How To Manage Allergies In The Workplace

Despite being one of the top three reasons why people miss work, allergies are usually overlooked by business owners. Allergies are also not commonly associated with issues of health and safety at work.

But, since they can significantly affect productivity, it’s crucial for business owners to recognize simple steps in reducing exposure to allergens.

From a runny or blocked nose and watering eyes to severe reactions to foods or products, allergies are becoming increasingly common. Limiting exposure to allergens can improve working conditions, which in turn can result in increased productivity and employee satisfaction.

The Cause Of Allergic Reactions

The immune system is responsible for defending the body against bacteria and viruses, but in some cases, it may defend against usually harmless substances. These substances are knowns as allergens, and when the body reacts to them, it causes an allergic reaction. The most common triggers of allergic reactions are dust mites, pollen, moulds, certain foods, chemicals, animal skin and hair, and even animal urine and faeces.

The symptoms of allergic reactions range from mild to severe to life-threatening and usually affect:

• the skin (hives, rashes)
• the respiratory system (coughing, throat swelling, hay fever)
• the gastrointestinal system (nausea, stomach pains, diarrhoea)
• the cardiovascular system (feeling faint, weakness, floppiness, collapse)

Here’s what you can do to limit allergic reactions at three most common workplaces.

At The Office

Allergens associated with offices are usually air-borne. Piles of paper contribute to high levels of dust, dust mites and spores, while dirty air conditioners and ventilation systems might also be the cause.

Also, chemicals used to clean toilets, hand sanitisers, or even paper towel dispenser might be sources of skin irritation.

How to go about it:

• Make sure your desk is regularly cleared and cleaned, so it doesn’t harbour any dust or allergens
• Have the ventilation system cleaned, or replaced if needed.
• Don’t leave papers stacked up on desks.
• Consider installing an air purifier, or a more powerful air conditioner
• Think about using more hygienic hand drying systems in the toilet
• (such as a closed roller cloth towel dispenser), pH neutral hand soaps and sanitisers, and non-toxic cleaning products.

In The Warehouse

Most warehouses tend to be neglected when it comes to cleaning. Since this area is used for stocking boxes, crates, and pallets of different sizes, the amount of dust or dirt might not be immediately visible. Hidden areas behind shelves are rarely cleaned, and they can be a haven for all kinds of pests. Poor ventilation can only add to the overall problem of exposure to allergens.

How to go about it:

• Declutter and dispose of unused boxes or other products.
• Make sure your warehouse gets a regular and more importantly thorough cleanup.
• Ensure proper ventilation of the area keeping skylights, windows and doors open as often as possible.
• Replace an old ventilation system
• Ask your co-workers or staff to smoke in designated areas only.
• Consider making toilet changes

In The Garage

Garages are probably the most difficult places to keep clean as the staff constantly deals with dirt and grease because of the parts and engine cleaning that is done. But if cleaned regularly and thoroughly, garages can also achieve acceptable levels of cleanliness.

Chemicals, oils and other products used in garages can cause skin irritations while clutter and dirty corners are perfect for rodents. Exposure to a mixture of odours and vapours can irritate eyes, skin and the lungs.

How To Go About It:

• Ventilation is crucial so make sure it is adequate.
• Keep lids on cleaning products, oil drums etc and store them away from the working area.
• Consider getting a chemical-free parts washer, like the EcoSafe Washer from Alsco. Alkaline water-based cleaning substances are proven to be safer for employees as well as the environment.
• Make sure personal protection items, such as face masks, are worn when required.
• Set up a strict and environmentally friendly clean-up procedure to deal with spillage and waste.

No More Allergies

A clean, properly maintained and allergen-free workplace is an attainable ideal that both business owners and employees should strive for. Start with simple yet efficient steps of creating a safe workplace by installing our Work & Dust Control Mats, Anti-Fatigue & Wet Area Mats, Message & Safety Mats, Welcome Mats, Corporate & Logo Mats, or Entrance Mats, to help reduce dust levels. They are all made from recycled and eco-friendly materials.

Call Alsco now and we will be more than happy to help you achieve your goals.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by freeimage4life

Hygiene Condition Of Your Workplace Is Dictated By Restroom Facilities

Workplace hygiene is of utmost importance, just as equipment is to getting work done. If you wonder why, well, there are a lot less chances of getting ill when working in a neat and clean space. This creates a more positive working environment for everyone.

It is clear that many businesses have put a lot of effort into increasing their hygiene levels, especially in the toilets. However, much more is needed to achieve this than a few towels and some toilet paper.

It’s all about providing proper facilities. Two principal types of facilities, to be exact. Practical facilities are related to certain hygiene items.

Meanwhile, design ones are related to how the restroom is put together.

Are you willing to create better workplace hygiene for your workers? Good! We’ve created a brief guide to the things your workplace restroom must have.

Facility maintenance

Getting the facilities right is important, but restroom maintenance is crucial too. After all, anything that is not in perfect condition is not going to be as effective as it should be.

Appointing a facility manager from your staff helps to keep everything in shape. But, is your workplace is larger than the average? If it is, we advise you to consider renting rather than buying facilities.

Practical bathroom facilities

1) Hand Dryers

Three methods of drying hands in the workplace restroom are possible. These are electric hand dryers, cloth roller towels and disposable paper towels. Electric hand dryers are very effective in drying your hands. However, it has been shown that bacteria levels actually increase by up to 254% on palms and 194% on finger pads.

