Introduction

A huge number of people work in offices of one kind or another. They may be offices in buildings purpose built or attached to a factory or in business premises. For many self employed business people the office is a room in their home converted for that purpose. Solicitors, doctors, estate agents and insurance agents, in fact any business that you can think of, works from some kind of office or another. You might even say 80% of the adult population work in an office. But I wonder how many of those people have any say in what kind of office they have and whether or not it suits their requirements. Mostly when someone new joins a company or firm, they are given a space for their office usually left by the previous incumbent. I suspect that if you asked occupants how they would like their office to be they would find it difficult to tell you.

When you think of the number of hours we spend in an office, at least eight hours per day and sometimes up to sixteen hours if it’s a busy period. Yes people are allowed out for breaks and rest times, but it is an awful lot of your life cooped up in small space. If at least a third of one’s working life is to be spent in an office, then it makes sound sense to ensure the environment is as comfortable, pleasant and as healthy as possible.

So how much thought goes into the planning of workspaces?

Where a building is purpose built such as an office, then the architects I am sure will have created good designs to suit the purpose. However, it has been known for new buildings to be problematic for the people working it them. For instance, synthetic materials used for carpeting can sometimes give off toxic fumes which cause allergies or illness of the staff. Air conditioning that relies on recycled air has the potential to carry bugs that can lay the whole office off at the same time. So there are many factors to consider in creating an office environment to ensure the staff are productive, creative, energised and remain healthy.

Old buildings, originally built for other uses, when converted to office space will have different challenges to resolve. Often old buildings have very high ceilings where the heat rises up so that the inhabitants below are cold yet the heating bills are going through the roof, literally!! How to maximise the space available to provide a comfortable working environment will be a real challenge and this is where often the use of a mezzanine floor and suspended ceilings are valuable.

It is a well known fact for any business that happy workers give better performance and generate more revenue than unhappy workers. The workforce are more motivated, creative, helpful and have less time off work for illness if they are happy in their jobs. I am sure there are statistics available for these details, but it is common sense so if you ensure that your interior fit out specialists look out for the needs of your staff then they will perform better for the company in the long term.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the study of workplaces and the equipment used, to achieve the best design for comfort, safety, efficiency, and productivity. Research has been carried out over the last few years at Nottingham University on office space allocation problems.

Workspace planning is fast becoming a specialist industry because of all of the current regulations and legislation. Formerly known, in the UK as the Factories Act and now known as the Health and Safety Executive regulations are in place to ensure that employees have sufficient working space in which to perform their work. This can be a potential minefield including such things as physical space, usable space, corridor spaces, and minimum light and ventilation regulations. If you are about to commence on an office refurbishment project ensure that your interior fit out specialists of conversant with all of these regulations before you engage them to perform your work.

What are the Criteria for a good office environment? We are sentient beings, which mean we resonate with feeling and perception as well as intellectually to our surrounding.

Seeing

The first thing to consider when commencing an office refurbishment project is how does it look? The initial impact on us comes from what we see. The decor and arrangement of furniture, the window aspect and lighting are important in our perception of whether or not it is pleasing to the eye. Does the office have all the necessary equipment, computer, phone and sufficient storage for files and books etc? Plants provide a sense of balance in the space as long as they are discreetly positioned and don’t make it look cluttered. Plants are oxygen generators and help to refresh the air.

Smell

On entering a new place the first thing we take in is the smell whether we pay attention to it or not. We notice immediately if the air is stuffy or if there is an unpleasant smell such as sweaty bodies. However a pleasant fragrance or no smell at all will be inviting. Baker shops nearly always pump out the fresh smell of baked bread into the street to entice people in to buy the goods. So although we may not be aware that smell plays an important part in our responses, we are still animals and we do use our olfactory senses a great deal more that we realise.

Feel touch

How does the furniture feel? Plastic seats can be very uncomfortable to sit on for a long time. Plastic does not breathe, it draws moisture from the skin so that when you stand up your posterior will be damp and uncomfortable. Padded fabric is warmer than leather for comfort and not as expensive. The desk chair needs to be the correct height for desk and give suitable support, a computer needs to be set correctly to avoid neck and wrist strain of the operator.

