tips

When you walk into your office, you commit to 8 hours of confinement to a workspace. While it is true that this brings discipline and increases productivity at work, it is also true that a few physical health risks tag along.

With this idea as the foundation, Monarch came up with innovative design spaces which not only aid flexibility but also facilitate small workout sessions.

Here are the top 2 small work out sessions you can perform at work without breaking a sweat.

1. The 6 Minute Magic

Yes, you read that right. Just 6 minutes!

• First Minute: Prepare

All you have to do is get up from your desk, find a small place where you can spend the rest of your 5 minutes for and walk to that place.

• Second Minute: Breathe

Take deep breaths and make sure your heart-rate is at a normal pace before you begin your workout.

• Third Minute: Stretch

Stretch out your arms, legs and back. This will get the blood flowing and you can avoid any muscle sprain during your workout.

• Fourth Minute: Lift weights, Do Push-ups

The fourth minute is the most important minute of your 6 minute routine. This is when you actually perform your workout. Choose one workout for the day, it could be lifting weights, doing push-ups or anything else. Perform it for one minute.

• Fifth Minute: Increase the intensity

The fifth minute is the minute that will effectively make a difference. Increase the intensity of your workout in this minute and stay focused while doing so.

• Sixth Minute: Relax

The Sixth Minute is when you relax, breathe and return to your desk.

This workout will not only help you with your physical health but will also help you stay active throughout the day. This 6 Minute Workout routine has also proven to yield higher rates of productivity.

1.  The Ultimate Flex

Challenge yourself to achieve the fit body of your dreams with the easy 5!

• Hamstring Stretches: These stretches target the back of your legs. It’s best to do them at the end of a workout.
• Glutes Stretches: These exercises are great for back pain relief as they help in opening up tight hips. For glutes stretches you could use a foam roller. “Foam rollers are simple tools that help you stretch easily and effectively.
• Shoulder Stretches: Being seated in the same place for long hours can tighten up those shoulder muscles. Ease them out with shoulder rolls and rotations; the best to give relief for tight shoulders.
• Abdominal Stretches: Tired from all the stretches? It’s quite helpful to stretch your abs post a core workout to prevent soreness or pain the next day.
• Neck Stretches:While being seated for long hours, there’s only so much stretching one could do.  Stretch the sides of the neck for instant relief.  Straighten your arms and pull away slightly. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, release and switch sides.

Small workouts during office hours will work like magic in your personal and professional life.

Try them and let us know if they worked.

All the best!

Workspace furniture plays a very important role in enhancing the productivity of your employees. The kind of décor you have creates the mood for your office. Nobody feels motivated to work in a grim environment. It is important that you give your employees a workspace that encourages them to do their work and gives them the energy to thrive throughout the day. Of course you also need to have employee-friendly policies for the sole purpose of retention but having good, friendly furniture and atmosphere helps too.

Seek comfort

An average working individual spends five days a week with eight working hours each day at his workplace. This means unless he is always on the move, he will be needing a chair, a desk and other bare essentials. Comfort is the key factor here along with affordability.

While leather chairs may seem extremely comfortable, it is not at all cost-effective to place expensive leather chairs at the workspace. There are many alternate solutions that one can find easily or with just a little bit of help.

Color coordination

A vibrant office environment can be very appealing to the eyes and may be quite encouraging for employees as well. However, not all professions may be able to accomodate vibrant furniture. You may still like to mix and match colors and bring out as many positive vibes as possible. The color green is a very tasteful color and is absolutely soothing to the eyes. A dash of green always works wonders on the energy levels of employees. You may want to mix it with contrasting colors to give your office work area an aesthetic appeal.

Take care of seating

Seating and comfort may go hand in hand but there may be a subtle difference. While comfort of seating is very important when choosing workspace furniture, posture and other factors are important too. Employees often suffer from back problems, poor concentration and the like owing to poor quality furniture. Choosing ergonomic furniture can help minimize these problems. There are several options available that are comfortable and yet stylish too.

Planning the layout

The layout of your workspace furniture matters a great deal too. When you plan your office, work with your designer to plan the layout in a manner that increases fluidity as well as appropriate spacing. The utilization of space and furniture go hand in hand when you think about the layout of your workspace.

