As you enter the office on your first working day of the year, are you looking at a disorganised mess, empty champagne bottles, and old Christmas decorations? Or it a clean and orderly workspace? How does your space make you feel? Are you happy and excited to get to work or does your office make you want to head straight back out the door?
Neatness and order in the workplace matter. Studies have proven that when your workspace is cluttered, it’s difficult to process information, let alone focus on priorities, projects and tasks. And it’s not just physical space, it’s small things such as the clutter of files saved on our desktop screen (hands up if you’re guilty of this) and whether policies and procedures are up-to-date, just to name a few.
In addition to reduced productivity, messiness can also negatively impact your psychological and emotional well-being. The great news is that tidying up your workspace is a small investment of time and resources with immediate and noticeable benefits for everyone.
Inspired by Marie Kondo and her Tidying-Up Netflix series, here are four easy ways you can de-clutter your workplace for a successful 2023.
1. Clean up your office space
Your office is a reflection of you and your business. A messy desk or reception area does not inspire confidence or leave a good impression.
While tidying up isn’t for everyone and is not particularly exciting, a good way to get it done is to approach cleaning as a team activity. It also provides an opportunity for bonding and may even contribute to improved relationships among colleagues.
You’ll quickly find an increase in employee morale as your office is transformed into a cleaner, safer, healthier, and happier place to work.
2. Switch to Paperless
Piles of paper clutter can be stressful and it’s not a system that is sustainable over time. If you haven’t already started to convert your paper files to digital ones, make this a priority.
Any paperwork you decide to toss should be shredded. Before you do, make sure any items you decide to toss comply with our record-keeping laws. Records and documents must be kept for certain periods of time. For instance, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) require businesses to keep records for seven years.
3. Keep contracts, policies and procedures up-to-date
Make sure all contracts, policies and procedures are up-to-date and in line with your business strategy.
Our suite of employment contracts, policies and procedures on Workplace are regularly updated by our employment lawyers to consider best practices as well as any changes in modern awards and legislation.
4. Prepare for leave requests
Now that the Christmas period is over, prepare for leave requests for Easter and Anzac Day.
Having a good system in place for requesting and approving time off can ease the strain on your employees and HR staff.
If you don’t have enough people to cover leave, now is also a good time to review your recruitment needs and get organised.
So, get sorted and spark some joy in your workplace!
