Tag : panel extenders

With the holidays coming up, you’re probably thinking about what gift to offer your employees for all their hard work. Gift cards for major retailers are OK (as we’ll discuss below), but they’re pretty generic. Foodstuffs from candy and cookies to a Christmas turkey may seem like crowd pleasers, but employees with dietary restrictions from gluten intolerance and diabetes to vegetarianism would feel left out. A cash bonus is always appreciated. But then you might feel pressured to match or exceed that amount each year – even when economic circumstances change. Key chains, coffee mugs and other tchotchkes don’t express how much you value your workers (unless you think they’re basically worthless).

Gifts for Play

So, what do you give your employees this year? It’s nice to start with a token present that workers can use to have fun outside of work. If you have a small business and know your employees well, you can choose a specific gift certificate to their favorite ‘watering hole’ where everyone gathers for lunch or happy hour. That shows you’ve been paying attention to what they like. If you have a larger business, a gift card that can be used online (Amazon.com, Target, etc.) can come in handy. They can spend it however/whenever they like and the dollar amount doesn’t have to be too high to make it a nice gesture.

Gifts for Work

As an employer, you also want to make coming to work every day more pleasant for your workers in the coming year. So, doing something to improve the workplace over the long term is another thoughtful and appropriate present. If your employees have been struggling with noise and privacy concerns in an open environment or one with low cubicle walls, panel extenders or desk-mounted privacy panels would be a welcome workstation bonus. We’ve even got these products in red and green if you wanted to do a holiday theme. Of course, since you’ll be using these all year round, it’s probably smarter to just pick a color that matches your décor. You can shop our selection of classically muted fabrics or order panels in a custom color, textile or design.

CC license image courtesy of Flickr user danperry.com

Lighting experts at Philips and office furniture designers at Haworth have put their heads together and come up with a bright idea for combining their products. Since lighting is a key feature that lift employees’ moods, it’s important to ensure the workplace is well lit. However, quality is just as critical as quantity.

Choose Your Luminosity with Care

Natural daylight is best while flickering, oddly tinted fluorescent lights that make everyone’s skin look chalky green are arguably the worst. LED lighting comes the closest to mimicking sunlight. In fact, LEDs can be created in literally dozens of different subtle gradations of “white” as well as hundreds of other colors. In addition, unlike filament based incandescent bulbs and tube based fluorescent lamps, LEDs can be delivered along a much more diffuse surface.

Divide and Illuminate

Haworth and Philips are leveraging these features of LED to create the ideal workplace lighting solutions that combine furniture and illumination. Haworth already features Philips lighting in the MeetYou lounge furniture series. Now, the companies are collaborating on more innovative ideas. One forward-looking design is the lighted divider concept. Imagine a workplace where light is used to define boundaries.  Instead of creating dark nooks and crannies, these gently glowing screens would make the workplace appear more bright and open – even as they provided necessary separation.

Let There Be Light

We like the idea of incorporating light into dividers. This could be done with floor-to-ceiling walls, head height privacy screens used to delineate teaming areas, and even in desktop dividers where the LEDs could provide task lighting. So far, Haworth and Philips are just debuting their LED office furniture ideas in Europe. But we think you could achieve something similar by attaching a clamp-on LED task lamp to one of our cubicle panel extenders or desktop dividers. That way, employees can get all the light they need even with higher cubicle walls that provide more privacy.

Did you think we had run out of novel ways to use panel extenders and desktop dividers? Not even close!

Every good manager knows that rewards and recognition go a long way toward keeping employee satisfaction levels high. With a custom-printed “Employee of the Month” panel extender, you can let everyone in the office know who has done an outstanding job over the past 30 days. Along with the text, you could choose to add graphics like party balloons and confetti. Then, have a cake or other tasty gift delivered to the employee’s cubicle for everyone to share. Since our products are easy to install and remove, you can simply transfer the “Employee of the Month” panel to a new workstation as needed.

Image courtesy of Flickr user 4nitsirk

Are you building a new office space or renovating your existing site? The LEED point and credit system developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council may provide you with grant funds and tax breaks if you make the right design decisions. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program looks at the entire office building, inside and out, to determine compliance with best practices for sustainability.