Meanwhile, modern jet air dryers can extend contamination distance by 2 meters. On the other hand, disposable paper towels are much more effective. They reduce bacteria by 76% on finger pads and by 77% on palms. But most importantly, being disposable makes the risk of contamination negligible. At least as long as the bins have proper and functional lids.

The cloth roller towel is highly hygienic too. Since cloth towel dispensers are closed, the used section of a roller towel is unreachable, which reduces contamination significantly. It was found in 2007 that with cotton roller towels bacterial levels decreased by 85% on the hands.

2) Hand Soap Dispensers

Soap is the fundamental agent in cleaning hands, but the old version of a soap bar is not the best option. These tend to gather dirt on their surface. This does not mean cross-contamination is possible (lather washes away the bacteria). It just doesn’t look hygienic so workers usually don’t like it.

Far better version of soap is in liquid, foam or spray form, made available in hand soap dispensers. The dispensers completely protect the actual soap from getting contaminated. Meanwhile, the push-button release mechanism minimises the contamination.

3) Hand Sanitizers

The hand sanitiser is an addition of value required to maintain high hygiene levels. Therefore, it is important to know that it should be used only as an addition to the soap and hand drying system. That’s because sanitising dispensers only remove the transient bacteria that live only on the skin’s surface. More dangerous bacteria lie beneath the surface and can be eliminated more effectively by soap.

Facility design

A lot of things are covered by the restroom design. From the type of doors to the actual combination of colours chosen for a particular facility.

For example, while soap dispensers effectively help workers clean their hands, having a hands-free soap dispenser lowers the risk of contamination from the dispenser button a lot.

Similarly, an automatic flush on a toilet prevents contamination since there is no handle to be contaminated.

Hygiene starts at the restroom threshold, that’s why the swing doors are the most suitable. The design is a walk-in entrance which uses dividers that block the view from the outside but requires no doors.

It is obvious that cubicle doors need to have a lock. Slide latches or push button locks are more hygienic than twist mechanism latches. They need to be gripped.

Work in a school? Here’s all you need to know about school washrooms from the necessary facilities, cubicle sizes, health and safety concerns, washroom design and best workplace hygiene practices.

A Clean And Hygienic Toilet Room

Alsco provides restroom stock and maintenance management services as part of a rental program, which means your staff can focus on their primary tasks instead of wasting time on washroom hygiene and maintenance.

For more inquiries contact Alsco now, our friendly representatives are available to you!

Sources:

• ‘Washing with Contaminated Bar Soap is Unlikely to Transfer Bacteria’, JE Heinze and F Yackovich (1988), US National Library of Medicine
• ‘A Comparative Study of Three Different Hand Drying Methods: Paper Towel, Warm Air Dryer, Jet Air Dryer’, K Redway and S Fawdar, School of Biosciences, University of Westminster, London (2008)

Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by simone.brunozzi

22 Ways To Reduce Stress In The Workplace

Not every type of stress is harmful. One way of looking at it is to consider it a sort of a warning, a specific state of mind telling you that you’re in danger.

In other words, if you find yourself in an extreme situation that your body sees as dangerous, becoming stressed out is a way of protection.

If you truly are in danger, stress makes you focus better on the thing that is causing it.

However, if there is no actual danger, feeling stressed out over a longer period of time can become a problem and even lead to work-related injuries.

In those cases, it might be a good idea to have well-stocked first aid kits, but still, you need to take care of the stress-related problem as soon as possible.

It could be said that what stress does to you to drain your resources until you deal with the cause of the stress. Think of it this way – if you were driving a car and speeding constantly, eventually you would run out of fuel and the engine, which was straining to keep up, would have a chance to cool down. That is what happens to your body – you keep burning out until the problem is solved.

In work-related environments, most employees are constantly under stress. Whether it is due to a project, a family argument they had at home or the lack of money, chronic stress affects their performance, harms their health and makes them unable to work efficiently.

If you are an experienced leader and manager, you know how this can affect the business. You should also know how to reduce that stress and prevent it from taking over in the future. With that in mind, here are 22 ways of reducing stress in the workplace.

1. Identify The Cause

There are some people that might seem as cool as a cucumber all the time, and then they would suddenly lose it over something seemingly irrelevant, like the kitchen running out of coffee. In other words, everybody reacts to unpleasant situations differently and even minor issues can become stress triggers for some.

With that in mind, you should encourage your employees to learn what their stress triggers are and to find the most efficient way of dealing with them. If you’re a vegetarian, for example, avoid going to the butchers. However, if for one reason or another, you just have to face a stressful situation, try finding a less-stressful way of looking at it. For instance, if your children love meat and you have to go to the butchers, focus on the amazing meal you’ll make for your kids and how much they’ll enjoy it.

2. Introduce Your Employees To Breathing Techniques

When stress becomes overwhelming and you feel like your head is going to explode, try inhaling through your mouth and exhaling through the nose. This technique will help you cool down, give your brain some more oxygen and help you think more clearly.

You can also hire a meditation expert to teach your employees some amazing and helpful breathing techniques that will surely help them deal with stressful situations.

3. Snacks That Contain Omega 3

Omega 3 fatty acid can be very helpful in dealing with stressful situations. It can be found in fish such as mackerel and salmon, and it makes your body more stress-resilient. Try to have this on your lunch menu at all times.

4. Learn How To Properly Manage Interruptions

Constant interruptions can be a serious cause of stress, but unfortunately, they are hard to avoid at work. Since you can’t avoid them or ignore them, you have to find an appropriate way of dealing with them so they can’t affect you too much.

