It’s safe to say that the future of work is digital. In the wake of the pandemic, more companies than ever are offering remote and hybrid workplace solutions. Almost three-quarters of all U.S. companies are using or plan to use a hybrid work model in 2022 and beyond.

Of course, changing to hybrid work is easier said than done. How do you ensure that your office doesn’t lose productivity during the switch?

If you’re not sure how to make the most of your new workspace, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what you should know about creating a productive hybrid workspace for your team.

Offer Tools and Support

If you plan to offer the option of remote work, it’s crucial to be prepared for the hybrid work challenges that may crop up. Make sure you’ve taken the time to vet and test the tools you’ll be using for both synchronous and asynchronous working. This may mean finding new equipment for your office space to support hybrid work.

In terms of remote employee support, consider providing essential portable equipment like laptops, dual monitors, or smartphones. Providing a stipend for high-speed internet is also a smart move.

Create a New Floorplan

A hybrid office layout can help support your team during both in-person and remote meetings. Though every workplace has different needs, you’ll want to start by reconsidering each area.

Do you have enough collaborative spaces with the right equipment for remote work? Do your employees need assigned seats, or would it be better to try hot desking? Think about how you can use the right ergonomic furniture, offer privacy, and help your team avoid distractions in each area.

Use Thoughtful Work Schedules

One of the challenges of hybrid working is finding the right balance between a fixed and flexible in-office schedule. Rather than requiring employees to be in the office for a set amount of days or times, be thoughtful about these requirements. 

Which of your meetings and activities work best in person? Which ones are just as easy to do remotely?

Brainstorming and problem-solving are often best done in-office, as is the case with engagement and team-building activities. It’s also a good idea to have staff make major decisions or learn challenging skills and strategies in person.

Rethink Processes

Processes that worked well in person may not be as effective during remote work.

Before you make the switch, reimagine your processes for a digital-first environment. This may involve finding ways to automate, streamline, or digitize your current tasks. Each process should be frictionless, meaning that it’s the same no matter where your employees are.

Focus on Engagement

When your team is scattered across the region or around the world, engagement becomes more important than ever. From boosting productivity to employee retention, there are plenty of reasons to focus on engagement. Here are a few key ways to get started:

• Offer helpful tools and support, as mentioned above
• Be transparent about your expectations 
• Make communication accessible
• Give workers the same opportunities for growth they would have in-office
• Make it clear that their experiences and opinions matter
• Be flexible about employees’ needs

These tactics aren’t always easy, but focusing on them can set your employees up for greater success.

Create Your Hybrid Workplace

Though any hybrid workplace will have its challenges, the benefits far outweigh the costs. The option for remote work can offer vast opportunities for your team, boosting their engagement and productivity fast.

As you work to create your new workspace, don’t forget that we’re here to help. For the office furniture and design you need, check out the spaces we create and contact us today.

On average, five to twenty percent of Americans get the flu every year. It happens more often than you’d think and is often very dangerous. Around 8,200 to 20,000 people in the U.S. die every year because of the flu. 

You shouldn’t want this to happen to any of your office workers. Therefore, when flu season rolls around, you need to keep them safe. Read on to get a healthy office guide you can use to prevent office outbreaks this year. 

Help Your Employees Get Flu Shots 

Even employees that want flu shots may struggle to find the time to get them. It can be hard to balance work and life as it is sometimes. Trying to find the extra time to get a flu shot can be nearly impossible when your schedule is already booked. 

You can make it easier for employees to get flu shots by setting up a flu shot clinic in the office. Some vendors can offer services such as these. However, you want to make sure that you screen any of these vendors for quality. 

You may also want to offer an informational flu guide to all of your employees. This may help convince any employees that may not want a flu shot or are on the fence to get a flu shot. 

Practice Flu Season Illness Prevention Measures 

Yes, keeping the office clean is usually the job of the janitorial services. However, germs can spread from person to person easily before the janitors have a chance to clean. You should encourage employees to wipe down the surfaces of office furniture once they’re done using it. 

