Archive for the 'Other Articles' Category

Hybrid Working: The New Permanent?

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by
George
on January 12, 2022
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Covid-19 has changed the world forever, with the way we work being one of the biggest changes. Government directives over the last two years have been designed to slow down the spread of the virus, but during the first lockdown, companies were surprised to find that employees production rates did not seem to fall when they were at home and, in fact, many studies showed that productivity increased.

The Hybrid Model

This has led to many organisations moving to a hybrid model of working, where employees will work from home for a few days a week and commute into the office for the remainder. With the development of better remote working tools, Hybrid working was something more and more organisations were moving towards anyway. The Pandemic just accelerated this already existing trend.

At this point, after two years of a massive, enforced social experiment, it seems obvious that Hybrid Working is something that all companies should adopt and offer to their employees.

But is it?

Is Hybrid the best model for our workplaces in the future and what are the benefits and downsides for Employers and Employees? And what are the wider effects on the economy as a whole?

Employees

Many employees are reporting a better work-life balance, being able to spend more time with their families, especially those with children. Without the rush of early mornings and long or stressful commutes, many people have more time to do their work and say that they are able to complete it to a higher standard. Tasks can be concentrated on, without the constant interruptions that occur in the office. Economically, many families save on childcare, fuel and travel costs and expensive lunches bought in the 15 minutes that they get for lunch at the office.

But many people have missed the daily interactions and the human connection found in an office, along with boost to wellbeing that socialising with colleagues, clients and customers can bring. There are also concerns for some about professional development, as they don’t have the same relationships to those managers who control access to opportunity. Some would argue that group projects and other collaborations work much better face to face and many miss the after-work socialising that is part and parcel of working life in many organisations.

And of course, Employees working from home have many new expenses, such as heating their houses throughout winter, at times they normally wouldn’t. With Electricity and gas prices rapidly rising, this will be a significant cost for many. (We have some Helpful Tips to Save You Money This Winter.)

Employers

From an employer’s perspective, a lot of money can be saved in office rental and the maintenance of expensive buildings and premises. For many organisations, Hybrid Working means they much smaller spaces are needed, and many offices have been downsized. And there is the much-reported spike in productivity that has been associated with more people working from home.

Changing where your organisation is based and how it works also provides an opportunity to address geographic and economic inequality, and gives access to possible untapped talent pools in different parts of the UK. Remote workers can just as well be in Liverpool as in Luton.

But Hybrid working is a much more complicated matter for companies than just focusing on how many days per week people will be in, or what technology will be required. The changes being made have knock-on effects, cost implications and possible unforeseen consequences. Organisations need to address the issue holistically. Planning for it needs to be done from the top down, involving all parts of the company and not just HR.

Wider Society

Looking at wider benefits, less people commuting means less traffic on the road and less congestion and pollution, with the obvious, concomitant environmental benefits.

That said, many businesses, as we are often reminded, are losing out badly in the great Hybrid working revolution. City centre businesses such as lunch-time sandwich shops and retail in general, as well as wider hospitality, are losing a lot of the trade they formally enjoyed. Yet while this may hasten the decline of the city centre, it may also benefit the local high street, which gains the footfall lost from Town centre businesses.

Unfortunately, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that will suit all organisations and the option of doing nothing is not an option. Covid-19 has changed people’s expectations and forced them to reprioritise what they want in life. Nobody should be forced to return to the office and if any businesses force people to do so, it may be counter-productive. But just selling all their offices and telling everyone to work permanently at home is not a solution either. Hybrid working, in one form or another is almost certainly here to stay, but what it looks like, when the dust finally settles, is still to be determined.

Helpful Tips to Save You Money This Winter

Published
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George
on January 5, 2022
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Climate change means that weather is more unpredictable than ever, but we can still be fairly certain that winter will, at some point, bring some cold spells. For many reasons, including Covid, global politics and Brexit, gas and electric prices have been rising considerably and these may increase exponentially again, in the coming months. So it’s now more important than ever to find cheap ways to keep yourself warm during winter, especially if you’ll be spending more time working from home. 

