Maximizing Productivity and Minimizing Costs with Office Furniture

American workers are not farmers any longer—the majority of people work in offices. As more of the workforce has shifted into cubicles and conference rooms, management strategists, economists, public health experts, and others have conducted countless research studies on the effects of various work conditions. Many of these studies suggest that one critical factor that many employers underestimate when trying to maximize productivity is the set of physical objects in the workspace. It turns out that office furniture in Grand Rapids, Michigan, can have a big effect on how business is conducted.

Mental and Physical Impacts

The way an office is arranged, decorated, and furnished affects the way employees think and feel. First, if the space looks shabby and has low quality, unwieldy furnishings, over time employees will begin to associate these negative qualities with the company itself. If it seems like the managers do not care about the space provided, why should employees care about the quality of work they provide the managers? Second, poorly-designed office furniture has a substantial and negative impact on employees’ physical health. 80% of Americans experience chronic back pain, much of which could be alleviated by sitting in an ergonomic office chair. Smart employers recognize that outfitting their offices with ergonomic furniture will improve employee comfort and wellbeing productivity, which maximizes productivity and lowers the risk of contributing high premiums for work-related medical expenses.

Furnishing Successful Businesses

Buying office furniture in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is not the same kind of experience as buying a new dining room set. The first difference is that you will simply have to buy a lot more furniture than you ever would need in a home. In order to keep your costs low, look for suppliers that keep enough items stocked that you can buy in bulk. This will save you costly trips to multiple vendors (hoping to closely match items from various locations) and should entitle to you to more competitive pricing options for large orders. Obviously, you will want to include in your negotiations arrangements for delivery. Another economical option is to look into suppliers that offer used or rental options. Paying less for these options gives the opportunity to test out different layouts and furnishing choices before making long-term commitment.