Setting up a functional office to ensure maximum productivity can be one of the most important and rewarding parts of your working life. It allows you to see the hard work you’ve put into your company take physical shape, with a new space where people can easily work together. Done the wrong way, however, and it can cause stress and low productivity levels.
Whether you are an HR manager, office manager or even the CEO of a company, this guide has been created to explain which mistakes must be avoided when setting up an office. So grab yourself a double shot Americano, and read on for your complete guide.
Overpaying on Water Bills
Utility bills is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you’re busy setting up your professional office, but if you get overcharged it will only come back to haunt you and you might find yourself out-of-pocket. This is especially true for water bills, which can rack up into the hundreds and thousands of dollars each month. Inefficient usage of water on a regular basis would add up to a tidy sum over several years. For a company that can really help you find a great deal, we recommend Utility Bidder which is a tried-and-tested organization for your business water needs.
Not Protecting Against Hacks
Hacks can be the bane of oh so many businesses, no matter how big or small they are, like the recent hacking of Microsoft. Make sure that you have installed the proper firewalls for your company – they limit the potential of these hacks damaging your business. While there will be some money involved in installing the firewall software, this is nothing compared to the amount of money that you can lose if a hacker compromises your entire system.
Having an Open Plan
While on the face of it, having an open plan office looks like a great way to create a culture of openness and collaboration, multiple studies have suggested that it actually achieves the opposite effect. Not only can the space appear messy and disorganised, it can also create a culture where employees feel like they are not trusted to get on with their work, making it harder for them to be productive. It’s worth talking this through with your employees to design an office that works best for them.
Poor Lighting
Good lighting is essential in order to have a space which allows you to focus and well, get things done. Try and avoid too little light or too many bright lights, as both options can be rather distracting. The best option is to focus on soft and attractive lights that make the employees feel good and be productive.
Too Much Noise
Some workers thrive in a noisy environment. Others find it a complete productivity killer. Make sure that when you set up an office that it is sufficiently insulated to protect both against outside noise and that workers inside the office can work without being interrupted by others. You will find that if everyone is given their own sense of security and safety, they can work far better as a result.