Assess the interruptions and see if they are actually worth your time. If not, disregard them; if yes, give them your time and attention. Just try not to stress over the interruption itself, they are a normal part of work life and even though they can make you feel as if you’re losing control over your time, don’t let that feeling stress you out – take control and you’ll feel much better.

5. Know When To Take A Break

The modern world makes us feel as if we always have to do more. We are constantly pushing our limits, and the truth is that nobody can handle that kind of tempo without burning out or, in some cases, even getting ill. Of course, sometimes you just have to work overtime, but not ten days in a row.

Knowing when to push yourself further and when to take a break and rest for a bit is essential for your health and general well-being. Work smarter, not harder.

6. Turn Your Washroom Into A Sanctuary

When it comes to office breaks, people sometimes use those breaks to have some privacy in a washroom. It gives them an opportunity to just relax for a moment and freshen up. Therefore, it’s important that your washroom is clean and properly equipped with everything the users might need. Turn your workplace washroom into a little piece of heaven, and you’ll have much happier (and healthier) employees.

7. Introduce Some Greenery

Adding some plants to your office can help reduce stress in more ways than one. They provide more oxygen and help reduce the noise, which helps your employees focus and think more clearly. Consider adding a couple of plants in the corners or the busiest parts of your workplace. The plants will not only help you reduce the stress but also make your office look more comfortable and familiar.

8. Think About The Light Fittings

Not enough light and too much light can lead to anxiety, depression, and stress. You should make sure there is enough natural light coming through, but during the less-sunny days, ensure that your employees have enough office light since it is essential for their focus and performance. If you’re not sure how to do that, you can hire a professional to install ergonomic lighting in your office.

9. Get Rid Of The Clutter

Clutter in the office leads to clutter in the mind, so make sure every room in your office is always clean, odour-free and clutter-free. If you manage to do that, your employees will surely feel more comfortable and motivated while working.

10. Add More Greens

Since we were children, we have all constantly been told how greens are good for us. Green smoothies can help your employees be healthier, since greens are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and they affect your hormone levels positively. In short, they help you reduce the stress and deal with it more easily. And since cooking is known to kill the beneficial enzymes in the greens, you can offer your employees the ingredients and they can enjoy their own hand-made smoothies.

11. Set The Example

It’s true that actions speak louder than words, so don’t be just their boss – be their leader and show them how it’s done. Change your own lifestyle and inspire your employees to follow your example. Introduce that kind of healthy trend into your office and people will gladly adopt it into their lives as well.

12. Take Breaks More Often

Research on the issue of office breaks has shown that people are taking lunch breaks less and less often under the excuse of simply not having enough time. Also, more and more people are taking sick leaves and holiday breaks.

This might sound as if they are simply working harder, but this kind of work actually makes them less productive. Burning out has consequences, so in order to improve your employees’ productivity, encourage them to take more breaks to rest and recharge. You can give them more days off, or simply more time during the day. It will definitely pay off in the long run as it will make your employees happier and your company more successful.

13. Make Sure Your Office Is Comfortable

Being forced to sit in an uncomfortable chair, straining your eyes in poor lighting conditions, being too cold or too hot for too long or being on your feet all day can all cause a great amount of stress. So, try to make your office as comfortable as you can. For example, you can get ergonomic chairs, AC system and anti-fatigue mats.

14. Move Around

Everybody knows that exercising can help reduce stress by allowing us to use up all the energy that builds up when our body gets in that “fight or flee” state. Therefore, encourage your employees to move around and exercise more. You could organise hiking trips, offer them discounts on gym memberships, and you can even introduce exercise breaks into the work routine.

For some employees, a more physically active role can be life-changing. Take Domenik, for example, whose job as a Service Delivery Person for Alsco in Auckland changed his life in less than 3 months.

https://www.facebook.com/AlscoNewZealand/videos/358413175057693/

15. Organise Team Building Activities

We all feel more comfortable and relaxed being around familiar people, which is why organising team building activities is a great way to reduce stress. The closer your team is, the more comfortable and productive your employees will be.

16. Learn How To Be A Good Listener

You’re not always supposed to offer solutions to problems; sometimes you are only needed to listen. Not all stress is work-related, sometimes your employees are simply struggling with their private issues and as much as they are trying to hide it, the issues still show by affecting their mood and productivity. Listening to them might help them get their problem off their chest, and they will feel better knowing that you understand them. Compassion can go a long way.

17. Offer Courses In Assertiveness And Meditation

Sometimes, people become stressed out because they cannot find an adequate way to express their needs and opinions. Assertiveness courses might be a great way to boost your shy employee’s confidence and teach them how to speak their mind and feel less stressed out. Of course, there are some issues that cannot be solved by assertiveness courses, and that’s where meditation classes come into play. Thinking about these matters and letting them go will save you from a lot of stress that will do you no good.

18. Introduce Flexible Work Schedules

People who work a lot are always struggling with balancing their work life and private life. You can help them achieve this balance by introducing flexible work schedules. Let them work from home on some days and your company is sure to strive since this sort of flexibility will make your employees more rested and productive.

19. Reward Them For Good Work

It goes without saying that things can always be improved and people can always work more, but talking too much about it will only put more pressure on your already stressed-out employees. Instead of doing that, you can offer them small rewards for their good work and praise them publicly so they know their effort is appreciated. It will boost your employees’ productivity and happiness because you will show them that you value them and the effort they put into their work.

20. Stay Positive

Staying positive helps you deal with stress better. Focusing on the good things means that your body won’t go into the “defence mode” and you won’t get stressed out easily.

