If you think ergonomics is fun, I know you light up when someone talks about productivity! My office has grown from 7 people in 1992 to approximately 70 people today, and we are still looking for the magical productivity button on our keyboards! While we continue the search, here are some simple steps to take to protect office productivity:

• Give people the tools they need to get their jobs done. I know, this one sounds silly, but we often are tempted to do just the opposite in the name of order, control and discipline. If instant chat really helps the customer service person get quick answers from IT or A/R or even you, then it makes sense to allow its usage even if it’s “one more way they can screw around.” If someone’s job is to be on the phone all day, then a cordless headset might be both an ergonomic and productivity boon! Most people want to do a good job and will do a good job if we allow them to do so.
• Use the right type and number of printers, faxes and copiers. Sure, I’m trying to sell you supplies, but equipment is about having the right equipment in the right place. Having too many printers or the wrong types of printers can be every bit as productivity-killing as not having enough. Two rules to follow that I don’t think most people even think about – 1) use the print counts that every printer can provide to you; my experience is most printers are nowhere near as busy as folks think, and 2) if you regularly see folks queued up at a printer, it is probably time to address the issue.
• Keep mission critical supplies available and accessible. We’ve all fought the urge to lock away the paper clips because we know positively that someone is using them at home to hang Christmas tree ornaments (oops, probably shouldn’t have put that in writing), but again, the reality is most people want to do a good job and can be trusted. Wasting 20 minutes while paper is brought up or over is a productivity and morale killer; keep adequate stocks near the copier, printers or faxes so people can work without delays. There are easier to move alternatives today than the old 40 pound boxes of paper; consider ordering the 5-ream pack if moving paper around the office is a problem.

Thanks for reading; if you have any other ideas (keep ‘em simple), please let us know and we’ll post them.