Farewell, then, 2018. It’s been a blast, and organisations all over London are looking forward to beginning the new year with a fresh office that is ready for tackling business in the year ahead. No? If your office is at risk of limping into 2019 looking, and feeling, jaded and stricken take a look at our end of year office decoration checklist.
Packing away Christmas!
It’s sad to have to think about before the big day is even upon us, but there’s nothing sadder than starting your business year with the detritus of Christmas lingering around the office. So ensure that cards, decorations and (yes) leftover food is cleared away well before the traditional Twelfth Night deadline.
Keep Cleaning
Perhaps your office is quieter over the Christmas period. Don’t attempt to achieve short term savings by scrimping on office cleaning for this time. The space will certainly show any lack of cleaning come January, and that’s unpleasant for staff to return to. ‘Massive Monday’ is an actual phenomenon: the first working Monday in January when record numbers of job seekers apply for new positions. The condition of your working environment can have a small but tangible impact on how your staff feel.
Maintenance Schedule
Indeed, the festive period can actually be a great time for maintenance or office decoration to take place. When demand on facilities is decreased, decorators and contractors will have the freedom to move around the space with greater speed and efficiency. Experienced decorators like us here at HL will plan work around the needs of your business, so we’d always advise quiet periods to undertake a redecoration.
Personal Responsibilities
It’s great for office staff and colleagues to get into the festive spirit and make an office desk or department feel Christmassy. It’s a pertinent idea, though, to encourage your staff to take their festive paraphernalia home prior to any office festive closure. This will circumvent any distraction for workers returning in January, allowing them to embark on the new year with a clean slate.
Office Closures (or not!)
For some organisations, the office is completely closed for the period between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This can make it easier for office managers to organise any required maintenance jobs to amenities or facilities. For others, a skeleton staff is in operation. So a great idea is to involve those staff in your office decoration refresh! When the season can make meaningful business hard to achieve, many sectors find their workers at a loose end. So encourage a decluttering initiative. Other than polishing off the office mince pie supply, people will be grateful for something to pass the time. The whole organisation will feel the benefits in the year to come!
Busy Workplace
At the other end of the spectrum, perhaps your office is a hive of activity over the Christmas period. For retail and entertainment industries, this is the most lucrative time of the year. So how should a prudent office manager ensure a fresh start for the new year? We’d advise starting as you mean to go on. So begin any decorative or maintenance initiatives at the start of January, not allowing a sluggish start. When a good decorator will work around your office hours, no month is out of the question.
Planning Ahead
Of course, 2019 does not start and end in January. Yes, it’s ideal to make a clean break with the previous year and start the year in a fresh environment. However, the ongoing health of your business through the year can be aided by a functional and efficient office decoration and maintenance programme. So why not use any downtime over the Christmas period to construct this plan and enter the year with confidence in the sustainability of your working environment.
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