21. Address The Self-Imposed Stress

You need to learn how to deal with the stress that you yourself create. By coming up with unrealistic, stressful scenarios that are actually very unlikely to happen, just because you don’t have all the details or are not quite sure what is going on, you are only putting additional, unnecessary pressure on yourself.

No, the fact that your boss is not giving you any feedback yet does not mean they are going to fire you; they are more likely just busy, or perhaps they even forgot. You need to recognise when you’re overreacting and being unrealistic and stop yourself from stressing out further. This is something your employees (and everybody else for that matter) should think about.

22. Make Sure Your Employees Are Safe

In every workplace, there are a million things that can go wrong, from equipment-related injuries to health hazards. Show your employees that you care about their safety by organising first aid training; this will help them learn how to protect themselves or help a colleague if something happens. You should also ensure that there are always first aid kits around and that they are always up to date.

This may sound like a big investment, and if you were to buy all those items, it probably would be. However, with Alsco, you can just call us and we’ll rent you everything you need.

Our first aid kit rental involves an affordable annual fee and we will make sure that it is 100% law compliant. Moreover, we will replenish it whenever necessary and make sure it is always up to date.

Call us now and we’ll work everything out with you so that your needs are met and your budget saved.

Photo courtesy of Freepik Images by yanalya
Photo courtesy of Freepik by @rawpixel.com

10 Ways Your Business Can Benefit From Your Washroom

Who cares about workplace washrooms, right? Well, a lot of people. Perhaps employers are not considering this, but they are exactly the sort of people who should.

Of course, washrooms might not be the first thing a customer encounters. After all, they came to do business.

On occasion, they might need to use your restroom and the state of it will tell them a lot about your business.

It can go as far as losing a customer since word of mouth is a powerful tool. In order for your customers to get the best experience, it is worth considering a washroom service.

Here is a list of 10 ways for your business to benefit from clean workplace washrooms:

1. The Devil is in the Detail

What are the most common areas for customers to find themselves at? Anyone will tell you that these are:

• Lobby
• Customer service area
• Meeting room

It is up to you to keep them neat and leave a great impression. Another area that is not on the list is the workplace washrooms. If you really want to prove you pay attention to detail, start there. It will bring you a world of good.

If all the areas that customers frequent are equally well-maintained, this proves a lot. It leaves an impression of cleanliness and care.

2. Managerial Excellence

A recent survey showed something very important when it comes to washroom experiences. Almost three-fourths of customers link the bad experience and bad management. Imagine what this does to the opinion of your company.

The survey also says that a high level of maintenance is the best way to impress customers. This is something that must be done in order to keep the image of your company. Once you get the bad reputation, it is difficult to get rid of.

The same is not only applicable to offices but to schools and other institutions, as well.

If you happen to manage a school, you’d want your school washroom to meet all the legal requirements. What’s more, you’d want it to bring about your employees and students’ health and safety, which will boost your and the school’s reputation, right?

F&C School Washroom Guide will equip you with all the knowledge and tools you need to achieve this goal, so make sure you refer to it.

3. Profit is Not All You Care About

Do you care about your customers? A well-maintained workplace washroom will certainly prove that. The customers will feel this. The fact that you have put in the extra effort will be appreciated. They know restrooms do not make money and that they are not at the top of your necessities list.

You clients and your customers are well aware of your business qualities. Otherwise, they would not be doing business with you. That is why this additional care can only bring more customers and more profit.

4. Hard work and Efficiency Go Hand in Hand

Clean and well-maintained workplace washrooms are a sign of a hardworking and efficient team. On the other hand, they might think you are not running a tight ship if the restroom is in poor condition.

Imagine being in the shoes of the customer. Should they trust you if you cannot make sure your facilities are clean? It sends a poor message and gives an impression of inefficiency.

Image from: Pexels by Pixabay

5. Does Cleanliness Matter?

If your aim is to demonstrate that you value hygiene, you need a well-kept washroom. This is twice as important if you are running a restaurant, for example. The message of an immaculate restroom is the message of an immaculate kitchen. Customers will give you points for both.

6. Trustworthiness is An Ally

Customer trust is one of the most difficult things to achieve. As they become more educated, the customers will see through any tricks.

You can consider the effort put into keeping the washroom clean an investment. You are investing in the future trust that the customers will have in your company. This is why it is important not to go stingy when it comes to the washroom area.

7. How Much do your Customers Matter to You?

Another interesting point of view is whether customers are getting their money’s worth. If you keep the washroom sparkling, they will feel their money is well spent and they will want to give you more of it. This is why their overall experience should matter.

8. Are You Concerned About Health?

One of the most important reasons for cleanliness are germs. Washrooms are a potential breeding ground for bacteria. The last thing you want is a customer catching something while visiting.

Spotless washrooms are your way of showing customers you care about their health. This is a statement that will not be ignored by them.

Image from: Flickr by javi_indy

9. A Happy Customer is a Returning Customer

Would you return to a place sporting smelly restrooms? Think about how your customers feel. If you keep your washrooms clean, you will keep the customers coming back. Do not get written off because of something so simple.

10. Social Responsibility is Your Secret Weapon

Why not take things one step further and create a statement of social responsibility when it comes to your washroom. Try any of the following:

• Water-saving taps
• Low-energy hand dryers
• Various green accessories

These will go a long way in showing the social responsibility of your business. Customers know how to appreciate that.

Thinking about improving your washroom experience for customers? See what Alsco has to offer in that department.

