| If you're the owner of a business, this is probably a | | | | outside connection. Even if your work is of a delicate |
| question you've asked yourself when looking at the | | | | nature, this is possible due to network security via |
| prices to rent or buy office space. If it's not, then you | | | | "virtual private networks" that allow your employees to |
| should put it on the list, because the way most rentals | | | | log in to company computers and access the |
| are done is by desk space. That means that if you | | | | information they need to do their job without having to |
| can cut down on the number of desks needed by | | | | physically be in the office. Again, a laptop is invaluable |
| your employees, you can rent a smaller amount of | | | | here, and it's possible you can reduce your on-location |
| space and cut down on costs. | | | | staff by quite a lot and still get just as much work |
| This doesn't mean you should run out and fire all of | | | | done. |
| your staff, of course. While that may cut down on | | | | E-mails, instant messages, voice-over-IP telephony |
| your costs, it would also cut down on your business's | | | | (often referred to as VOIP), tele- and |
| ability to do any actual work. Instead, you should | | | | video-conferencing over the Internet, and all sorts of |
| consider all the ways that you can cut down on | | | | other tools make it even easier to keep track of your |
| physical desk count without actually getting rid of | | | | workers when they're not really there. Collaboration is |
| anybody. That way you can minimize costs while still | | | | possible in theory even when the employee lives in |
| keeping your productivity at the same levels as it is | | | | another part of the country. There are also |
| now. | | | | sophisticated monitoring and time-management |
| A tactic that's been around for at least twenty or | | | | programs that can be installed on company computers |
| twenty-five years now is that of "hot desking," which is | | | | to make sure the employees are actually doing the |
| in essence the practice of using one desk (or other | | | | work they're supposed to be doing while at home. |
| work surface) as the working surface for multiple | | | | But if you want all your employees to be in an office |
| employees at once. Although it is certainly possible to | | | | environment, consider splitting up your offices into more |
| do this via creative scheduling, or by only having | | | | than one location. This will enable you to buy some |
| employees at desks when they need them to do | | | | office space at a much cheaper rate if you absolutely |
| certain types of work. This can be achieved either by | | | | have to have some of your employees in an |
| multiple shifts of employees, or by supplying | | | | expensive location in order to function. With the tools |
| employees with laptops and allowing them to do their | | | | available through today's technology, though, it's a rare |
| work elsewhere in the building. | | | | situation indeed where your work can't be completed |
| One thing that you can consider is whether you could | | | | efficiently and cheaply by the use of desk minimizing |
| accomplish some of the work by having your | | | | strategies involving the Internet. |
| employees perform their duties remotely via an | | | | |