting fences in order to keep trespassers out. Fences used in this way are usually over 6 feet high with razor edging to make them unscalable. Vehicle barriers are a good idea for car park entrances which can be activated by swipe cards or keycodes so that you do not have to have your parking lot patrolled. Warning signs are also a good idea to deter unwanted visitors, as well as security lights for exterior areas.
Control Access
When it comes to actually be able to gain access to your premises, it is a good idea to install key coded entry or personalized swipe cards which can be handed out to each employee with a lanyard, perhaps with their photo printed on to it. Make sure that you have a few for visitors clearly marked. This will help any intruder to be spotted as they will not be wearing a lanyard or have any visible form of identification on them.
When you have visitors on-site, make sure that they fill in a visitor book with their name, company, and who they are on-site to see. Do not let them wander around your business premises unchaperoned at any time, and make sure that they wear either a lanyard with visitor written on it or a badge of some description. It is important that you do not give them a way of entering your building by themselves and keep all key codes secret to outsiders.
Implementing the Best Safety Measures for Your Business was last modified: August 31st, 2021 by Carol Trehearn
Meeting one-on-one with employees is never easy. However, it’s necessary to solve problems, boost engagement, and put out fires before they ignite.
What’s the best way to conduct one-on-one meetings with employees and make the most of these key conversations? Here are tips from some of the best managers in the business.
Schedule for Success
How often should employee meetings occur, anyways? Every company is different, and today’s managers are more willing to rethink the old way of doing things.
“Quarterly reviews used to be the norm, but that’s no longer considered best practice for the fast-paced modern workplace. Schedule shorter meetings every few weeks to keep the communication flowing and avoid stagnation.” – Dylan Arthur Garber, Co-Founder of Audien Hearing
“I am all for scheduling more frequent one-on-one reviews, but I also advocate an open-door policy so that employees can keep the conversation ongoing at any time. Now that everyone is so seamlessly connected via technology, you can be more flexible.” – Aidan Cole, CEO of HIDE
“More managers are embracing an as-needed approach to employee meetings, which allows for more honesty and transparency in the workplace – always a good thing.” – Jeff Goodwin, Vice President of Direct to Consumer and Performance Marketing at Orgain
Be Ready
Without a plan in place, your employee one-on-ones will only waste time. Show up prepared and accomplish far more in a shorter time frame.
“Having regular one-on-one meetings with team members is incredibly important to not only an efficient workplace, but in building team morale. That said, no one likes to have meetings just for the sake of it, so it’s important to be prepared in advance. Send over a few talking points to your team members, and give them an opportunity to add their own. That way, you’re both prepared to deal with any questions or situations that need to be discussed. ” – Marc Atiyeh, CEO of Pawp
“If you aren’t ready for the meeting, what message does that send to the other person? The least you could do is take five minutes ahead of time and organize a little file with all the key points you need to address.” – Seb Evans, Co-Founder of Banquist
“Part of preparing for a one-on-one meeting is being transparent with the other person. Nothing should be a huge surprise or come out of left field. That’s anxiety-inducing for everyone. Great managers make these meetings feel like an everyday convo between friends.” – Lori Price, Co-Founder of PixieLane
“As the manager or supervisor, you’re the one leading the conversation from the start, so have an agenda in place to get things moving. Use real facts and figures to support your points. From there, you can open up the floor and allow the meeting to flow more organically.” – Tyler Hayden Read, Founder of PT Pioneer
“The structure of your meeting is important because you don’t have all day for meandering conversation. Discuss performance, offer constructive critique, ask for feedback, and leave a few minutes for extra dialogue. Don’t overcomplicate it.” – Lucas Nudel, Founder and CEO of Pride Palace
Courtesy is Key
Just the thought of a one-on-one meeting can cause employees to stress. Ease the tension by being cool, calm, and courteous.
“I like to keep meetings casual with open-ended questions like ‘tell me how things are going?’, or ‘how can I support you on this project?’. It’s less abrasive to ask something like ‘where are you struggling at the moment?’ instead of openly criticizing people.” – James Meincke, Senior Marketing Manager at CloserIQ
“Trust allows you to give people direction, get everyone aligned, and energize them to go get the job done. Build trust in employee meetings first. Trust enables you to execute with confidence and produce extraordinary results.” – Douglas Conant, Former CEO of the Campbell Soup Company
“Be more accommodating when it comes to setting up employee reviews or meetings of any type. Allow them to have some input rather than demanding they show up at a certain place at a certain time. It makes things way more comfortable for everyone.” – Jeff Meeks, VP of Sales and Marketing at EnergyFit
“The toughest part of any one-on-one meeting is addressing issues with performance or production. Nobody wants to talk about it, but it’s a must. Don’t worry about looking like the bad guy. Be honest and speak the truth, then start talking about real solutions.” – Mike Pasley, Founder of Allegiant Goods
Look to the Future
Before the meeting concludes, be sure to set some “next steps” so everyone is on the same page moving forward.
