office Archives - A Million Lives

August 28, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Smart Casual Style – What It Is And Tips To Pull It Off

We’ve all been in that position – where we need to dress appropriately for an event, a party or the office. Many offices today encourage dress codes around the idea of “smart casual”, but what does that actually mean? It can be confusing, especially when there can be a case of double standards happening in the office. For example – a manager might wear jeans but then tell an employee they can’t. So when in doubt, check with management.

But what about other times? What does smart casual entail and how can you pull it off? Here are some great fashion tips to help both men and women rock the smart casual look for any event, work day or gathering.

Dresses

When in doubt a good dress is a great way to go for smart casual. With a pair of leggings to cover up the legs you suddenly have a look that’s perfect for the office and for drinks after work. Keep the leggings black to bring the look together and try to go with a dress that is looser fitting and not a “night out” dress. Use discretion if wearing it to the office – some places have strict rules on amount of skin showing, so pick dresses that cover up your back, and most of your chest and have either thick shoulder straps or are tshirt style. For gatherings and outings though, most dresses will work for smart casual looks, just remember to plan for the weather if you’re going to be outside!

Trousers/Jeans

When it comes to the question of trousers versus jeans, checking out the type of gathering/activity or workplace is best. While this isn’t entirely helpful, it’s vague for a reason – many people will allow jeans while many others will not. Typically if jeans are allowed they need to be “dressy”, which is to say there should be no rips or tears, and they should essentially be “plain” jeans. Typically trousers that are more in line with ‘chinos’ – cloth trousers that come in a variety of colours and are often worn by men. If women want to wear trousers go with trousers made of cotton for more comfort. In this sense, cotton trousers really do have #SmartCasualCovered.

For Men

When it comes to men’s fashion, it can be difficult to pinpoint the fine line between smart casual and full on casual. Typically the rule of thumb is to keep the trouser part to chino style, either loose or tapered, and to go with button up shirts, sometimes going one further and adding a sweater vest or sweater over top for an added touch of casual class. Check out these great trousers from Chums for an idea of the perfect style. For smart casual try to stay away from tshirts, especially with slogans, sayings, labels or brands.

Shoes

For both men and women try to stay away from things like running shoes and trainers. Instead flat soled black shoes for women and casual boater style shoes for men work well with almost any outfit as do loafers. For women most boot styles and materials will work for smart casual as long as they aren’t ‘Ugg’ type furry boots which are definitely better to be saved for those times when it’s really casual.

So there you have some great fashion tips for men and women who are looking for smart casual ideas for any reason, event, gathering or job. Enjoy – it’s a look that works almost anytime, anywhere.

May 11, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to Outsource Your Office

Cost saving is something which should always be uppermost in the mind of any business owner,e specially when it comes to the office. It is not just about making money when it comes to being successful in business but also looking at places where money can be saved. Outsourcing is a great way of doing just this, and in doing so you will be able to not only save cash on the task itself, but you can also ensure that aspects of the business are being looked after by professionals and therefore speeding up and streamlining your operations. If you aren’t sure which areas of the office you could outsource, we have some ideas which may help you out.

Printing

Even in this digitalized world we still need to print off important documents and maintaining a printer is not always easy. Managing and maintaining highly specialized devices such as A3 laser printers are not quite like looking after your basic printer at home. When you outsource the management of your printers, you can be confident that you won’t have to spend any time on them again. If your printer has an issue, it will be dealt with, if it runs out of ink then it will be automatically shipped. This will save money and most importantly, time.

Bookkeeping

The finances of the business are the single most important task which you should be troubled with, but getting involved with all of the ins and outs simply is not necessary. Whilst all business owners should understand exactly what is happening on the financial front, they should not be wasting time and money on getting involved in the minutiae. The best approach therefore is to let an independent group of professionals deal with the financial details, this will give you the confidence that it is being looked after to an excellent standard.

Payroll

Outsourcing payroll can not only save you and your company a lot of money, it can also ensure that what should be a relatively simple process, remains exactly that. Last year alone there were over $2 billion in fines given out by the IRS to small businesses, for errors which were made on payslips. These fines are often given out for even the most minor indiscretions so it makes much more sense to allow a company who specializes in this aspect of business, to handle the work.

