In our recent Return-to-Work survey, 99% of respondents said they planned to return to the office at least part of the time, yet well over half felt only “moderately comfortable” about doing so.

Many of the big tech companies who’ve been leading the charge on reopening are eager to get back to the office. Google will reopen its doors ahead of schedule.

In addition to new safety measures, office and facilities managers are busy creating remote work policies, updating time-off procedures and creating strategies to increase workplace happiness and engagement overall.

When it comes to your COVID recovery plan, no detail is too small, which is why your office supplies must include the following to help employees feel safe and excited to come back to the office.

Did you know that half of all employees on the North American continent plan to look for another job in 2021? The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) is calling it a “turnover tsunami.”

Now that things are slowly returning to some semblance of normality, there are more jobs. This means employees no longer have to stay in a role because the economy is bad, which is one of the reasons companies are eager to implement effective employee engagement strategies.

What’s even more frightening is that top talent will probably be the first to go because it’s easier for them to find work. If the pandemic didn’t inspire you to put some serious focus on employee engagement and retention, it’s not too late.

We’ve outlined three strategies for not only bringing your employees back to the office but convincing them to stay.

With vaccinations well underway, we’ve entered a new phase of the pandemic, and schools must once again adjust, including how they spend the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds as they reopen this fall.

During the initial wave of funding, many schools stocked up on safety and sanitation supplies and remote learning tools.

Now, when purchasing back-to-school supplies and implementing strategies to support student learning, teachers and administrators must consider safety protocols and the emotional effects that the pandemic has had on their students.

The vast majority of workers look forward to going back to the office this year — at least part of the time — but many employees still have a lot of reservations.

According to a recent survey we conducted at Office Basics, 58% of respondents expressed only feeling moderate comfort returning to the office while another 7% feel “extremely concerned.”

Does your return-to-work plan have what it takes to help employees feel safe and comfortable in the office?

As social distancing, wellness checkpoints and mandatory masks will continue to be part of the work experience for the foreseeable future, companies are looking to create outdoor workspaces for a better workplace experience.

Think about it. Your entire office design — from your indoor workstations to your breakroom to your outdoor space — speaks volumes about your brand as well as the culture and vibe of your company.

And with summer just around the corner, why not use your outdoor space as a place people can work alone or with their coworkers while catching some much-needed rays after a long winter of social isolation?

With 60 million Baby Boomers retiring by 2025, there aren’t nearly enough people to fill the gap, which means you will have to think outside the box when it comes to attracting top talent. Creating a cool outdoor space is an easy way to do that.

As buildings and institutions prepare for life after COVID, public restroom cleanliness is under the proverbial microscope.

Maintenance teams face the ultimate challenge: minimizing exposure to the coronavirus and other viruses, which spread through airborne droplets, in tight quarters laden with “toilet plumes,” germy surfaces, and poor ventilation.

The health and safety of patrons and visitors will depend on the quality and efficacy of your janitorial supplies.

To improve hygiene and reduce waste without compromising safety or cleanliness, here are the best disinfectant cleaners and restroom products to add to your custodial supplies inventory.

Spring fever is officially here for organizations across the country. The sun is shining, change is in the air, and return-to-work plans are in full swing.

As companies welcome back employees, the timing has never been better for a fresh office makeover, starting with your office furniture!

Add this list of considerations to your office space planning strategy and learn more about what office furniture and where to buy it to make the return to "normal" exciting, inspiring and productive.

As students and workers reassimilate to office, school and university life, facilities teams face heightened health and safety standards that will require a re-evaluation of current cleaning and disinfection strategies.

The office represents so much more than just a place of employment. It’s your company’s first impression on visitors and new hires. It’s also where employees spend one-third of their lives. 

Every element of your environment, from the layout of your space to the office furniture installation, influences workforce productivity, employee engagement, recruiting and retention.

While keeping up with top office design trends is crucial, when it comes to redesigning the office, a lot can go wrong.

From deforestation and mass manufacturing to plastic ink cartridges that end up in landfills, traditional commercial printing is an iconic foe of environmentalism.

The emergence of products and practices such as eco-friendly printing solutions, on the other hand, is creating a bright, new image for the future as more global enterprises are vowing to reduce their carbon footprint.

Going green is not only good for the planet, but it can also help your company save money and attract consumers wishing to do business with environmentally-friendly companies. Learn how you can join the green movement through some simple tips you can implement today.