“Setting clear goals and benchmarks for the future is one of the best ways to take your employee reviews to the next level. It gives them something to work towards and get excited about. Plus, the next time around, you know exactly what’s on the docket.” – Michael Jankie of Natural Patch
“A lot of employees are eager to advance within the company or get more involved, whether it’s to get a promotion or just expand their repertoire. If you think they’d be good in a specific role, why not bring it up during a meeting? It may spark their interest.” – Ryan Rockefeller, Co-Founder and CEO of Cleared
“A one-on-one is a great opportunity to reflect on the past in the short-term while looking towards the future. Employees love talking about their plans and aspirations, so be open to discussing all possibilities for advancement.” – Dylan Trussell, CMO of Culprit Underwear
When done correctly, one-on-one meetings can be productive, constructive, and even enjoyable. Take these tips to heart and make your next round of meetings a success for all involved.
How to Improve One-on-One Meetings with Employees was last modified: August 19th, 2021 by Nikki Gabriel
Every company generates income by using its fixed assets. Over a period, as the company grows, those fixed assets also grow in volume, size and management.
In this article, we are going to speak with leading experts at SPW Malaysia. This is one of the foremost organizations in the field of ITAM that has been helping businesses since the last decade.
In recent years, for most big and small organizations, the ownership, control and management of IT devices like computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, servers, and memory storage devices has become important.
So many functions, processes, data, files and payments are done through such systems. This means that for any organization their proper maintenance, control, access and destruction should be a priority!
Wrong…
Most businesses, sparing a few do not invest or take IT Asset Management (ITAM) seriously. They wait for a serious situation to emerge like a cyberattack or a huge penalty before they start taking action on this front.
IT Asset Management: Meaning and Definition
ITAM is not a one-time thing that you do and forget. It refers to the continuous monitoring, maintenance, upgradation and disposal of all IT-related assets in an organization.
This means that all hardware components that are used in any office are accounted for with proper documentation, processes and structures.
A proper ITAM process will help your organization answer the following questions-
How many computer systems are there in the office and who all are using them?
What are the access codes of the computer systems that the employees are using?
Where are the access points located when it comes to software, files and servers?
Has someone tried to improperly log in or seek credentials beyond their authority?
How will computer systems, files, hard disks and other IT stuff be disposed?
In short, businesses need to realize that every IT asset, whether it is hardware or software, has a finite existence. It needs to be maintained and tracked till the time comes for it to be disposed of.
Even when disposal is concerned it cannot be simply thrown away with all company records, data and other essentials. There is a process that should be in place for the same.
List of 5 ITAM Best Practices you need to start following
1. Create a Pro-Active ITAM Process for the Organization-
Most businesses make the mistake of starting with ITAM after they have suffered from a massive loss. This means that the process becomes reactive, as against pro-active. If you do not want to be hit by something that shakes the foundations of your business, you need to be proactive when it comes to setting up a well-defined ITAM process in your organization.
2. Set-up a Dedicated Team or Hire Professionals for ITAM-
Frankly speaking, there are two things a business can do. It can either hire ITAM professionals from a specialized agency or set up its own team internally. You might think that this is a bad investment, given nothing is happening. However, a good ITAM process helps prevent financial losses for the organization. It can also prevent credibility attacks on the business.
3. Follow the Lifecycle-Based Approach towards ITAM-
If you want to execute an ITAM process, you need to start as soon as a computer system is purchased. The same goes for software whose license has been purchased recently. Experts note that an ITAM process should take into account the entire lifecycle of the hardware or software. This means that everything should be monitored from the start to the absolute end.
4. Carry out Regular and Rigorous Audits of the ITAM process-
Many businesses face severe penalties from authorities for over-reporting or under-reporting their assets. This happens because they fail to carry out regular ITAM audits that keep frequent track of their systems. As a business grows in volume, its infrastructure, systems and structures also grow a lot. This is why regular audits are a major best practice of ITAM.
5. Go for High-End Automation to Save Costs and Time in ITAM-
Whenever businesses hear the term record keeping, their minds quickly race towards MS Excel files. When it comes to ITAM, not only is this process slow and outdated, but more importantly, it deprives the business of efficiency. There is advanced software that can help you track, monitor and update file names and other reports systematically. Automation is the way forward.
The Bottom Line
In the last few years, awareness around ITAM is growing. This has been partly because of the increasing number of cyberattacks that are being reported, especially since the pandemic started. ITAM will help you plug a crucial loophole that might attract the interests of cybercriminals.
With more processes and functions being carried out by IT assets, businesses have started realizing that there is a strategic need to protect these at all costs. If you have any more questions, you would like us to answer on ITAM, let us know in the comments below.
Top 5 IT Asset Management Best Practices Businesses Need To Follow was last modified: November 5th, 2024 by Pablo Manuel
Passwords are a necessary part of the online experience. When operating properly they can keep us safe, protecting our valuable data and identities, as well as ensuring peace of mind. The only problem with this is that we tend to use many passwords for different websites and services, some of which force changes at regular intervals. With this concern, lost and forgotten passwords become an inevitability and a problem that can negatively affect both customers and the businesses with which they interact.
