The Differences Between Offices Today and Offices in the 80’s

Office life has changed significantly since the 1980s. The last 30 years have seen remarkable advances in technology and social attitudes, which have dramatically transformed day-to-day life in the workplace.

Without a doubt it is the invention of the PC that has had the most impact on office life. Tasks that would have taken 1980s staff hours to complete can now be automated and done in seconds. What’s more, email and the internet have saved companies time and money whilst also allowing many of them to conduct business all over the world.

But it isn’t just technology that has evolved; attitudes towards women in the workplace have also changed significantly over the last 30 years. While it was not uncommon for a 1980s woman to be happy in her role as a secretary, her modern counterpart can enjoy better job prospects, a higher salary and more respect.

In fact, the general treatment of all office employees has improved significantly thanks to modern health and safety laws that protect us from potential accidents in the workplace. Not only do these new laws have employees’ best interests at heart, they also save companies millions of pounds in damages each year.

An office supplies order in the 80’s would have consisted mainly of pens, pencils, paper etc. Now they include things such as printer ink and toner, laptop risers and memory sticks.

In the heat of summer, 1980s workers would also have had to endure uncomfortably high office temperatures. In today’s modern offices, however, workers can adjust the temperature and enjoy the cooling effect of air-conditioning.

In the 80s, it would also have been common to spend the work day breathing in the second-hand smoke of your colleagues, as anti-smoking laws were non-existent. Today, workers must make their way to designated smoking areas outside if they wish to smoke.

So much has changed over the last 30 years. As technology and society have evolved, so have our workplaces. From keeping cool in the summer to getting an instant reply from an email or even being able to work in a clean and safe environment – today’s offices are a much more pleasant and efficient place to work.

Source by Laura Scott Davis

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Carbon Paper Vs Carbonless Paper

Both carbon and carbonless paper can be used to make copies of documents without any electronic devices. There are differences in each kind, both in how they are made and their uses. Overall, 3-part carbonless paper is a more popular option than carbon paper alternatives, and here is why.

Carbon paper is the original version of electronic-free document copying. It is coated on one side with a dark, ink-like substance that usually contains carbon. It makes copies with the creation on the first document.

A sheet is put in between the original and blank sheet the user wants the copy to appear on. They write or type onto the original and the pressure from the application puts ink onto the blank sheet. This creates a carbon copy.

Carbon paper was first used around the 19th century with a patent for something called a stylographic writer. A few years later, another inventor created a typewriting machine using carbon paper as part of its function. This means carbon paper was discovered and growing around the same time.

Carbonless paper, also known as NCR paper, is a better and more popular alternative to carbon paper. It is stain free and biodegradable and easier to transfer. It also relies on pressure from a writing utensil in order to create the chemical reaction that leaves a copy on pages below the top copy.

To make two copies of a document, papers would have a white top sheet and one colored second sheet below. This is called a two-part or duplicate. To make three copies, there is a white top sheet and two colored sheets directly below. This is called a three-part or triplicate. Four copies would be called a four-part or quadruplicate.

Sometimes, users requires stacks of ten or more copies. This is easy to do with NCR paper. Carbonless copy paper is supplied to the end user collated in pads or books. They are bound into sets using glue or staple. Loose sets or continuous stationary is widely used in printers. Businesses can also specially order as many stacks of carbonless copy paper as needed.

For a 3 part carbonless paper, there are three sheets. The first is the CB sheet that is the original to be copies. The bottom part of the sheet is coated in a layer of microcapsules that contain color formers.

The CFB sheet is second. The top side is coated with a receptive layer which reacts chemically with the color former on the top CB sheet. On the bottom of the sheet, a transfer layer with microcapsules transfers the copy to the last sheet.

The third sheet, or CF sheet, is on the bottom of the set. The top side is the receptive layer which reacts with the microcapsules color former on the sheet above it. The receptive layer is most often manufactured using activated clays.