The temperature in the environment is best if it’s not too warm and not too cold. Office refurbishments might also do well to take into account that a continuous working temperature of around 21 degrees is important for the comfort of your staff, in both hot and cold weather.

Too warm and we become sluggish and sleepy, too cold and we become distracted and use up valuable energy keeping warm. Fresh air is also beneficial to stimulate the brain cells.

Sound Hear

What can we hear? Is it noisy or quiet? When I was first starting out in business, I went to visit a local manufacturing company to learn about the way they managed their business. At lunch time I was taken into the executive dining area where there was a waitress service and we had a very civilised lunch. Later I was taken to the works canteen. When we walked in I was hit with a blast of noise such as I had never experienced before. The hall was large with a very high ceiling and nothing to damp down the echo. The result was that everyone ended up shouting to be heard and there was loud music playing as well. I was shocked, not just at the noise level but by the contrast between the executive dining room and the workers canteen. I had come from an business which treated all members of the company the same so there were no executive areas and everyone, high and low mingled together for meals and break times. Guess which company had the better worker relationships and higher output?

Where a company utilises an open plan office then noise levels can be very distracting and one solution is to incorporate ‘White Noise’ which is a low level background noise to interfere with the general office talk going on over the phone or mini meetings. Sometimes quiet relaxing music is introduced as background noise but this is not usual in a business place.

Taste

Well we are not going to go around licking the furniture, but another important consideration is to ensure that a there is an area to enjoy a nice coffee or tea away from the desk throughout the day. So is there a pleasant area for making drinks and preparing snacks, or even lunch facilities alongside the office. I once worked in an office where they had a small kitchen area off the main office for making drinks and snacks and there was always a bowl of fresh fruit for workforce, as the company recognising the refreshing effects of fresh fruit.

Workspace planning

So as you can see there are many things that can make the work environment a nice place to be. However getting the original layout and size of spaces for the employees is a complex process.

How much space does each individual need to work in? According to the Officewise publication from the Health and Safety Executive in the UK employers must provide a minimum of 11 cubic metres for each person permanently occupying a workplace. However there are all sorts of exceptions and caveats to this rule, such as making sure the space is usable space, and clearly if that space were under the stairs with no windows, or ventilation then it would not be suitable. So it is very important to ensure that your new office fit out adheres to all of the current legislation with regards to workspace laws.

The use of suspended ceilings by the industrial fit out specialists is common place which makes the installation of services easier and more cost effective. Electrical supply, air conditioning units, water pipes and telephone cables can all run behind the suspended ceiling making access easy if anything goes wrong and repairs need to be implemented.

Positioning of the electrical and telephone outlet is also critical. The computers used in offices today all require their own electrical supply even if they are networked with the system.

Daylight from windows is a requirement for offices. The days of the cupboard office cubbyhole are gone. Light airy spaces make people feel good and doses of sunshine each day lift our spirits. However too much sunshine will overheat an office so the use of vertical blinds is recommended to deflect the rays of the sun without reducing too much the level of illumination.

Costs

To conserve office space costs some industrial fit our specialists have come up with the idea that instead of having a board rooms for meetings they have their meeting standing up around a special tall coffee table. This reduces the amount of time spent in meetings and the space is reusable for the lunches. Other schemes encourage employees to work from home for part of a week and utilise a system of desk sharing or moveable desks.

Reconfigurable spaces

Another way of economising on the cost of office space is by careful rearrangement of the existing floor area. There may be dead areas which could be released and turned into useable space. The installation of new interior partition walls can rearrange the existing space to create a more congenial working environment. Sometimes working in an open plan office is beneficial for communication between staff, other times it is a distraction and prevents efficiency. So having the option of both open space and separate offices provides the full range of options which can be easily introduced with new partition walls.