Here are our top tips on keeping yourself warm for less this winter: 

Install a Smart Meter: 

A smart meter will help to track how much you are spending on heating. Contact your gas and electricity supplier and they should come and install one for you, free of charge.

With a smart meter, there is no need to submit readings. The meter will track your exact usage and what the electricity and gas you are using is costing. There is even the potential to check what individual appliances are costing to run and keep track of the exact amount of money you are spending on each. A smart meter may even help you to spot a faulty appliance, that is wasting electricity.

Having accurate information on what you are using will allow you to budget more effectively, with hopefully no unexpected costs at the end of the month. However, it needs to be remembered that smart meters will not reduce bills by themselves. They are merely a tool to help you budget.

Also remember that there is a lot of volitivity in the energy supply market at the moment, with suppliers going out of business on a regular basis. Keep this in mind and double check before you get your smart meter installed.

Set timers to your heating. 

Most systems allow you to set specific times for your heating being turned on and off automatically. Even if you are working from home you often don’t need heating to be on all day. Careful setting of a system can help to cut down on how much you’re spending whilst still keeping the house warm when needed.

 

Good times to have the heating on would be, perhaps, half an hour before you get up, or to warm the house for when you get back from work. Even if you’re working from home, it might be useful to set the heating to start for when you finish work, ready for when you’re relaxing at night when it gets colder. 

Layer Up 

The cheapest way to stay warm is to layer up. Wear a cosy jumper in the house, or a dressing gown, or even both if it’s a particularly cold day. The basic idea is that if you are feeling cold, just add a layer.

It’s important to keep your hands and feet warm as they are places you can potentially lose a lot of body heat. Time to whip out those thick, fluffy socks from the wardrobe. You can also invest in a warm blanket for when you’re lounging around or trying to sleep; it’ll keep you nice and toasty without having the break the bank and blankets can be used as nice decoration as well. 

Helping You Keep To Your New Year’s Resolutions

Published
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George
on December 29, 2021
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The saying goes “new year new you” and to help ourselves we set up goals called New Year Resolutions, but over 25% of people quit their resolutions after just 2 weeks! We all like to think that this will be the year that will be different, but how can we make that a reality? Here are some tips on how to make your resolutions a reality. 

Keep A Diary 

Let’s say your goal is to go for a run once a week, by keeping a journal or diary you can keep track of when and what you did and after seeing that you’ve done it for a couple of weeks it will motivate you to continue. 

Try with a friend 

If you share a resolution with your friend, partner or with you family, then you can keep each other in check and motivate each other to achieve your goals. 

Make it realistic 

You can’t make miracles happen, if you don’t play the violin your goal shouldn’t be to play at the 02 arena after a few weeks. You motivation will go and you will give up. The trick is to be realistic and give yourself short term goals that lead to that cherished long-term goal. In that way you are much more likely to keep on track. 

Have fun! 

The point of resolutions is to develop yourself but also to have fun. If your resolution is about something that you enjoy doing, such as perhaps learning an instrument, then it won’t really feel like a chore and you will have the motivation to continue to learn. 

Give Your Liver a Break With The Dry January Challenge

Published
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George
on December 22, 2021
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After festive celebrations throughout December, January is perhaps when we should be giving our livers a break and time to recover. Dry January is an annual event which challenges people to go the full 31 days of January without drinking any alcohol, in an attempt to demonstrate the benefits of not drinking. 

It’s run by a charity called Alcohol Change UK which promotes Dry January as a way to spread awareness as well as raise money for the charity itself. In 2021 6.6 million people took part and reported amazing benefits; including 86% of participants saving money, which, after Christmas certainly wouldn’t be the worst idea.