Carbon and carbonless paper is mostly used to make copies of receipts. It serves as a backup operation in case computer systems fail. These paper options are also used to transfer invoices, service tickets, sales order, and purchase orders. Carbon and carbonless paper is used by modern artists as a surface for beginning a painting.

Carbon paper has some unique uses. Police offers use carbon paper for evidence vouchers. Prison inmates are required to use carbon paper when writing letters or other notes so the prison has a copy. Business forms utilize carbon paper for purchase orders and invoices. Banks and small firms are the biggest buyers of carbon paper.

Carbon paper is also commonly used among tattoo artists. The artists can practice draw designs and show it to the customer as they work on it, making changes as needed. The paper is moistened and pressed to the skin to leave a carbon outline. Customers can also bring in a design or message they want tattooed and carbon paper transfers it.

Carbonless paper can be used for these uses and more. Quotes, legal forms, employment applications, insurance forms, proposals, and delivery forms all use carbonless paper. NCR paper can also be used for requisition forms, tracking manifests, and contracts.

Source by R Potts

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Jobs That Allow You To Live Onsite

If you are on your own, recently relocated to a new town or you just have unique circumstances, you may find a job that provides living accommodations works well for you. Those with children and families may never consider living with an employer, but there are even opportunities for those who come as a package deal to arrange their living quarters while making their employment plans. For instance, anyone who manages an apartment or condominium complex may be offered the benefit of a home as part of their benefits package. Property management is an important job that requires a lot of hard work, but those working in this business may find their living situation less stressful if a home is included with their job. This field is not the only one that provides living arrangements.

Another opportunity that often provides living arrangements along with employment is working as a nanny. This is often the ideal situation for someone who decides to relocate to another country. In the United States, there are programs that match nannies from other countries with families who need care. This is a great way to expose children to the culture of a different country and it provides living arrangements for the nanny who is unfamiliar surroundings. The same is true for U.S. citizens who travel to different countries. The contracts with families are often short-term, so if you do not plan to settle in the country for more than a year or two, you can work out your living and employment arrangement on a temporary basis.

Just as caring for children provides you with a chance to work and live in the same place, so does caring for the elderly. Senior citizens often live along and while they want the independence and solitude of not sharing space with family, they may be safer if a caregiver is just a shout away. Living with a caregiver is a less intrusive experience than sharing space with a relative or friend because a professional relationship is still maintained.

Sometimes the best way to arrange living arrangements and employment is to offer care for an entire family. While a nanny will focus only on the care of the children and may only be a part-time job, housekeeping requires you to care for the needs of the home and the entire family. More often than not, full-time housekeepers live on the premises because caring for the family is a round-the-clock job. This is a big commitment, but it may work for you, especially if you are looking for a home and a job.

A final option for arranging living and working arrangements, and probably the most popular when it becomes to combining the two, is joining the military. Military members are often required to live on base, which could be just about anywhere in the world. There is living space provided for family members as well, in many cases. Being a part of the military is hard work, but living on base provides the support of your peers and offers you a chance to focus on your work and not worry about housing.

Source by Stewart Wrighter

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5 Reasons Why Your Business Should Have Roster And Scheduling Software

In any type of organization, there are different regulations as well as systems that are set by the administration. This is to maintain an organized operation and to manage the staff better. Without these regulations, an organization wouldn’t achieve its goals and improve its workforce.

Roster and scheduling software is one efficient tool that some organizations use today. And if you don’t have it yet, here are some reasons why you should:

1. It can help you save time and money by hiring the right amount of staff. Some businesses that operate for 24 hours a day think that they should hire a lot of people to entertain all the customers. Rostering will help in estimating how many people are needed in a business – this is done by evaluating all the positions and job responsibilities. When you have the right amount of staff, you can ensure that your business will run smoothly and your customers will never have complains.

2. It can help you allocate shifts and responsibilities. This can help you avoid your staff from changing their minds and complaining about their shares of work. You can do this by carefully listing all your staff names and assigning different roles that are required for a certain shift. Do this while carefully choosing the staff who is most suitable to do the job.

