5 Tips For Successful Customer Interaction

In this competitive business world, getting new customers and KEEPING them is important. We often hear of cases where customers will complain about an establishment they visited, either to other people or online, which can be bad for any business.

According to research done by Genesys, 71% of consumers terminated a relationship with a business because of poor customer service. The same research shows that younger people aged between 27-43 years are more willing to switch to a competitor.

Luckily, we’re here to help – here are some tips for successful customer interaction.

Be Friendly to Customers

Customers love to visit or deal with a business that makes them feel wanted and appreciated. It can never be emphasised enough the importance of ‘service with a smile’. From the support staff at the gate or door, they must be well trained to greet customers and usher them in.

The team at the front desk or, in the case of a restaurant, waiters need to address the customers in a polite manner and find out what they need. Regular customers love being addressed by name because it makes them feel appreciated at your establishment. In addition, it is easy for emotions to be felt through a phone call or an online message.

It is important to smile and be friendly when responding to customers over the phone or on social media.

Have Good Knowledge of Your Product or Service

As a business, it’s important to know the products and services offered in great detail. Customers prefer to deal with businesses that are confident in what they offer because being hesitant can imply to a customer that you may not be sure of what you sell.

Take staff through frequently asked questions that customers have as well as have frequent briefings on any changes or additions to stock or services the business offers.

Have a Loyalty Program in Place

When we hear the term ‘Loyalty Program’, we tend to think that it only means giving away freebies to customers. But there are many ways to acknowledge loyal customers.

To begin with, send ‘thank you’ messages or notes for any purchases or service they pick up with your business. You can also send out a special message and give a small discount or gift during customers’ birthdays or make great suggestions and offers for days such as anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and so on.

Businesses can have promos, discount vouchers and other goodies for regular customers to keep them coming. You can also offer discounts for any referrals they make to family and friends.

Ask for Feedback – And Act on It

A business will thrive as long as it keeps its client base happy and content. This is possible by allowing customers to offer feedback on products and services.

A business can have a physical feedback form, an online option like social media or even have a one-on-one chat with customers. Feedback can be positive or negative. If negative, be open to criticism and find out what suggestions the customer may have. If positive, be sure to give a hearty ‘Thank you’ and encourage them to visit again.

Make sure that all feedback is responded to quickly and effectively. There is nothing worse than a customer or client who feels that they have not been heard.

Once all this feedback is collected, business owners and their staff can check and see which suggestions can be implemented. A way to show a customer their feedback was taken up is to send them a message or even call them to inform them.

Train Your Staff and Make them Presentable

When hiring new staff, it’s important to take them through an orientation or probation period. It’s the time when they can learn about the company policies and how to interact with customers, whether live or on the phone and online. The business world changes constantly so this also means taking existing staff through frequent refresher training to learn of new technologies or changes to the business over time.

One of the ways that you can make your staff more appealing to customers is to give them presentable and eye-catching uniforms. This not only makes them look professional and approachable, but it also helps hygiene standards to be met.

Many businesses worry that buying uniforms is a costly affair, but that is now a thing of the past. You can contact Alsco for well-managed uniform rental services. Alsco offers quality uniforms for your staff and collects them for cleaning while delivering a new batch. Visit the Alsco website for an obligation-free quote.

Ensure Your Reputation is Intact

There are many ways that a business can keep its reputation intact. To begin with, ensure that the products or services offered are always available. Make sure that customers are aware of any products out of stock. You can provide a solution like contacting another company or store to make an order.

When customers order or buy something from your business, make sure that the correct amount, size or product has been packaged. In addition, make sure that it is well-packaged to minimise the damage – nobody wants to receive spilt food or a broken gift.

Finally, make sure that the feedback given to customers is quick and accurate. Falsified information or non-response to customers can hit your business once the word gets out there.

How Else Can A Business offer Great Customer Service?

There are a few other quick tips you can take advantage of to ensure you offer quality customer service to customers.

• Make sure that you deal with the customer in-store and don’t sideline them for a call-in customer. This may sound risky, but chances are that the customer in front of you is more ready to buy than the one on the phone.
• Be visible at your business when possible. Customers are sometimes more comfortable knowing that the owner or manager is accessible in-house. Be present when possible to interact with customers on a product, complaint or general inquiry.
• Always remember that the customer is always right – mostly. This means that you or the team shouldn’t argue or disagree with the customer when aggrieved. Try and deal with the situation in a calm, diplomatic manner.
• Always keep your customer care avenues open. Make sure your social media pages are up to date and that a representative is available to respond to customers. You can also make sure phone or text message lines are working, and inform customers via social media or email when these systems are down.
• In summary, communication is key.

5 Ways to Ensure You Keep Valuable Employees

Employees are the heartbeat of any company. This means that they must be well taken care of to stay loyal.

A new employee will join a company full of life and promise, but a company that takes care of its employees will ensure that they maintain that spirit.

One of the main reasons that employees tend to lose morale at work is disengagement by the management.

If employees feel that their supervisors do not engage them, they will over time start being absent, under-perform or leave the company.

This is a common problem everywhere and all that a company needs is to identify ways to keep the team intact.

Hire Team Leaders and Not Managers

It is important to note that a manager does exactly that – manage. It means that he or she is there to give directives and focus only on the bottom line. A team leader will take their team members by the hand and guide them. To keep valuable employees, have competent team leaders who will value and appreciate their team in the work environment.

People that only manage, shout orders and keep away from their team members can cause employees to either neglect their duties or resign. A company should consider looking for well-trained team leaders who will keep the team spirit up.