 

In a year, the average household spends close to £1000 on alcohol. Imagine all the things that you could buy with that amount of money. Another benefit, reported by 70% of participants, was being able to sleep longer, without disturbance, and 66% of those involved reported feeling a lot more energised throughout the month.

The UK has a drinking culture, meaning alcohol is engrained into many of our activities and social events. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it isn’t something that needs to be the case either. Alcohol Change UK are concerned that people don’t fully understand the risks that can come with over-consumption. On Average, a man in the UK drinks nearly 10 litres of pure alcohol a year; the equivalent of 18 units per week, well above the recommended 14 units

.

Visit Alcohol Change UK for more information where you can even download an app to help you keep motivated and see how far you can go without having a drop of alcohol. Everyone has a New Year’s resolution. Why not make a Dry January one of yours as a great way to start your year?

  

Veganuary: Why Not Try Something New?

Published
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George
on December 15, 2021
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We’re always encouraged to eat healthier and think about where our food comes from, and ‘Veganuary’ gives us the perfect opportunity to do so. Whilst you may not want to become fully vegan, it is still a chance to challenge yourself and try out new and creative recipes that you may have never come across before. 

Basically Veganuary challenges you to go the full 31 days of January eating vegan, meaning no meat, dairy and any animal products such as honey. You can go even further if you wish and stop wearing leather or any other material created from animals for the whole month.

Currently around 79 million people worldwide identify as vegan and there are many reasons people decide to go vegan or try Veganuary, the most prominent one being to improve animal welfare. Concern for other species is not the only reason to adopt a vegan lifestyle however; people choose to be vegan because the diet can also boost your health and help the environment. A vegan regime can help those with some food allergies, or it could be just as simple as wanting to try new foods and recipes.

Some changes can be really easy: Oat milk over cow’s milk, eating Oreos over a chocolate digestive (yes, Oreos are vegan!), or having bean/potato burgers over meat burgers alongside so much more. 

If you are struggling don’t worry, many restaurants and food outlets now include a vegan menu including Greggs, McDonalds, KFC and Subway, so if you’re in a need for a quick lunch you can always treat yourself.

Instead of just buying vegan sausages or vegan bacon, though, you could try making whole new original vegan recipes for yourself, and use new flavours to expand your taste. There’s so much to try. To find out more on how to take part check the Veganuary website and even if you don’t end up becoming vegan or stop halfway through the month, at least you experienced something new and may have found something different that you wish to incorporate in your normal life. 

 

 

Working From Home: How To Make Sure You Have The Skills Needed

Published
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George
on December 8, 2021
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As 2022 begins and with our world having changed after the Covid-19 pandemic, it is time to look into the future and make sure we are kept up to date with our necessary skills to succeed from the comfort of our homes.

One in four firms are allowing their workers to continue working from home, whether that be full time or mixing in office work as well, meaning we need to make sure we continue to develop our skills so we don’t fall behind. 

Without the office environment and co-workers being beside you to help, it can feel like you are not ready to work alone, but don’t worry. With these helpful tips, you will be back to efficient work in no time.

“Practice makes perfect.” 

One way to keep ahead is to make sure you are using the software as much as possible allowing you to remember how to perform a task easier each time. 

Going step-by-step learning new things and trying them over and over again will help you develop your skills further and each time you try you will see a noticeable improvement, motivating you to continue practising.

Don’t give up, you can’t be perfect after your first couple of tries, you’ll get the results you want just remember to take your time learning.

Try Something New 

Trying something new on the software will also help you keep up to date. When you try something new it builds your confidence in aspects you have already mastered as they will feel easier compared to what you’re trying as well as you also gaining new skills. 

It also gives you a break from a task that may not be going so well, so by trying something new you are refreshing your brain so that when you return hopefully you won’t be stuck anymore.

Get help 

If you’re struggling and need help, remember it’s ok to ask. Whether that be enrolling on a course or asking someone you know, having someone help you get to grips with the software can make a massive difference. 