Virtual Assistant

Technology is so advanced that you no longer need to employ in-house staff to handle basic admin tasks. Instead you can use the help of a virtual assistant who can organize meetings, deal with emails and arrange schedules. Virtual assistants will charge only by the hour which means you can save a great deal of money on wages, they also won’t be occupying the office which brings with it its own savings. Switching from a traditional assistant to virtual assistant can help you greatly in terms of saving a lot of money each year.

If you are looking at saving money and streamlining the business, outsourcing is the answer.

April 4, 2018 by Greg Underwood

10 Tips for Improving a Small Office Space

A small office space can feel suffocating if it’s not set up properly. However, by following these 10 tips for improving your small space it can be delightful!

Did you know that on average Americans work 34.4 hours a week, with 1 in 4 even logging 50+ hours on the job! Now that’s a lot of time spent in the office!

But what is your office actually like? Is it a tiny, musty smelling, grey cubicle filled with dated furniture, piles of paperwork and pens that no longer work?

If that’s what your office is like then it’s time for a change. A small dingy office like the one mentioned above is going to hinder your creativity and affect your emotional wellbeing.

But fear not, there are many of things you can do! Keep reading for 10 tips and hacks to improve your small office space.

So let’s get started!

1. Make the Best of What You Have

Make the most of your small office space by placing furniture around the edges of the walls.

When all the open space is concentrated into one area it’ll give the illusion of a bigger space.

There are many innovative designs available for furniture too. Such as corner desks, and smart storage solutions. No matter what style you’re going for, you’ll be able to find furniture that matches your theme.

You can also make the best use of your space by using common areas. For example, using the corridor area for phone calls.

2. Neutral Color Scheme

Colors can make a huge difference to how big an office space can appear. Lighter colors always work best and give the illusion of a bright open space, even if it’s a tiny cubicle!

If you want to use a bold color, be cautious, you could overwhelm your space and make it look more confined. You could try painting one wall a bright and bold color, but leave the rest neutral.

Certain colors are also known to provoke different kinds of emotions. So choose wisely! For example, blue is supposed to increase productivity, whereas green is considered restful.

3. Less is More

Accessories are key to making any space seem more trendy. They should always match your color scheme to create a harmonious look. But remember less is always more in a small office space.

You could put up some well-chosen artwork. It can create an aesthetically pleasing environment for you and your customers to work in. Or add an inspirational quote to get you through the day.

For a personal touch, fill your desk with photos of friends and family. Or have your favorite photo printed on a mousepad.

4. Bring the Outside In

Add a little zen into your life with indoor desk plants. When you’re stuck in a small office all day, you can start to miss the outside world. Studies actually tell us that office plants can increase happiness and productivity!

Not only do they make you feel great, but they can bring color and life into your office on a stressful day. Orchids are a great option. They bring color and class into your office but can be a bit tricky to look after. If you’re not so good at looking after plants try a cactus for an easy alternative.

Another zen related feature is having a small water fountain. It can add a calming effect to even the most stressful clients!

5. Have Stand-Up Meetings

Stand up meetings are practical for a small office space. In fact, the human body wasn’t designed to sit down all day. Crouching at your desk can even be unhealthy and bad for your posture.

You could have a tall table for quick meetings. Or try one of those fancy electronic desks where you can change the height with a few clicks of a button.

Short stand up meetings in a small place apparently result in more creative ideas. Which contrasts a lengthy, structured meeting where everyone is sat far from one another.

6. Be a Minimalist

Yes, get rid of all that unneeded clutter!

Clutter in a small office space can slow you down physically and mentally. This is especially true for your desk. Keep the space clean, neat and tidy and your office will look bigger than it is.

You may have heard the old quote “A place for everything and everything in its place”. Well, it should be true of your office space. Put everything away that you’re not currently using. Use organizers that you can hang or stack around your office. There are even over the door organizers and under desk organizers available.

Go green and try to reduce the amount of paperwork you need. Do it all digitally, you’ll save a huge amount of space, without the need for massive filing cabinets and other storage equipment.

