Study Links Green Buildings & Employee Productivity

Researchers surveyed two groups of employees who had moved from conventional office buildings to LEED-certified buildings to discover if the move to a green workplace has a positive impact on employee productivity. The findings prove that the number of absents caused by allergies, asthma, depression and stress dropped significantly.

Besides having applications of green design focused largely on energy-efficient materials and appliances, sustainable design considers the overall work environment.

Work to provide a sustainable structure to improve employee's productivity. Make greater use of open floor plans and encourage employee collaboration. Improve lighting and sound control systems as well as other design features in the workplace. For more information on improving productivity, read article from Building Operating Management at Facilitiesnet.com.

The Recession was Particularly Bad for Business Owners

The Recession wasn't a good experience for anyone, but most of the media attention was focused on what happened to employees of large companies. Several sources of data suggest that the recession had particularly adverse consequences for those who run their businesses. Job loss was higher among the self-employed than those who work for others. IRS data show that small business income took a bigger hit than wage income between 2007 and 2008. For full article, visit American Express Open Forum.

Fresh Signs of a Brighter 2011

There has been evidence over the past month that point at a bright U.S. economic recovery ahead. Retail sales pointed to higher than normal rates of growth. The manufacturing sector appears to be on a solid and sustainable pace of growth. Both Consumer and Business sentiment are showing strong evidence of slowly building positive momentum.

For more articles and information from the California Economic Forecast click for their current newsletter.

5 Dangers of Change & How to Avoid Them

Fifty to 70 percent of your change effort will fail: whether it is a layoff, reorganization, merger/acquisition, process improvement, new software implementation or even the appointing of new leaders. Without the strong leadership, your change efforts will fail to meet your desired results.

In order to encourage change with your employees, implement methods to provide a sense of urgency and work on building trust during the ambiguity. Communicating often is necessary because employees are occupied with work and personal lives. Therefore, it is important to connect with employees in several different ways to avoid the dangers of change. 
 
For more tips, visit American Express Open Forum.


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