Tag: Office

Categories
Design & technology

How to troubleshoot your poor internet connection

Technology might be moving at a fast pace, but sometimes your Internet connection loves nothing more than slowing down. This can occur for a variety of reasons, from viruses to broadband configuration errors. We suggest you go through the following troubleshooting steps to ensure your internet speed is running at the optimum level.

1. Test your speed

  • Test your broadband speed

When you are experiencing lagging web pages or it’s taking a long time to download files, check your broadband speed using speedtest.net. This online tool helps to accurately measure network speed. Simply complete a click test and you ’ll be shown what download and upload speeds are. You can also determine your ping time, this means how long it takes to get a signal to your nearest location and back.

To put this into perspective, you’ll need 0.5 megabits per second (minimum) to watch Netflix in real time. DVD quality episodes of your favorite shows, you’ll need three megabits per second.If you’re watching in HD, you’ll need five megabits per second. Just remember not to compare your actual results with your ISPs maximum expected speeds. Depending on where you live (e.g. far away from a node or in a congested area), you might not always be able to get the best speeds possible – especially during peak times.

  • Understand Internet shaping

Your Internet is slower when your downloads exceed your monthly internet bandwidth allowance. Once you go over the limit, your internet service provider (ISP) either charges extra money on per-megabyte basis or slows down the internet speed to 64Kbps.

How much data do you need? How important is it to have a realistic estimation of your monthly data usage? Think carefully about your downloading habits and consult your broadband providers for the best option. In general, having 10-20GB per month is suitable for those who do general activities, such as web surfing, checking social media, watching Youtube. But if you are a heavy downloader and enjoy watching live stream TV, it is safe to go with 50-100 GB plans.

  • Check NBN connection

For those who have a real need for speed, having NBN is the best option to ensure your speed needs are met. It is consistently fast and more than capable of providing a faster speed than other broadband options. However, as noted, it is only available in certain areas. Check here to see whether NBN has been made available in your area.

Home desk with modem & devices / Source: Tattwa Networks

2. Free up some space on your computer

  • Remove unnecessary programs on your hard drive  

Are there any programs you installed but haven’t used for a while? Now it is the time to hit the uninstall button. Not only will removing unnecessary or old programs free up space on your hard drive, but it will also improve the overall health of your computer – including your Internet speeds.

Installed programs can run on the operating system even if they’re not being used. The more connections there are, the more work your OS (Operating System) has to do. Computers are certainly advanced, but just like us, multitasking can slow things down.

  • Use 3rd party installer to remove stubborn programs

A good rule of thumb: the leaner the better. If you’re having trouble removing certain software, it might be a smart idea to find a dedicated third-party installer that allows you to scan quickly for programs and delete at the click of a button. Problem solved.

3. Conduct a computer health check

  • Invest in a reputable anti-virus program

If you don’t have one already, it’s time to invest in an antivirus program. While Mac and Windows have their own inbuilt virus protection (which often does the trick), it’s still worth considering an extra/alternative option. There are many to choose from, but going with a reputable program such as Norton, McAfee or Kaspersky is your best bet.

  • Run a anti-virus program on a regular basis

When was the last time you ran an antivirus scan? If the answer is, “I can’t remember,” – then it’s probably time to do something about it! There are viruses, worms and bugs that often perform malicious acts, such as deleting files, accessing personal data, or using your computer to attack other computers. And the truth is, malicious software can hijack your network and slow your connection.

Contact local computer repairers

4. Seek and destroy adware

  • Check your cookies to spot adware and spyware

Ever been bombarded by pop-up windows after clicking a link? Or installed a free download and noticed your computer has slowed down? Welcome to the frustrating world of adware and spyware. These programs range from being mildly annoying to completely invasive – and they always hijack your bandwidth.

  • Install programs and extensions with care

Prevention is better than fixing a problem once it is there. It is important to take extra caution when you decide to install a free tool. Legitimate sites will not force their users to install a “toolbar” or any other extra program as part of a file download.

5. Extend your Wifi network by boosting router

  • Tweak software to maximise performance and speed

Upgrading your firmware depends on your device manufacturer and model. Most up to date routers have the process built right into the administration interface, so it’s simply enabling the firmware upgrade button. However, older models you need to first find and download the firmware from the router manufacturer’s website. It’s tedious, but the benefits really do outway the work required.

  • The faster the better

While it’s a sad thing to say, many people’s lives now revolve around the Internet – researching, buying things, booking travel, setting up businesses, finding work, developing our skills. Productivity is the key to organise our busy lives. So, when we can’t do these things efficiently, it can be frustrating. If your connection is jumping about or your speed is slowing you down all the time, look to need the following steps to troubleshoot and speed things up.

If the problem has gone beyond your control, speak with a computer repairer to solve it immediately.