Churn and Abandonment
In business, the term churn refers to the rate at which customers stop doing business with an entity. There can be many possible reasons for this, from issues out of a business’s control to deliberately designed elements that users find frustrating. One of the elements that is not so much the fault of individuals but rather the overall market is the password problem. Again, this is generally the result of juggling many passwords with many requirements, where frustrated users can give up rather than keep guessing the details of old accounts. Churn can be the result of many parts of the purchasing process but is commonly manifested as cart abandonment. This is where users fill their orders but get locked out of purchases because of misremembered passwords. Directly costing a business sales, this measurable issue has affected online stores for decades.
When getting locked out of websites due to misremembered passwords, there is usually some form of recovery process available. Unfortunately, these aren’t always reliable and can be confusing, leading many users to turn to live support. Though these live support systems can fix the problems, they’re generally designed to help with more complicated issues, with constant calls about passwords overloading support capacity. This is a problem that has existed for years, with around 30% of all customer support calls dealing with this exact issue. For every one of these calls, another customer risks being left unaddressed, which can again cause lost profit if the user gets frustrated and walks away.
Customers Placing Blame
Though complicated password systems are developed to help users, those negatively affected by them tend to blame the website or brand they’re using for the difficulties password systems create. Fortunately, there are ways around this concern through the use of a time based one time password. These passwords use encryption keys to link devices like mobiles to websites and services, allowing the generation of temporary but simple codes. Common names in this realm include the Microsoft and Google Authenticators, which are integrated with many major services. While far from perfect, such methods can save time, and reduce the guesswork and trial and error that can drive users away.
Looking forward, it’s inevitable that better solutions to password issues will become increasingly necessary. Though many services manage this issue, they’re still often underrepresented with the digitally involved populace. With a greater reliance on passwords than ever before and increasingly difficult criteria applied to them, it looks like one-time passwords and specialized password streamlining systems will eventually become the status quo. If you’re constantly fighting against your passwords, consider trying these out, and at the very least you will be left with less wasted time and a smoother online experience overall.
Why Forgotten Passwords Cost Company Revenue was last modified: August 10th, 2021 by Hammad Basharat
LED shop lights are a great way of decorating your office or work area when you want to attract customers to your place. They have many advantages over the business like they are supremely cost-effective, simple to install, easily adjustable, and reduce the monthly electricity bill. However, there are some things to know before you start looking for 8ft led shop lights.
It is important to be choosy in your purchase as it is capable of granting your every need and expectation. In addition, it gives out a warm feeling to which people feel welcome and helps bring out the most of your products. So here are some dos and don’ts mentioned for you; make sure you stick to them.
Do set the mood with excellent lighting
The colour of the LED lighting is what will set your customer’s mood, so make sure it projects a relaxed and laid-out feeling. This is possible when there is dim lighting and not sharp. Also, the colour of the light is warm.
Remember, this setting is for the fashion section when it comes to departmental stores; customers need white lighting. If you want to look for different other option too, you can visit Dhgate.
Do consider different options
There are tons of lighting option to choose from, like panel lights, tube lights, strip or puck lights, etc. So, make sure you consider it. If you choose the best option, it is capable of featuring the best part of the products you offer and convince the customers to buy it. Click view moreto look at the different option.
Do change your lighting when the floor plan changes
It is best to install a new lighting system when changing your floor plan. This is important because it is possible that gimbal, track lights and eyeball aim in different directions. Not to mention, you will have to change your lighting depending on the product you want to showcase. Now, click hereto start scrolling through the retail LED lighting option.
Don’t over light the place
The right amount of lighting is essential in many ways. For example, it helps not to overwhelm the shoppers with everything bright around them. However, it is also important that you do not choose too many unique lighting or colors as it may distract them from shopping.
Don’t forget about the glare factor
Choosing the right lighting mostly depends on what your aim is. For example, if you aim to create a welcoming atmosphere, it is best not to choose lighting that points to their face. Instead, the lighting should be aimed above the products you are trying to sell. Also, do not forget about the glasses near them as they may cause reflection. If you want to look for the best LED lights for your shop, taphere.
Conclusion
LED lighting for shops is an excellent choice for illumination your work area to call out to your customers and increase your sale. The different lighting option will also enable you to present your shop in a better way. So, make sure to install it.
Dos and Don’ts When Choosing The Perfect LED Shop Lights was last modified: September 12th, 2023 by Lucas Arlo
Shared lunches, team outings, and birthday celebrations have one thing in common: they happen together. But with people confined to their homes as offices are slowly opening up, the workplace scene is likely to be quite different.
Employers have to rethink their employee motivation and engagement approaches because what probably worked before COVID-19 may no longer be feasible, especially since you have to encourage your employees to maintain adequate social distancing and follow all precautions even at the workplace.
Shared lunches and team outings may not be as enjoyable as earlier because you would want to limit the physical interactions.
Amidst such a scenario, employees’ motivation level goes into turmoil, and lack of motivation reduces employee engagement level, thereby impacting their productivity and decreasing employee retention.
In this article, we will discuss a few ways to keep your employees motivated after they return to the office.
7 Tips to Keep Your Employees Motivated in a Post Lockdown Environment
According to a report by Gallup, only 36% of employees are engaged in the workplace. With this statistic in mind, companies need to take employee motivation seriously. Here are seven practical ways of achieving it:
Wellbeing isn’t just about physical health. It’s more about how your job, duties, stress level, and environment affect your employee’s overall health and happiness. It entails mood, cognition, and factors like a sense of purpose.