Storage units

Storage units maybe one of the most underestimated workspace furniture but you must know that these also play an important role. Everyone likes to work in a clutter-free environment. Storage units help in this matter to elegantly store away important files as well as other office related things. In addition, these units help a great deal in filling out your workspace in an admirable way.

Also, if your company has received awards and accolades, this is the perfect way to showcase them for outsiders as well as your employees. When you decide upon your office décor as well as workspace furniture, make sure that you do it based on your personality as well as the profession you are into. Do not go in with a style because someone else is following the same trend. This will make you unique and will attract prospective employees who have the same mindset.

Seek durability

Investing in workspace furniture requires a significant amount of finance and hence it is absolutely impractical if you have to invest frequently for the same thing. So, when you buy furniture for your office, make sure you buy durable furniture. Ask your salesperson about warranties and the quality of the furniture. Investing in higher quality goods one time makes better sense than having to invest in low quality furniture frequently.

When you buy workspace furniture make sure you are buying from a good, reputed place that extends its services beyond purchase through delivery as well as installation. Draw a budget plan for items so that you do not have to withdraw money from other office investments. Once you have a budget, the salesperson should be able to guide you better in finding suitable furniture for your office.

To view our extensive range of workspace furniture, please click here.

Lables : Buying office furniture

A pandemic dawned upon the world in December of 2019. Ever since the world has been trying to accommodate the virus.

The impact of the virus is pretty evident in the financial markets. The effect it has had on the people, businesses and the economy at large is unimaginable.

The lockdown that has been triggered by COVID-19 has surely forced all organizations to declare work-from-home for all its employees. However, a question that is not being given enough weightage is: “What happens after the lockdown ends?”

Do we go back to where we were before the lockdown or do we look forward to a more compatible and accommodating method of functioning? Do we continue to have the same confined workspaces or do we look for something that facilitates the need of the hour?

As an organization in the corporate world, it is possible that you have been wondering about the post-lockdown functioning as well? Choose an ergonomic workspace that facilitates social distancing and hygiene maintenance even after the lockdown.

While we do understand that creating workspaces which are COVID-19 repellent is not on any Manufacturer’s expertise, we, at Monarch have a highly versatile team who have worked relentlessly in the past few months to deliver the best and more.

Our workspace solutions now have the following additional features

1.Social Distancing

The world is now moving towards a new normal. A new normal where social distancing is not a choice, where working employees would step back into the offices and where they would always be at risk of exposure to the virus. Thus, we have come up with workspace solutions that have bigger spaces and better protection.

2.Add-on screens to facilitate safety

The Add On screens are compatible with any desking system to maintain physical distance without compromising on the space utility factor. With a variety of screens available, one can always decide their level of comfort and security while staying safe.

3.Anti-Microbial Fabric Treatment

Antimicrobial fabrics work the same way antimicrobial soaps and sanitizers do — by attacking pathogens on a cellular level to prevent their growth and reproduction. Different chemicals and textiles have different levels of effectiveness. Some products merely slow the spread of pathogens over time, while others are designed to kill spore cells on contact. Monarch Ergo’s modern and new designs use the Anti-Microbial Fabric to ensure safety and healthy workspaces.

Taking care of your employees and being thoughtful of the post-lockdown effects will help you sustain and grow in a time like this!

To know more, visit our website or reach out to us today!

The year 2020 has brought with it so many changes that it would be absolutely safe to say, it marks the change of an era.

With a new era comes new work cultures, new designs, new approaches and a new normal at large.

While it is true that none of us is truly prepared to take on the COVID challenge, it is also true that the lockdown has given us a little time to prepare ourselves for the post-COVID era.

Employers play an integral role in making the workspaces COVID-19 compatible to sustain the productivity levels of the organisations and to ensure the safety of their team!

Here are a few basic tips that can help employers in making the workspaces safe post-COVID-19.