Categories
Real estate & moving

10 moving office tips for employees

Moving office takes time, luckily, it is a burden that everyone in the company shares equally. With the right planning, organisation and coordination, a lot can be achieved with as little effort invested as possible. The work must carry on at the new workplace location, so having everyone exhausted by the move may result in turnover you don’t need. Therefore, everyone must play their part in this process. Here is our office moving checklist for employees.

1. Tell all your clients

The first thing you need to keep in mind is that this move isn’t just affecting you. For instance, what happens in a situation where an important client decides to visit you, unannounced, at your old location, only to find you absent. In this case, they might get the impression that they are not important enough to get a timely notification of your company’s relocation. To avoid this, contact your clients in advance and let them know you’re moving office, including the new office address, change of operating hours and telephone number (if any).

2. Make an announcement

When a company relocates, there are so many things to do. Most importantly, your workforce needs to make an important choice whether they will relocate with your business or quit. In a situation where the move is across the country, it isn’t that odd to assume that some staff may decide to leave, yet this is something that needs to be discussed in time.  It is vital that the employee responsible for spreading this announcement (most commonly someone from HR) does this to give employees enough time to work their notice period and recruit for new staff. This usually means weeks or even months in advance.

Source: Balanced Business Accounting

3. Hire office movers

As for the move itself, contacting professional office movers in advance to avoid the hustle. The office manager is recommended to have the full list of the items, including computers, furniture and storage, that are transported to a target location. It may be more cost effective to purchase new office furniture and equipment at the new location than to pay for the relocation of goods from your existing office. You can either sell these items or donate them to a charitable organisation. It is recommended to get an itemised quote from the office movers to work out what is the best course of action for you.

4. Get the packaging material

Simply contacting office movers isn’t enough, it is also your job to secure all the materials that you’re going to take to your target location. For this, you need to get a sufficient amount of boxes, duct tape, labels and other important items. It is important that you are as organised as possible during this process.  It is common for many items to get misplaced and mishandled during the move as people don’t know the importance of the contents of the box. For this reason alone, some companies purchase, borrow or rent out a label printer.

5. Prepare the new destination

Apart from worrying about your current office, you must also adequately prepare your new destination for your arrival. So, if one of those destinations is Sydney, for example – the next sensible move would be to hire a Sydney removalists who satisfy your company’s standards. With the removal services on your side, you can prepare the office for your inevitable arrival. Aside from this, the office in question might require some additional work especially if you have complicated computer or server setups, which is why you might also want to inquire about local contractors.

6. Official address change

The issue about relocation bears some legal complications, as well. Your company is probably registered at your current location so this will have to be changed. Next, you also want to cancel all subscriptions you have at your current location or just redirect them to the next one.

7. Situational company name change

In the same manner, you might be also compelled to change the name of the company. Imagine a scenario where your company name has the name of your city or region as the part of the phrase. Furthermore, your entire marketing might suffer from it, yet the consequences you will experience at the target destination if you fail to do so are even greater. Sometimes, it might be a good idea to organise a great brainstorming session amongst the team and try to figure out how to deal with this situation as painlessly as possible.

8. Think about the insurance

Another thing you should take into consideration is the one of insurance of your equipment, office and company in general. Sure, this is something that is already handled at your current location but you need to ask yourself one thing: “Does the insurance on our computer equipment and furniture cover any damage made during the office move”. Pointing this out to some of your supervisors might earn you some extra credit with them, as well as save your company a small fortune in repairs and re-purchases. It might also be worth your while to inquire about things like plumber and handyman insurance types, for your future headquarters.

9. Organise the packing

In one of the previous sections we mentioned the issue of acquiring the right packing materials and while this helps you immensely in the process of packing, there is still a lot you have to do. In order to ensure nothing is accidentally misplaced or mishandled, a manager might want to hire people responsible for packing. Each of the people responsible might have their own area, which includes certain items or types of items. With the right organisation, everything becomes considerably easier.

10. Try to alleviate the tension

Finally, the process of moving office is always a difficult one, especially since some of your partners, employees and clients may abandon you for good. Therefore, it is a job of every responsible team member to try and alleviate the tension around the office as best as they can.

FAQs

What to do with office equipment that you don’t need at your new office?

When moving offices it isn’t uncommon to have extra furniture that doesn’t quite fit into the new office. Depending on your financial and logistical position, you may want to try one of the following avenues:

  • Sell your unwanted office furniture online or in the classifieds
  • Donate it all to a local charity or another business starting up
  • Store it. This might be helpful if you’re looking to expand in the near future, however, the cost for storage may quickly outweigh the benefits.

How to safely move computers and electrical equipment?

Quite possibly the most important aspect of any move is ensuring the computers and computer networks are transported safely. Computers will need specialist moving equipment to ensure they do not receive any damage en route to the new office. Taking special care to preplan the move and how cords and accessories will travel will decrease your downtime at the other end.