Your employees spend most of their waking lives at the office, so businesses must prioritize employee wellbeing to foster employee satisfaction and productivity.
That’s why companies worldwide focus on providing wellbeing initiatives like health, financial and professional social, personal development, and work-life balance.
Considering the specific needs of your office location, exploring reputable commercial cleaning services in Phoenixcould be advantageous if your office is set up in Phoenix.
From making lunch break mandatory, reinforcing the benefits of taking sick leaves to starting employee recognition programs, and planning regular team-building activities, these initiatives will go a long way to create a motivated workforce in such an unprecedented time.
Interesting fact:86% of employees prioritize health initiatives from their company, and 24% expect 24/7 access to health care professionals.
2. Offer counseling sessions
With more than one year of staying indoors and working from home, your employees will find it challenging to get back to their old schedule.
In such a situation, it’s normal for employees to feel left out, feel demotivated, and lose interest in their work due to a changing work environment. Furthermore, with the pandemic far from being over, employees may be hesitant to join back.
To answer your employee’s questions and eliminate their apprehension regarding joining back, it’s advisable to conduct counseling sessions. Also, work-focused psychotherapy is likely to help employees return to work, remove their fears, and prepare them to cope with the challenges they might face.
Counseling sessions are a great way to motivate employees and help them cope up with workplace dynamics.
Interesting fact: With every $1 a company invests in treating common mental illness through counseling and other medical processes, a company gets a return of $4 in improved employee productivity.
3. Offer financial help
COVID-19 has made life difficult for the families of 24% of employees because these employees witnessed a reduction in their income. When returning to work after the lockdown, you would like to ensure that your employees are supported in every possible way to keep them motivated and engaged.
That’s why providing financial assistance to your returning employees could be one of the best motivation factors. From offering debt counseling to assisting with money management, you can train and encourage employees to help them financially get back on their feet.
Interesting fact: With one in four workers reporting that financial worries adversely affect their ability to perform their duties, providing financial guidance and help can reduce stress and increase the happiness index of your employees.
4. Provide timely recognition
One of the easiest ways of engaging and motivating employees after the lockdown is by providing timely recognition of their work.
Employee recognition doesn’t have to be delivered in a fancy way. Saying “Good Job” for a work done exceptionally in front of everyone is a great motivator and enhances the employee’s morale.
When you appreciate employees for their efforts, they feel worthy, and it instills a sense of gratification and belonging. Interestingly, this sense of gratification fills employees with joy and happiness, which eventually translates into the zeal to achieve more.
Also, timely recognition of work may act as an inspiration for others. This can motivate them and inspire their team members to give their cent percent at work.
As your employees are probably returning to the office after more than 18 months, they are used to enjoying a flexible work schedule and maintaining a healthy work balance. Expecting your employees to come out of this comfort zone within a few days of joining back is unrealistic.
Whether you like it or not, most of your employees would find it difficult to catch the unlock wagon. This is because they fear infection or are apprehensive about leaving their family at home or simply because they enjoy working remotely more than traveling to the office.
So, to motivate your employees to join with full enthusiasm, consider offering a flexible work schedule like remote work for two days and three days at the office.
Flexibility allows your employees to settle into their old work schedule faster and without facing any issues. These efforts from your end would gradually scale up their engagement levels.
Another important way to boost the motivation and excitement level of an employee returning to the office is by providing a safe environment and removing their paranoia of getting infected while at work.
If possible, describe how you plan to make the workplace safe to work. Above all, your employees have to feel safe physically and mentally.
Apart from physical considerations, work towards creating a culture where employees don’t face the repercussions for expressing their feelings about heading back to work.
You can achieve this by creating a safety initiative policy and communicating it to your entire team. Your policy may include details regarding physical distancing, symptom checks, PPE requirements, testing, and enhanced cleaning and sanitization of the workplace.
Some other ways to make your employee feel safe and engaged are:
Creating a COVID-19 response team for your office
Frequently disinfecting common areas
Installing hand sanitizer throughout your workplace
Arranging for safe transportation medium like providing cabs and buses for travel
Checking temperature of employees daily
Such safety initiatives from your end will motivate employees to return to a safe environment. They would no longer worry about the pandemic and concentrate more on their work.
Interesting statistic: 51% of employees expect social distancing requirements, and 45% of employees want detailed cleaning protocols when returning to work.
7. Provide your full support
Parents and guardians are trying hard to blend work and home remotely. They expect companies to provide child care benefits upon returning to the office in a post lockdown environment.
Providing a child care benefit may prove a costly burden initially but would deliver fruitful results in the long term. A child care benefit can become a motivating factor for employees who constantly fear the well-being of their children while they are at work.
To motivate your employees and increase their engagement level without levying a dent in your financials, focus on providing these child care benefits:
Offer child care subsidies
Foster a culture of flexible work schedule
Provide a company-sponsored child care facility near the office
Include backup child care assistance to deal with issues like school closing, a spouse getting sick, or other unprecedented events
Offer a flexible child care spending account
Interesting fact: The job performance of 60% of employees who don’t receive child care benefits would increase if their company provides these benefits to them.