Offer Competitive Pay and Attractive Benefits

When new employees join a company, one of the main things that attract them is a good pay package and extra benefits. It is prudent for a company to have a favourable formula that gives staff a steady pay rise. This will ensure that you keep valuable employees. Aside from the basic pay, a good company will offer its team members suitable benefits. These include retirement benefits, access to loans or emergency funds among others.

Make sure that benefits are discussed from time to time to keep employees abreast of any changes to their terms of employment. Allow employees to connect with the management team often to discuss the remuneration framework.

Offer the Right Tools

To keep valuable employees, a company must provide the necessary tools and equipment. While it is obvious that new employees will receive the right tools and equipment to get started, many companies fail their teams when they do not upgrade systems or replace equipment as needed.

For example, slow and dated payment systems can be frustrating to not only employees but also to customers. A company must keep updating working systems to ensure a seamless working experience. Another example is employee uniforms, where applicable. Time and fashion will overtake a company if it keeps using old uniforms which can give the company a less impressive appearance and hygiene record. Companies like Alsco offer a Managed Uniform Rental Service. Alsco picks up the dirty uniforms from your company and replaces them with crisp, clean ones. Contact Alsco’s New Zealand office and get a free quote. Check out more about their services online.

Invest in Regular Training

When it comes to employee training, it goes beyond getting a trainer to come in and take them through presentations. The company can have regular team sessions to discuss their projects over a period of time, with their peers offering alternative or complementary solutions and pointers. This is an inexpensive and effective form of training.

Another type of training usually available is done off-site (like a retreat or out-of-town trip). Companies should consider taking valuable employees on such training sessions or forums because it can also be an excuse to give employees a mini-vacation. Companies should not shy away from these types of training as employees will return rejuvenated and set for work.

Companies can connect with organisations like the Restaurant Association of New Zealand. They have a 24/7 Helpline staffed by legally-trained experts who help members with issues like employment relations and licensing regulations among others. Companies can encourage employees to join such platforms to get some mentoring as well as get information and resources such as relevant research.

Have Friendly Competitions and Rewards

Depending on company resources, it is a great idea to have friendly competition in-house and perks or rewards. It is untrue that rewards are usually costly and there are low-cost rewards that a company can look into.

One of the most appreciated perks in any company is a bonus. This can come in regular intervals across the year, as a reward to top-performing staff or at the end of the year. Companies must ensure that the bonus system is fair across the board as hefty bonuses for management while the rest of the staff receive minimal bonuses is rather demoralising.

Another type of perk is flexible working hours. Companies offering flexible shifts for employees perform better because the staff is able to work around their life obligations. Also, flexible hours means giving staff a chance to make up for lost hours in the case of an emergency or unavoidable circumstances.

Friendly competition on factors like perfect attendance record, hitting or exceeding targets in record time and teamwork can get the employees giving their best in the workplace. Ensure that the competition is fair and transparent to keep them interested in a great performance. Make sure that the rewards are given in good time.

Finally, acknowledge special occasions in the office. Birthdays, anniversaries and completion of a training course are some of the special days companies can celebrate. It is also a good gesture to stand with a bereaved colleague or support them during memorials. These can be done in the office with some cake and drinks or during an off-site retreat.

What Other Perks Can a Company Offer Valuable Employees?

There are many perks, according to research by Seek, that can go a long way in keeping valuable employees.

• Have a relaxation zone in the office. This can be a lounge, a games corner or a play area where employees can unwind after a long day or during a hectic project.
• Give employees time to work from home; some companies do not see the importance of giving employees the opportunity to work out of the office for projects that can be done remotely. This can increase productivity and also gives employees a chance to relax between hectic periods at work.
• Give some freebies once in a while. A company can offer movie tickets to a much-anticipated blockbuster, lunch or dinner vouchers and special event passes. Small perks like these will motivate the team and ensure valuable employees are retained.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @pressfoto

How to Successfully Onboard New Employees

Any company will be proud to onboard new employees because it means that the business is growing.

The same dedication put into hiring new employees should be put into helping them gel with the existing team.

Research by Glassdoor shows that a company with a good onboarding process will experience new employee retention by 82% and productivity by 70% on average.

There are a number of ways to successfully onboard new employees.

Have an Orientation Period

Orientation is when the company will take the time to train and integrate a new employee into the business. It can take anything from a few days to a few weeks. This is the time when a company will conduct training, induction sessions and the necessary procedures to ensure the new employee is ready to join the team. New staff should make sure they leave the HR office satisfied with all the information and tools provided to hit the ground running.

Allow New Employees to Shadow Team Members

A way that new employees can effectively enter into a new team is through shadowing. This means that the new employee will follow and interact closely with a team member or an immediate supervisor. Shadowing makes sure that the new employee has a grasp of their daily expectations and tasks.

Issue the Right Tools and Equipment

When a new employee joins a company, he or she will be issued with tools for the job. The first thing is to get access or credentials, which includes biometric details, staff ID and so on. Another thing that a new employee may be issued is a company uniform. Companies can make use of Managed Uniform Rental Services. Alsco New Zealand has such services where they will collect any dirty uniforms and replace them promptly with fresh, clean ones. Contact Alsco for a free quote and you can learn more about the services.

Communicate the Company Policies in Detail

Companies have different policies in place and it is important that these are clearly communicated to all new staff. To begin with, create a detailed employee handbook that highlights all that is required of staff members while at work. The handbook also needs to highlight issues such as working hours, vacation time, rules and also the health and wellness policy.