Points are tallied up for each choice that promotes greater energy efficiency, more environmental responsibility, or better indoor air quality. Everything from building materials to lighting choices and office furniture are taken into consideration during a review by an LEED accreditation professional. Participating businesses can achieve progressively higher levels of certification all the way up to “Platinum” which offers the biggest incentives and most bragging rights.

How OBEX Products Factor In

One of the smartest ways to take advantage of the potential financial benefits of LEED certification is by saving money up front. You might think that buying “green” office furniture is more expensive than purchasing standard equipment. That might be true – if you buy new. But pre-owned office furniture is much cheaper and qualifies for LEED points because it reduces the energy and raw material consumption that goes into furnishing your office. In fact, buying used furniture is always more environmentally friendly than buying even the most eco-responsible new furniture.

The downside of buying used workstations is that you don’t have quite the range of options you might like. For example, you might not find cubicles with walls high enough. Or, you might find that the most cost-effective option is a benching configuration – but not want to go with an entirely open office layout. Our panel products can extend the height of cubicle walls or turn a regular desk into a more private, less noisy workstation in minutes at a very low cost. Second hand cubicles can be refurbished in the fabric of your choice – and you can have your panel extenders made to match.

To answer the question in the title of this post: Our privacy panels give you more flexibility in using pre-owned workstations. So, we think they deserve a little appreciation for making it easier for you to earn those LEED points while saving money at the same time.

This week’s tip for panel extenders takes you outside the office and on the road. Does your company attend industry trade shows and conventions? You can easily add a sign to your booth or table with a panel extender or desktop mounted panel. Just have one custom printed with your logo. The universal brackets make setup and take down a snap and the panels can be stored and transported flat. This means they won’t take up too much space or time at your next exposition. Unlike a cheap, flimsy plastic sign, an OBEX panel is designed for decades of use with a sturdy aluminum frame and polycarbonate tile.

Image courtesy of Flickr user: milolovich69

Commercial real estate and architectural design firms are all buzzing about the latest article from Steelcase. The office furniture manufacturer is making some bold predictions about upcoming trends that will affect everything from space management to furniture purchases. Many of these trends will mesh well with the use of cubicle extenders, desktop mounted privacy panels, and other cube accessories. For example:

1. The trend toward moving cubicles into a “wagon train” circle around a central conference area will mean employees are breathing down each other’s necks more than ever. They’ll need a higher panel in back or in front to feel like they have some visual privacy. Steelcase suggests that workstations will need to have a door as well. There are several sliding and rolling cubicle screen accessories on the market that fit the bill from manufacturers such as Quartet and Teknion.
2. Shared private enclaves (created out of space saved with smaller and more efficiently spaced cubicles) will also need to be shielded from surrounding areas. High acoustic panels can help bring the noise down a little in these areas. Since they can be mounted to any standard table, desk, workstation, or bench surface with our universal mounting hardware, creating an impromptu privacy pod will be simple.
3. Employees who are in the office more might get more perks such as bigger cubicles. Since these non-mobile workers are stuck in the middle of the buzzing office all day, some will probably also crave cubicle panel extenders. These can be added based on job type, location, and employee preference.
4. Finally, as more and more high-level workers with traditional offices are moved out in the open to conserve space, they won’t want to give up all the privacy they once enjoyed. Our panel products can help ease the transition for these employees. The culture shock of moving from a private office into a cubicle can be mitigated by creating a more secluded atmosphere within the workstation.

Our cubicle panel extenders don’t just make employees happy by increasing their level of workplace privacy. One unintended side effect can be making office pranks more fun. Twitter user PaulPabst posts a clever photo that clearly demonstrates the simple physics of the equation: you can fit more packing peanuts in a cube that has higher walls. More surface area and volume capacity means you can take your fun and harmless pranks a little further. Of course, the interior of the cubicle can be better shielded by opaque panel extenders rather than the transparent ones in the photo. That means your “victim” won’t be able to see inside the cube from a distance. You can get the full effect of the surprise when they round the corner and peek into their workspace to find that you set all their office supplies in Jell-O!

Did you attend NeoCon 2012? You probably noticed that healthcare workplaces represent one of the fastest growing and most innovative segments of the contract furniture industry. Herman Miller, Steelcase, and many other leading manufacturers are spending lots of R&D and marketing money positioning themselves as experts in this space. They are doing extensive research into what both patients and providers want in healthcare furniture. Pieces that are ergonomic and easy to clean are generally at the top of the list. Privacy is also a major concern – above and beyond the basics required for HIPAA compliance. That’s where OBEX products could help in retrofitting existing healthcare workspaces.