Motivating your employees
Returning to work after lockdown will be unusual, strange, and probably new. The sooner your employees adapt to this paradigm shift, the more engaged they will be at their work.
Interestingly, highly engaged employees are not those who come and leave the office on time. They are employees who feel good about what they are doing and perform to their best capabilities to finish a task as per expectations.
Such positive vibes will make your employees happy and replenish their motivation level.
That’s why companies worldwide never hesitate to invest in employee engagement programs, as it does more good than harm.
These seven strategies are a good place to start with and get back your employees in your old
form.
How are you planning to keep your employees motivated and engaged?
Share your thoughts with us!
Author Bio:
Priya Jain is a professional copywriter with 8 years of experience. She has an MBA and engineering degree. When she is not writing, you will find her teaching math, spending her day running behind her toddler, and trying new recipes. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
7 Tips to Keep Your Employees Motivated in A Post Lockdown Environment was last modified: February 28th, 2024 by Priya Jain
Fleet Management is an important aspect of any business. With the introduction of autonomous and electric vehicles, fleet management will only become more complicated in the years to come. There are many things a company can do to improve efficiency with their fleet. The following article discusses four key tactics that can improve efficiency in the fleet management process.
1. Monitor Fleet Performance & Utilization with GPS Tracking
GPS tracking is an effective way to monitor performance and utilization. A GPS tracking system allows you to get real-time information on your vehicles, including driver behavior.
Vehicle data is also recorded by trucking GPS, including driver location and driving habits. This can be useful when reviewing vital data to improve efficiency, as well as in the event of any fleet insurance claims. It also helps you monitor how often your drivers are visiting locations that may be a safety hazard, which can help you identify any potential motor vehicle accidents.
Managers can use this information to their advantage by analyzing data from the time of day and times of the year to understand what areas pose safety risks for drivers. Additionally, the GPS tracking system records vehicle data such as speed and braking to help monitor how efficiently your drivers are operating their vehicles. GPS tracking is also necessary when it comes to driver physical fitness. A GPS tracking system allows you to track pedometer steps throughout the workday, as well as monitor all maintenance records in order to ensure that all vehicles are being maintained at optimal performance levels.
2. Use Route Planning Software
Route planning software uses advanced algorithms to help organizations plan and arrange multi-stop delivery routes in the most effective way feasible. Routing and scheduling software, or route optimization software, is another name for it. UpperInc is vehicle routing and scheduling software.
It’s no surprise that software-assisted route planning are significantly more accurate than manually planned routes when all the relevant factors are included, as well as the amount of possible permutations. As a result, you’ll be able to consistently deliver things to clients when you say you would, resulting in happier customers. When you do it day after day for months or years, you acquire the loyalty and repeat business of those consumers.
3. Use The Latest In Telematics To Monitor Driver Behavior
GPS fleet management telematics technology can also be used to monitor driver behavior in real-time, including speeding and harsh braking. Managers can receive alerts whenever a driver violates safety regulations, as well as drivers that make frequent stops without letting the vehicle idle. Managers use this information to hold employees accountable for their actions in the workplace. Telematics technology is extremely useful when it comes to making sure all employees on your team are adhering to company policies. According to the experts at FleetOptix.com, a fleet dash cam system can provide you with real-time information that is one of the most important factors when it comes to improving efficiency. Management software used by businesses provides real-time data on drive times, speed limits, vehicles maintenance records, and potential hazards and safety concerns along routes. This allows you to have complete control over operations, as well as be involved in the day-to-day maintenance of vehicles.
4. Monitor Fleet Maintenance Records
Fleet managers should be aware of any trends or patterns that may be impacting their fleet’s performance or causing vehicle damage. Management software can also help monitor maintenance records to ensure all vehicles are being properly maintained at optimal operating levels. Using this information, you can make adjustments as necessary to ensure your fleet is performing at its full potential. Managers can use the information from management software to make sure all vehicles are being properly maintained and adjust routes to manage safety concerns. Maintenance records can help shed light on any problem areas that may be affecting vehicle utilization or overall performance. The maintenance records can also help identify any problems with employees that may be causing problems in your fleet. Once you’ve identified the problem areas, you can take steps to improve efficiency.
5. Use Your Fleet Operations Manual To Reduce Risk
It is extremely important for managers to continually track and update their operations manual with current regulations and best practices within the industry. Fleet management software uses GPS tracking data to monitor driver behavior at all times, including potential infractions such as speeding and harsh braking that violate company policies. Continually reviewing your operations manual can help you take the necessary steps to reduce risk and increase efficiency. Ensure that your manual is up-to-date with current regulations and best practices, as well as any pertinent safety information for driving in your area. Operations manual best practices include maintaining a fleet that is always at optimal working levels, as well as providing regular maintenance to ensure vehicles are running at their peak performance.
Fleet management is a key factor in keeping your business safe along the road. Managers should be aware of any trends or patterns that may be impacting their fleet’s performance or causing vehicle damage. Management software can also help monitor maintenance records in order to make sure all vehicles are being properly maintained at optimal operating levels. Using this information, you can make adjustments as necessary to ensure your fleet is performing at its full potential.
