4Cs Blog: Happy Employees = Happy Customers

Employee retreats can be really useful in building rapport and strengthening workplace relationships. The best locations should have a combination of excellent business facilities, working spaces, and a good choice of activities and sights to see. We’ve taken a look at the five best cities where you can take your employees on a rewarding corporate retreat:

Agile working creates an efficient business environment by giving employees the freedom and flexibility to work in different areas of an office, or remotely via hot-desking, when and how they choose. With less constraints and more flexibility, the focus is more about performance and quality and less about where tasks are undertaken. Instant Offices have taken a closer look into Agile Working:

One quarter of today's workforce is now virtual, recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows. In 2015, 24 percent of employed Americans did some or all of their work from home. The numbers are even higher in some professions, with 38 percent of workers in business, management and financial operations doing some of their work from home and 35 percent of workers in professional and related occupations working from home. 

This trend presents companies with the challenge of keeping virtual workers engaged. Only 30 percent of fully remote employees are engaged with their jobs, compared to 33 percent of all employees, placing them among the least engaged of all workers, a Gallup poll reports. Here are three strategies business leaders and HR departments can use to help build a strong company culture that keeps virtual workers engaged.

In the past 12 months, the global hybrid and co-working office space market has grown an astonishing 18%. That means the market is now twice the size it was back in 2013 and accounts for a third of all flexible space across the world.

But what is driving this growth? John Williams, Head of Marketing at the Instant Group, believes it could be the growing need for workspace on demand.

As a business owner, you likely spend a great deal of time at the office and doing everything you can to ensure your customers are always happy. Of course, there's a dedicated team of people who assist in this endeavor and are right in the thick of things alongside you: your hard-working employees. 

Now that the holiday season is fast approaching, you'll no doubt want to do something to reward and thank your employees for their ongoing dedication and loyalty. And since you all spend so much time at work, you may want to focus on giving gifts that your valued employees can put to good use and enjoy while they're on the job. With that in mind, these three gift ideas are sure to put a smile on your employees’ faces this holiday season, while also helping to showcase your genuine appreciation for their hard work.

If you own a company or work in the HR department, then you know that employee satisfaction and engagement are key components for creating a positive work environment. Happier employees are more likely to work harder and produce higher quality work. But how do you create a company culture that promotes the perfect work-life balance? Here are four tips to create a positive work atmosphere for your employees: 

“How can I manage my time better?”, is a question that crops up with alarming regularity. For entrepreneurs, this can have serious implications on their business – luckily there are steps they can take to prevent a productivity gap from opening according to Instant Offices.

Bryan Hunter, head of digital marketing at Instant Offices says, “It’s important to think ahead, and to plan day-to-day operations. In business, you are constantly overloaded with information and deliverables, while managing people, so interruptions are inevitable. At Instant, prioritisation is key because the company is growing so quickly – when you focus on completing what’s the most important, pre-planned task, it allows you to avoid interruptions or unnecessary distractions.”

When you say the words “team building” to your employees, you’re most likely met with a chorus of groans. That’s because they are picturing a typical team building outing, complete with trust falls and ice breakers. Research shows that team building exercises can have real, positive effects on employee performance.

With the arrival of fall, everyone is getting excited for the upcoming holidays. This can be a tricky topic in the workplace because you have to be cognizant and respectful of everyone's traditions and beliefs. If everyone in your office wants to participate in a fun winter gift exchange, you now have the difficult choice between two traditions. Should you do white elephant or Secret Santa? 

Talk to any business executive and you're likely to hear their core focus is on revenue and growth. But what about for everyday employees? While their day-to-day work is focused on meeting these executive-level goals, they very likely get out of bed each morning and are excited about their job for different reasons.

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