If you are looking for some professional help, check out our Adobe or Microsoft courses to keep updated on the software.  

5 Ways to Celebrate Thank You Month

Published
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George
on December 1, 2021
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“Manners Cost Nothing” is something you probably heard a lot as a child, and as we get older, we start to appreciate the simple things, such as a “thanks” after helping someone out. 

In some parts of the world, January marks ‘Thank You Month’, a time to make sure our manners are still at their very best. And at the same time that you show gratitude for what others do for you with that simple “thank you”, you can take time to acknowledge why you are thankful. More than that, you can try to do something, however small, for others and give back to the community, as a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

There are many ways you can take part in the month, and getting involved can have some real, positive effects on both you and your community.

Getting Involved

  1. You could start a thank you journal, in which each day of January you write something that you are thankful for. You may be surprised at how much there actually is to be thankful about and you can start appreciating the little things in life.
  2. Reach out to someone who is there for you and thank them for something they did, or for just being a part of your life. Reassuring and showing gratitude to the people who are there for you is important, as making them feel appreciated shows them they are doing the right thing.
  3. Make sure to thank people who provide services, whether it be a teacher, a cashier or someone serving your breakfast at a café; hearing it will make their day and it doesn’t cost you anything.
  4. Give other people a reason to be thankful by providing acts of kindness to strangers and friends alike, it will brighten their day and yours, and makes it more likely for that person to pass on the kindness to a new stranger.
  5. Did you know that being thankful can actually produce dopamine, a chemical released in your brain when you are having a pleasant experience. Thanking someone can actually lift your mood and make you feel happier!

Santa Paws: Saving Christmas One Puppy At a Time

Published
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George
on November 24, 2021
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Within the UK it is estimated that 100,000 dogs and cats are without a loving home, either in shelters or strays on the street. With Christmas around the corner, it is the perfect time to donate to charity and help the community in the spirit of togetherness. 

Many families decide a pet would be a perfect Christmas present, but a lot of cats and dogs are returned later in the year when they become “too much responsibility” as people may not understand the amount of time animals need. 

To help with the increase in animals within shelters that are already at their limit, there are charity events called Santa Paws around the country to encourage people to support a variety of causes. 

In 2019 nearly £2,000,000 was raised at the Pets at Home Santa Paws appeal, allowing for new equipment and a continuation of their work with animals. Other organisations have more specific causes, such as training hearing dogs for deaf people which support them with their disabilities. 

Hearing dogs are used to alert their owners about sounds they would usually miss, this can be from the doorbell, alarms and phone but can also help with devices that help us identify hazards, such as a fire alarm, potentially saving lives.

They encourage people to hold Santa Paws events such as a coffee morning or a bake sale, you can make the event as big or as small as you want and every little helps for this organisation. 

Christmas is a time about coming together as a community so it’s the perfect opportunity to get involved and have fun doing so. 

Get involved in helping charities and raise money for this wonderful cause, you can help change an animal’s life. 

Creating an Equal World For All With Human Rights Month

Published
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George
on November 17, 2021
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December marks and celebrates Human Rights Month, a time for international awareness for people and nations to join together and stand up for the rights and freedoms of individuals around the globe. The month stems from Human Rights Day, which is the 10th of December and marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights created by the United Nations in 1948. 

Whilst it is true that many people around the world have their freedoms and can express themselves for who they are, there are many people who unfortunately can not, and December is a time to spread awareness about human rights violations around the world. 

Each year, the movement focuses on a different theme, this year international Human Rights Day is focusing on how rights are the beginning of peace within societies, and a way to create a fairer society for future generations. 

How to get involved

There are many ways you can get involved, by donating to many charities around the globe to help people get the necessary resources they need and help improve local communities.  

Currently, there are many human rights violations in which you can help with including the current Afghan crisis, in which many civilians are unable to access necessities and are being displaced by the war. 

