Tag: Google Offices

Top Tips to Keep Cool in An Office

June 17, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Employers should make sure they provide reasonable working conditions to their employees, but the burden of providing extra allowances falls on them. However there are many benefits for both employers and staff in terms or looking after themselves during a heat wave – so long as it doesn’t pose an additional hazard due excessive strain/weariness caused by high temperatures within one’s environment which could lead into illness etcetera . This includes drinking enough water throughout each day along with taking regular breaks outdoors if possible!

Top Tips

  • Relax the dress code. If office wear usually means wearing a suit, relax this rule in hot weather. Allow more informal wear such as no ties or no suit jackets to cope with the heat.
  • Provide refreshments. By law, employees should have access to fresh drinking water, but providing ice and squash will refresh people even further.
  • Offer desk fans, or temporary cooling units to improve air circulation and keep people cool at their desks.
  • Use curtains and blinds to block out sunlight to prevent the office from getting hotter.
  • Avoid over exertion. If you usually go out or exercise at lunch, take care not to do too much, and consider staying out of the sun where possible.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way a lot of people work

November 30, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Earlier this year, many companies closed their offices and shifted their staff to remote work due to health and safety concerns. And while remote work has been a mixed bag, it’s also proven itself as a viable model for companies in almost every segment of the market.

That opens the door to a world of flexibility for companies going forward. But it also puts office buildings in real danger.

Office building demand could wane to a dangerous degree

When employees were first told to pack up their desks and work remotely back in February and March, many assumed it would last a few weeks. But now, nine months later, many companies are realizing remote work is a sustainable model, with the potential for major cost savings. If workers can maintain productivity from afar, businesses can spend less on office space.

A good 68% of large-company CEOs say they now plan to downsize their office space, according to a survey by KPMG. And that’s not just in response to the pandemic.

How to choose the right racking for your warehouse

November 6, 2019 / / 0 Comments

The right racking system can have a significant impact on how efficiently your warehouse operates.

Your warehouse’s storage system is at the heart of its operation. Choosing a storage system that is ideal for your space, the items you are storing, and your picking process, will help your operation to run more efficiently and your team to be more productive.

Factors to consider when choosing warehouse racking

When deciding which type of racking is most suitable for your warehouse you should ask yourself the following questions:

  • What type of items do I need to store?
  • How much space do I have? (vertical as well as ground space)
  • What is the maximum load weight the racking will be required to support?
  • Is forklift access required?
  • What are my warehouse layout and product flow requirements?

Popular types of warehouse racking

There are plenty of different racking and shelving options available to choose from, some of the commonest types include:

  • Drive in/through racking – Maximises storage space in your warehouse by reducing the size of the forklift aisles. Choose from drive in racking with one point of access to each aisle, or drive through racking which has both an entrance and an exit, meaning the first load in is the first one out.
  • Cantilever racking – Ideal for storing large and bulky items of varying shapes and sizes, particularly very long loads like beams and tubes. Cantilever racking is very strong and can be adapted to your requirements.
  • Adjustable pallet racking – Pallet racking can be used to store a wide range of products of varying sizes and weights and are the ideal solution for picking. Pallets are lifted onto the racking by forklifts.

At Millennium Storage and Interiors, we stock a wide range of racking and shelving solutions for warehouses. If you require help choosing an option suitable for your requirements, get in touch with our team by calling 0942 603 344.

Common warehouse hazards and how to avoid them

October 15, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Safety tips for overcoming common warehouse hazards.

The average warehouse can be littered with potential hazards, including heavy loads, dangerous equipment and machinery.

Use the tips in this blog to help you to identify and minimise hazards to create a safer work environment.

Falls, slips and trips

Failure to keep a warehouse organised, tidy and clean can lead to dangerous slips, trips and falls.

  • Proper storage and organisation of products, machinery and equipment should always be adhered to.
  • Debris should be cleared up immediately and never left on the ground.
  • Any spills should be cleaned up immediately.
  • Aisles and passageways should always be kept unobstructed.

Falling objects

Objects falling from racking or machinery can cause significant damage and injury.

  • Items should be stacked carefully and evenly with maximum loads always being adhered to.
  • Heavier loads should be stacked lower down, with lighter loads stacked on higher shelves.
  • Racking and shelves should be inspected regularly to ensure they are in good condition.

Strain injuries

Warehouse employees are at risk of suffering injury if they are frequently lifting and carrying heavy or bulky items or performing repetitive actions.

  • Employees should all receive adequate training in how to correctly lift and carry heavy items to avoid injury.
  • Employees should be provided with machinery and equipment to relieve the strain of repetitive or strenuous tasks.

Forklift injuries

Employees tasked with operating or working with forklifts are at risk of being pinned by a forklift or hit by falling items if they do not adhere to proper health and safety procedures.

