It may seem like desks are a one-size-fits-all proposition, but there are ways to make your desk, and the rest of your workspace, work with you. The answer is ergonomics. It may sound like a big nonsense word, but all it means is that work should fit the person. Ergonomics is about creating a workspace that’s comfortable and works with you and your body so you can work safely and easily.

We know that’s not the way the saying is supposed to go, but think about it. You spend a lot more time drinking than eating. So what you drink is a lot more likely to say something about who you are than what you choose to eat for lunch. Your lunch choice changes daily, but most people choose a drink and stick with it. What is what you're drinking saying about you? Let’s take a look. While we’re at it, we’ll give you some suggestions for switching up your drink choice so you can stay cool when it’s hot.

At Rogards our goal is to be a real, trusted partner to you and your business, so we’re always on the lookout for ideas and solutions that will help your workplace run more efficiently. That’s why we’re so excited about our newest workplace solution. What makes it such a bright idea? There are plenty of reasons.

If we asked you to list the reasons that productivity falls over the summer months, most of the answers would be obvious – vacations, long holiday weekends, lunches that run a little long because it’s so hard to come back in from the sun. What if we told you there was a hidden culprit behind your collective inability do get things done when it’s hot? What would you say it is? Would you guess thirst?

Having a colleague collapse is horrible and it can be difficult to react when you’re under stress and scared, but for each minute that passes without treatment a victim’s chances of survival drop by 10%. There’s really no reason to fear helping a colleague. To help you feel better about offering care, we’re addressing some of the common fears related to using AEDs.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.9 million reported on-the-job injuries in 2013. Yikes! No wonder they’ve named June National Safety Month. What better time to take a look around your office, pinpoint potential accidents-in-waiting, and work to eliminate them? Not sure what to look for? We’re here to help. Here are some tips for avoiding some of the most common office safety hazards.

It’s not very often that we tell a customer that we want to sell them an item that we hope they won’t use, but that’s what we’re doing this month. Why this month? June is all about safety. It’s National Safety Month and June 1-7 is National CPR/AED Awareness Week. That brings us to the item we think you need, but hope you won’t have to use: an AED (Automated External Defibrillator).

It should come as no surprise that sitting at work all day is really bad for us. You’ve probably seen the headlines: “Sitting is killing you.” “Sitting is the new smoking.” What can you do to cut your seat time? Well, studies show that people spend more time sitting on work days than on their days off, so it makes a lot of sense to try to make more time for moving at work. Now, we know what you’re thinking. “I have an office job. What choice do I have? I have to sit all day.” Not true. There are plenty of ways that you can add some movement to your day and still get work done.

As Earth Day rolls around each year we’re all reminded to take a look at ways that we can reduce our impact on the environment. Sometimes those not-so-gentle reminders can leave you feeling stressed. Are you doing enough to go green? Are the things you’re doing really making a difference? There’s really no reason to stress out, especially since it’s Stress Awareness Month. When we were working towards earning our green business certification, we were pleasantly surprised to find that many of the things we were already doing counted as green practices, and many of the suggested practices were easy to implement. So, in celebration of Earth Day and Stress Awareness Month, we’re sharing these easy-to-implement tips for moving towards more sustainable practices.

These days, it seems like everyone feels that they need to be doing more to prove themselves. If you’re trying to show that you’re a hard worker, the breakroom seems like the last place you want to be seen. The breakroom really doesn’t deserve its bad reputation as a time-waster. It has more to offer your office than a caffeine buzz. Having a nice place that encourages employees to come together can benefit your business in several ways.

Seventy percent of people say that their jobs are too stressful. And most of us spend more time at work than we do any other single place. No one wants to spend most of their day stressed. So, in honor of Stress Awareness Month, we’re sharing some tips for cutting back on stress in the workplace. Give some of these a try and maybe by the time May rolls around you’ll be feeling more relaxed.

