LinkedIn surveyed more than 7,000 global professionals in 10 countries to find out which tools and trends will disappear from offices by 2017.
Most of them have become "outdated" because technology is able to substitute them. For example, why need thumb drives when you can use a cloud?
Here are the "endangered species" LinkedIn came up with:
Copiers — 13% said these are disappearing
Business cards — 15% said these are disappearing
An office with a door — 16% said these are disappearing
USB thumb drives — 17% said these are disappearing
Cubicles — 19% said these are disappearing
The corner office for managers/executives — 21% said these are disappearing
Formal business attire like suits, ties, pantyhose, etc. — 27% said these are disappearing
Desktop computers — 34% said these are disappearing
Desk phones — 35% said these are disappearing
Standard working hours — 57% said these are disappearing
The Rolodex — 58% said these are disappearing
Fax machines — 71% said these are disappearing
Tape recorders — 79% said these are disappearing
While open plan offices using systems furniture are becoming increasingly popular due to the communication between employees it allows, we think cubicles, offices with a door, and manger/executive offices still have a long life ahead of them. Tape recorders, fax machines, and the Rolodex definitely deserve to be on the endangered list though.
Which office items and tools are on the rise? According to the same survey, it’s tablet computers, flexi-hours, smartphones and cloud computing.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/trends-that-will-disappear-from-the-workplace-2012-9?op=1#ixzz2dBv14ZPi
More Than Your Typical Office Chair
Ah the good old “office chair.” It’s black. It’s boring. It looks like every other chair in your office, not to mention a million other chairs on the market. Too long offices been plagued by standard seating. Whoever said that office chairs had to be characterless? Your office seating should have just as much personality as you do! Here are five chairs to replace your boring office seating.
1. HON Nucleus® Task Chair
This is not your typical high-backed chair, but it’ll still make you feel like the boss. I love its high back design and two-toned color scheme. It’s still subtle enough that it’s not outlandish, but it still makes a statement. Plus, it’s really comfortable!
2. HON Ignition™ Mid-Back Task Chair
Even if you like the support and look of a standard office chair, your chair doesn’t have to be black! Get a desk chair in a fun color, like the purple one above, to make your chair stand out a little. It still has the classic office look, but it’s a heck of a lot more fun.
3. HON Volt® Task Chair
Same goes for the Volt Task Chair. It has that classic look about it, but an interesting fabric can really set it apart. The great thing about this chair is that it actually comes in a variety of different upholstery options, so even if you want your office to have all matching chairs, you can get them in all different fabrics!
4. HON Ignition™ Mesh-back Guest Chair
You could always go with something like the HON Ignition guest chair. I love it in this lovely red color! I also love that it has wheels on the bottom so it can be moved around. It would be perfect for an open loft type office.
5. HON Flock™ Round Chair
This chair is great for a casual office or as a guest chair. This green is such a lovely springy color and looks amazingly comfortable. This chair is also a perfect choice for a reception or office lounge area.
Which of these chairs would you love to have in your office?
Stop by McAleer's to see them in person!
Article originally posted by HON at http://honcompany.wordpress.com/
1. HON Nucleus® Task Chair
This is not your typical high-backed chair, but it’ll still make you feel like the boss. I love its high back design and two-toned color scheme. It’s still subtle enough that it’s not outlandish, but it still makes a statement. Plus, it’s really comfortable!
2. HON Ignition™ Mid-Back Task Chair
Even if you like the support and look of a standard office chair, your chair doesn’t have to be black! Get a desk chair in a fun color, like the purple one above, to make your chair stand out a little. It still has the classic office look, but it’s a heck of a lot more fun.
3. HON Volt® Task Chair
Same goes for the Volt Task Chair. It has that classic look about it, but an interesting fabric can really set it apart. The great thing about this chair is that it actually comes in a variety of different upholstery options, so even if you want your office to have all matching chairs, you can get them in all different fabrics!
4. HON Ignition™ Mesh-back Guest Chair
You could always go with something like the HON Ignition guest chair. I love it in this lovely red color! I also love that it has wheels on the bottom so it can be moved around. It would be perfect for an open loft type office.
5. HON Flock™ Round Chair
This chair is great for a casual office or as a guest chair. This green is such a lovely springy color and looks amazingly comfortable. This chair is also a perfect choice for a reception or office lounge area.
Which of these chairs would you love to have in your office?
Stop by McAleer's to see them in person!
Article originally posted by HON at http://honcompany.wordpress.com/
10 Workplace Trends That Can Be Seen In Today's Office Furniture
OFM, a leading office and school furniture manufacturer, distributor and wholesaler, identified ten workplace trends that can be seen in today’s office furniture. The way desks, chairs, cubicles, and other furniture have changed in recent years tells important things about broader shifts in how we work. McAleer's understands these changes and has been expanding our lines to incorporate these new trends in office furniture. If you need help updating your office, let us help you renovate your space.
10 Workplace Trends
1. Businesses emphasize collaboration. Workplaces are becoming flatter, with less hierarchy and more emphasis on working together. As a result, office furniture is being designed for more casual collaboration such as modular desks which can be arranged and rearranged in a number of different configurations.
2. Everyone is expected to get their hands dirty. CEOs no longer rely on a secretary for their grunt work. Executives are more hands on, answering emails and checking their tablets. As a result, executive chairs are now being designed with tuck-away tablets for CEOs to work on their iPads and smart phones.
3. You’re always working. Whether you are on a break, eating lunch, or waiting in a lobby, you need to be able to answer a call, check your email, or browse the Internet. As a result, comfortable seating options with arm rests are designed for even the break room.