Keep electrical cords and wires hidden and organized, not strung out along the walls. And label both ends of your cables. This will help you a lot if you ever have to readjust or remove any cables under your cramped desk space!

7. Wall to Wall Flooring

Instead of cluttering up your floor with small rugs, use wall-to-wall flooring that will be easy to care for. Small rugs can actually make a floor space look choppy and small.

Avoid hard floor tiles, although they are easy to maintain, they create an echo. This can make phone calls extra challenging.

8. Choose the Right Furniture

Forget your dream of a huge desk, go for something small scale and practical. Choose your desk chair with a view to comfort, as you’ll be sat on this for most of the day.

If you need extra seating for your clients or colleagues, don’t opt for a huge leather sofa! You could use a slim profile sofa or loveseat.

Multifunctional furnishings are also a practical way to use a small office space. For example, a hideaway workstation that can be closed up into a cabinet when not being used. Or use the top of a cabinet as a printer stand or end table.

9. Let There Be Light

A dim dark office can make your space seem even smaller. So try to make use of the light you have.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a window, use natural lighting to brighten up your office. Don’t use heavy drapes or blinds, keep it as open as possible.

If you don’t have a window or the lighting is limited use overhead downlighting. Such as spotlights, recessed lighting or a modern pendant fixture. Get a slimline desk lamp for those late nights at the office. And try to avoid floor lamps that take up extra space.

A fun idea is having twinkly lights hung around your office to get you through those stressful moments!

10. Sharing is Caring

Some communal office spaces can help you to keep your office uncluttered.

For example, some offices include shared printing facilities, conference rooms, and break areas.

This means you can ditch your own personal printer, coffee machine, and fancy chairs for clients, which will leave you with loads more space!

These offices based in Pittsburgh are a great example of that. Check out their website to find out more about them.

Dealing With a Small Office Space

As you can see, having a small office space isn’t the end of the world. From choosing the right colors, organizing things wisely, to getting a cactus to take care of, there are many ways to create the illusion of a bigger office space!

For a million more lifestyle hacks and tips, check out our blog!

February 28, 2018 by Greg Underwood

The Complete Guide to Duplex Printing

Changing the impact that your workplace has on the environment can be extremely challenging.

When you are powering multiple electronics throughout the working day, such as computers and lights, it may seem impossible to cut down on your carbon footprint.

However, there are some small changes that you can make that will help you work towards a greener office.

One of the simplest options that can have the biggest effect, is duplex printing.

Along with this, you can greatly improve efficiency, and your outgoing costs, by simply utilising this one printing solution.

If you are looking for a small change that you can make to work towards a greener workplace, then read on:

What is duplex printing?

If you have never heard the term duplex printing, then you may not be aware of the benefits that it can provide.

This term refers to printers that have the ability to print on both sides of the paper, by feeding the sheet back into the printer once one side has been printed, and printing onto the other.

A modern all in one printer will usually have this feature inbuilt which allows automatic printing but this is not limited to MFPs.

Printers that can only offer one-sided printing are sometimes referred to as simplex printers.

Why is duplex printing useful?

Double-sided printing actually helps to print pages faster, meaning that larger documents can be printed in less time, while less energy is used and paper is saved which can cut down on costs by up to 50%.

Printing on two sides also opens a world of new media options to choose from. For example, it can be used to make double-sided booklets or a two-sided newsletter, which is great if you are looking for new ways to market your brand.

Added green features

Some Samsung laser printer models feature a one touch eco button, which allows users to print two pages onto one side of the paper, further cutting down paper usage.

As well as this, these printers are able to automatically skip blank pages and come with an in-built toner-save mode, helping to make the most of your consumables.

These features, paired with duplex printing are a great way to prevent unnecessary damage to the environment.

How does duplex printing work?

Using your duplex services is extremely simple.

If your printer can print double-sided, then provided you clicked the correct page set-up options, the printer will automatically produce text on both sides of the page.

With some older devices, your printer may print on one side and then you will need to manually feed the paper back into the printer for it to produce images or text on the other side.

If the printer has duplex capabilities, it will usually have a D after the model number, for example, the Xerox colour printer, VersaLink C405DN.

