Back to the Office Essentials

As we prepare for the return to our offices now is a good time to gather the items that will make your environment that bit safer and more convenient. Here are 10 suggested products for heading back to the office this summer! 

1. Air Cleaners

Traditional methods of keeping windows open and cleaning desktops needs to be supplemented to ensure maximum hygiene. Having windows open constantly in settings such as hospitals and offices is not ideal especially with our summer weather. An air purifier is a clever measure to clean air. The device can be kept on your desktop or in any room at home.

A recent study examining the effects of air purifiers and Covid 19 showed that the devices have the potential to reduce the exposure of healthcare works to virus-laden aerosols and serve as a useful supplement to other protective measures.[1] Another study recently proved that air purifiers are the most effective technologies available to cleaning the surrounding air of harmful pollutants of both indoor and outdoor origin.[2]

The Fellowes AeraMax DX5 Air Purifier 9392701 is a sleek product which is 250 mm X 285 mm. The built-in AeraSafe feature protects from the growth of odour causing bacteria and the AeraSmart technology monitors the air quality and displays the quality of your air using blue, amber and red lights.

2. Hand Sanitiser

Hand sanitiser is an item we have become very familiar with since the start of the pandemic but who’s value can’t be underestimated. An ideal addition to your desktop, handbag or car, hand sanitiser is convenient and inexpensive. One can be placed around the house to make guests feel safer and less likely to spread the virus.

Although washing your hands is the most effective way of keeping germs from your workspace it’s not always the most accessible solution especially for those who suffer from hay fever where sneezing is frequent! Hand sanitisers act quickly to kill microorganisms and reduce bacterial counts on hands.[3]

3. Masks

Prevent the transmission of potentially infectious respiratory secretions from the wearer to others with a disposable mask.[4] Face masks combined with other preventive measures can help slow the spread of the virus.[5]

Now the wearing of masks has become mandatory and is essential when working in the office with colleagues. Ensure that you always have a clean mask at your disposal with a box of masks. When in a rush or meeting clients a fresh mask is always appreciated.

4. Antibacterial wipes

Getting back to the office some new habits must be formed! Wiping down your workspace at the end of every day is the new norm this becomes even more important if you use a shared workstation. Ensure that your workspace is clean and free from any bacteria with antibacterial wipes. Wipes can be kept in a brief case or in a desktop locker.

Flash Anti-Bacterial Extra Large Lemon wipes are the supplied in a pack of 8 with each pack containing 24 antibacterial sheets. The Flash wipes kill up to 99.9% of bacteria for powerful, bleach-free cleaning.

AF Antibacterial Sanitising Screen Wipes are ideal for your computer screen and for your workspace area

5. Desk Mat

Limit the amount of surface area used when working from the office with a clear desk mat. Easy to clean and perfect for keeping notes, reminders and calendars under the transparent mat. Save on money while accessorising your desktop!

6. Headpiece

Remote calls and zoom meetings aren’t shying away just yet! Take a call from your office with Philips headphones. As interesting as we think we are, the rest of the office probably doesn't want to hear our every call.

7. Standing Desk

Research has shown that sitting for the majority of the day may have serious health risks such as diabetes and heart disease.[6]

A standing desk allows you to stand while the desk is at a heightened level or sit on a stool with the desk being at a middle level. You burn more calories while standing rather than sitting stationary for the duration of the day.

Height adjustable desking can be beneficial as studies have shown a change in posture can aid concentration and improve employee wellbeing. The desks are flexible meaning you can alter the height throughout the day picking either standing or sitting as you choose.

You might be used to being on the move working from home but once you return to the office you may experience some back pain. Back pain is one of the most common complaints of office workers who sit all day. A standing desk is a great solution to this problem together with an array of other health benefits such as lowering your blood sugar levels, lowering weight gain, increasing your mood and energy levels.[7]

With the obvious benefits of a flexible standing desk it can be argued that the addition of this clever invention to your office will improve productivity level.

8. Quick Stand

QuickStand seamlessly turns any desk into a height adjustable desk. Similar to sitstand desk, height adjustable desks promote wellness, team collaboration and are one of our most popular products. The benefits of a height adjustable desk are proven, the Quickstand from humanscale might just be what you need to improve your worklife experience.

With weightless operation and a plug-and-play cable management system, QuickStand neatly attaches to the back of any work surface, placing the screen and keyboard in an ergonomically correct position for the user.

Unlike other height adjustable solutions on the market, QuickStand can effortlessly be moved from one work surface to another. 

9. Portable Printer

Don’t be confined to the office for all your printing needs. As we come out of the last  lockdown and prepare ourselves to the move towards less restrictions, flexidays are the new normal. The days you work from home don’t need to be as restricted with a portable printer you can print anywhere all you need is cloud computing to connect your device and printer.

The Canon Selphy CP1300 Inkjet Printer Blac is Wireless and prints from Apple AirPrint. The portable photo printer prints direct from compatible smart devices, SD cards or cameras.

10. Shredder

Confidentiality can be an issue when working from home.  A portable shredder is a clever addition to your home office, keeping confidential documents and clutter organised and disposed of.

The Fellowes Powershred® 53C Cross-Cut Shredder is sleek, stylish and powerful. The shredder prints Shreds 10 sheets per pass.

[1] s://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106918

[2]  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107621

[3] https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/handhygiene/clean/howrub.html

[4] https://www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-mask#types-of-masks

[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449

[6] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-benefits-of-a-standing-desk#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1

[7] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-benefits-of-a-standing-desk#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8