For example one of my clients, took over a set of offices and had various walls moved, so instead of it having two small offices, one without a window, they created one large office for the MD and a really good sized store room which they needed for long term storage of customer files. They then took out another divider and made a good size open plan office space and rearranged another wall to create a board come conference room. Also access to the little kitchen was changed to be more convenient. The choice of subtle colours on the walls and new vertical blinds caused the whole suite of rooms to be transformed into a pleasant and airy working area. Where there is plenty of ceiling height the introduction of a Mezzanine floor generates valuable areas perhaps for storage, private meeting rooms or extra offices.

Other thoughts in workspace planning, is the situation of facilities such as kitchen, toilets, relaxation areas and outside space if available. Sometimes the introduction of a simple partition can create a relaxation/dining area without losing too much of the work area.

All Health and Safety regulations are paramount they have to be adhered to in the workplace and must be incorporated into any plan along with full fire regulations.

Conclusion

Many organisations may feel that upgrading the facilities is a ‘nice to have’ idea and the reality is that it usually comes at the bottom of the list on money allocation. However this is erroneous thinking; office refurbishment is never a waste of time or money. Creating a pleasant office environment by upgrading worn out or old fashioned surroundings and furnishings will make a big difference to the working life of the employees. Improved working conditions may be only part of the picture in achieving real job satisfaction, but it is a good start in the right direction. It also says a lot about what the senior people in the organisation think about their employees. If they ensure that their staff are given the necessary equipment and facilities to do their job effectively then the employees will give better service and can be more efficient and there will be a better working environment all around.

Q: Should I hire a lawyer to review my Michigan physician employment contract?

A: In general, yes. We are not lawyers and do not give legal advice. We have reviewed many contracts and can provide you with feedback as to what we have seen as standard. The choice of a lawyer is critical. Find someone well versed in medical contract law, as well as the state’s laws in which you will practice. Try to find an attorney recommended by someone else. Also, make sure the attorney has enough time to review the contract in a timely manner. Negotiations could be hampered by a slowed response time.

Q: If I am a resident, when should I decide upon accepting a position?

A: As a general rule, the earlier the better. The more time you have to work on license applications, hospital privileges, finding a new home and moving arrangements, the less stress you’ll encounter. Many hospitals recruit for summer positions in the fall and early winter. Don’t think all of the “good” Michigan physician jobs are taken by the end of winter. We assist physicians throughout the year because contract expirations occur throughout the year. Don’t worry. Have confidence that the right position will be available. Call us, we are here to help!

Q: Who handles negotiations, me or my recruiter?

A: Whenever possible, your recruiter should handle negotiations for Michigan physician practice opportunities. Having a liaison reduces the potential for heated arguments between two parties. Keep in mind, professional recruiters regularly perform this task.

Flags began hundreds of years ago for sole reason mainly and that was to show what country or territory you were with and to mark that area with a symbol. This symbol was was in the form of fabric and hoisted as high as they could get, usually on a pole so people far away to see it and know who those people were and what they represented. These days, flags are used in several ways but the most common way is to show pride in where you live. There are state flags in addition to international flags that symbolize the specific state or country.

Each of thefifty states in America has their specific flag where it is flown from all all types of official buildings and many schools as well. They come in a variety of colors and everything on the flag represents something. For example, the Colorado state flag has four colors in it which all signify environmental features. It has 2 blue stripes that symbolize the blue skies of Colorado and 1 white stripe that represents the snow capped mountains. A large red C stands for Colorado and the color represents the color for the soil in the state. Inside the C is a gold circle that represents the huge amounts of sunshine. Many people fly state flagsas well as their American flag as a way to show the pride of where they live orperhaps in a different state that signifies where they were originally from. At several national sporting events, theyusually have a parade of athletes being led out by the flag of their state. Theathlete or coach chosen to carry their state flag feels a greatdeal of pride having been selected to represent their state in such an important way.