Fleet Management: 4 Key Tactics To Improve Efficiency was last modified: July 26th, 2024 by Charlene Brown
Regardless of what field you are working in, project management will be an integral component of your organization. By employing project management strategies, you can ensure accuracy and quality in your projects and meet the expectations of your customers. However, starting a career in project management is not as simple as it sounds. Read on to learn how you can launch your career in the field of project management:
Requirements
Anyone can pursue a career in the field of project management. However, there are certain qualifications that can give you an edge over your competitors. If you have any of the following qualifications, your career path will become a lot easier:
If you work in a management domain or obtain a degree in project management, you will be able to gain the skills needed to succeed in this role. Another option is pursuing a curse that allows you to obtain the skills you need. Here are some skills that you will need in order to be a successful project manager:
1. Strong leadership and analytical skills
As a manager, it is your responsibility to lead large teams and analyze business decisions. With strong analytical and leadership skills, you will be able to improve your team’s productivity and be more efficient.
2. Risk management skills
When you are a manager, you also have to look out for potential risks and issues and develop strategies on how you can mitigate them. You will need risk management skills for protecting your company from potential crises.
3. Patience and perseverance
To be a good manager, you have to be patient with your team employees. Also, in case any process fails, you have to continue and not give up. Most importantly, you should know how to analyze mistakes and make sure that they aren’t repeated.
4. General business skills
You must have a basic understanding of business skills like negotiation skills, delegation skills, and diplomacy. This will ensure that you are able to manage each project effectively. Most of these skills can be learned and the right online negotiation course can teach you more about one-on-one or group negotiation techniques.
5. Basic technological skills
Today, every business has a technological aspect. As a manager, you will need basic technological skills for making sure that your business has seamless management.
6. Communication skills
As a manager, you will need excellent oral and written communication skills for avoiding any misunderstandings and confusion.
7. Time management skills
Time is money. That is why, as a manager, you are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of punctuality and time management. You have to make sure that all the projects are finished and timely delivered.
Launch your career
Here are a few steps that will help you launch your career in project management:
1. Networking
Before you take on a new career, the first thing that you have to do is find out about the field as much as you can. To do this, you can talk to professionals who have experience in project management. They will help you understand the fulfilling aspects of the field and the challenges you might face.
2. An online course
There are several online courses on project management. This is a time-saving approach that will help you start your career as a project manager. It will give you an introduction to the subject and get an understanding of the basics so that you can deal with the challenges.
3. Pursue a degree
Once you have a basic understanding of project management, you can go for a higher degree like an MBA to become an expert on the subject and get a more in-depth understanding of the subject. A degree will also improve your employability in the field.
4. Gain certifications
As a project manager, you have to keep updating your skills and the best way to do that is through project management certifications like PMP. A Project Management professional training program will help you stay updated on the latest trends in the field.
Conclusion
So, these were the skills you need to obtain and the steps you need to follow for launching your career in project management. Once you do this, you will have a multitude of opportunities waiting for you.
How to Launch Your Career in Project Management was last modified: July 24th, 2023 by Devika Ohri
To have an efficient business office is the key to being productive. There are probably many things that may come to your mind when setting up a business office – the location, the equipment needed, and how comfortable you will be in the workplace. Equipping your office will require you to buy different items.
Here are some of the things you need if you wish to set up an efficient business office.
The computer
It’s impossible to complete the work without a computer. If you wish to have an efficient office, make sure that you invest in high-performing computers that have a longer lifespan. Do some research and choose the computers that would fit your specific needs. If some of your employees are doing fieldwork or their task would require them to be out of the office from time to time, consider buying a laptop for them. Remember, always go for quality over price when purchasing computers.
A projector
A projector is also an important thing that you should have in your office. It can help you discuss and present things clearly during business meetings. In addition, having a projector on ceiling is an excellent idea because this can help you get the best brightness possible from the unit. Another advantage of this is that it keeps the projector out of the way, and everyone can freely walk without blocking the light from the projector.
Fast and reliable internet access
A reliable and high-speed internet connection is now essential in every office. There will be a possibility to decrease productivity inside your office if your internet is slow and unreliable. A fast internet connection can make your employees work efficiently and help them finish their tasks on time. The faster the speed of your connection, the more productive your team will be.
A multipurpose printer
Another piece of equipment that you should have in your office is a printer. Whether you choose to go paperless or not, you must have a printer installed in your office. Good thing, there are now printers that offer other features like a scanner and a photocopy machine at the same time. So you can easily print or get a copy of an important file if you have a multipurpose machine inside the office.
Filing cabinets
The best way to make your business office efficient is to keep it clean and clutter-free. So be sure to have enough, or should we say plenty, of filing cabinets in your office to keep everything intact. It’s where you can keep your essential documents without making the workplace look messy.
Creating an efficient workplace can be a daunting task, but it’s the best thing to do if you wish to increase employee efficiency. When your team members have everything they need, they can finish whatever task you give them faster. However, an efficient office does not only rely on how good the equipment your employees use. It’s about how happy they are at what they’re doing and how well you treat them. Always prioritize work-life balance if you want them to stay efficient and productive.
