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.

When most people think about what would be lost in a fire, flood, or other disaster, they think of the obvious losses – buildings, furniture, computers, inventory – and assume that they’re safe because insurance will pay to replace those items. But what about the things that can’t be replaced? What about the documents that are vital to the operation of your business? Losing those files can be catastrophic. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 90% of firms whose records are destroyed are no longer in business a year later. Have you taken the steps to protect these vital records?

On September 25, 2014, Tonya Horn set out to investigate some strange happenings in the Rogards breakroom. She never returned. The next day this video was found.

Most people have at least some emergency supplies at home, but with as many hours as we spend at work, it’s just as likely that an emergency could occur there. So what can smart businesses do to prepare? These are just a few tips and ideas to consider, but this is certainly not an exhaustive list.

Not only are sustainable cleaning products and methods environmentally sound solutions, they also offer benefits to employees, including better indoor air quality and reduced exposure to toxins. Making the switch to more environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies can seem confusing at first. There are a lot of buzz words out there. How do you know what to look for? We’re here to help with a breakdown of some of the most common label claims and what they mean.

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? But just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re introducing three office couples that will actually help your office. Read on to find out why you’ll want to make sure that these office romances turn into long term relationships.