Whenvisiting other countries it isfun to see all of the different International flags flying on important buildings, castles, museums, etc. One example where the use of international flags isgreatly evident is at the worlds most popular sport of soccer or futbol as it is called internationally. When 2 countries compete against each other in soccer, it attracts thousands of fans to cheer for their national team. The way these fans show their team loyalty is by waving the flag from their country in addition to by wearing scarves that have the colorad of the flag represented. It is quite a spectacle to view a packed futbol stadium with thousands of fans hoisting the flag of their country for the entire soccer game. Often at the end of the game, the victorious team will drape the flag on their shoulders and take a victory lap around thestadium. People from all different countries feel a great pride in their country and the best way to exemplifythat pride is their flag.

Often tourists traveling to other countries will purchase a flag from each country they visit as a fond reminder of their travels outside the United States. People alsobuy other types of flags for fun. Some have flags that portray their favorite activities, sports teams, or even ones tohang on different holidays are popular as well.

Wonderful Wedding Photography sessions do not have to focus on the couple and the main occasion all the time. You can add drama to your documentation of this milestone event by talking to your photographer about “reaction shots.” These are the kind of shots that can give a broader perspective and a variety to your wedding photography. It records the interesting sidelights like the reactions of your guests and other sometimes unnoticed facets of your wedding. A Lexington wedding photographer will do a great job capturing all the aspects of your big day.

wedding photographer Lexington Ky are adequately trained to look beyond the action in front of them and give you a more complete photo-documentation. However, they will be limited in their actions if you will not properly provide them with the opportunity to explore interesting sidelights of the wedding ceremonies. Wedding photographers are inclined to capture not only the events, but also the drama and the emotion that pervades during the occasion and this is achieved through relevant and well-planned reaction shots.

Most wedding couples expect that the shots to be made by their wedding photographer will focus on them and the things that surround them. However, it is essential to note that professional photographers know of a lot of ways to incorporate everyone in their photographs, not just you. The event is not complete if you fail to capture important shots that will make the documentation complete. The wedding photographer will normally want to add the elements of emotion and character in the shots that they make. In some instances, a professional photographer will a lot of different photos of the same thing from many different points of view.

The experienced photographer will focus on the main subject of the event-the bride and groom. However, they will also scan the room and look for potential reaction shots so as to get the complete coverage of the event.

The professional photographer is able to achieve this level of performance through his long experience in covering such kinds of events and his appropriate use of his equiptment. Common equiptment used by professionals includes a telephoto and wide-angle lens. This allows the professional photographer to make multiple shots of an unfolding drama during the celebration without needing to pause for lens change.

A competent and experienced photographer has a good eye for important happenings at a wedding. He is able to anticipate these special moments and is able to position himself to capture them adequately. All these are done with the proper timing, positioning and the proper shot.

A reaction shot can only enhance the coverage of one’s wedding. It revolves around the main subject and any other important happenings in the room. This technique will result in a memorable, exciting and dramatic record of special episodes during the wedding celebration.

442fotball.no is the name of the blog that is on every Norwegian soccer fan’s lip these days. Golden nuggets in form of great articles is written every week and just a few weeks ago they wrote a great article about the Norwegian youngster Per Ciljan Skjelbred. The you player did a fantastic impression in the game between Rosenborg of Trondheim and Brann of Bergen.

Skjelbred impressed with his work moral, driblings and passes. Agents from english Premier League clubs Blackburn and Newcastle is interested in his services and was watching from the stands. 442fotball.no was there too. English clubs have for some time now been watching Skjelbred with the intend to bring the kid to England. Since Skjelbred injured his leg two years ago, he has showed and impressive comeback and many believe that he will be playing in the Norwegian national team soon.

The game against Brann ended in a draw, 0-0, but Per Ciljan Skjelbred did his job in midtfield, serving Rosenborgs attacker Steffen Iversen passes that should have resultet in several goals. Iversen is not in his best form and went off the field goal less. If Rosenborgs attackers would have shown the same form as the rest of the team, like Skjelbred, Rosenborg would have won by several goals, even if Brann got some chances near the end of the game. Branns captain and midtfielder Eirik Bakke, was totally “run over” by Skjelbred and the rest of Rosenborgs midtfielders. You could not tell that Bakke is the one with the most experience, from England and the Norwegian national team.

Visist 442fotball.no and read norwegian articles about Norwegian and international soccer or fotball as we say it in Europe.