SPACE TIPS - I

Bunch people who collaborate and place them at the far end.

They do not move much about.

Reduce transit time and save on productivity. Place faxes, phones and printers close to people who use them most.

Reduce crowd at one place.

Ensure that a lot of space is not occupied by a few people.

See that harsh light or too much noise does not drive people away from their work desks.

Space Occupied by people top down:

International Facilities Management Association

Executive office space: 241 square feet (down from 291 square feet in 1987)

SPACE TIPS - II

Senior professional: 98 square feet

Call center employee: 50 square feet

Corporate Facilities Group

President/CEO/Chairman: 250 to 400 square feet

Vice President: 150 to 250 square feet

Executive: 100 to 150 square feet

Employee: 80 to 125 square feet

Conference room: 25 to 30 square feet per person

(conference seats); 15 square feet per person

Lunch room: 15 square feet per person for dining, and a food-preparation space roughly one-third of the dining area

Reception area: 150 to 350 square feet.

SPACE TIPS - III

See that space is allocated equitably among employees of same rank.

See that everyone gets good ventilation, light and good ambience.

Ensure that things can be moved about easily when you want to rearrange desks. Do not go for large, unwieldy bureaus and racks.

Have the chairs and tables ergonomically designed.

Ensure that networks signals are good everywhere and at every corner.

SPACE TIPS - IV

Does office feel at home? If yes, you have a good office.

What is the colour of your office? Colour can impact moods. Listen to what experts say: Green is relaxing, for example. Blue is soothing, but can sometimes slow productivity. Reds boost heart rate and improve energy, but can be overwhelming, and oranges tend to be associated with socializing and enthusiasm. Yellow can impact alertness, but can also sometimes increase anxiety. All of these colours are great when used appropriately.”

You can grow indoor plants and place them in spaces that are not used. Plants can absorb stress.

Reception, lounge and even general workplace can take a few pieces of art. Go for abstract art instead of corporate art.

Lighting should neither be harsh nor dull. If you office is designed to have natural light, fine. Otherwise, go for something that imitates natural light.

MAINTENANCE TIPS - I

Take care of furniture upholstery. Clean them with safe cleaners.

Do not place furniture and other leather work under the sun directly. They fade.

Do not wipe untreated wooden furniture with damp cloth. Use dry cloth. Use tea coasters. Stains are hard to remove.

Do not eat at your desk. Food morsels gathered at any corner can smell bad.
Your reception area is your drawing room. Have it trendy and friendly. Clean coffee table frequently. & Have dust bins at every desk.

Maintain carpets and floor mats and door mats well. Vacuum clean them frequently.
Use acrylic washable carpets in monsoon.

Go for pleasant but easily washable window drapes.

Place camphor or neem leaves in cupboards to absorb the moisture and prevent any bacterial growth.

MAINTENANCE TIPS - II

Remember the following types of clean up:

Emergency cleaning

Routine cleaning & One-time cleaning

Professional carpet cleaning

Floor maintenance

Landscape servicing including lawn maintenance

Exterior building maintenance

Pressure washing & Window cleaning

Day porter service

Handyman service & Construction clean up.

AMBIENCE TIPS

Design floors, walls and separating panels in such a way that sound does not travel from one department to another or make the whole office a fish market.

Ensure that the hum of the generator or air conditioner does not irritate staff or workers.

Ensure that room fresheners are soft and non-toxic.

Call professional service for all cleaning tasks. Do not use office workers.

Keep the restroom disinfected. & Keep them washed dry and clean. Ensure that electrical wiring and piping do not stick out like ugly veins.

Clean the pantry every three hours so that it does not retain the smell of food or beverage or stored old food stuff.

Disinfect all sinks and wash basins. & Remove cob and spider webs every day.

Allocate trash cans separately for dry and wet waste. & Avoid clutter.

EXTERIOR SIDES TIPS

Clean the doors and windows every day.

Do not have loose joints or hinges or window panes.

Ensure that the glasses, window panes and sills are not stained or faded.

Keep all the brass handles and knobs clean and shiny.

Keep the lawn well tended.

Mark car and bike parking spaces.

Sweep well and have the causeways spic and span.