A health and wellness policy can differ for various companies but it mostly highlights how the company will take care of the wellness of employees. This can include meals, a gym or free time to exercise, offering counselling to staff and also the hygiene systems in place in areas such as the bathrooms. There must be a system in place to effectively take care of washroom hygiene. Companies such as Alsco will offer washroom hygiene, odour control, hand washing & drying as well as deep cleaning. Contact the New Zealand office for an obligation-free quote. Visit the Alsco NZ site for more details.

Engage New Employees in Regular One-On-One Sessions

For the first few months after a new employee joins a company, it is important to stay in close communication with him or her. Set aside a few minutes a day or week to connect with new employees and find out their experience so far. Ensure that the session is as open as possible so they can share suggestions and feedback.

These sessions are also important because they will allow team leaders to share any challenges or errors noticed while on duty. It should not be treated as a dress-down session but more like a mentoring meeting. This will give new employees the confidence to perform their designated duties and become a part of the team.

Make Sure New Staff Meet the Company Owner or CEO

A new employee should not be made to feel like the company owner or boss is out of reach. It is important for a company to ensure that the person in charge meets all new employees as they join. This can be done either through a staff meeting or during a more relaxed session like lunch. The employee will be able to ask questions and also hear from the horse’s mouth what the company expects from its staff members. This is also the time new staff can find out about the company’s strategy and goals in order to see where they fit in.

Celebrate the New Staff

This can be through a special breakfast, cake, dinner or party. This is a more relaxed environment for new staff to network and introduce themselves to the other employees. They can be gifted with an introductory goodie bag containing a branded coffee mug or stationery. It’s almost guaranteed that the new staff will report to work the next day ready to gel with the rest of the team.

What to Remember When Onboarding New Employees

When onboarding new employees, it is important to remember a few things.

• Remember to assign a ‘work buddy’ to the new employee. This is someone, especially from the same department or role, who can show the new employee around. This takes the pressure off of learning office rules and regulations.
• Introduce new employees to the office culture. This means showing them how the office works, aside from the HR policies. Things like lunch breaks, welcome coffee or drinks, respect for team members’ space and general rules that are adhered to are part of what makes up office culture.
• Remember to run the new staff through the set safety rules. It’s not just earthquakes and fires that pose a danger to employees. In recent years, there have been several terrorist attacks around the world, even in New Zealand. Now more than ever, show new employees the safety guidelines. One way to train them is to run a drill shortly after joining the company.
• Refrain from office gossip. Existing staff in some companies may be tempted to whisper in new employees’ ears about that difficult colleague or strict manager. This can give way to a new employee being biased against the discussed team member. Ensure that new staff are given a chance to study the rest of the team for themselves.
• Help new team members to set up. This can be from office email, registration to work portals, organisation of their workspace and so on. This is a subtle way of making new team members feel welcome in the office.
• Onboarding new staff is not an overnight affair. Team leaders and other employees must be accommodating to the new member and remember that it takes time to fully grasp a new environment. Give new staff a chance to ask questions and offer feedback as they go along.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @yanalya

How 10 Great Companies Picked Their Unique Names

Company names are so much more than just letters and a logo. A good name captures the very spirit of a brand and makes it memorable.

We are accustomed to famous brand names like Google, Starbucks and Apple. We rarely put much thought into their history or how they became the giants they are today, let alone how they came to be known by those names.

There’s little doubt many that there are many ways that companies choose their names. But, there are some extraordinary stories of how some famous brands ended up with theirs.

Google – From Typo to Tech Giant

Thanks to an error during a domain search, Google was born. There is more to the story – it was first called BackRub by the founders who then thought of calling it GoogolPlex. Googol is 10 to the power of 100, while GoogolPlex is 10 to the power of Googol. The founders’ friend, Sean, was tasked with searching for the domain googol.com and instead typed google.com. Now you know how Google came about, and we have Sean to thank.

Apple – Because Fruit Isn’t Scary

Steve Jobs hadn’t talked for a long time about how the name Apple came about. In his biography by Walter Isaacson, he revealed that Apple was named after one of the fruitarian diets that he was on at the time. He had just returned from an apple farm visit and felt that the name Apple was ‘fun, spirited and not intimidating’.

Lego – A Play On Words

The world’s top game maker’s name came from an interesting background. The founder of LEGO, Kirk Christiansen, took the first two letters from the Danish words ‘ LEG GODT’ which means ‘I Play Well’ and LEGO was born. But Kirk wasn’t aware at the time that LEGO is also Latin for ‘I Put Together’, making it the perfect name for this toy.

Nike – So Much Cooler Than Dimension Six

One of the world’s top sports brand was named after Nike, the goddess of Victory. It nearly got another name, Nike was almost called Dimension Six, allegedly because the CEO, Phil Knight, was a fan of the band The 5th Dimension. When the name Nike was floated, Knight did not like it and said they would test it out for a little while. We’re glad the name stuck.

Amazon – Because There’s No Confusing it With a Dead Body

Jeff Bezos initially wanted to call Amazon Cadabra.com, from the magical chant ‘Abracadabra’. He then got worried that people would mispronounce this to Cadaver.com. He then wanted to name the company with a brand name starting with the letter A, such as Aard.com so as to be at the top of website listings. He then settled on Amazon.com – but he still has Cadabra.com registered.

Spotify – That’s Not What I Heard

One of the world’s top music streaming sites has its origins in Stockholm, Sweden. The founders were sitting around discussing suggestions when one of the suggestions was misheard as ‘Spotify’. They took the name and quickly registered. As the brand grew, the new narrative changed to the fact that Spotify is derived from the words ‘Spot’ and ‘Identify’.