Photo: prostooleh

Restaurant Washroom – The Place Which Can Make All The Difference

Do you want your visitors to spread the word about your establishment? Are you trying to make both your guests and your staff happy? Do you wish your restaurant had that special something that attracts people?

There is a place in your restaurant which can assist you with all that! All you need to do is dedicate some time to it!

If you ask a hospitality industry expert, you will often hear that washrooms can be really useful in generating the necessary buzz which can help you increase the visibility of your restaurant on the map.

Word of mouth being one of the most effective marketing strategies available, you will gain many popularity points by giving some love to the washroom and designing it in such way that people wish to talk about it to their friends!

People love to judge washrooms. When they pay a visit to one, they are most often alone, and this means that they will often attempt to rate the experience they have. Be sure the pickiest among them will have time to analyze every aspect of the place!

Restaurant washrooms that do their job well will

• Cut your expenses
• Be environmentally friendly
• Be clean and bacteria-free
• Make both guests and the members of staff feel comfortable

So what are the necessary ingredients that make a great washroom? Listed here are the four most important elements. If you need help doing everything on this list, contact Alsco and rest assured you will create a washroom of your dreams!.

1) Pay Special Attention To Hand Hygiene

This is the most basic element in a great washroom. Various germs and viruses are known to spread through hands. So it is important to have the right kind of hand hygiene facilities.

Sanitisers

Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are known to quickly reduce the number of microbes on people’s hands. Studies have shown that sanitisers with an alcohol content of a minimum of 60% are the most effective against viruses and germs. These can be particularly useful in situations where water or soap may not be available.

Alsco sanitisers also contain emollients which do not cause skin irritation or damage.

Soap

Using soap is the basic hygiene habit and it simply cannot be overstated how important it is. However, it does not get nearly enough attention it deserves in our everyday life.

Fortunately, there are some really good soaps available in the market, whose properties may even encourage workers to wash hands more regularly, such as moisturising effect, for example.

Users tend to really like spray soaps, but those are not often found on business premises because they are usually more expensive.

Alsco’s spray soaps, on the other hand, are designed in such a way to maximise the efficiency, which results in their price being equal to liquid soaps. This enables you to give your users a choice. Regular servicing ensures that they are always stocked up and functioning properly.

Hand Drying

Washing hands will often go to waste if they are not dried properly since wet hands are an ideal breeding ground for disease-carrying germs and viruses. Hands need to be dried properly and completely after each wash.

There are multiple hand drying methods. Choose the one that is right for you. The soft, highly absorbent, cotton continuous towel from Alsco is a green option preferred by many businesses.

Spouts And Dispensers

These are a common source for cross-contamination as they tend to be touched frequently by various people. No-touch dispensers are a healthier alternative and work out to be economical too since they dispense only the required dose of soap.

2) Don’t Forget To Maintain Air Quality

A washroom that smells nice is a washroom that leaves a great first impression. This is the step no responsible business owner should skip, especially because it is very easy to achieve good air quality with minimal investment.

Good ventilation is often all that it takes to maintain a good quality of air in any washroom. However, not all premises have access to external walls and therefore owners can be faced with the problem of dealing with stale air. Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to quickly solve this problem.

Alsco’s 3-in-1 solution is perfect for dealing with bad quality of air. Air management filters will take care of the unpleasant smell, dust particles and germs. The most important thing to mention about this triple filter setup is that it does not affect the airflow in your washroom.

3) Cater To Everyone’s Needs

Make sure you provide for the needs of women and children. Discreet and smart feminine hygiene bins for women are a basic necessity.

Additional features like providing a nappy changing unit with a high-quality disposal bin or seat sanitisers in public washrooms are just that extra bit you can do to show that you care.

4) Show Your Workplace Washrooms Some Love

Your restroom is a great opportunity to impress your visitors and create a buzz around it. We are sure you would have seen those lists about the “Top 10 washrooms”. The idea is to make your visitors feel good about your washrooms so that they remember them.

You do not have to hire expensive designers for it. Sites such as Pinterest, Flickr or Instagram can give you inspiration and get your creative juices flowing.

Alsco’s own sleek modern professional looking range of washroom products is a simple way to pack in that punch.

Alsco Can Help You!

Following these steps will make your workplace washroom shine! And Alsco, the leader in cost-effective washroom solutions for businesses is just a click away from helping you finish the job!

Photo courtesy of Freepik Images by javi_indy

Benefits Of Workwear That Will Convince Everyone

Work uniforms are becoming pretty fashionable these days in the business world. Not only in the restaurants, hotels and manufacturing – companies in other industries are joining the trend as well.

Every good manager will confirm that workwear is one of the essential ways to protect workers against dirt, grease and other things they come in contact with during their working hours.

But apart from their protective role, work uniforms are also very good in promoting brands and conveying a sense of professionalism and dignity.

This article will present you with some really appealing reasons why you should consider introducing uniforms to your workplace, as well as provide you with a list of possible concerns your employees may have about that move.

With a managed industrial clothing rental service such as the one offered by Alsco, the industry leader in uniform rentals, the entire business with uniforms is made much easier and more practical.

Why Do Workers Resist Wearing Work Uniforms?

Despite these advantages, employees often resist the idea of uniforms. However, Alsco can help you overcome their resistance through better design and features.

They Can Be Expensive to Purchase and Maintain

Many business owners consider it a fact that uniforms present a continuous expense. After all, they need to be clean and look presentable all the time, and this costs money.