Here are a few things to consider when moving your computers:

  • Wrap them well using special padded wrapping.
  • Consider how the computers will be moved. Specific computer moving trollies can make the process safer by reducing vibrations from the road during moving.
  • Is your equipment insured while in transit? Check with your insurance company and make any adjustments to your policy if needed.

Wrap up

By following this office move checklist, your moving office experience will become as simple and efficient as possible. Sure, there are always some unforeseen difficulties you might encounter along the road, but as you progress through each of the above steps, you will feel the weight on your back getting lighter and lighter.

Categories
Cleaning

5 reasons cleanliness can affect workplace productivity

The employees are the most important component of any company. Luckily, there are various ways to make a positive impact on your employees’ lives and boost their productivity. This includes maintaining a clean workplace. Mind you, 89% of Australians believe that a restroom’s condition indicates how a company values its workforce.

If you’re not convinced of the connection between cleanliness and productivity, read on.

1. Reduces overwhelm

A cluttered desk can make an employee feel overwhelmed with tasks even if they are ahead of schedule. On the other hand, a clean and organized desk allows an employee to feel that they are under control. As a result they are inspired get their work done.

That said, you can boost your employees’ productivity by encouraging them to clean their work desk. Here’s some ideas of ways to keep things tidy around the office:

  1. Make a “No Eating on Your Desk” policy
  2. Host a work desk decluttering hour
  3. Have designated waste bins and recycling bins
  4. Organize a “Clear Desk” challenge
  5. Go paperless!

Surprisingly, a clean and organized workspace can boost an employee’s mood, and it can affect his productivity in a profound way. So think of encouraging your employees to clean your desk as one way to make them contribute to your company’s success.

2. Drives determination

In a study conducted by Jeffrey Campbell, Ph.D., chair of facilities management program at Brigham Young University, it was revealed that cleanliness has a direct impact on a student’s ability to learn.

As for the case of employees, clutter can heighten their levels of stress. And when they are stressed, they are less likely to focus at work. They are not determined to do their jobs, which means that it can negatively affect their productivity. On the other hand, a clean workplace drives your employees’ determination to work.

Maid Sailors, an Office Cleaning Service NYC, says that ensuring the cleanliness of your office creates a positive first impression and improves employee morale and work ethic. And when your employees are determined, the more productive they can be.

3. Improves health

Cleanliness is connected to hygiene. Therefore, a clean workplace promotes good health among employees. That’s because you prevent germs and illnesses from propagating in the workplace.

According to a 2014 study, bacteria found in office doorknobs and tabletops spread to 40% – 60% of employees within 2 – 4 hours. This can lead to employees getting sick often and an increase in absenteeism, and this could be detrimental to the company. That’s because it can also affect the company’s bottom line.

Here’s the thing: An absent employee cannot fulfil his work. More so if he needs to meet a deadline.

Absenteeism can impede an employee’s ability to complete projects, which can ripple to other people in the department. The rest will be unable to begin their work because the project is still incomplete somewhere along the line.

4. Maintains focus

Pixie, an iPhone location app, released a survey revealing that a person spends an average of 5 minutes and 20 seconds looking for misplaced items. And if you think that this is just a simple matter, think again.

A lot of opportunities were missed, and money was spent because of lost items:

  • 60% of the respondents got late for work and school
  • 49% have missed an appointment or meeting
  • 22% missed their plane, bus, or train
  • 67% spend about $50 per year to buy replacements

On the other hand, an organized work area allows an employee to reach the tools that he needs to use with ease. Thus, it helps maintain his focus at work. This can result in an increase in productivity.

5. Maximizes work time

We have already established that clutter is a major productivity killer. That’s because it causes distraction to you and to other people in the office.

That said, it is important to keep your desk clean and clutter-free to maintain your focus. Doing so will also prevent you from rummaging through your belongings just to get things done.

Remember, a person spends an average of 5 minutes looking for lost items. When your desk is organized, you get to save these precious minutes and spend it on fulfilling your task instead. This allows for better results to take place.

As Shawn Mike, a web developer and copywriter puts it, “When your working area is organized, less time will be spent on hunting for a crucial document and more time will be spent on performing the tasks that matter.”

Wrap up

Having a clean and hygienic workplace is one way to make a positive impact on the productivity, health, safety, and satisfaction of your employees.

For one, it prevents them from getting overwhelmed with the tasks that they need to do. This can drive their determination to tackle their work and get things done.

Categories
Wellbeing

What are the health benefits of a standing desk?

Do you ever face the issue of back pain while sitting on the chair? Well, if the answer is yes, then do not worry because now it is time for innovation to get some help. Yes, you heard that right — adjustable sit-stand desks are a popular choice people like us who wish to increase the comfort of work.