Virgin – Because It’s All New To Us

Sir Richard Branson believes that a great name is a difference between success and failure when it comes to business. Sir Branson and his friends were sitting around thinking up names for their music company, and names like Slipped Disk record came up. They finally settled on Virgin because they were all new to the world of business. The name Virgin has its tentacles in various businesses, including the airline industry.

Coca-Cola – Because War Is Hell

Former army doctor and father of the most famous soft drink in the world, John Pemberton wanted to make his life better after a war injury had him addicted to Morphine. He came up with a carbonated drink made of coca leaves and kola nuts and sold it for 5 cents. His partner, Frank Robinson suggested the name Coca Kola after the 2 main ingredients, but Pemberton changed the K in Kola to a C, because he felt it had a nicer ring to it.

Volkswagen – Because Hitler Said So

Adolf Hitler asked Porsche founder, Ferdinand Porsche, to create a budget family vehicle that could be used by the German people. The Volkswagen Beetle was then manufactured and used during World War II until its original factory was destroyed in the war. Volkswagen basically means ‘the people’s car’ and mass production only started after the war.

Starbucks – Just Call Me Ishmael

This is a company whose name was inspired by a literary classic, Moby Dick. In the book, the whale-ship Pequod’s first mate was called Starbuck. The company was started by three men, one of them being a writer. He looked at an old mining map and saw Starbo, a town in the map. Reminding him of Starbuck from Moby Dick, he felt the name suited their coffee shop. They added the ‘s’ at the end and the rest is caffeinated history.

How to Come Up with A Business Name

These top companies went through different journeys to come to the brand name they are known by today. There are a few tips to try out when coming up with the next potential big company name.

• Abbreviations: It can be abbreviations of the company founder’s names or of the core of the company’s business, or pretty much anything that you feel would sound great when abbreviated. Make sure that the abbreviations are within the type of business you’re going into.
• Your Name: There are many companies globally that have made it named after the founders. There are those that are named after a parent, a child or a sibling. Using a personal name gives the company a more personal feel.
• Foreign Languages: Based off this list, it’s clear that many people used foreign languages to inspire their business names. When taking this route, make sure that you do thorough research and see if the translation will be in line with your field of work.
• Mythology and Culture: Like Nike and Starbucks, you can be inspired by art, literature, history and mythology. This will give your company an exotic and historical name.
• Name Mash-up: Companies like Lego, Groupon and Compaq are some of the big brand names that were inspired by a mash-up of names, or Portmanteau. It can be a mix of the founder’s name or a combination of words relevant to your business.
• Company Description or Logo: 7-Eleven is a global brand whose name was inspired by the logo and by the main description of the company. Just by looking at the logo, you immediately know the name and brand of the business, which opens from 7 am to 11 pm. Think about getting inspiration from your company logo or what the business is all about, and you may be the next big company name.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons by Sebastian Bergmann

9 Gigantic Companies That Provide The Most Amazing Perks

For the most of us, happiness that our workplace provides can be summed up to a few things.

Those are pleasant workplace with proper lightning, soothing atmosphere, clean and fresh restrooms, and some basic appliances.

Other than this, we usually don’t expect too much from companies where we work as long as we’re well paid. Many of us are satisfied with sick leaves and a yearly vacation.

But what you probably didn’t know is that there are companies that are glad to give new parents a year off.

It’s a whole year and fully paid, too. If that didn’t get you thinking, we’ve found 9 companies that provide the world’s best perks (based on Glassdoor surveys).

1. Netflix

Netflix is already quite loved among people who like to burn their whole weekend off. They also received a pretty high rating on Glassdoor. The TV-streaming company earned that by offering one year paid leaves to all new mums and dads. People still have the option to work full-time or part time during that time. Even so, they can always go back to their time out if they need it.

2. Spotify

One of the most popular streaming services, this time for music, and also another company that’s kind towards new parents. Their offer is half of Netflix’s – six months of paid parental leave. But, parents are also given lots of flexibility when it comes to their work options when they come back. On top of that, Spotify cover the costs for fertility assistance in case it’s needed.

3. The World Wildlife Fund

If you’re working for a non-profit organisation, you probably don’t expect too many perks since they mostly rely on external funding. The WWF is not an exception. However, in order to compensate, they give every other Friday off. So-called “Panda Fridays” may not seem like much. But, anyone who endures a week full of stress can definitely tell you that those extended weekends twice a month are very well appreciated.

4. Salesforce

Despite not being a non-profit, this software giant will melt your heart. Their employees get six days out of a year, the time they can spend volunteering for the charity of their choice – and all the expenses are covered by the company. This helps spread the spirit of giving among Salesforce’s employees. On top of that, Salesforce also grants their employees more than USD 1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

5. Airbnb

It’s said that you have to understand how a company works in order to work more efficiently. Employees of Airbnb have this unique opportunity to experience the way their company operates. Airbnb gives USD 2,000 annually to their workers to let them travel anywhere in the world. The only condition for their immense generosity is that employees use Airbnb to find accommodation. A negligible price to pay for such a great opportunity.

6. PWC

PWC is an assurance, audit, consulting, and tax service company. They are well known for providing efficient support for one of the US’s biggest economic problems – student debt. Their employees get a USD 1,200 as a part of their student loan debt reimbursement program. This proved to be very effective in relieving most employees from this heavy burden.