While this may be true in some scenarios, it is certainly possible to avoid any unnecessary costs by considering a managed rental service. Companies such as Alsco offer great deals – you pay for uniforms once and you don’t have to worry about expenses ever again! Alsco makes sure your uniforms are always kept in perfect shape.

They Can Make Work More Difficult

If not designed and sized properly, uniforms may hamper work. Uniforms with long loose sleeves that keep dipping into food are no-good for waiters. Alsco has many form-fitting, careful thought of uniforms for different jobs designed by experts to help promote efficiency at work.

They Limit Expression

Some employees may consider uniforms to hinder their ability to express themselves through their clothes. This is why it’s important to pick a supplier with a wide range of modern uniform styles. You can’t please everyone, but picking a fashionable uniform will go a long way in making most of your employees happy to wear it.

What Makes Work Uniforms So Useful?

Industrial apparel serves many useful purposes – for both the businesses and the employees.

They Keep Workers Safe and Protected

In industries such as the construction or mining, workwear such as hi-vis clothing and hard caps can ensure that the employees are visible and protected. Employees feel safer and are able to work more productively without having to constantly be concerned about their safety.

The clothing for certain jobs is designed keeping in mind the specific requirements of these jobs. Chef’s jackets are a perfect example of this. They have pockets in specific areas, are full sleeved to offer protection and made from materials which allow for food stains to be cleaned easily.

They Help Build Recognition and Trust

Workwear helps establish good image of the company in the minds of its clients and associates. Uniforms are great in building trust and helping people recognize your brand and your values. They are especially efficient for industries in which workers pay visits to households and other companies, such as product delivery, pest control, etc.

They Make Employees Easily Distinguishable

A uniform also makes it easier for the customers distinguish and identify the employees of the establishment from its clients. This is very useful in hotels, restaurant, busy airports, bus terminals, etc. A customer knows exactly who he needs to approach for any query or assistance without having to wonder if the other person isn’t another customer like them.

They Help Promote Your Brand

Uniforms with logos of the company are great branding and marketing tools. Every time an employee of yours steps out in public, they turn into a walking billboard. Uniforms can have everything from the company name, logo and the corporate slogan on them. They will almost always have at least one of the above.

They Improve Your Professional Image

Nothing spells professionalism quite like a tidy, modern uniform. It promotes cleanliness and speaks to clients about how reliable and organized your company is. This is one of the main reasons why hospitality industry loves workwear so much.

They Help Team Bonding

The common workwear helps iron out intra-team differences since no one is wearing different clothes which reflect the different ethnicities, race or status of the team members. Teams bond better.

Starbucks employees across the world can be recognised by their trademark uniform, regardless of which country you go to. This helps the organisation to deliver a message of consistency in service quality across the globe.

They Establish Common Identity

Uniforms help to foster a sense of pride in their jobs and a sense of belonging to an organisation. A common identity helps work towards common goals. Sports teams, in particular, are associated with their team uniforms and colours which are a symbol of their pride. The same philosophy applies at workplaces too.

Talk To Professionals

The most difficult step in introduction of workwear to your company is the first step – deciding to do it in the first place. After you make this decision, the rest is much easier – companies like Alsco are available to take most of the responsibilities for workwear maintenance away from you, so that you can focus only on the positive aspects of your decision.

If you have any doubts about what the best thing to do would be, or you are not clear on how a managed rental service functions, get in touch with Alsco’s experts and expect to receive some well-informed advice. Get your own customised quote today.

Photo: Pixabay

Cloth Towels vs. Hand Dryers: Which One is Better?

Paying attention to hygiene has always been an effective method of preventing bacteria and infectious diseases from spreading.

Recently, the importance of hand drying has become clear and it is now considered an important part of hand hygiene habits.

The reason for that are studies which show that bacteria are less likely to be transmitted from dry skin than it is from wet.

There is more than one way of hand drying. We are all used to seeing both towel dispensers and warm air hand dryers in public bathrooms and at work.

But have you ever wondered which option is the better one? Keep reading to find out.

Research done by the University of Westminster has shown that using warm air hand dryers can actually lead to even more bacteria on your hands. Using cloth towels, however, reduces the number of bacteria on your hands.

The purpose of continuous cloth towel dispensers is to isolate bacteria, and the unused towel section is safely separated from the used part until it needs to be removed for cleaning. Unlike cloth towel dispensers, warm air hand dryers are capable of spreading the bacteria even up to two meters away from the dryer.

There is also an environmental aspect to be considered. Cloth towel dispensers don’t need electricity, so they definitely preserve energy more than warm air dryers do. Also, cloth towels are not only cleaned and reused many times but also recycled as a washcloth, which makes both the production cost and the environmental impact much lower.

It’s needless to say that keeping your hands clean is important. And when it comes to drying them, using cloth towels seems to be a better way.

With all that in mind, if you are looking for a hygienic, soft, and, most importantly, eco-friendly way of hand drying at your workplace, all you need to do is contact the professionals at Alsco and they will be more than happy to help you find a solution that fits your needs best.

11 Tips for Running A Successful Café

Opening a café and making it successful is many people’s dream, and it’s easy to understand why.

Seeing people at your café chatting with their friends, drinking coffee, having a snack, or simply relaxing from a long day at work or a busy day in the mall is certainly more satisfying than a full-time job that often implies being stuck in an office all day.

Cafés offer a feeling of familiarity and comfort, but in reality, running a café is far from easy.

If you want to make your dream of running a café come true, you have to be ready to face the competition.