Sit-stand desks have captured the market of electric sit stand in Australia. You can think of them as a mini desk that you can place onto your existing desk and adjust when you wish to stand. Similarly, you can achieve these with standing desks. These desks differ, as you can adjust the height of the entire desk.

Sit-stand desks are available in a variety of heights. They can have a fixed height, adjustable height, mobile, and whiteboard surface.

So how do you choose the best one for you? The answer will differ as every person has specific requirements. Since these desks come in different sizes and wireframes, you might need some prior information before spending money on one.

What are the features of a sit-stand desk?

There are many benefits that attract customers to a standing desk but let’s start by understanding the elements of a sit-stand desk.

  • Twin Motors – Sit-stand desks can come with manual or motor adjustable mechanics. If you invest in one with a motor, they are usually designed with twin motors along with three stages of motorised legs. This means you can easily adjust the height of your desk, as well as feel assured that your desk is completely stable.
  • Construction of Desk – These desks come with a sturdy leg frame along with motors that work for optimising the framework. The tensile steel frame has strong integrity with the framework of the structure, which can bear heavy loads.
  • Alignment – They have three postures of memory. They come with safety features for both anti-collision and anti-tilt.
  • Framing and Style – The sit-stand desk is available in different styles and frames that will surely attract customers of all ages. They optimise for different types of colours, and if you want the ultimate personalisation, you can consult with an expert to manufacture a desk for you that perfectly fit your needs.
  • Pricing – The price for your sit-stand or standing desk depends upon functions and features you require. The price starts from $200 and can increase up to $1,000. They come in different frames, and you can purchase them from all around the world.
  • Upgrades – They are available in different upgrades, like modifications in various types of cables.
  • Variety – There are a variety of places where a standing desk can be used. For example, the library, hospitals, and offices because they come with a variety of features, so they will be an excellent option to opt for the above three services. There are varieties of sit stands that are available in the market. Here are a few sit stands:
    • Electronics sit-stand table
    • Back to back height adjustable table
    • Electric height adjustable chair
    • Electronic height adjustable desk
    • Electronic height adjustable workstation
  • Other features – They are using different data and power cords for making workplace tidy. They come with compatibility with Android and Apple operating systems so that your cell phone will act as a remote controller.

What are the benefits of sit-stand and standing desks?

Standing desks can do wonders to your job satisfaction and productivity; here are a few immediate benefits:

  • Customisation of height – We understand that everyone has different heights, that’s why sit-stand desks can be adjusted between 150mm to 500mm high. If you’re looking for a standing desk, they have a height range between 500mm to 1,500mm.
  • Increase mobility in your body – Sitting all day, especially with a bad posture can cause back pain. Breaking up your posture to stand at your desk can reduce this pain and allow your muscles to stretch.
  • Increasing productivity – Standing up allows you to be more creative and think of solutions to problems faster compared to sitting.
  • Weight loss – There have been studies that conclude that using a standing desk can burn about 80 calories per hour!
  • Reducing the levels of stress – Relieving your body from stressed postures such as shoulders touching your ears and curving your back by standing can instantly reduce physical stress on your body.
  • Satisfaction in your job – If you can make daily changes to your physical stress, which can, in turn, reduce your negative stress levels. By reducing stress, chances are, you can become more satisfied at the end of each workday.

Wrap up

The most attractive part is that you can choose the sit-stand as per the interior of your room or office. There are a lot of different options that will allow you to select as per the matching criteria of your workplace or residence. If you have a home office or are looking to introduce a standing desk into your home or office, it might be worth speaking to an interior designer to improve your new working space!

Frequent asked questions

What’s the best part about a sit-stand desk?

Well, the best part is that if you are a student, you can even carry them as your briefcase and travel to any place. They are most suitable in classrooms, and you can take them to coffee shops and do your work while enjoying a tasty sip of coffee.

Will my laptop slip if I put it on my sit-stand desk?

The answer is no because they optimise as per the requirements. They are not only suitable for business or the workplace, but they are also ideal for schools and universities. You will be glad to know that they are now replacing old furniture on educational premises because they are comfortable, and they resolve your back issues which are caused by using chairs in the wrong posture. They are ideal for environments that require focus every time.

What are the features that students look while selecting the sit-stand?

They look for following technical terms that complete their requirements. The wedged frame will full structure, which tells about the durability and strength of the sit-stand. They come with duty castors for moving the desk freely and conveniently.

Does fixing the height of furniture worry you?

Well, don’t worry because they come with a locking device that makes the furniture durable and convenient to use for every person.

Are you getting worried that the sit-stand got damaged if they are ship directly to home?

The answer is no because they follow safety guidelines and assure that you receive the package as per requirements and on time.