7. Twitter

This social media giant doesn’t slack on perks, despite all the perceived problems it has. For one, their employees have three meals per day for free. This definitely helps with expense management. Besides that, the employees get on-site acupuncture to help them fight off stress. On top of everything, they offer improv classes, if this happens to be your thing.

8. The Walt Disney Company

No wonder that the happiest place in the world would also be the happiest place for its employees! Discounts on Disney merchandise and discounts on hotel accommodations are not everything this company offers. Their employees also get free entrance for the park they work in. This may not seem as much, but they got high ratings on Glassdoor (at 4.0)!

9. Facebook

Without any doubt, Facebook is one of the biggest tech companies today. This dominant social media company is very kind to their employees who are moms and dads. Aside from the obvious leave time, they offer their employees “Baby Cash” up to an amount of USD 4,000. Indubitably, this is a lot of money which goes a long way when it comes to the costs that come with a baby.

If you’re a company that pushes towards some employee perks, but is not able to go as far as these 9, then Alsco is here to help you.

We provide many different packages and products that offer added benefits of comfort and better health. We can help you decide which ones are the most suitable for your employees and their needs.

For one, Alsco can make your workplace safer, healthier and greener. People won’t take these perks so lightly, especially if they spend most of their time inside the office.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by Jeramey Jannene

4 Ways To Keep Your Washroom Clean And Safe

The importance of washroom hygiene is often neglected although it is one of the most used places in almost every office.

There are numerous benefits of a hygienically clean washroom. It prevents harmful germs and bacteria from spreading to other areas of the workplace, but it also boosts staff morale and saves the fabric of the building. It also affects attendance numbers and reduces ongoing running costs.

Some reports show that if employers invest money in hygienic workplace facilities, they will have the advantage of a reduction in absenteeism and an increase in productivity.

Employees should not be forced to tolerate poor hygienic conditions in their office washroom. That gives a whole lot of bacteria a chance to spread and thrive.

Here are 4 ideas of how you can keep that washroom safe and clean.

1. Hand Sanitation Is Top Priority

The most common means of bacterial transmittance is through unwashed, dirty hands. A bar of soap on the sink is usually enough, but it can easily slip and end up on the floor.

Also, it can never remain completely sanitary because it passes through too many hands. This is why dispensers are a better option as they ensure controlled releases and better hygiene since the product itself isn’t in direct contact with all the users.

At Alsco, we offer manual and automatic dispensers depending on the need for convenience. We also offer hand sanitizers that kill 99.99% of bacteria and ensure your workspaces are kept safe and hygienic.

All of these are customizable to the specific needs of your company. These can also be complemented by dryers and paper towel dispensers to your full satisfaction.

2. Clean The Loo

Everybody spends a whole lot of time on it and that’s why it is extremely important to regularly check its state.

Anyone sitting on it can easily transfer bacteria to the next person if it isn’t regularly and properly cleaned up. It is also crucial to take into account the safety of your employees as well so make sure to check those hinges on a regular basis.

Providing disposable seat covers is an excellent idea in ensuring that your employees are protected from possible bacteria transmittance. It’s surely no replacement for a thorough cleaning because there’s always more than meets the eye, but it adds to the overall safety.

Make sure to install a hand sanitizer dispenser at the most convenient spot in the washroom so your employees can easily and immediately clean their hands.

3. Control The Smells And Odours

Although odour control might not seem as important as keeping your washroom clean and safe, trust us that it can make a difference between a great experience and a bad one.

Odour control is definitely something you should consider as a clean and fresh-smelling washroom can have a positive impact on your employees, as well as your visitors.

With Also’s Odour Control products, you deal with odour problems efficiently. Our air fresheners are wall-mounted and use natural, biodegradable ingredients. They automatically release scent at intervals and are designed to last longer

Our auto sanitisers don’t just freshen your washroom. They are also highly effective at getting rid of harmful germs. Digital system ensures that germs and bacteria are wiped out 24/7.

4. Don’t Forget About The Safety

Slippages can be a very serious threat to safety. Spilt water, a freshly mopped floor, and just the wrong kind of shoes can endanger a non-careful employee. This can lead to serious injuries if proper precautions aren’t taken.

It is important to know that investing in safety precautions doesn’t have to be expensive. At Alsco we offer you our Managed Floor Mat Rental at affordable prices. Plus we include the cleaning and delivery in the cost.

Our mats are made from highly resistant materials. These have been proven to be able to absorb up to 80% of dirt and dust. They can either repel or absorb a decent quantity ensuring cleanliness and safety.

It is worthwhile investing in even little things when it comes to keeping your washroom clean and safe. This will not only ensure a comfortable employee experience, but it will also keep you far from harm.

For many years, Alsco has been a reliable provider of a wide range of high-end services and products to meet the needs of many businesses across a wide range of industries.

Our services and prices are fully customized so we can be sure that all your needs are met.

Call us today and we will help you choose the best plans and packages that most adequately satisfy your company’s needs.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Images by Hstoeffler

7 Great Tips For Providing Healthy Working Environment

Long working hours, tight deadlines, and ever-growing demands can lead to stress that can greatly affect your employees’ health.

Add to this strict procedures, demanding bosses, or commuting. It is easy to see how these can take a toll on your employees.

It’s also hardly surprising that all of these lead to health problems, such as back pains, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels.

Of course, there are a lot of benefits to office work as well.

Paycheck is stable, you get to work in teams of great colleagues, and many businesses have additional perks that make it worth the ride.

New Zealanders have the reputation for working hard, and comparing how long they work each week to people in other countries proves this. They are working more weekly full-time hours (43.3) than people in Australia (42.6) or in the UK (42.7).