Statistics show that the majority of new cafés fail, 70% of them closing within their first year. Moreover, the average holding period of a café is two to three years before a new buyer is found.

However, even with all the risks that come with owning and running a café, the benefits of this challenge – both personal and financial – are numerous.

So, what do you need to ensure your café’s success? What are the common mistakes you should avoid and the strategies you should adopt?

We’ve come up with a list of 11 tips for running a café that will definitely set you off on the path to success.

1. Don’t set your standards too high – nobody is going to just give you a perfect café to run. Good deals are not easy to find, and they are definitely not cheap. If something seems too good to be true, the real reason will come up sooner or later. The best thing you can do is leave your emotions out of the picture and forget about the appearance – you can take care of everything later. Asking for too much and being too emotional can only be an obstacle to your dream.

2. Plan ahead – when it comes to being objective, it’s also important to come up with a good business plan before you actually buy a café. Think about marketing strategies and all the other responsibilities that will await you as the manager. Another important reason for having a good business plan is that you won’t be able to ask banks for a loan or get decent funding without it.

3. Take care of the details – don’t forget to deal with all the legal matters beforehand. You need to have all the necessary insurances, business permits, and alcohol licences before opening your café.

4. Choose a theme – creating a place that is comfortable, safe and familiar-looking is not exactly hard, but truth be told, that sort of place is not going to draw much attention. Having a theme will help you stand out among all the other cafés. Also, apply the theme to the menu as well, not just to the appearance.

5. Stay professional – if you want your café to be successful, you should maintain a certain level of professionalism. Train your staff properly so they know how to handle all possible situations, make sure your presentation standards are high (including the look of your menu), and create a website that is both attractive and informative.

6. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes – think about what your customers would expect from your café. Trying to see your place from their perspective could help you find any potential issues and fix them in time.

7. Provide clear instructions – never forget the importance of communication. There shouldn’t be any policy inconsistencies, especially since they can lead to customer dissatisfaction. So if you want your café to become successful, make sure everybody is on the same page.

8. Appreciate your suppliers – maintaining a positive relationship with your distributors and suppliers is essential. This means that they will be more likely to help you out in case of an emergency – and there will be emergencies if your café becomes successful.

9. Don’t be afraid of a change – experienced café owners will tell you that change is never a bad thing. Running a café is a flexible type of business, which means that you have to be able to adjust to the needs and desires of your customers.

10. Marketing is always important – staying popular is always a challenge, especially when it comes to running your own café. Regardless of how unique and amazing your offer is, the word-of-the mouth will simply not be enough. This is why you need to invest in good marketing, which includes both digital and traditional marketing strategies.

11. Retaining customers – as important as your relationship with your supplies is, developing a base of loyal customers should be your priority. In that sense, you should consider offering loyalty programmes. For example, rewarding your customers by giving them a free coffee after they punched out all the spots on a card can sometimes be more than enough to make them return.

Where Does Alsco Fit In?

Alsco provides convenient and economical solutions for maintaining the highest linen standards for your business. Our fully-managed tea towel rental service is no exception: we provide quality fabrics, sizes and colours with no up-front capital outlay; regular pick-up and delivery; and a flexible inventory management system.

Take advantage of our tea towel trial – one week free – and find out how it feels to have an endless supply of clean linen.

Keep Your Heart Beating – Tips For A Healthy Life

Having a healthy heart is a basic prerequisite for a good life. And having a healthy lifestyle is the most important factor in the mission to keep your heart healthy.

We live fast and very often it is extremely hard to take care of our health properly. When we are hungry and there is no time to prepare anything, we will go and buy junk food, often fully aware of the possible long term consequences.

We drive to work because it is more practical and less time consuming than riding a bike.

At work, we deal with stress every day, usually unaware of how much damage our heart takes each time we suffer a drawback or work long hours.

Living a life which does not harm our heart is impossible in this day and age. However, there are certain things which can help us get a healthy lifestyle and ease the burden on this crucial muscle.

The tips in this article are meant to inspire you to get healthy lifestyle and start taking better care of yourself and your heart. If you manage to change only one of the things listed below, your body will be grateful.

Exercise

Becoming and staying active can greatly reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

Doctors advise a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week or lesser if the physical activity being undertaken is of greater intensity.

Activities of moderate-intensity are brisk walking, playing golf, recreational swimming or household activities such as cleaning windows etc.

Activities of vigorous intensity include jogging, aerobics or most sports.

Apart from the short bursts of moderate to intense activity, it is also important to stay active during the rest of the day. If you have a sedentary desk job, make sure you get up from time to time. Walk up to your colleague instead of calling her, take a coffee break or refill your water bottle periodically.

Standing desks or Hamster-wheels at workstations are some more ideas that can help keep you active throughout your day.

If you have the opportunity, consider taking on a more physically active role. Take Domenik, for example, whose job as a Service Delivery Person for Alsco in Auckland changed his life in less than 3 months.

https://www.facebook.com/AlscoNewZealand/videos/358413175057693/

Relax

Stress happens. Things do not always go as per plan. The important thing is to stay calm in these situations.

If we let these situations get the better of us, then it affects our heart adversely. In order to cope with stress, the body releases adrenaline. Adrenaline causes the heart to overwork and beat very hard.

Regular exercise helps us to cope with stress. Other ways to beat stress are talking to a friend, a trusted colleague.

Image from: freepik

Switch Off

In today’s world of 24/7 connectivity, where smartphones that are becoming smarter by the minute second, the office is no longer restricted by its geographic presence or by time. Work happens anytime and anywhere.

