The Inside Scoop

Working From Home - Good Idea or Bad Idea for the Employer

August 9, 2012

Is it a good idea for employers to allow their staff to work from home? A lot of thought and discussion has gone into this question. As we discussed in the July 13 blog, a great emphasis is put on “work-life balance”. More and more employees and their employers understand that there must be balance to create an engaged, happy and productive workforce.  In addition to this, the number of U.S.  households with both parents working has increased from 25% in 1968 to 48% in 2008.

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The Value of Trust

July 13, 2012

Trust is the most important factor in business. Many experts believe this to be true and believe that trust is becoming more critical in these challenging economic times.

Trust is defined as: The assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

As Warren Buffet cleverly noted, “Trust is like the air we breathe. When it’s present, nobody notices. But when it’s absent, everybody notices.”

Being a trusted partner is the promise...

Work-Life Balance and the Office Environment

July 13, 2012

We hear a lot about Work-Life Balance (WLB) but what does it really mean? How do you attain it? How do you keep it?

All good questions that deserve answers.

According to Wikipedia, Work-Life Balance is defined as “a cleared concept including proper prioritizing between "workaholics" (career and ambition) on the one hand and "lifestyle" (health, pleasur...

Change or Perish - The Flexible Workspace

July 7, 2012

"Your success in life isn't based on your ability to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition, customers and business."

— Mark Sanborn

Change is inevitable and the more we resist change, the less relevant we become. This is true in many facets of life but certainly in business. As we mentioned last week, we live at the cross roads of People, Place and Technology. The rapid pace of chang...

The New “Alternative” Workspace

June 30, 2012

What exactly is it? Why is it?

The typical office environment had what we refer to as “stationary” workers. Basically, they sat in one place and worked their 8 to 10 hour day. They rarely moved except to attend a meeting or go out for lunch or breaks.
The new “alternative” workplace (AWP) is a much different place. This is set up more like the typical home. There are areas for specific activities – long meetings, short meetings, training, phone calls, “heads down” work, leisure...

What Businesses Want

June 22, 2012

What do businesses really want? They want sustainable profits. And how do you get sustainable profits? You either increase the topline or overall revenue and/or you decrease expenses.

On average 82% of business expense is on personnel (your staff). So, it stands to reason that if you could increase the productivity of your greatest asset (your people) you would increase your profitability.  Statistics by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and other industry associations demo...

The Bottom Line is the Bottom Line

June 20, 2012

What do businesses really want? They want sustainable profits. And how do you get sustainable profits? You either increase the topline or overall revenue and/or you decrease expenses.

On average 82% of business expense is on personnel (your staff). So,  it stands to reason that if you could increase the productivity of your greatest asset (your people) you would increase your pro...

Interform Architect appointed to City of San Ramon Architectural Review Board

June 6, 2012

Long standing local Architect, Mar Gosiengfiao was appointed to the City of San Ramon Architectural Review Board (San Ramon ARB). Gosiengfiao serves as the lead Architect for Interform Commercial Interiors, a local San Ramon business.

Gosiengfiao is very pleased to be part of the San Ramon ARB. “This is a great honor for me. I have spent the majority of my professional career here in San Ramon. This is my home base raising two kids that were both born in San Ramon.  I take gre...

15 Ways to Green Your Office

June 1, 2012

Create a Flexible Space

Design and and furnish the interior space with modular construction and furnishings to allow flexibility to meet changing needs.

Access to Daylight

Design and configure the office so that occupants enjoy natural light which improves health and i...