With so many hours spent at work, it is understandable why you as an employer should keep your employees’ health and safety in the forefront. Here are 7 ideas how to make your workplace a healthier and happier place.

1. Encourage Bring-Your-Own Lunches

At work, we are usually too busy to think about what to eat. More often than not, that means we will turn to fast food as an easy and convenient option. But, unhealthy too.

Encouraging employees to prepare their own meals forces them to think about what they eat and choose healthier options.

Additionally, if they already have a ready meal at their desks, this will reduce the stress of having to go out to buy a meal in the middle of a busy day and leave more time for a rush-free meal.

2. Invest In Healthy Snacks

Many employees use snacking as a way to reduce stress at work. Others do it out of boredom because they cannot stand doing nothing, and chewing gives them a sense of taking action.

Unfortunately, this usually means reaching out for a bag of crisps or candy bars. Neither one is particularly good for the body.

Stock your pantry with a bag of almonds, fresh fruits, or maybe even some celery with a tasty dip.

Although some might not appreciate these healthy snacks, they will not be able to turn them down because they are totally free.

3. Light(en) Up Their Lives

Or, should we say, let the sunshine in! Forget about the old misguided idea that artificial light is better than natural light when it comes to illuminating offices. Forget about windowless offices that nobody wants to be stuck in for eight or more hours. Encourage greater use of natural lighting whether by installing full walls of windows or installing skylights, for example.

Of course, make sure you take into account possible glare and a change of indoor temperature. What you really need is a well-designed office that will best meet your employees’ health needs without hurting their comfort.

4. Make Room For Exercise

Nowadays, many companies offer free gym membership to their employees. After all, many are those who want to exercise, but few are those willing to invest time and money into it. But, since offered gym memberships are out of the office, people won’t always take advantage of it.

That’s why it’s a great idea to install a small gym or yoga room, or even host events. Regular exercise with occasional special events, such as Zumba or Salsa Nights will definitely contribute to your employees’ health, but also to the sense of community.

5. Take That Meeting Outside

It’s simple and it costs nothing. No fancy yoga pants, or expensive gym equipment. But it counts as exercise and encourages creative thinking.

Small walking meetings work best as bigger groups are more difficult to manage and might end up as a waste of time. They are perfect for brainstorming new ideas and processes, but not for going through your company’s sales figures.

Not only are these meetings a great change of pace and scenery for your employees, but they also allow them to stretch their legs.

The change of environment also encourages greater openness. It draws people away from the restrictive, entirely professional confines of office spaces.

6. Create Varied Work Areas

Sitting all day in your office is slowly but surely killing you. Think of it as a modern version of smoking. It affects your back, heart, blood flow, as well as the entire cardiovascular system.

That’s why it is important to provide varied work zones that give your employees different options.

Standing-room-only lofts let them ease the strain on their backs. A pod and couch area allows them to relax a little and take a breather. This will not promote laziness, as many think, but will actually encourage freedom of work movement.

7. Invest In A Clean Office

Last but not the least, investing in cleanliness and hygiene of your workplace is one of the best ways to keep it healthy. That especially holds true for your office washrooms. With Alsco’s Hygiene Systems, you have the perfect option for washroom sanitation.

Our Odour Control System is designed to dispense subtle fragrances on a regular schedule, that keep your washroom fresh. The Hand Care Programme includes high-end products that are effective in getting rid of dirt and potentially harmful microbes.

If you add to this safety and first aid options, you’re sure to keep your employees well and healthy.

At Alsco, it is our priority to help you meet your employees’ many needs. For many years, we have been providing businesses in New Zealand with quality products and services to help improve their workplaces and their employees’ lives.

We aim at ensuring a healthy and productive working environment. One of the ways to achieve this goal is by using sanitation products for the most sensitive areas of your office space. Contact us so we can work out the best plan and offer products specifically customised for your needs.

Call us today and we will do our best to help you get your workplace in shape.

3 Reasons Why You Should Introduce Healthy Snacks At Work

We all know how busy and stressful things can get at work. As an easy and quick way of releasing stress, many employees turn to snacks.

More often than not, that means grabbing a bag of crisps, sugar-loaded candy bars, cookies, or some other unhealthy snack.

Apart from stress-related eating, employees are also prone to eating out of boredom. Sometimes, we just can’t stand doing anything, and munching on a bag of crisps gives us a sense of taking action.

Many employers tend to forget that a workplace can have a critical role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. First, we spend at least a quarter of our day at work almost every day, and second, we are often influenced by our co-workers. Many employees find it hard to eat healthily at work while others blame their work and colleagues for their diet failures.

Choosing healthy options for your employees is a great way to promote productivity and support good food choices.

Not many people understand that healthy snacks can be just as tasty as unhealthy ones. Old habits seem to die hard and many employees are not immediately willing to give up on the snacks they are used to.

So then, is it useful for investing in healthy snacks? And can they turn your office into a healthy workplace for your employees?

3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Stocking Up On Healthy Office Snacks

1. Healthy Office Snacks Are Food For The Brain

It’s no secret: common snacks are low-nutrient foods that hurt our mental performance and health. By choosing unhealthy snacks, we deny our brains the fuel it needs to work properly.

Healthy snacks are usually a perfect mix of nutrients containing brain foods that boost our memory and overall health. They also give us enough energy for the rest of the day with the little risk of burnout or crashing.

You can expect your employees to be more focused on their work, as well as to have more energy during work hours than if they were on unhealthy snacks.