Another thing you should do for the betterment of office health is to encourage employees to wash their hands. You can do this by posting infographics and having informative meetings about the situation. Providing free hand sanitizer for the employees to use may also make them more likely to keep their hands clean. 

Encourage Sick Employees to Stay Home 

It can be difficult for offices to function when there are fewer workers. You may feel tempted to ask employees to come in when they’re sick. However, if you do so, you may make your office even more short-handed. 

You need to encourage sick employees to stay home and recover. Make sure that your office has a reasonable sick policy. You should also stop other workers from bullying a sick worker into staying at the office. 

We Offer Office Furniture That Keeps Your Office Productive 

The flu season is full of dangers that can threaten your office’s productivity levels. However, with careful planning and teamwork, your office should be able to weather it well. Good luck! 

Also, if your office needs a new design and/or new furniture, consider our services. We solve the space and furniture challenges of all kinds of businesses every day. These will reflect your brand, increase productivity, and also do a whole lot more. 

Visit our physical location or contact us today to get started with filling your office space. 

Low office productivity contributes to a $7 trillion loss in the economy. This can occur for many reasons, but one of the most pervasive is poor workplace design.

If you’re a business owner, you need to invest in productive office design. Otherwise, you could risk wasting a lot of time and money.

But how do you achieve peak office productivity?

Luckily, this article is here to help. It covers everything including personal workspaces, environmental design, and ergonomics. Read on to find out more!

Tackling Personal Workspaces

Employees without the right facilities end up feeling stressed and unproductive. To create organized personal workspaces, opt for furniture that has storage space. That way employees can keep clutter out of their main working space. 

Implementing a good office filing and storage system prevents paperwork from piling up. Make sure that you also have recycling and shredding facilities to dispose of waste.

Consider Ergonomics

To get the most out of your employees, it is important to consider their health and comfort. If someone is suffering from fatigue or strain, they are less likely to be productive. Health issues could also lead to costly absences for your company. 

Consider upgrading your office furniture to be more ergonomic. This could involve adjusting the height of chairs or desks to reduce neck strain. You could provide footrests and back-support chairs to allow more natural seating positions. 

Work Environments and Office Productivity

The office environment can profoundly alter the well-being and productivity of your employees. Here are some of the key concepts to consider.

Ventilation and Heating

There is nothing worse than a room that is too hot or too cold. Focus on adding good ventilation, through a good air conditioning or heating system.

Also, make sure to organize your furniture in a way that allows air to flow throughout the office. Placing desks near windows that open and adding office plants can also help with air quality.

Lighting

Increasing the light available in your office is vital to employees’ working abilities. Natural light can decrease eye strain, blurred vision, and headaches by over 80 percent. 

You should install different types of lighting throughout the workspace. Desk lamps and well-spaced ceiling lights are perfect for artificial lighting. Make sure you replace bulbs often to avoid any flickering.

Stress Management

Stressed employees are not productive. Using a biophilic design can be a great way to manage stress. Bringing natural elements into the workplace can boost creative thinking and improve focus.

You can also integrate group working spaces into your office plan. As humans, we love working together to complete tasks. Open-plan offices encourage collaboration and communication. You could also design some more private spaces for quiet small group work. 

Intuitive Workplace Design Solutions!

Creating a well-designed workplace is the root of office productivity. By making a few small changes, you can transform your employee’s quality of work and well-being. 

Workplace Solutions are experts in office furniture and office design productivity. With excellent customer service, they can help you to improve office productivity. They also offer a range of new and used furniture, suitable for all office budgets.

Looking to take your workplace to the next level? Get in contact today to find out more about intuitive workplace solutions!

Looking for ways to increase productivity? A drab and cramped office is no place for productive employees, but space and money are finite. So, how can you upgrade your office design while taking into account the limitations of your budget and space?

A good office space makes for happier, more motivated, and more productive employees, so you don’t want to neglect it. Our office design specialists want to offer some strategies for designing an office that your employees will love to spend time in. 

Keep reading for a few tips that can give your small space the productivity boost that it needs.