Not too far from home is the UK’s poverty crisis, in which food prices rise and wages stagnate, with 2.5 million people receiving emergency foods from food banks in 2021.  

Take this time through the holidays to reflect and grow, keeping in mind that every person from every walk of life should be entitled to their basic human rights. 

The UN has a lot of information on Human Rights Day about how you can get involved and what they are doing in order to ensure Human Rights for everyone. 

Setting Up and Using OneDrive

Published
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M Jacks
on November 10, 2021
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OneDrive is the cloud storage service from Microsoft which will both store your files securely and allow you to access them from almost any device. It is one of many online storage services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud, but only Microsoft OneDrive is built directly into Windows 10.

Like all Cloud storage services, OneDrive acts as if it is an external drive, but because it is available through the internet folders and files can be backed up and synced in the cloud. OneDrive works across different devices and platforms. It is entirely possible to create a file on one device and continue working on it on another (PC, laptop, tablet, or phone).

Files on OneDrive can be easily shared with other people, and if you have Microsoft 365 you can collaborate with someone else, on a file, in real-time.

You don’t even need to use Windows to be able to use OneDrive, but if you have a Windows 10 device, there are even more features available, including a ‘Personal Vault’ where important and sensitive files are protected with an extra level of security.

Whatever device you are using, whether it is a Windows 10 Laptop, an Android phone, or anything else, to sign up for and use OneDrive, you will need a Microsoft Account. This is easy to set up and you can sign up for one here. The good news is that if you already have a @outlook.com, @live.com, or @hotmail.com email address, or Xbox network account, you already have a Microsoft account and can use any of these.

Storage

A basic free plan for OneDrive provides 5GB of OneDrive space. You can get 100GB of storage by paying a small monthly fee, but if you already have a subscription to Microsoft 365, then you may already have a whole 1TB of OneDrive space available.

Creating a OneDrive Account

Firstly, go to the OneDrive website here. You will need to click the ‘Sign In’ button.

You will get an option to either enter the email of an existing OneDrive account or to Create a New Account.

Click the ‘Create one!’ option.

If you do already have a @outlook.com, @live.com, or @hotmail.com email address, or Xbox network account, you can enter this to create your account, otherwise, click ‘Get a new email address’.

You can choose whether to have an @outlook or @hotmail address and then just follow the on-screen instructions to complete the signing-up process.

Once the OneDrive account is created, on Windows 10, OneDrive is usually automatically configured. In most cases, in Windows, the one Drive Client software will already be on your device, but if not download the OneDrive client offline installer from Microsoft and double-click the file to install it.

If you are installing on another device, like an Apple or Android phone, you will need to get the OneDrive App from the appropriate App store.

Once you have the software or app on your device, you just need to sign in. In Windows,  click the cloud icon from the notification area.

Then select the Sign in button.

Follow the directions to confirm your Microsoft account address and password. Click the Sign in button again.

You should be good to go.

View and Manage Folders and Files

In OneDrive, you can change settings for managing, syncing and sharing files. OneDrive will appear in File Explorer, like any other drive on your computer, and you can view and manage files there.

If you want to view your files online, just right-click any of the folders or files in OneDrive and choose ‘View online’ from the menu.

You can change a wide variety of options in OneDrive. Click on the cloud Icon in the Notification Area. Click on ‘Help & Settings’ and you will be presented with a dialog box where you can change whether OneDrive starts automatically with Windows, control Notifications, add other accounts and many other options.

Share Files 

Sharing files with others, whether they have OneDrive or not, is easy. You can share whole folders or individul files and this can be done from both File Explorer or from your OneDrive site. Just right-click the file or folder you wish to share and click ‘Share’ from the menu.

Before the link is sent, you can control how whether the person being sent the link will have editing rights, when the link will expire and if a password is  required.

There is much, much more to OneDrive. If you want to learn more, contact us here at Infero.