2. Healthy Snacks Boost Everyone’s Moods

Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates provide a quick shot of energy that burns out quickly. That’s why those who love candy bars and crisps tend to be hyper before crashing somewhere around the afternoon, leaving them feeling tired, unmotivated and craving more sugar. Obviously, this is not good for productivity.

Unhealthy snacks negatively affect the mood of your employees. This is understandable because of the sugar crash experienced after the body has burned all of the possible energy. When you crash, you experience a dramatic shift from happy and up to down and out.

These mood swings can cause a chain reaction with one employee feeling down affecting others in the workplace as well. This is why healthy snacks are a better option for the entire office. They lead to higher energy levels which in turn engender positive emotions that can affect those around them as well. No one can deny the power of positive vibes on productivity and motivation.

3. Healthy Snacks Provide Opportunities For Bonding

Supporting healthy diets at your workplace is also an excellent chance for your company to host social and educational events.

One way to introduce your employees to healthy snacks is to organise tastings. Find a few easy and healthy snack recipes. Serve them to your employees for the tasting. It is also useful to provide an info sheet above each snack that contains the recipe and the list of benefits that snack offers.

The tastings will also provide you with valuable information on which healthy snacks are popular and which are not worth investing in.

You can take this even further by creating a full-scale information campaign with lectures, group activities, and posters reinforcing the benefits of healthy foods and diets.

Employees should be encouraged to participate by giving their suggestions and recipes. This is the way to reinforce healthy habits and support teamwork.

Top Off Your Campaign With Overall Employee Safety

Ensuring a healthy office environment is a great addition to your campaign supporting healthy food choices. Alsco provides a wide range of products and services that satisfy specific safety and sanitation needs of different companies.

Our Hygiene Systems cater to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. From high-end hand care products to odour eliminators and deep cleaning services, it is our ultimate goal to help you ensure a healthy working environment that boosts productivity and motivation among your employees.

For many years, thousands of New Zealand business have chosen us the top provider of the widest range of services. Our products are known for their quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Call us now and we will help you choose the rental programmes or purchases that will best meet your company’s specific needs.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @yanalya

What Medicine Should Be in the First Aid Kit?

You can, if you want, include the over-the-counter medicine into your first aid kits, but this is not necessary. According to the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, medicine is not required.

However, it is not definitely concluded whether these types of pain relief pills should be kept in first aid kits.

Those who are pro pain relief medicine in the first aid kits argue that this is necessary for those workplaces that are very far away from the pharmacies and the medical institutions.

They also claim that people buy and use these types of medications freely, anyway, so having them within the reach doesn’t make any difference.

Those who are against the pain relief medicine in the first aid kits argue that every kind of medicine should be given, prescribed or administered by a medical professional. They say that people in the case of emergency should not use pain killers freely since a proper diagnosis needs to be given first.

The law says that this is up to the employer to decide. Therefore, if you want first aid kits that contain pain relief medications, you can have them, but it is advisable to practice caution.

Alsco New Zealand offers rental service for first aid kits. We offer fully stocked first aid kits, packed with supplies of your choice, so they match your company needs. Get your first aid kits today.

What Is Needed in a First Aid Kit?

So, if there are no medicines required in a first aid kit, what is? The contents of the first aid kit can be classified into three categories:

1. Sterilisation and sanitisation supplies
2. Wound dressing supplies
3. Resuscitation supplies
4. Other supporting tools and supplies

Sterilisation and sanitisation supplies are needed to reduce the chances of infections and cross contamination. Especially in the case of open wounds, it is essential to keep them sterile. For that purpose, you should stock saline solution, wet wipes and hand sanitisers.

Saline solution is used to keep the wound sterile and to wash out any outside dirt and dust that many have come in contact with the open wound. The wet wipes and hand sanitisers are used to sanitise the first aider’s hands so that the contamination is prevented.

Wound dressing supplies are among the first things that come to one’s mind when somebody mentions the first aid kits. They include adhesive dressings, wound dressings, bandages and eye pads.

• Adhesive dressings should be in assorted sizes and you need at least 20 of them. They are very handy and easy to use. However, you need to make sure they are individually packed, so you avoid de-sterilising them.
• Wound dressings should be in at least two sizes. One size can be the square dressing of 12 cm. Take 6 of those. The other size is 18 cm and two of such square dressings is quite enough.
• Bandages can be stretch and regular, triangle bandages. They need to be packed separately, and you need two of each kind. There are bandages tailored especially for the eye wounds. Bandages are used to position the wound dressing in place and protect it from the outside influences. Those are the eye patches.

Resuscitation supplies are actually the resuscitation mask. It can be used in combination with a portable AED, but it is used mainly as the addition to the CPR compressions. By placing it over the patient’s mouth and nose, you can help them maintain the breathing rhythm without contaminating them with your viruses and bacteria.

Other supporting tools and supplies can include scissors and tweezers. You can use them to cut the supplies like dressings and bandages into appropriate sizes and to open the packages. Avoid using your teeth because you can contaminate the supplies accidentally.

If there are foreign objects in somebody’s ear, eye or splinters in the skin, tweezers can help a lot. That is why it is useful to include them in the first aid kit. Gloves are obviously for the protection of your hands while the claps and safety pins are there to help keep the bandages attached and positioned well.

What Is First Aid Equipment?

Besides the first aid kit with its basic supplies, you may want to boost your first aid efforts and acquire additional first aid equipment. This can include the stretches and trolleys, for example, if you have the first aid room or if your industry is high risk and collapses and faints can happen.