1. Lighting Matters

If your space has large windows be sure to utilize them to their maximum potential. A well-lit space is integral to an employee’s peak productivity. 

Natural light makes a difference. It’s shown to be more motivating and to improve the overall quality of life for your employees. 

The artificial lights that we surround ourselves with at work put a strain on our eyes. This comes from phones, computers, and harsh fluorescents. Reducing some of that artificial light (like keeping fluorescent lights to a minimum in exchange for natural light) is a great way to stop your employees from getting fatigued early in the day. 

Keeping your windows open and accessible will also make your space seem larger than it is. 

2. Don’t Neglect Storage

When you’re trying to make the most out of your space, help your employees avoid clutter. Clutter makes it harder for them to stay productive and it makes the space look messy.

To do this, opt for shelving units, desks with ample storage, or personal lockers. These storage areas should be accessible for all employees so that they can grab what they need without interrupting their workflow. 

Fuse from Hon takes storage to the next level and comes in your choice of color to match your workplace design. They also offer keyless digital technology to keep employees’ belongings secure. 

3. Flexible Seating Plans and Areas

If your workplace has different “departments”, don’t try to force everyone to sit with the other people in their section. This might seem counterproductive but think about it. 

Your employees are all working together for a singular goal regardless of their specific job. While sitting amongst other people doing the same job might seem helpful (so they can ask each other questions and stay on task), sitting with other people working on the same project in a different way can help aid collaboration and create new ideas.

Having flexible seating areas that are easy to shift around for “group work” can help your employees’ creativity blossom. 

4. Optional Standing Desks

It’s a fact: Americans sit too much. How can we help it when we spend a third of our time at work? 

Giving your employees the option for a standing desk can help keep them awake all day without the need for somewhere for them to go take a walk and stretch their legs. Not all workplaces have the room for a quick walkabout! 

Picking desks that have the option to be both sitting and standing is a great way to maximize a small space and have happy employees. 

How Is Your Workplace Design?

Is your workplace design set up for productivity and free space or are you setting up your employees for fatigue and failure? 

Happy employees need a calming and decluttered space to work to their best potential. A well-designed space doesn’t just help them, it helps you.

If you’re in the market for furniture to redesign for office space, we’ve got what you need. Visit our site or our Fort Wayne office furniture store to find the perfect furnishings for your business.

Did you know that making your workplace inclusive for everyone can up productivity levels and attract new employees? Having an inclusive workplace is essential. You should go above and beyond what’s required of you by law. 

But how can you incorporate workplace inclusivity in new and interesting ways? Start with your workplace design. Many business owners don’t consider how their workplace design can impact employees.

Continue reading for a few quick design tips for an inclusive workplace.

Remember the Importance of Open Spaces

Having ample space is important for COVID-19 safety. It’s also crucial when it comes to improving inclusivity in your workplace. Having wide-open spaces feels more welcoming than having a cramped office. It allows employees the flexibility to move around, stretch their legs, and collaborate with others who may not sit nearby (more on inclusive seating later on). 

This should also provide more than enough room for someone to navigate the office with a wheelchair, walker, or mobility scooter. You don’t want to exclude workers who need these things when you’re designing your office. 

Allowing more space between desks can also make the environment more comfortable for people who struggle with anxiety or claustrophobia. It’s also good for people who may worry about being (accidentally or otherwise) touched while people move through the office.

A Variety of Work Spaces

In a standard office, most of the employees work in the same types of spaces. They have a desk, an overhead light, a chair, and perhaps some nearby accessories.

This doesn’t promote inclusion or creativity. You won’t be allowing your employees to reach their full potential in this type of environment. 

Remember that everyone has different work styles. For some people, a dim corner with warm lighting will be perfect. Others may want a well-lit space with plenty of room to collaborate. Providing several types of spaces throughout your office will allow your employees to work how they feel best and have more room to grow. 

New and Improved Seating Areas

Think outside the cubicle and desk and consider placing comfortable chairs or couches intermittently in areas that aren’t normal work areas. This will help employees who struggle with mobility and give all of your employees somewhere to rest, decompress, or work in a more comfortable setting. 