What if we told you that one small change to your office could lead to happier employees, increased productivity, improved communication, and more frequent collaboration? No, this is no late April Fool’s joke. Studies say it’s true. So, what’s the change? Check out our latest video to find out.

Over the past four years, while the big boxes have been falling over themselves to band together, Rogards has also been changing. We look to the future and see opportunity to continue to grow and expand our offerings, but as we look at these new opportunities we are always careful to ask: what about our customers? Will they appreciate having access to these new products? And will they like being able to call a well-trained customer service or account management team to ask questions about their workplace problems? And do our customers want a partner that is involved in our local community?

It’s not uncommon for an employer to enforce a no dating policy for coworkers. After all, who wants to deal with the potential loss in productivity and office drama? Coupledom doesn't have to cause problems though. There are times that pairing up can benefit your business. So, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, we’re introducing three couples that will actually help your office.

There's no need to turn down the thermostat this winter to save on your energy bills. Follow our lead by making one change in your office and you can save up to 33%. Watch our latest video post to find out how you can save energy, save money, and save the environment.

During the holidays, juggling all of your obligations can be really difficult. Add parties, family get-togethers, gift shopping, and travel to your usual work and family schedules and it can start to feel like too much. Then a deadline gets moved up or a project is sent back to you for reworking. You realize you forgot to buy a Secret Santa present. Nerves start to fray. Pretty soon even the sight of one of your coworkers singing an off-key karaoke version of an ‘80s power ballad while wearing reindeer antlers and bowling shoes can’t get you to crack a smile. Well, don’t despair. The holiday season doesn’t have to be a huge flaming ball of stress. With a little planning, you can get through it all with a smile on your face.

For the past few months we’ve been working hard to show you how to survive cold and flu season by de-germing your office. First, we told you about the common areas in your office that harbor germs. Then we dragged you into our bathroom to show you how to keep bathroom germs from spreading. Now we’re going to take you to a place that can have more than 400 times more germs than a toilet seat. There’s no reason to panic though. We’ll also share three quick and easy tips for wiping out those hidden germs.

I like to think that I’m a person who expresses gratitude easily and often. When I’m at a restaurant and the server refills my water glass I always say, “thank you.” I thank the people at the bank who take my deposit every night. I thank the barista at the local coffee shop for my caramel latte. When I’m traveling, I even write “thank you” on a note card and leave it in my hotel room along with a small gratuity so the housekeeping team knows I’m grateful for the clean towels each night. I say thank you to all these people every day who I don’t even know. Do I extend that type of gratitude to the people I work with every day?

November is a popular month for expressing gratitude. Do your expressions of gratitude take place at home AND at work? Most people spend at least half of their waking hours with co-workers and colleagues. If you are “the boss”, it’s more important than ever to show your gratitude. Studies show that job satisfaction is declining (The Conference Board reports only 45% of Americans were satisfied with their jobs in 2010 as compared to 61% satisfied in 1987), and as we head out of the recession your most talented team members will be presented with options to jump to greener pastures. Even if you’re not in a position of authority at your company, expressing your gratitude to those around you can still have a very positive impact.

If you’ve checked out the Rogards blog this month, you know that we’re trying to help your business survive cold and flu season. A couple of weeks ago we looked at some of the surprising office spaces that harbor illness-causing germs. This week we’re taking you somewhere you probably didn’t know you wanted to go – our bathroom. Don’t worry though, we promise that it’s for a good reason.

We all have days when it seems like we’re getting nothing done, no matter how hard we try. Instead of getting frazzled and taking that stress home with you, try out these time management tips. By taking control of your time, you’ll accomplish more so you can head home happy at the end of each day.

It only takes 2-4 hours for the germs from one infected surface to spread to 40 to 60 percent of office surfaces.  One sick person touches the door on the way in and their germs have spread through most of the office before lunch time. What do you do to stop the spread? Keep hands and shared surfaces clean. And educate your staff about the spread of germs and how to stop it. This list of the 10 germiest places in your office, and suggestions for keeping them germ free, are a good place to start.