4. Workplaces are more creative. In the old days, companies and organizations were focused on efficiency. With so many American businesses working on intellectual property, workplaces are now designed to encourage creativity. That means office furniture is becoming more colorful with more artistic options.
5. Everyone is using lots of different kinds of technology. In the past, you might have had just a computer on your desk. Now, you’re liable to be using a computer, a tablet and a smart phone, sometimes all at the same time. Many office desks are now designed with two tabletop grommets to keep all your tech wires organized and out of the way.
6. Companies are trying to be more spontaneous. Businesses no longer need just a set of office chairs for a group meeting. They need seating that can be configured on a fly for an ad hoc group of employees from different departments working on a project. That means office furniture needs to be more versatile having more than one purpose, like chairs that have a swivel tablet for meetings that can be stowed when not in use making the chair a great option in other settings too.
7. Each worker is more important. Companies today are smaller, meaning each individual employee is more important. Today’s managers work harder to prevent employees from leaving, and one way they do this is by offering a comfy work environment. As a result, office chairs for the everyday employee are now more comfortable with things like molded form soft seating that is ergonomically designed.
8. Everyone’s working longer hours. The days of 9-to-5 with an hour for lunch and three breaks are in the past. Today, chairs need to be designed with ergonomics in mind to allow workers to sit in them for long periods of time. That means office chairs are being designed for more than eight hours of use per day and come with as many as 16 different ergonomic configurations for unparallel customization.
9. Companies want to show they value the environment. Companies are working to show that they care about the environment regardless of what industry they are in. Furniture with low chemical emissions made from recyclable material is one way to show this corporate value. As a result, office furniture that is Greenguard certified is becoming popular with workplaces that want to demonstrate their commitment to the environment.
10. More people are working from home. With an increasing number of companies allowing employees to work from remote locations, more people are working from their home office, which means there is a greater need for office furniture designed for home use, many times to fit smaller spaces. There are now more options than ever to design a home office that is stylish, yet efficient and comfortable.
Original article posted here.
10 Workplace Trends
1. Businesses emphasize collaboration. Workplaces are becoming flatter, with less hierarchy and more emphasis on working together. As a result, office furniture is being designed for more casual collaboration such as modular desks which can be arranged and rearranged in a number of different configurations.
2. Everyone is expected to get their hands dirty. CEOs no longer rely on a secretary for their grunt work. Executives are more hands on, answering emails and checking their tablets. As a result, executive chairs are now being designed with tuck-away tablets for CEOs to work on their iPads and smart phones.
3. You’re always working. Whether you are on a break, eating lunch, or waiting in a lobby, you need to be able to answer a call, check your email, or browse the Internet. As a result, comfortable seating options with arm rests are designed for even the break room.
4. Workplaces are more creative. In the old days, companies and organizations were focused on efficiency. With so many American businesses working on intellectual property, workplaces are now designed to encourage creativity. That means office furniture is becoming more colorful with more artistic options.
5. Everyone is using lots of different kinds of technology. In the past, you might have had just a computer on your desk. Now, you’re liable to be using a computer, a tablet and a smart phone, sometimes all at the same time. Many office desks are now designed with two tabletop grommets to keep all your tech wires organized and out of the way.
6. Companies are trying to be more spontaneous. Businesses no longer need just a set of office chairs for a group meeting. They need seating that can be configured on a fly for an ad hoc group of employees from different departments working on a project. That means office furniture needs to be more versatile having more than one purpose, like chairs that have a swivel tablet for meetings that can be stowed when not in use making the chair a great option in other settings too.
7. Each worker is more important. Companies today are smaller, meaning each individual employee is more important. Today’s managers work harder to prevent employees from leaving, and one way they do this is by offering a comfy work environment. As a result, office chairs for the everyday employee are now more comfortable with things like molded form soft seating that is ergonomically designed.
8. Everyone’s working longer hours. The days of 9-to-5 with an hour for lunch and three breaks are in the past. Today, chairs need to be designed with ergonomics in mind to allow workers to sit in them for long periods of time. That means office chairs are being designed for more than eight hours of use per day and come with as many as 16 different ergonomic configurations for unparallel customization.
9. Companies want to show they value the environment. Companies are working to show that they care about the environment regardless of what industry they are in. Furniture with low chemical emissions made from recyclable material is one way to show this corporate value. As a result, office furniture that is Greenguard certified is becoming popular with workplaces that want to demonstrate their commitment to the environment.
10. More people are working from home. With an increasing number of companies allowing employees to work from remote locations, more people are working from their home office, which means there is a greater need for office furniture designed for home use, many times to fit smaller spaces. There are now more options than ever to design a home office that is stylish, yet efficient and comfortable.
Original article posted here.
Upcycling Tips
We all have odds and ends around the home or office that we don’t know what to do with. We could recycle or donate them. Or we can take these ordinary objects and “upcycle” them into furnishings or organizers for our home or work. Here are some great ideas on how to "upcycle" items from your office.
For example, turn an old desk drawer into a unique end table.
Use old cd spindles to store cables.
Turn an old CPU into a mailbox.
Use paper clips to organize cords.
Or use toliet paper rolls to organize cables, pens, or markers.
The Instant Office
McAleer's now carries Swiftspace, the workspace you can put up in seconds! Watch this video to see how easy it is.
Introducing the Barton Park Collection
HON Furniture's first ever Pin it to Win it contest!
Okay all you Pinterest lovers, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, HON is celebrating by giving away a pink Ceres chair to one lucky individual!
For every repin on Pinterest, HON will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen For the Cure® with a maximum donation of $5,000. To enter for a chance to win, simply visit HON's Pin it to Win it board and repin the Ceres image to your Pinterest page.
One winner will be selected at random on 11/1/12. Full Terms & Conditions are available here. Pin to help find a cure!