You should also consider alternative and innovative seating. If you want to foster an inclusive work environment, make sure that you’re focusing on a new and improved seating arrangement.

Traditional desk seating arrangements can result in accidental segregation. Consider adding flexible seating “pods” so employees have better and easier communication.

It’s also a good idea to have an “alone time” seating area for employees who get overwhelmed while they’re around others.

Always Stay Open to Change

The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to promoting inclusion in the workplace is that you’re trying to suit the needs of as many types of people as possible. As those needs change, you may want to change the workplace as well.

Stay open to influence from your employees and from design experts.

Inclusivity in Design: Are You Doing Your Best?

Workplace design inclusivity isn’t all about having accessible restrooms. By tweaking your workplace desk arrangement, adjusting your seating options, making your entryways more accessible, adding handrails, and improving your parking lot safety, you’ll make a huge difference. 

Are you looking for new furniture for your inclusive and accessible workplace?  What about a total layout overhaul? At Workplace Solutions, we’ve got you covered.

Contact us so we can start working together today.

30% of workers report spending more than 5 hours in meetings each week. With so much time spent in meetings and meeting rooms, it’s important for businesses to really think through their furniture choices in company meeting rooms. The right meeting room furniture can help employees to stay focused and feel valued by the company.

But more goes into the decision than aesthetics and looks, although those can be important aspects. In this post, we’ll go over some of the meeting room furniture choices you can make to ensure your company meetings are comfortable and productive.

1. Ergonomic Chairs

The number one factor in your employee’s comfort during meetings will be the chairs you choose. It’s important to choose good ergonomic chairs that help to support your employees where they need them, especially if you tend to have longer meetings.

You should choose chairs that include features like lumbar support and armrests to help your employees stay comfortable and healthy. You could also consider chairs with breathable mesh backs if your meeting rooms tend to get warm.

2. The Right Table Size

The right table size will depend on the size of the room and the number of people that are usually in a meeting. The table needs to accommodate the right amount of people without getting too crowded.

Tables that are too small will make people uncomfortable and can make it difficult to work. On the other hand, tables that are too large can make communication harder and can inhibit movement around the room.

Multi-purpose tables allow for more versatile meeting rooms. They allow you to easily move and reconfigure the space for each meeting and stow away tables for smaller meetings.

3. Technology-Friendly Furniture

Technology is a big part of many business meetings these days. Choosing furniture that is designed with technology in mind can keep things running smoothly. 

Tables with vertical wire management or built-in outlets and USBs can help to keep employees connected while keeping the room organized and eliminating tripping hazards.

Portable charging towers allow meetings to happen anywhere in the office and can charge laptops and smartphones at the same time. 

4. Color Scheme

The color scheme of your meeting room can play a surprisingly big part in the functionality of the room. Different colors can promote different moods or help to give off a certain image of your company. 

Darker wood furniture tends to give off a traditional and classy vibe, whereas brightly colored furniture is great for younger, more creative businesses.

The furniture material you choose can play a part in this as well. Choose luxury seating and wood tables if you’re trying to give off that more professional and expensive persona, and patterned cloth and metal or glass if you’re looking for something a bit more contemporary. 

Design a Comfortable Company Meeting Room

So much of people’s time at work is spent in meetings, be sure that your conference room furniture is helping to promote focus, comfort, and collaboration. Your company meeting room shouldn’t be an uncomfortable place.

If you’re near Fort Wayne or Warsaw, Indiana, and are in need of workspace solutions, we can help. Contact us today!

Are you finding it difficult to find space for everything in your office?

To work in an efficient and effective manner, you need to keep your office organized. Otherwise, you might find yourself looking for things when you could focus on your projects instead. 

Yet, offices often require you to store a decent number of items without giving you an unlimited amount of office storage space. So, knowing how to take the right advantage of your office storage is essential. Below, we’ll get into everything you need to know about maximizing your workspace storage. Keep reading to learn more!