1. Cleanliness and Regular Disinfection is a big yes.

According to the WHO, the spread of the virus is very similar to that of the flu. This means you could catch it through virus-infected DNA entering your system. The doors to your body are your eyes, ears and mouth, which is why it is suggested that you keep them covered at all times.  A hygienic and clean office environment can help avoid the spread of the virus among your employees. Also, regular disinfection of the office on a weekly basis will help kill any virus that is still sustaining in the corners of the workspace. Contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads and you as a responsible employer must make sure all steps are being taken to avoid it.

2. Responsive and transparent communication to stakeholders will go a long way

Many working hours may have been lost due to WFH and the productivity might have taken a hit. It is therefore very crucial that you constantly communicate with your employees and take their comfort into consideration.

Communicate as much as you can!

3. Virtual as long as you can. Physical as long as you must.

Make sure you have come up with a strong strategy to sustain your productivity levels through virtual means. Avoid unnecessary travel as much as you can and try to take the entire operation to a virtual space.

If virtual cannot be avoided, try to conduct physical meetings only as long as it is necessary and disperse as soon as you are done.

Make all provisions for a safe working environment during your meetings.

4. Better safe than sorry (be prepared for emergencies)

It may be unlikely that any employee faces a health issue right in the middle of a working day but it is always better to be prepared. Talk to the hospitals in your vicinity and make provisions for any emergency that may occur.

5. Mental Health is important to productivity

As an organization, it is important for you to look after the physical and the mental health of employees. The monotony of WFH could get to the employee’s head at times. Consider creating mental health action plans or training mental health first aiders to ensure employees feel supported and aware of the variety of resources available to them.

6. Flexibility

While mandatory WFH has created greater value for flexibility, we must continue to value it even after the lockdown ends and we go back to being normal. Flexibility improves the quality of output and also facilitates the good mental health of the employees.

 

It is a difficult time for all of us and the only way we can get through this is by sticking up for each other. Let your team know that you are there for them and when a pandemic hits, all factors except human life and health take a backseat.

Make your employees comfortable and give them space to work according to their convenience. Being an effective and caring employer today will help you grow tomorrow.

All the best.

Happy working!

The year 2020 has put the whole world to a new regular called ‘Work from Home’ even for those organisations for which an office workspace is essential.

The below tips will help those who are sceptical about working from home due to the challenges it poses in terms of work-life balance, infrastructure as well as security concerns.

1. Start early and leave on time

Always start your work early. It helps you to work with full energy and concentration on the work.

2. Always remember you are in the office.

When you think that you are sitting in your office like any other day. In this way, we won’t have any distraction in the work.

3. Structure your day like you would at office

In a WFH set up each one is their supervisor or manager. Plan your meetings and calls in such a way that the team is in the loop and no work gets affected. Ensure the fact that your day remains well-planned and your levels of productivity do not decrease.

4. Choose your office

When you work from home, where you sit in your office space. Find the most comfortable place at your home away from all distractions and where you can relax.

5. Step out if your plan doesn’t work

If you find your home office not helping to get your work on track and deliverables, go to coffee shops or similar open space where you can sit and work peacefully. Public places with Wi-Fi access can help you to have better connectivity. But open networks pose cybersecurity threats. This should be kept in mind while using such spaces.

6. Distance yourself from social media.

It is important that you do not waste time checking social media accounts to post and share contents as they will take your time as well as concentration away from work. Make sure that you give them a specific time slot like during lunch break or after work hours only.

7. Be ready to work time flexibility

Many times the projects take more than the estimated time and may require overtime from the employees. Plan what you need to do for each task and how much time should be given for each one. Put extra effort and make sure deliverables are successful.

8. Be productive at work

Try to work on important tasks in the first half of the day when you are most productive. Everyone gets exhausted by the end of the day and your motivation might go down by that time. So work smart.

9. Save calls for the afternoon.

Try to keep the calls in the afternoon as you can use the first half of the day for more important tasks and meetings.

10. Focus on one task at a time

The widely acclaimed rule of productivity is that the more busy a person is the more that person can actually do. Focus on one task at a time and rest will come naturally to you.