The administrative and admitting areas of healthcare organizations are a prime space to install our panel extenders to block sound and ensure more visual privacy. For example, even a patient sitting down to discuss or dispute an invoice with a billing representative might not want their conversation overheard. Having workstations equipped with acoustic panel extenders can help prevent sound from traveling. The Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating is what you want to look for in these cases. It’s not just the material itself that makes a difference. The higher the divider, the better it will be at limiting sound “leakage”.

In the same way, someone filling out all their personal identifying information at admitting might want to keep those details away from prying eyes. Having a check-in table or bench style worksurface installed along one wall in the waiting area would provide a flat surface so patients don’t have to balance a clipboard on their knees. It could be equipped with multiple desk-top mounted privacy panels to create small, private spaces for completing paperwork. The polycarbonate panels in aluminum frames would be ideal for this setting since they can be easily sanitized.

Often, Twitter is just noise. But sometimes, there are really good ideas flitting around! @LeeHasAnxiety recently suggested that there should be an Extreme Makeover: Cubicle Edition. That’s a fantastic idea. Let’s brainstorm what a cubicle makeover would look like. Not one of those “world’s best cubicles” that has mahogany paneling. Keep it real with products that are actually within reach for the average business. Here are some ideas to kick things off using panel extenders. These suggestions are based on the top complaints workers have about cubicles.

Add Privacy

Cubicle walls are kind of like hemlines – the height changes depending on what’s in fashion. Today’s cubicles feature ultra-low walls that offer as little practical protection as a miniskirt in a blizzard. It’s time for the pendulum to swing in the other direction. Fortunately, you don’t have to replace your cubicle “wardrobe” to accomplish this. You can tailor each cubicle to the desired height with panel extenders.

Reduce Noise

Working in a cubicle with low walls is just as annoying as living in an apartment with thin walls. Employees really don’t want to know each other that well – they would much rather have some peace and quiet so they can work. Our acoustic tiles feature Soundboard fiberboard covered with textiles made from recycled materials. They block sound about 50% better than non-acoustic panels.

Manage Light

Having too much light is just as problematic as having too little. Our semi-translucent polycarbonate panels help employees manage lighting in two ways. First, they can separate workspaces to prevent one worker’s task lamp from casting glare on a coworker’s computer screen. Second, they allow natural lighting to penetrate into the cubicle so there’s not so much gloom.

Incorporate Color

Choose from our library of fabrics, pick a bold polycarbonate hue, or request custom panels in any color of the rainbow. We can add graphics and other design features to your panels to keep the work environment beautiful and interesting. No more dull, gray, featureless cubicles!

What cost-effective cubicle makeover tips can you dream up?

We came across a funny infographic on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago. In it, “Five O’ Clock Fred” opines the 8 drawbacks of working in a cubicle. In the spirit of a humorous response, we present: the 5 benefits of working in a cubicle that’s equipped with panel extenders.

Benefit #1 – You Get to Be Selfish

With noise-blocking panel extenders, coworkers are less likely to hear you eating candy. An acoustic panel dampens the sound of rustling candy wrappers, the squeak of the drawer hiding your candy stash, or the crunch of a Kit-Kat bar. If you hate to share your candy, the cubicle is a great place to eat it!

Benefit #2 – You Can Enjoy Extra Vacation Time

In an open office plan with low dividers, people get in the habit of casually spying on one another. But with higher cubicle walls, you could fail to show up for days at a time with no one the wiser. Of course, you do want people to come looking for you eventually. Don’t turn into one of those news stories where no one notices a dead employee in a cubicle. Come to think of it, maybe you should share your candy more just so coworkers will care enough to notice that you’re gone…

Benefit #3 – You Can Keep Your Weirdness Under Wraps

Number 8 in the original pinned image says if you talk to yourself in a cubicle, everyone pops their head up over the wall because they assume you are talking to them. Of course, in a cubicle with walls low enough for people to see over, coworkers usually can hear you if you are talking to yourself. That’s yet one more reason to install panel extenders that help block sound. You have the privacy to carry on a conversation with yourself to your heart’s content without being rudely interrupted.