For this printing method to work, you must ensure that the page set-up options are correct.

If working with Windows then find the Windows print driver and go to Settings, then file – print properties – layout – two-sided printing. At this stage you can also pick how you would like your prints presented, for example if you would like to print a folded booklet, you can select this here.

This nifty function means that this is an energy-saving solution that benefits both you and the environment, simultaneously.

January 15, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Simple ways to boost productivity in the workplace

For a lot of us going to work can be a struggle, especially in the winter months when it feels like we go to work and come home in the dark. Setting an early alarm and commuting to work is something most of us dread but once we arrive at our place of work, we all like to make the most of the day and be as productive as possible.

A large portion of the working population call an office their place of work and many people aren’t aware that the design and appearance of your work space has a big impact on productivity. Although most employees wouldn’t consider office design as a key factor for working at a particular company, statistics show that the well-designed office can increase productivity by around 20%.

So, what does make for a well-designed office environment?

Have a sort out

Working in an overcrowded environment can be a big distraction so having a declutter every now and again is a must. As well as making you feel a lot better, a cluttered office won’t look particularly good for potential clients. Any bits of scrap paper or unwanted documents need to be disposed of but for any important documents you can always file them away. Investing in cupboards or filing cabinets from companies such as Furniture At Work means all of your important documents are organised and the office looks tidier.

Choose the correct lighting

We may think lighting is obvious because the majority of us want to work in a dark room. Working in a badly lit room can cause headaches, eyestrain and has been known to cause depression. Making sure the room is well lit is really important, not only for your health but also productivity.

Introduce a scent into the office

This may not go down very well in most places of work but certain scents can affect our mood and productivity. For anyone who has a home office or works in a smaller office you may want to research what scents can affect your mood and introduce them into the working environment. For example, studies have shown that peppermint can lift your mood, lavender can help you relax and cinnamon can improve focus.

We can increase productivity in a number of ways; the above points are just some of them. For any of us who work in an office it’s worth researching some others ideas and hopefully boost not only your mood and productivity, but your colleagues’ as well.

December 18, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Office Chairs with Arms vs. Office Chairs without Arms

When it comes to office chairs, there are many different types available. From super comfortable executive chairs that look as good as they feel through to colourful stackable office chairs that are ideal for small workplaces, there are many different options for people to choose from. However, all of these chair types can be divided into two distinct groups: office chairs with arms and office chairs without arms. Whether you choose to select a model with arms or without will come down to a number of factors. This article will discuss the pros and cons of arm equipped and armless chairs so you have the knowledge necessary to make the right choice when it comes time to buy new office chairs.

Office Chairs without Arms

The majority of office workers around the world use office chairs without arms, and the main reason for this is money. Office chairs without arms require less material to make and therefore cost less to manufacture. These manufacturing savings are passed onto the consumer, resulting in office chairs that are very affordable. But while serious savings are the main benefit offered by office chairs without arms, you shouldn’t discount the fact that some people simply prefer to sit in an armless chair. Aesthetics should also be taken into account. Armless office chairs are much sleeker looking in appearance and may better suit an office with a minimalist aesthetic.

Due to the fact that they cost less than their arm equipped counterparts, armless chairs are a great choice for offices and workplaces that are on a tight budget. One more factor to take into account is the size of the chair. Office chairs without arms take up less space than those that have arms, and this can be very important, especially if your office is low on space and you need the furniture to take up as little room as possible. Armless office chairs are also great for use with desks, as there won’t be armrests getting in the way.

Office Chairs with Arms

Office chairs with arms are comfortable and provide users with a place to rest their arms when they’re not typing or carrying out other tasks. More expensive chair types such as executive chairs and ergonomic chairs often feature arms and are usually favoured by businesses that have a little more to spend on office furniture.

Office chairs with arms come in a range of styles, sizes and colours, and most are able to have their arms removed if needed. This can be beneficial if you’re new to the world of arm equipped chairs and decide that you prefer not to have them after all.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing between armed and armless chairs. Office chairs with arms have a list of benefits just as office chairs without arms do, so the choice will come down to personal preference and the amount of money you have available to spend.