How to Set Up an Efficient Business Office was last modified: August 4th, 2021 by Bernadine Racoma
If you operate a business where your employees work remotely, you need to trust that they are performing their tasks as expected. However, it may be challenging to track the remote workers’ activities without reliable data. The good news is that with today’s technology, there are different ways that you can use to make sure that the employees are doing their work. Read on to learn everything you want to know about how to ensure that your remote employees are working.
Set Measurable Goals
It is vital to set measurable goals that are also easy to achieve. You need to involve the workers in the goal-setting process, so they can also share the same vision of the company. Workers who are treated as important are productive. They are also determined to ensure that they attain short and long-term goals. It is essential to see if a worker can complete different tasks assigned to them. If some members are failing to meet their target goals, it means that you may need to make necessary changes. You can easily monitor the performance of remote employees if you set realistic and attainable goals.
Workers will be more focused on their tasks if they know everything that is expected of them. Make the work simple and also set deadlines. Supervising employees who work remotely is not feasible. Therefore, talking to your employees is vital when you give them feedback and acknowledgment for completing their tasks. You must position yourself as an effective team leader who is ready to listen to the concerns of the members. Define all the processes that can help each member to meet their tasks. Without smart goals, your employees will be doomed. You might also want to check Develop Good Habits to learn about smart leadership goals.
Track Productivity
For a purely digital company, it is possible to monitor the activities of each employee every minute. You can achieve this by using employee monitoring software that helps to track the time every employee spends doing different tasks online. For instance, with this software, it is possible to track the time spent by every worker doing productive work or browsing social media. The main advantage of this employee time tracking software is that it helps track the overall productivity of each worker. You can detect people who are doing unproductive things during work time. This will help you contact them directly and remind them to focus on their work.
You can use the software to evaluate the overall performance of remote workers. If you realize that the majority of workers are not productive, you can discuss with them to address the issues. If the employees know that their activities will be monitored, they will put more effort to increase their productivity level. Even if someone is working in a distant area, they will turn into an active worker.
Schedule Check-ins
Check-ins provide you with real-time data about what each employee is doing at a specific time. For instance, all the workers must check-in their time for short breaks or any other activities that are not job-related. If you get this kind of system, you can track your workers and know what they are doing at any given time. You will also be able to use real data to ensure that all the employees are on track to finish their tasks. It is vital to check if employee productivity is consistent or fluctuates. Every worker needs to put more effort into their work.
Allow Workers to Make Decisions
When employees work remotely, they rarely interact physically with the managers, who in most cases are decision-makers. However, there are chances that remote workers are likely to encounter some challenges in their job. Instead of waiting for the manager to solve the problems that may arise every time, it is good to give the employees the autonomy to make decisions that can affect their work. This will also motivate the workers to develop a sense of belonging to the organization if they are treated as valuable assets. They will put the optimum effort into their job if they are happy about the treatment they get.
We are living in changing times that are affecting almost all facets of life. New technology has introduced a new concept of working remotely. With the COVID-19 global pandemic, remote working has spread to several sectors now. To ensure that the workers are paying attention to their work, it is crucial to set realistic goals. You also need to use remote employee monitoring software to track the activities of each individual. It is also a good idea to schedule check-ins and track productivity.
How To Ensure That Your Remote Employees Are Actually Working was last modified: March 28th, 2023 by Charlene Brown
Do you want to increase your productivity at work? Do you want to get more done in a day? If so, then it is time for you to make some changes to your office.
All the people who have succeeded in business know that office design and layout is one of the most important parts of it. It can help employees organize their work and make it easier to find things. However, not all companies understand how big of an impact this can have on their employees’ productivity. It can get tricky if your employees have to focus a lot of their time on finding which tasks to do. It might lead to difficulties in executing tasks and affect overall productivity. There are some task management tools that can help maximize productivity at work.
It’s not just about how much space you have, but about how you use it. In this lesson, we will explore some of the best office design tricks that will help increase your productivity at work.
1. Consider Your Layout
The most important thing to consider when designing your office is the layout. Company culture is deeply rooted in the office’s design. In order to create a positive, productive environment, it’s essential to have an office layout that employees are happy with.
The first step in deciding where your office should be is figuring out what type of business you’re operating and the amount of space you’ll need. Whether it’s a simple laptop setup or a large warehouse, the type of business will dictate what type of setup is needed. If you’re just starting up, then we recommend looking for an affordable place that has enough space for all your equipment and furniture. If you know exactly what kind of office space you want, then there are websites that can help provide these quotes from facilities.
As you map out the necessary office space, also think about the placement and quality of essential features like restroom partitions. This detail not only affects privacy but also the overall functionality and comfort of your workplace, enhancing the daily experience for everyone involved.
2. Keep Things Comfortable
One of the most important things for your employees is a comfortable office space. To keep your employees happy, you should make sure they are comfortable in their work environment. It is important that they are protected from environmental factors that could impact their performance and productivity at work.
There are many factors that make a comfortable office space. Temperature, lighting, noise levels, proximity to coffee shops and lunch spots and more all need to be taken into account when you’re designing your office layout.