This is a major cause of the rise in stress in modern times, which leads to heart problems. Therefore, it is important to be able to disconnect from our phones, tablets and other electronic devices.

If your device offers home or an evening mode, switch to that. Use the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode at night to catch your zzz’s.

Sleep

The healing power of sleep is very well known and documented. Your heart naturally benefits from it as well. During sleep, our body has time to rest and replenish the energy necessary for normal functioning during the day. Our heart, which keeps beating incessantly, has time to slow down and recuperate.

If you want to get the best out of your regular night’s sleep, you need to make sure you sleep enough and at the right time. The time around midnight is crucial, so try to spend it sleeping whenever possible.

Establishing a regular sleeping pattern is also very important because your body generally likes predictability.

Stop Smoking

If you are a smoker, you need to quit. NOW! This is the single most important thing you can do for your heart.

Smoking is the leading cause of heart attacks. Here are some practical and easy steps you can take to stop smoking.

There are many websites which can also help you to cope while you are trying to quit. Some of them will have a helpline, can assist you in finding a ‘quiet coach’, and provide useful information and resources.

Fruits, Vegetables And Nuts

Make friends with these food types for a healthy heart. Easy food ideas for a healthy lifestyle and top heart-friendly snack tip ideas can be found everywhere on the internet.

Image from: Pexels by Stokpic

The foods and snacks basically comprise of

• Whole grains – which are rich in fibre.
• Lean meats and fish (which is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids).
• Fruits and vegetables -particularly berries.
• Nuts, seeds and legumes.

Foods to be avoided are refined carbs, fried foods and red meats. Consumption of alcohol too should be restricted.

Be Prepared

The final tip is – always be ready to react if something unpredictable happens because your body can surprise you even if you did everything to prevent such occurrences. It is wise to always know where to obtain the necessary aid.

Photo: pressfoto

How to Keep Your Restaurant Food Safe with 3 Easy Steps

Running a restaurant business is everything but simple and easy. It does not include just actions such as choosing the most appropriate and trendy location, decorating the space and trying to find the most attractive furniture.

No! There are other numerous things to think about.

Less fun but more important activities include those related to choosing the best staff for your restaurant, providing best quality uniforms for them, taking care of the hygiene level of all the restaurant areas, including washrooms, etc.

You may wonder why those latter mentioned activities are more important than others. Well simply because those activities directly affect possible food contamination.

So, basically, if you serve at least one, the smallest piece of food affected by food contamination, there are legal consequences!

Therefore, in order not to have those types of problems in your restaurant business life, follow these three simple steps!

1. Avoid Food Contamination

The storage system has to protect food from contamination. All the food which is used in the kitchen must be properly stored at the proper temperature and in an appropriate place. This step is highly important!

When you store food and groceries at the necessary temperature level you are eliminating biological hazards, such as parasitic and bacterial microorganisms.

In order to make sure the kitchen staff never forgets to check the temperature, you can make some posters and use them as a reminder.

When it comes to the best possible space for storing the food and groceries, firstly have in mind that you should always store the food at the least six inches off the ground.

So, there are no potato bags on the floor! Next step to do is to separate all the varieties of food and groceries into containers which suit them. You will definitely not keep meat and other raw materials on the kitchen counter but in the fridge, right?

With the above actions, you completed the # step in keeping your restaurant safe for your customers!

2. Think About Hygiene, Always!

In this case, you are not in charge just for the clean, sanitised and perfectly tidy restaurant space, but also for the hygiene level of your staff.

There is really a big reason for being extremely cautious when it comes to keeping your restaurant sanitised and spotless – the law! Yes, the law!

All existing regulations regardless cleanliness of the kitchen and other areas of a restaurant, as well as the hygiene level of your employees, actually do exist because they are involved in the food preparation process. Therefore, those could be potential food contaminants if not done in an appropriate way.

So, make sure your staff always wear clean and tidy uniforms of the right size to prevent injuries and contamination. Next action is to sanitise all the areas on a regular basis, with proper products.

Also, you should really invest in good quality washroom pieces. Finally, a cleaning schedule would be a necessity. Write on board what cleaning actions have to be done on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Image from: Pexels by Kaboompics.com

In this way you are doing two crucial things:

• Preventing any chance of food contamination regarding the hygiene level
• Being perfectly safe when the restaurant inspection comes unannounced

3. Educate Your Kitchen Staff

None of the above-mentioned actions would make sense if there are no people who can take them in a proper way. This is why you have to keep your kitchen staff well-informed and invest in their additional training and education if necessary!

Kitchen staff should be acting as one great team, working smoothly and efficiently. So, do everything in your power to update them with all the necessary info when it comes to food safety tips! They really must know everything about storing, processing and preparing each of the groceries in the appropriate way.

Furthermore, make sure they take care of their hygiene level. Hire a professional who will explain to them why it is so important to wash hands every time after using different types of food, for example. Put a lot of hygiene posters all around so that those serve as reminders for them. There are many possibilities, you just have to pick the one that is best for your needs.

Now, these are really simple steps to do, however, the restaurant business is very demanding. Sometimes restaurant owners do not have enough time or energy to deal with all the details, especially with those related to uniforms and regular cleaning.

Luckily, you do not have to worry! Alsco can solve all these problems easily! We do not offer just a wide range of products, but also managed rental service for uniforms and hassle-free hygiene service for your washrooms!

Call Alsco now and our friendly representatives will happily help you to find the best offer!

Photo: Freepik