3. It uses an up-to-date rostering tool. The software uses a modern tool which helps you manage your time well when sorting out issues in your workplace. It provides costing models that are very accessible – with a click of a button. With this feature, you could easily send a memorandum or a personal message to your staff through text messages or email. This is very convenient when handling requests of your staff.

4. It enables your staff to plan ahead. Everyone is busy nowadays; even your employees have personal plans and events that they need to attend to. With rostering, you will be able to provide your staff their schedule ahead of time. This way, you can avoid incidents of last minute changes as well as unexpected absences.

5. It enables you to create a schedule no matter where you are. Through its cloud-based system, you can reach all your staff members from their personal computers, smart phones or other devices. This is a good way to create a stable communication between you and your staff.

Source by Gary Bishop

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source http://blog.bigfinancial.co.uk/5-reasons-why-your-business-should-have-roster-and-scheduling-software/

How to Choose a Personal Assistant

Hiring a personal assistant can be a tricky process involving much trial and error. Not every employer is the same, and a personal assistant should not only fit the employer’s needs but also his or her personality. This article offers a few ideas on how you can eliminate some of the stress of hiring a personal assistant (PA).

When you are first looking for an assistant, it is important to equally weigh all the facets you will look at. Although skills and employment history are important factors, employers must also consider an applicant’s personality and life experiences. Chemistry, an intangible quality most often discovered during an interview, is the most important factor in determining the success of this employer-employee relationship.

Qualified applicants should be

o organized

o detail-oriented

o confidential/private

o able to prioritize

o responsible

o professional

o personable

o resourceful

o dependable

o prompt

o able to delegate

o resilient

o a self-starter

o motivated

o loyal

o a team player

o honest

o trustworthy

o able to anticipate and plan ahead

The fastest and easiest way to get the applicants you are looking for is to write a descriptive and detailed job description. To you as an employer, a job description helps you to clearly define the type of person you would like to hire. Not only will you decide what qualifications and previous work experience your PA should have, but writing a job description will also help you to develop some of the questions you will ask during screening and interviewing. From the perspective of the applicants, the job description serves as a guide in helping them to know exactly what you are looking for and to make them understand that this is a serious position. A clearly written list of needs tells applicants that you, the employer, have your head together and know what you need and that all the PA has to do is follow your directions and provide the help.

When writing your description, consider how much time you want to spend training your new hire. If you write a well-defined job description, you will make it easier on yourself in determining how much experience a person really has.

When written for a PA position, a comprehensive job descriptions has at least six standard parts: (1) Job title; (2) Nature of work; (3) Qualifications and qualities of employee; (4) Duties to be performed; (5) Work schedule and comments; and (6) Salary.

Not every PA will be ideal. But following the above suggestions will see you better on your way to finding a personal assistant who fits your needs and can give you the help you’re looking for.

Source by Rachel Spohn

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source http://blog.bigfinancial.co.uk/how-to-choose-a-personal-assistant/

Understanding Sealing Material and Food Grade Concrete Sealer

Concrete counter tops are stain prone and need high maintenance. The sealers have come a long way from the simple wax and acrylic sealers to most modern epoxy sealers. With the right sealer, you can have a stain-resistant, heat-resistant, scratch-resistant, Food Grade Concrete Sealer, easy to clean, easy to maintain and smooth counter top.

Bare concrete is porous and vulnerable to staining and chemical attack. Liquids will soak into the surface, carrying stains into the concrete itself. Acidic substances like vinegar and lemon juice will dissolve the cement paste.

Sealing material characteristics that are important to clients are:

• Enhance the appearance of the concrete without degrading the look or feel

• Non-porous

• Completely resist stains from food, oil, and other household substances

• Resist heat from hot pots and pans

• Resist UV degradation and yellowing from sunlight

• Scratch-proof

• Food Grade Concrete Sealer

• Easily cleaned using common household cleaning products

• Provide long term protection without the need for frequent maintenance

• Easy to repair& maintain

Sealing Materials: Sealers have two groups namely Penetrating sealers and Topical sealers.