You can also increase work quality and employee happiness in your office without spending a ton of money. Here are some simple tweaks you can make around the office that will do just that:
Keep the mood light with bright colors that suit your company culture
Allow employees to listen to music, as it increases focus and productivity
Offer food options for employees who need them
Encourage breaks by giving them plenty of space for their lunch breaks or coffee breaks
The colors that we design our office spaces with are not just for aesthetics; they can have a major effect on the productivity of our employees. For example, when the color blue is used, it stimulates employees and helps them focus. On the other hand, red stimulates people to move and be more active.
Studies show that people feel safer, more creative, and more productive when they are in an environment with warmer colors (like reds and oranges). For example, one study found that participants who were in a room painted in red were more productive than those who were in a room painted blue.
There are many ways to implement color into the workplace: changing the office colors, adding accent colors to certain furniture or objects, or painting the outside of the building.
4. Improve the Lighting
Improving the lighting in your office is one of the easiest things you can do to boost productivity. A study found that those who spent their entire day under artificial lights were twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety as those who had access to natural light all day long.
There are a number of ways you can do this, but most have a similar effect. You could move your desk to a room with more natural light, use lamps or soft light bulbs that mimic natural light, or by some form of daylighting system. The benefits of these changes are clear and well documented.
5. Nail Your Desk
The ergonomics of a workstation can dramatically affect your mood and productivity. Proper ergonomic setups are essential to long-term success in the workplace.
A study by the Ergonomics Society found that over 30% of office workers experience lower back pain, while 25% experience neck pain. These adjustments can help alleviate some of these symptoms and make co-workers more comfortable in their workspace.
Employers should consider these quick ergonomic checks to make sure their employees are comfortable and not distracted by discomfort. You should have a desk set up that is appropriate for their needs and takes into account their body type. This includes height and depth adjustments, placement of monitors in the correct position, chair height and armrests if they use them, as well as adjusting monitor tilt angle to avoid glare from lights or windows.
Final Words
Effective workspace setup and organization can make all the difference to one’s productivity. The way that your workplace is set up could be affecting how productive you are on a day-to-day basis. Minimizing distractions and maximizing space can help increase workplace productivity.
If you have any concerns about this guide or have more ideas for a new space, feel free to comment below. We’ll be happy to hear from you.
5 Design Tricks That Will Increase Your Workspace Productivity was last modified: May 14th, 2024 by Kanti Kashyap
In this digital era, there is a high need for businesses to manage and track their assets. With everything technology has brought about, tracking and managing assets have become a bit complicated. Furthermore, there is high insecurity of data with the employee turnover. There is a lot that a company can cost from mismanaged and misplaced assets. Companies tend to spend more than they need without proper tracking of their assets. They need to have an accurate picture of their assets and where they are located. This is very crucial for the energy sector that provides utilities such as water, electricity, and gas to businesses and households. This sector faces a lot of challenges in asset management and areas like equipment maintenance.
Resolving Challenges in Energy Sector with Asset Management
The energy sector relies on heavy usage of assets and asset management tools have become important. Companies like Neara provide asset management software for a power line. You can also get the best power line design for pole compliance and efficiency. Assets management tools such as CMMS and AMS provide many benefits to organizations. Some of the benefits reaped from these tools include;
Creation of an active preventive maintenance program
Real-time tracking of assets and their performance
The main benefit of using asset management tools in the energy sector is to collect data in real-time with a centralized system. When this data is accessible to managers, technicians, and workers, it speeds up operations and provides an overall overview of all assets that still hold value. IoT tools are best for collecting real-time performance details of an asset. IoT devices can be used to:
Assess the condition of an asset
Assess the usage history of an asset
Check for the latest compliance and permit history
Check the repair and maintenance history
CMM, AMS, and IoT devices are the best for asset management. With the data collected from these, it is easy to work on important assets like towers and transmitters. The utility sector has technicians employed specifically for repairing and maintaining aging infrastructure to minimize the chances of outage or failure. That means that these experts must have accurate data for active response. Accurate data provides more visibility and a connection between the technicians in the field and the workers in the office.
Real-time collection of data using assent management software helps in the proper calculation of asset RIO. A company in the energy sector can get a rough idea of the value of its assets. Calculating asset RIO is done by calculating the cost of maintenance and operation. Through this calculation, it becomes easy to decide if the equipment or asset will be worth replacing or throwing away at the end of its life cycle.
IoT devices can be used to minimize the costs of maintenance and avoid failure. IoT makes it easy for companies to collect accurate data on the performance of assets. Devices like trackers, sensors, and barcodes interact and pass the information to the central management system where the data is stored. Asset management tools can help companies in the energy sector in different ways as follows.
Reducing risks and safety issues of their assets
Approaching maintenance proactively
Reducing impact on the environment
Improving the use of renewable sources of energy such as solar systems, and wind and hydronic turbines
Conclusion
These are important asset management tools and software suitable for the energy sector. When finding one, you need to identify the gaps in your assent management and maintenance. You can also compare software based on the company’s needs for asset tracking and management.
Useful Asset Management Tools and Software for The Energy Sector was last modified: June 6th, 2022 by John Guevara