11. Plan your work in advance so that your routine work does not get affected when a major project is launched.

12. Use video conferencing and instant messaging apps to connect with your fellow workers.

13. Make use of your favourite music to help you work with a calm mind

14. Use songs as your break timer. You can play your favourite list and see how much time you spent on each break.

15. Tell your family or roommate that you want privacy in your workspace and urge them to cooperate with you.

16. Take power breaks as and when you require. Since you will be sitting and working for long hours, do stretch in specified intervals so that your body is not affected by that.

17. Interact with your family and friends even while you are working like that could help you ease your tension and pressure. Be happy.

18. Do not waste time on trying to make the perfect breakfast or meal as you see in the social media platforms just because you are at home. Use your time wisely and eat on time.

19. Pick your time to end your work every day so that you do not get busy at work and end up paying little or no attention to social life. Plan your work and work accordingly.

20. Stay away from Television when you work.

While working from home can surely get monotonous, it must not let your productivity get affected.

Hoping the article has helped you.

Happy working from home.

The past decade has seen wide acceptance for remote working especially in the technology industry. A few months ago the world saw the largest ever work-from-home experiment due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Precautionary measures like social distancing and wearing masks when you step out of the house are all new to the world and this has turned our house into our workplace and it is going to continue for a while. 

For any organization, employee engagement starts with trust and communication between the company and its workforce. It has perks such as a healthy work environment and happy employees which are essential for organizational growth and business success. However, more distance gives leeway to miscommunication.

So, how can organizations ensure employee engagement in today’s WFH culture?

1.Team Building activities

 When the employees are at home, it is natural that they will be a little lost and may not be as enthusiastic as they used to be in the office environment. This sudden transition could affect the smooth flow of internal communication of the organization. When there is a problem in the communication flow, it will negatively impact the work and targets.

To overcome these issues, the organization should adopt good collaboration tools for communication as well as to give a virtual office experience. Use good video conferencing tools so that employees feel they are connected with the team members virtually. 

Create a forum for employees to share personal as well as professional updates. 

Some organizations have adopted a virtual coffee break. These are video calls where employees connect virtually to take breaks, socialize, have their water cooler conversations. These conversations seem effective in preventing potential burnout and isolation.

2. Robust Communication is the need of the hour

In this era of the pandemic, there is a need for getting the right information from genuine sources. The organization can create a dedicated hub for information dissemination, The employees can be given regular updates on the latest organization’s COVID-19 response, advice, and protocols. The organization can ask it’s employees not to spread rumours and unverified news on COVID-19.

3. Goal Setting

To make WFH effective, discipline needs to be maintained by every employee. It is known to everyone that there will be a lot of distractions when employees work from their home and work may get affected as a result.

The solution here is a meaningful goal-setting. The managers need to set clear deliverables and specific performance metrics to track outcomes and measure results effectively. 

4. Recognition to employees

Every success story has a trail of recognition to good talents in the organization. Every outstanding performance shall be given due recognition which will boost employee morale and motivate fellow team members to work towards the goal to get recognition.

5. Encourage learning- The current pandemic has given us a lot of time to take up on new skills and hobbies. And a little extra knowledge and learning always come in handy. Encouraging employees to learn something new will give them a purpose other than work and deadlines. 

6. Employee perks- Manage your team in a way that they are never short of motivation. A work desk allowance is always a good idea to motivate employees given that a work-from-home environment is always a major factor to keep in mind and not everyone has the benefit of accommodating one for themselves. 

7. Promote health and wellbeing- While keeping your employees’ goals activated at all times, it is also important to promote good health and wellbeing. Encourage them to adapt to a healthy lifestyle which also includes a proper table and chair for those who spend long hours on their screens. A good ergonomic office chair reduces chronic back, hip and leg strain associated with being seated for long periods. 

8. Elevating corporate culture- A good organizational culture is always something to keep in mind regardless of where you work from. Always keep them influenced and elevated. And just like an elevated corporate culture, Monarch furniture will keep you inspired and work driven.

9. Engage with fun- Work is important, but so is a little free time to relax your mind. Uplift the corporate environment and engage your employees in some fun activities every once in a while. Like online meet-up to share stories and virtual talent show. Keep their work morale high. Remember, a relaxed mind favours productivity. 

Hoping that the above points have helped you enhance your organizational operations. 

Happy working from home.