Have a System

One of the key features of an efficient office space is a well-organized system. Without a system, you might get tempted to shove things wherever they fit best. In the long run, this could cause you to lose important items and documents.

Finding the system that works best for you might take some trial and error. You can start by taking a look at your office space and asking yourself which items you’ll need most often. These might include your computer and a notepad or calendar. Place these on your desk. If possible, they should be within reach when you’re seated.

Next, think about the items you can’t store in cabinets or drawers. For instance, if you have a desktop phone, set aside a space for it on the top of your desk.

You should keep personal items and decorations to a minimum. If you do have them, contain them in one area of your office.

Less-used items can go in your cabinets and drawers. If you have a lockable cabinet, use it to secure your most important documents. 

Know When to Shred and When to File

One of the easiest ways to get disorganized is to have a lot of paper lying around your office. As such, you should know when to shred and when to file your documents.

Many workers use the one-touch rule to keep their desks organized. The rule is simple: when you pick up a piece of paper, read it over quickly and decide whether you want to keep or discard it. If you need to keep it, put it in a file that’s organized either by topic or alphabetical order. That way, you can refer back to it when needed.

To discard your documents, shred them. Shredding prevents pertinent, confidential information from making its way into the wrong hands. 

Get the Right Furniture

The right furniture will make office organization easier. Take stock of what types of office storage you think your workplace needs and then place an order for them. 

You can get office furniture in a variety of sizes or styles. Look around to find the pieces that best match your company’s culture!

Ready to Get Office Storage Solutions?

If you’re looking for office storage solutions, you’ve come to the right place. 

At Workspace Solutions, we don’t just specialize in selling furniture. We help you create office space solutions that work best for you. So, whether you’re looking for a single piece of furniture or a full-on room design, we have something for you!

Ready to get started? Contact us today!

The Covid pandemic created a situation where businesses had no choice but to let employees work remotely or face shutting down. With the existential threat of Covid at least partially resolved, companies started talking about a mandatory return to office policies.

This met with a resounding backlash; around 64 percent of employees would consider quitting. The tenuous compromise is a hybrid model.

With part-time remote work becoming the new norm, employees must consider their remote work options in a post-Covid world. Keep reading for some of your options.

Full-Time Remote

While some people crave the social aspects of the office, many people discovered that they prefer remote work. It spares them a commute, which can mean a lot for employee happiness among those living and working in major cities.

Just as importantly, some companies read the signs and now offer fully remote positions in addition to their hybrid and in-office positions. This gives you options for where and how you work best.

Hybrid

If you’re in that group of people who miss the social aspects of working the in office, a hybrid position offers you the best of both worlds. In some respects, it’s also a smart employee decision.

You can leverage the best benefits of having face time in the office, such as mentorship and collaboration opportunities. You can also retain some of the flexibility in your personal life that most people seem to value about remote work.

The only real pitfall is that businesses are still working out just what hybrid means. There is no consensus yet on how many days per week hybrid employees must come in. It’s also unclear who should decide which days hybrid employees come in.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Even over two years in, a lot of people lack a permanent home office setup. If you plan on working remotely for the rest of your career, You don’t necessarily need a completely separate room. You do need a permanent work area.

The best home office contains some essentials, like a desk and office chair. If you want to incorporate some health benefits, you can go in for a standing desk. 

You’ll also need:

• High-speed Internet
• Desktop or high-end notebook computer
• Webcam
• Microphone or earbuds with a mic

There are countless other office accessories that make life easier, but the list above meets most, if not all, of your remote working needs.

Remote Work Options and You

Moving forward, you will have two main remote work options: full-time remote and hybrid. Those who discovered they liked their jobs and despised the office will opt for full-time remote positions. People who missed the social and career-boosting elements of the office will opt for hybrid positions.

In both cases, however, you need a good home office setup to keep up with your work responsibilities.

Workspace Solutions specializes in furnishing office spaces. If you need help with your home office and or creating a hybrid office setup, contact Workspace Solutions today.

Need a change? While it’s a simpler task to select paint colors for your home based on your personal preferences, it’s a little harder to select colors that will work well for your office.