Penetrating sealers come in the form of liquids that are applied to bare concrete, soak in, and then once wiped off and dried, are usually almost invisible.

• Densifiers are water-based chemicals that react with the cement paste in the concrete. The reaction generates cementing agents that increase the strength of the surface concrete and fill the pores. The cementing agents that are generated during hardening often serve to provide some color enhancement. Densifiers are often applied before repellents.

• Repellents are a concrete treatment that changes the surface tension characteristics of the concrete so that liquids bead up easily. They create a hydrophobic water-shedding effect when applied to the concrete.

Topical sealers make up the most of the sealers on the market as listed below:

• Wax is the most basic sealer. Generally, a high-quality floor wax that contains carnauba and beeswax, or just pure beeswax, is used. Automotive paste wax should not be used for sealing because of the additives it contains.

• Acrylic is a solvent based or water based, are the next most basic and common concrete sealers. Acrylic sealers are easy to use, available easily and relatively inexpensive. They are widely used for sealing floors and driveways, and provide modest protection. Acrylics generally provide heat resistance but are UV resistant.

• Epoxy is a two-component chemical system and you need to mix them to form the coat. The chemical reaction is irreversible, and the end result is a very durable, very hard surface. Epoxies are expensive chemicals and one need to follow a proper process to apply them. There are three basic types of epoxies: solvent based, water based and 100% solids. They are key to a Food Grade Concrete Sealer. They are widely used in industrial kitchens.

• Urethane are the type of sealers that has many of the Ideal Sealer characteristics. Some are a single part, and others are two part. Urethane, in general, are stain and heat resistant, provide good UV resistance, very tough and scratch resistant. They provide a glossy finish also.

Source by David Ryan

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How To Uphold Efficient Business Growth And Expansion

In today’s competitive business realm, all enterprises must aim for growth and expansion. If a certain business won’t work toward these 2 objectives, it is basically setting itself up for a failure.

Experts highly emphasized that business growth and expansion can successfully be achieved through following time-tested success principles. Such principles will create focus for all your efforts toward growth. Also, they uphold excellent standards for each activity performed toward the goal. Thus, if you are preparing your business for growth and expansion, it is very crucial for you to be aware of the success principles you must uphold.

4 Essential Principles Every Corporation Today Must Uphold

Innovation is a must. Your business must fully understand the needs of your target clients. It should work toward efficiently meeting such needs. Innovation refers to coming up with something that is new and great from something that is already great so you can be able to deliver the best value to end users. This further means that your business must always find time to study meticulously the journey of your target customers so you successfully innovate.

Always be inspired. Most successful individuals say that inspired efforts don’t deplete energy. Instead, they are very invigorating. Moreover, inspiration allows your organization to use your drawbacks to aim for victory. Hence, be always inspired as you are working to expand your venture due to the fact that a joyful process won’t fail to yield the best outcomes.

Timing is very crucial. When it comes to growth and expansion, you cannot be late or early. Bear in mind that plenty of great opportunities are just accessible for a limited amount of time. Also, pre-empting things will spoil their potential. Hence, you must take action at the most ideal time. This will involve the need to study provisions meticulously, to get help from consultants, and to know the different financing solutions that your business can efficiently use.

Expect sacrifices. There will always be sacrifices that must be made if you are aiming for better and bigger things. Indeed, sacrifices are inevitable. And this can mean longer work hours and avoiding some pleasures and physical comforts for a specific period of time or perhaps saving on a couple of things so that your resources can be allocated to more significant aspects of operations.

All of these principles will allow you to properly manage your venture. Consider implementing all of these properly. Surely, you will find your enterprise increasing steadily toward your goal of becoming successful in today’s competitive market arena.

Source by Harold Lynn

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