This can include:

• Oxygen therapy units and the like.
• Eyewash stations
• Defibrillators

Oxygen therapy units are a precious addition to the CPR efforts. They ensure that the oxygen easily reaches the victim’s bloodstream which is essential for the survival and the total recovery.

The eyewash stations are conveniently positioned stations that are used in case of eye injury. They are very easy to use and they are very intuitive. You should use them if there is any need to wash your eyes, especially if they are contaminated with some sort of chemical or you need to sanitise the eye due to injury to dress it properly.

Defibrillators or AEDs are irreplaceable items in case of cardiac arrest. They are automatic, which means you don’t need special training to use it. The first aider simply needs to open the patient’s shirt, place the AED pads on their dry skin and start the AED.

You can rent all the eyewash stations, AEDs and first aid kits from Alsco New Zealand. In that way, you don’t have to pay upfront for all the first aid supplies you need to make your workplace safe.

You just pay a flat monthly rate and get your first aid all set up. Moreover, we come to install, check and restock all the first aid kits and regularly make sure that the first aid equipment is functional and operative.

Solve all your first aid issues by contacting Alsco New Zealand. That is the most reliable and the easiest way to make sure you are 100% prepared.

When Should You NOT Use Defibrillator?

In most cases, you should use an AED in case of a cardiac arrest. However, there are instances when the AED should not be used

• If the victim is in water or is wet for any reason.
• If the victim is surrounded by the combustible material.
• If the victim is less than 12 months old.

These are the situations when you should not use the defibrillator. In addition to these, there are situations when you should use your AED with caution:

• If the person has a pacemaker
• If the victim has a medication patch
• It the victim is a child under 8 years of age or weighs less than 25 kg

In all other situations in which you are dealing with a person who is unconscious and unresponsive, you should perform CPR and use the AED. Whether the AED will or will not administer the shock is not up to you. The device itself will analyse the pulse and make that call for you.

For this to happen, you need to have a functional AED ready and easily accessible in your workplace. Get it today from Alsco New Zealand for a monthly fee.

When Should AED Be Used?

AED should be used in case of a cardiac arrest. The symptoms of a cardiac arrest usually include a sudden collapse with irregular or no pulse or heartbeat. The victim is unresponsive, so they don’t react to your calls, shakes and touches.

However, cardiac arrest and heart attack are very similar in their symptoms. While AED can help with the cardiac arrest, it is not effective in the case of a heart attack.

If the person is suffering a heart attack, the only thing that can help them survive until the ambulance arrives is CPR. The AED shock will do no harm, but it will do no good either.

So, how do you know if the person is having a heart attack or a cardiac arrest? You don’t. There is no time for you to make these conclusions and diagnose the condition. If you determine that there is no pulse or the heartbeat is irregular, don’t hesitate and start with the CPR and AED immediately.

While AED won’t help with the heart attack, it will not do any harm either, so it is best to cover your bases, just in case. AED simply won’t administer a shock if the heart rate is not “shockable”.

Should AED Be Used Before or After CPR?

You need to start CPR the moment you see that a person has collapsed and doesn’t have a pulse. CPR is used to continue the blood flow that has stopped due to heart failure. If the blood stops, the brain doesn’t get its oxygen and can die. CPR should be done immediately while the AED is set up.

Image Source: stjohn.org.nz

Shout for help if there is anybody nearby who can hear you. Tell them to call 111 and ask for the ambulance. Grab the nearest AED and start performing the CPR while the other person sets up the AED so you can use it, preferably within a minute.

How Long Should You Perform CPR after a Successful Shock from the Defibrillator?

Generally, the AED should be performed as soon as possible, but some researches showed even a minute-long CPR before the AED shock helped the outcome of these first aid efforts. Setting up your AED will last at least a minute and there is no reason why that time should not be used for CPR.

In that way, you have prevented the complete halt of the blood flow, which is essential for the preservation of all important organs and tissues and you have administered the shock within the first two minutes from the moment of the accident, trying to restore the electrical function of the heart.

When Should You Stop CPR?

If you are in a safe situation when performing a CPR there are only a handful of reasons why you should stop CPR:

• There is an obvious sign that the person is better. They are breathing and/or are responsive.
• A trained medical professional has arrived to the scene and is taking over.
• You have done 40 pushes and you are quickly checking for the pulse.

In other words, unless the person is well, don’t stop with the CPR until the ambulance has arrived and somebody is taking over the CPR from you.

What Are the Chances of Survival When Using AED?

This depends on the time that has passed from the moment you the cardiac arrest happened and the moment you have started the defibrillation.

According to the USA researches and findings, if you shock somebody’s heart with an AED within a minute of their cardiac arrest, their chances of survival are 90%. With every minute passing, those chances drop from 7% to 10%. The Australian resources claim that the success rate within the first minute is 70%.

There have been initiatives around the world for the portable defibrillators to be placed in the public places. This also happens in New Zealand. Due to the importance of the quick response and the timely use of the AED, it is logical that people want to have it nearby at all times.

The majority of cardiac arrests that turn out fatal happen in home. This is because there are no AEDs in most households and while the ambulance arrives, it is usually too late to help.

Some of the cardiac arrests will happen in the workplace. Those who already have heart issues are in a greater risk of suffering a cardiac arrest than those who don’t. You can never be 100% sure that all your employees are aware of the state of their heart.

Therefore, you need to do whatever is in your power to make your workplace as safe as possible for everybody. This includes acquiring portable AEDs and installing them, so that they are always within a reach.

There is no need to buy so many AEDs. You can rent them from Alsco New Zealand for a reasonable monthly fee. Call Alsco NZ today and get your workplace AEDs.