The right office paint colors can relax you, brighten up a space, or induce stress. It could affect your employees’ productivity.

So, what are the right office colors to create a calming workplace? Read on to learn about 5 calming colors that will improve workplace productivity.

1. Blue

Blue is one of the best colors for offices.

People unconsciously perceive the blue color as calming and relaxing. Painting your office spaces blue will make your employees feel calm and less anxious.

Furthermore, the color can soothe employees and reduce stress while encouraging them to be more productive. Blue is one of the most used workplace colors.

2. Green

Green is also perfect for any office environment. The color green provides needed balance.

Furthermore, green has proven to be the best color choice for office employees working long hours. It is indeed a top-priority color commonly found in medical offices.

3. Purple

Purple is often associated with luxury or magical connotations.

Creative industries such as design studios often use purple to encourage creativity and teamwork. While you may not want to paint your entire office in purple, it’s a great color for accent walls and decor to help boost productivity.

4. Brown

The color brown color feels powerful in office spaces. It blends well with wood office furniture colors and gives you a pleasant warmth. It is also similar to the blue color in that it is naturally soothing.

Applying brown in your office space will give your employees a sense of security, credibility, and reassurance. These senses can empower people to be more productive.

5. Orange

You may not think of the color orange as a calming color. But it can be both calming or energizing depending on how it’s used. 

The color is associated with warmth, power, and tolerance. However, because it is also an energizing color, use it sparingly and as a complement to another calming color to prevent increased energy and decreased productivity.

Get a Designer to Help You Choose the Best Office Colors Today

The choice of your office colors is not just for aesthetics. In fact, colors can affect workers’ moods and motivation. Colors can also help your employees to be more productive.

At Workspace Solutions, our designers can help you choose the best office colors for walls and furniture to create a calming, productive workplace that is tailored to reflect your brand.

Call us today to find out how we can assist you in finding the best solution for your space.

Are you unhappy with your current office setup? Is your space hindering your productivity? A new solution to your problem is on the horizon. Many people around the world are using smart technology in their homes. But have you ever heard of a smart office?  

Smart offices are a great solution to the challenge of modernizing your office whether you work in an office setting or at home. They are the future of modern workspaces.

What Is a Smart Office?

A smart office is a modern office that uses technology to aid employees in working more efficiently. Smart offices use the Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to streamline every aspect of the workday.

Keep reading for some examples of IoT which would be implemented in your smart office. 

1. Smart Lighting

Smart lighting is lighting that can be controlled via the internet. Smart lighting allows you to turn lights on and off, dim them, and even change the color of the lights, all from the convenience of your smartphone or computer. 

Smart lighting, as well as smart climate control (which we’ll get into) also monitors energy usage. Going “green” is crucial to the sustainability of our culture and smart energy is a great way to do that.

2. Climate Control

Similar to smart lighting, smart climate control allows you to control the heat and air conditioning from your phone or computer. Rather than go to the trouble of installing thermostats in every room of your office, you can now do it all on one streamlined system.

Just like smart lighting, smart climate control makes tracking your energy usage easy. This is important to both saving money and the environment. 

3. Collaboration & Productivity

Technology that allows team members to easily collaborate is a must-have, especially in today’s work environment when employees may be working remotely. 

Tools like Slack and Asana allow team members to manage projects and tasks and keep track of what needs done as well as deadlines. 

Zoom, WebEx, and Go To Meeting are online conferencing tools that allow employees to meet, share screens, and share files. 

4. Video Monitoring

In 2021, there were over 10,000 cases of theft in the U.S. Now more than ever it is crucial to have video monitoring in your smart office. With video monitoring, you can get an alert on your phone every time someone comes in and out of the office. This is especially helpful after hours. And, if anything does come up missing, you’re able to look back at the feed to see who was in the office at the time.

Start Designing Your Smart Office

Now that you know all about designing your smart office, you can start doing it today! Smart offices are a great investment toward modernizing your office space, whether it be in a traditional office space or at home.