  • Warning signs should be clearly displayed to warn people of potential danger zones.
  • Only employees that have completed the relevant training should access and operate forklifts.
  • Forklift equipment should be regularly inspected for signs of damage.

Hazardous materials

If your warehouse uses or stores hazardous chemicals, strict health and safety procedures should be adhered to to reduce employee exposure and prevent accidents occurring.

  • Only employees who have complete appropriate chemical handling training should work with hazardous materials.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should always be worn when handling hazardous substances.

Arrange a warehouse safety inspection from our team of qualified personnel by giving us a call on 01942 603 344.

Should You Go Google With Your Office Design

June 20, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Google’s influence on our lives cannot be understated and its office layouts have become an inspiration for many companies hoping to copy its office design styles. But is a Google style office right for your business?

When people were first introduced to the inside of a group of offices known as the Googleplex they were puzzled by the all the toys it contained. At first people viewed the whole thing as a gimmick and many will have laughed at staff working near sand volleyball courts or taking time out on adventure playgrounds.

It wasn’t long before people stopped laughing and started to imitate what they saw until Google style offices with dedicated leisure and play areas for staff became almost commonplace particularly among tech companies keen to attract staff to their playful work environments.

Like all fashions, however, there are signs that the playful office design layout might be coming to an end or at least it will be toned down. Design magazines are already suggesting that staff are fed up with the noise of co-workers having fun which could be detrimental to business.

While Google has no plans to ditch its playful office spaces, the many smaller businesses around the world adopting their approach might well be considering a change of direction to something that appeals to all staff rather than just the few who like to play while at work.

Why Sound Acoustics Is Vital to Office Design

October 20, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Offices come in all sorts of layouts from sleek open plan, to period offices in city centres.

The challenge in both cases is to find a solution that not only creates a sense of space but also provides privacy and a quiet place to work for those employees who need it. So when designing an office layout, a delicate balancing act needs to be struck to ensure that everyone in the workplace will be happy.

Unlike visual distractions, which can simply be screened off or hidden by a simple re-arrangement of furniture and screens. Unfortunately, good acoustics will require a more complicated solution to reduce noise from phones, chatter and colleagues moving from one place to another.

All of this can become very frustrating for those who require peace and quiet to do their best work, which will in turn hinder productivity.

While the modern trend continues to lean towards the open plan spaces which have been seen as the best way to develop cooperation and creativity since the 1950s.

To improve acoustics in your office requires knowledge of how sound impacts on different surfaces and how it is absorbed by others.

This starts with the introduction of carpets, acoustic panels and acoustic screens which can help reduce noise dramatically. Then create separate spaces for collaborative work so as not to disturb those staff members who prefer to work in quiet isolation from time to time.

Has Google Type Office Design Had It’s Day?

April 11, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Google is the undisputed leader among the world’s search engines and it has also been a front runner in the evolution of office design, but experts in office design are beginning to question how its brand of office design can actually be detrimental to some businesses.

It’s inevitable that office design trends will change over time and Google’s playful approach to making its employees feel at home in the work place is beginning to look a little bit dated.

A recent article in architectural magazine, Dezeen suggests that even some Google employees are getting fed up with hearing people play on slides. Many among those who have tried out office play equipment themselves, often do so only once when they realise that their clothes have been messed up in the process.

Turning offices into playgrounds was seen as a way to stimulate creativity and put staff back in touch with their childhoods to keep them more relaxed. While this may have worked and helped Google staff solve problems creatively, for some businesses having staff stand around next to play equipment can lead to people not working as hard as they should or messing around in the workplace.

The article concludes that If you do intend to kit your office out like Google, it is worth assessing if the playful approach is right for your business before doing so to avoid problems later on.

New Google Offices In London Shrouded In Secrecy

March 3, 2016 / / 0 Comments

There are reports that Google is planning to have developers build several new offices in London, notably in Kings Cross where an 11-storey office building has received planning permission.

The new building only received the go-ahead last month from Camden Council and in typical Google style it is unlikely to be the run of the mill kind of office development. Plans include a large roof terrace overlooking the city and there are certain to be many other features you would expect from Google’s office designers.

According to Joe Borrett, Google’s director of real estate and construction, the new office building will cement Google’s expansion in Kings Cross as well as make the area its new home in London. The tech giant has already revealed plans to spend 1 billion on its UK HQ according to reports, but it is not clear if this new building will be part of it even though the firm has been buying up additional plots in the Kings Cross area.

The planned regeneration of areas of Kings Cross have not gone down well with everyone. Architect Peter Cook has allegedly branded some designs as boring while Google’s Larry Page himself has allegedly considered scrapping one scheme because he too labelled it as boring.
Google’s current London offices feature anything from allotments to grow veg to dodgem cars and beach huts.

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