BE Furniture

The tax season is near. And, it’s  always  a good idea to start your business tax planning early. Here’s some insight into how to depreciate your  corporate office furniture , and why it’s a great idea to claim this furniture on your taxes. Get to Know the Rules  Firstly, you can only deduct the amount you spend on  modern office furniture  for your business. This is especially important for the owners of a small or home-run business to remember. An item must be used more than 50% of the time for business purposes to qualify. That being said, there’s a lot of furniture and equipment that you can claim for. This can include modern office workstation desks and modular office workstation furniture as well as computers, printers, shelving, carpets, and filing cabinets. Why Should I Depreciate Office Furniture on My Taxes?  It takes a little more work for you or your tax specialist. But, it’s worth it because you receive a tax deducti...

In recent years, tech companies have been dominating the  innovative office design  industry, demonstrating how innovation and creativity can create a high-performance workplace. Here is some inspiration from some of the most noteworthy tech offices from around the world. Airbnb USA Headquarters Airbnb has transformed the short-term rental industry and how we see our homes. So, it should be no surprise that it’s changing how we see offices too. Their San Francisco office was designed by the company’s Environments Team and local architects to create a truly unique space. The revitalization of this building meant bringing in as much natural light as possible through the original glass structure, stripping the building down to its core. As a global company, the building has a global theme, with different spaces including cafes, building floors, and meeting rooms reflecting different cities and countries around the world. Dropbox The new Sydney offices for Dro...

As the saying goes, an untidy desk is a sign of an untidy mind! While plenty of us may disagree, we have to admit that there are a lot of benefits from having a well-organized and clutter-free workstation. Here’s how to get on top of all that mess: Take stock:  It’s easy for our  workstations and desks  to get lost under both physical and digital clutter. The first step to organize your space is to take stock of what’s actually there. Sort your clutter into what’s essential and what’s not, recycle old documents you don’t need, throw out the trash and sort out your inbox. If you’re still swamped under piles of documents, now’s the time to add a filing cabinet to your workstation. Going forward, it may be a good idea to implement a paperless policy to stop the clutter from piling up – and its kind to the environment too! Tackle those cables:  Sometimes it seems like there isn’t a single space free of cables at a desk! Remove all cables that aren’t necessary an...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer limited to the realm of science fiction – it’s in our workplaces and is making a measurable impact on how we do business. Here are some insights from our  corporate office furniture team . Chatbots and Voice Assistants  One of the most high-impact applications of AI is in the rise of chatbots and voice assistants. According to a tech report from Spiceworks, a survey of 500 IT professionals in both North America and Europe revealed that over 40% of large businesses are expecting to implement one or more AI chatbots on company-owned devices in the next year. 25% of mid-sized companies and 27% of small business are planning similar moves. So, what platforms are making the biggest impact? Microsoft Cortana is currently holding the position of most-used intelligent assistant in the workplace at 49% (thanks to its integration with Windows 10) This is followed by Apple’s Siri at 47%. Another 23% of organizations also use Google A...

If there’s one aspect of life that puts the most pressure on company productivity as well as employees, it’s trying to balance families with the demands of the office. With the cost of childcare so high and people wanting to keep their careers on track while having kids, it’s no surprise that kid-friendly  workplaces  are starting to become a trend! This concept presents a unique way of bringing childcare and productivity together to help businesses and parents get ahead. Is there really a demand for family-friendly workplaces?  Yes! In fact, research by the US Department of Labor have shown that 62% of women who gave birth 12 months ago are working, and 90% of men said that paternity leave was a priority. Many additional studies have shown that workplaces that don’t offer paid parental leave suffer from lower employee retention, higher turnover costs and a lower ability to attract talent. Even more importantly, 30% of women with children who don’t work said that...

For a long time, the phrase “work-life balance” has been a buzzword for businesses, but the reality is that, for many people, there is a distinct disconnect between the quality of like they experience at home and the one they get at work. After all, most employees work 40-60 hours a day in the  office , under fluorescent lighting, in range of unhealthy vending machine options, in front of a computer for hours at a time, and unaware of whether it’s day or night outside. After a day’s work, achieving that essential balance is almost impossible – finding the time or energy to exercise, shop for and prepare healthy foods, and spend quality time with our loved ones and hobbies. It’s this imbalance that makes achieving these goals almost impossible – and the distinction between home life and office life makes it exhausting to even think about! The answer, according to specialists, is that  workplaces  need to catch up in terms of quality of life – and industry leaders ...

The New Year is about fresh starts and embracing new innovations, and our  workplaces  are no exception! Here are some of the latest trends that are making splash in the world of office design this year. Unconventional workspaces:  There’s a strong global trend to think outside the rules and ideas of a traditional office and make spaces more creative, inspiring and functional. Casual meeting rooms, collaborative spaces and breakout areas are common, as are unique features like yoga spaces, wellness areas, outdoor spaces and snack bars. Dynamic spaces:  Office square footage is still at a premium in many parts of the country, so companies are increasingly thinking about how to use the space they have for multiple functions. With flexible furniture like  sit stand desks , hot desking and movable walls, employees have a wider range of working options – and companies don’t have space sitting idle. The home office space:  This encapsulates two trends –...

If you’ve been researching  corporate office furniture  or thinking about redesigning your office interior, you’ve likely come across the phrase “active sitting”. Here’s a quick guide to what it’s all about. Active sitting is also known as dynamic sitting, and it is about keeping the body in motion while seated, rather than remaining in a static position. Products that promote this concept allow for the natural movements of the body, and include a wide range of seating options like balance balls, sit-to-stand desks, and height-adjustable wobbling stools. While these ideas might sound a little strange, there’s a lot of research that supports this idea as a means to remove the health issues that static sitting contribute towards. The Mayo Clinic links long periods of sitting with increased blood pressure, risk of metabolic syndrome, high blood sugar, weight gain, abnormal cholesterol levels, and even increased risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease. This i...

A chair is just a chair and a desk is just a desk, right? Wrong! In fact, your office furniture has a very real influence on: • How your workspace functions, and • On employee productivity, itself. Here’s how a change of furniture can make a real impact on your company’s bottom line. • Communication: Clear, easy communication is the lifeblood of a productive company: o It supports the sharing of ideas, and o The creative energy that is the hallmark of innovation. Hot-desks assist with collaboration; more casual open spaces promote brainstorming. • Comfort: Being uncomfortable at your desk is a sure way to sink your productivity. Ergonomic desks and chairs not only assist with feeling more comfortable while seated during work hours, but also promote good health – which means less sick days spent at the physiotherapist! • Variety: Everyone is different, so why give all your employees the exact same desk and chair combination? Offering a variety of options may sound expensive,...

Your office space is home to your employees for 9 or more hours a day, it’s the first impression clients get of your company and it plays a key role in workflow and productivity. So, could your office benefit from remodeling? Here are some signs to look for. Your business has grown or changed: As your business changes to meet industry challenges or takes on new opportunities for growth, so your office needs to change to effectively meet these demands. You may need to hold meetings with clients where previously you could go to them or meet in another location. You may need more desks to handle the increase in employees and your space is getting cramped. Visible wear-and-tear: Your office space is part of your brand, and out-of-date, worn furniture simply makes your brand and company look shabby. While office furniture and fittings are built to be robust, they face very heavy use and traffic on a daily basis, and chairs, carpeting, desks and soft furnishings can start to show st...