inbox

Office Solutions, Sep/Oct 2004

MBM hunches new Website

Looking for information about shredders and other office equipment? Check out the new Website from MBM (www.mbmcorp.com), maker of Destroyit document shredders. The site offers enhanced content to better inform MBM customers and potential customers on the MBM product line. The main focus is to provide up-to-date, useful information in an easy-to-navigate format. Many of the popular features of the old MBM site, such as retail pricing and service manuals, have been retained and updated, and content will be refreshed as new products and information become available.

Rainforest Alliance honors FedEx Kinko's

FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Services recently received a Rainforest Alliance Corporate Green Globe Award for a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. FedEx Kinko's uses the EIWIRONMENT Brand from Neenah Paper, which includes papers made from loo-percent post-consumer materials and fiber that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This certification ensures that the wood pulp comes from well-managed forests that meet internationally recognized standards.

Will work for vacations ...

Survey results from OfficeTeam show that 48 percent of workers polled said the biggest mistake they made with their last vacation was taking insufficient time off. Respondents said the second biggest mistake they made while on vacation was that they could not relax or get their minds off work. OfficeTeam's executive director, Diane Domeyer, said, "Employees fearful of falling behind on projects or not seeming like team players often put off vacations or limit breaks to long weekends. Lean staffing levels in recent years have left many professionals with increased pressure at work. This, however, makes the need to recharge more vital than ever."

Another Accountemps survey reveals that 51 percent of the 150 executives surveyed said employees are more productive after a vacation than before one. To maximize vacation plans, Accountemps' chairman Max Messmer offers the following tips:

1. Select the right time, such as a period when work is slow.

2. Make your desk an open book by letting at least one colleague know where key information is kept and how your active files are organized.

3. Take advantage of technology to inform people of an alternative contact who has been briefed on your projects.

4. Assign a decision maker whom you trust, and try not to second-guess that person's choices when you return. Otherwise, your designee will learn to contact you instead of making a decision.

USPS establishes extra convenience

The U.S. Postal Service's (USPS') retail group has initiated a new program to reach customers at times when USPS branches are inconveniently located or closed. Contract postal units (CPUs) with attendants are being established in shopping centers and malls. The extended evening, weekend, and holiday hours of the CPUs provide customers with convenience, and customers can combine errands at one location. The USPS also plans to establish CPUs in grocery store chains and convenience stores. Implementation has already begun in the Southeast and will continue to expand through the next year.

To facilitate the setup of the CPUs, the USPS' Retail Products & Services Contracting Office has awarded a $8.4 million contract to Francotyp-Postalia (FP Mailing Solutions) for supplying FP's ultimail system digital meters to all the CPUs. The ultimail systems will also feature an accounting system software package.

Better body language

Without actually talking, you may still be communicating with your boss and everyone else in your office. The concept of body language is nothing new. If you have problems you don't dare talk about, you may still be telling people about them anyway with your body language, according to a recent I Hate Filing newsletter from Esselte.

Here are some ways you may be sending the wrong messages and some tips for avoiding them.

Slumped shoulders. According to communication experts, this may say that you're tired and perhaps unable to keep up with the workload you've been given. Make a conscious effort to draw your shoulders back and stand up as straight as you can, which will say that you're ready to handle anything that comes your way.

Rolling eyes. This classic body language communicates sarcasm, disgust, or exasperation. But remember, you are expected to work as a team player. Because rolling our eyes is something we've done since childhood, it may be a bad habit. When your boss asks you to help meet an important deadline, your eyes rolling back as if you're annoyed will annoy the boss.

Shuffling feet. Much like slumped shoulders, this can communicate that you're tired or, maybe worse, you're unmotivated and disinterested. Maybe it's a habit, but concentrate on taking full, energetic steps in the office, which communicates you're agile, both on your feet and in your thinking.

Head down. Here's another classic that communicates you're attempting to avoid something. Is it responsibility? You wouldn't want to ever verbalize that to your boss. By keepingyour head raised, you're showingyou can handle challenges and you're looking forward, ready to tackle your responsibilities head-on.