17 Nov

3 Ways To Please Everybody With Your Decorations

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 17.11.15 by John Meloche

Christmas Ornament In Front Of Businessman Working At DeskIn yesterday’s blog, we touched upon the subject of office decorations during the holiday season. It’s a good idea, no doubt. Boosting employee morale can easily be done when your staff members are able to come to work each day to a vibrantly-decorated place of business. However, as we pointed out yesterday, it’s important to be mindful of different traditions. It’s also important to ensure the safety of your staff when decorating your office.

On Care2.com, Linda Merrill writes that holiday decorations in the office can cause problems. She cites a 2006 International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) survey of employees that found that “25 percent reported problems related to the decorations and 85 percent of the complaints led to policy changes.” So how can you decorate your office space in a way that pleases everybody?

Here are three ways:

1. Allow employees freedom with their personal spaces. This may not apply to all businesses, but for those where employees have their own offices or cubicles, feel free to allow them to decorate as they please. As long as the workspace is not impeded by the decorations and that a “business as usual” environment is maintained, it can be great for employee morale if they are allowed their own freedom of expression.

“Consensus seems to be that for employees who wish to decorate their personal spaces they do so on their own time, such as before or after work or during a lunch break and it should not impose on their neighbours in any way,” reports Merrill, “Truly religious symbols such as a nativity scene should be kept small and unobtrusive, for the owner only. On the other hand, more common decorations such as garlands are more generally appropriate for all because they represent a more commercialized aspect of the holiday.”

2. Start a food drive. This is a hugely important holiday tradition that should garner the involvement of all employees, no matter what traditions they acknowledge. Having a station set up for the collection of non-perishable foods in your office is arguably the best possible “decoration” you can set up. AllBusiness.com strongly recommends that you share the “true spirit” of the season in this way.

“The holiday season is not only a time to celebrate, it is also a time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves,” says the site, “Bring the spirit of giving into your office by organizing a company food drive. Ask employees to bring in canned goods and other non-perishable food items to donate to a local shelter or other aid organization. Display the food items in a corner of the office where the growing pile will inspire employees to bring in their own contributions.”

3. Use your company’s promotional gifts. Who says that promo gifts can’t be used as decorations? The holiday season is a great time of year to help boost company pride. Place your promo gifts throughout the office and offer them as prizes to employees who are the most productive. Friendly competition never hurts. And when your staff members are given more opportunities to earn bonuses, it helps to drive competition.

At Synergy Marketing, we have a wide array of promo gifts to offer our customers. Water bottles, pens, flashlights, wine stoppers, key chains, knives, tools and so much more are available now! We even have a fantastic array of holiday gifts including our very popular Christmas Card and CD combo! Don’t hesitate to give us a call to order the promo gift of your choice today. Simply dial 1-877-748-9884!

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16 Nov

4 Tips For Decorating Your Place Of Business

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 16.11.15 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_11312934_xsHaving high levels of employee morale at your place of business is hugely important. But, it can be argued that there is no time of year when employee morale is more important than right now. With the holidays quickly approaching, people naturally want to be in a good mood. But with the added stress of buying gifts – not to mention, serving all of those extra customers you have – this time of year can be pretty tough for your staff.

As a business owner, one of your main jobs is to keep your staff members energized on a regular basis. The holiday season presents you with a myriad of opportunities to do just that. And, one of the easiest ways to infuse your staff with positive energy is to decorate your office space in a festive way. It’s a simple and sensible solution to curing the holiday blues – if there are any going around. But what are the best ways to decorate your place of business?

Here are four tips:

1. Keep everyone in mind. Some people are put off by the “politically correct” method of saying “Happy Holidays” over “Merry Christmas”. It’s important, however, to remember that Christmas isn’t the only holiday being celebrated during this time of year. There are many Hanukkah and Kwanzaa traditions taking place as well. When decorating, be mindful of the various holidays taking place so that all members of your staff feel included.

That way, you can avoid problems. According to Linda Merrill on Care2.com, “the problems generally arise when there are differing opinions on what is appropriate and whose holiday is being celebrated. In most cases, we have adopted an ‘all in’ mentality – mixing Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa traditions, depending on the makeup of the office staff. In the best circumstances, this fosters a nice camaraderie between co-workers.”

2. Include nature as part of the decor. Not all decorations need to be made up of plastic. Store-bought decorations are great, but you may want to infuse a little bit of “fresh air” into your holiday festivities. As AllBusiness.com reminds us that, this time of year, “wintertime plants such as fir, pine, and holly make for beautiful decorative accents. Mini potted pine trees or varieties of poinsettias can be placed on desks or in common areas.”

3. Keep it safe. Decorating can be fun and coming to work every day to an office that is vibrant with holiday colours can be very encouraging. But, it’s important to keep it safe. Be mindful of the type of decorations you’re putting up and where they are being placed. You don’t want to create hazards by having items that can potentially cause injuries by falling on your employees or causing them to trip.

“Many organizations publish rules about what kinds of holiday displays are acceptable and what are not for safety reasons,” says Merrill, “For instance – all decorations should be flame retardant, there should be no lit candles and lights should be rated for indoor use. Walkways and exits shouldn’t be impeded by displays of Christmas trees or Frosty the Snowman and in general, decorations should not impede the daily flow of business.”

4. Use edible decorations. There’s nothing sweeter than the treats that are commonly associated with the holiday season. Don’t skimp on them! “Fill the office with edible décor,” insists AllBusiness.com, “Bowls and baskets of sweet treats throughout the office are a workplace tradition during the holidays.” The site warns, however, that you don’t want to overdo it on the bad-for-your-health stuff. Include seasonal fruits in your decor to promote better health.

Be sure to check out tomorrow’s blog as we continue to offer office decoration tips!

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