Founded in 1890, Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage the parent company of Portabox has successfully weathered many history-changing events including the Great Seattle Fire, WWI, the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Great Depression, WWII, the 2008 recession, and 9/11 among many other public crises. We are taking the current COVID-19 threat very seriously and will promptly adhere to any and all directives from local, state and federal government officials. Hansen Bros. and Portabox have been categorized as an essential industry business (moving & relocation) within the current mandate established by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

As essential services, we will maintain normal operations until such time as either company management determines we must close our offices or we are directed to do so by a governmental authority. We are taking extensive precautionary measures including the adoption of all CDC guidelines and the establishment of our own policies intended to minimize health risks for all customers, employees, contractors, vendors, and community stakeholders. We are proud to be able to support the needs of our customers during this crucial time but are prepared to quickly change course as required.

Stay safe together with Hansen Bros. and Portabox

The COVID-19 crisis is fluid and there are many uncertainties and factors outside of our control that may, with little or no advance notice, impact our delivery of moving & storage services. Please be aware the current crisis could potentially result in small inconveniences such as a delayed project start time or significant inconveniences such as the complete rescheduling of services.

Although there are many unknowns to be navigated, you can be certain that Hansen Bros. and Portabox will be timely and transparent in our communications regarding servicing your moving & storage needs, and our professional relocation consultants will work diligently to offer creative solutions in the event your project is impacted by the current health crisis.

Steps We're Taking:

  • Company-wide Implementation of all precautionary measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Office staff and crews are being monitored daily for symptoms and/or known exposure by management and asked to go home, contact their healthcare provider, and self-quarantine as directed. Staff that experience symptoms and/or aware of exposure when not at work have been directed to stay home and notify their supervisor.
  • Office staff and crews are receiving daily briefings on precautionary measures and have been directed to follow them on and off the job.
  • Office staff and crews are being instructed to maintain appropriate “social distance” of 6 feet minimum between one another, customers, and all other people.
  • Office staff and crews are being provided with appropriate hand sanitizer and surface disinfecting supplies. They have been directed to disinfect truck cabs and moving equipment between each move to the best of their ability. These supplies will continue to be replenished as we are able, based on availability from retailers.
  • We are limiting visitation to our branch offices. If you wish to purchase moving boxes or supplies, please simply call in your order and we will happily deliver to your vehicle outside.

We are all in this together.  The team at Hansen Bros. and Portabox is proud to continue offering our services in accordance with the necessary precautions outlined above. We are here to make the process of storing belongings seamless & safe for you.

How a clean workspace boosts productivity

Step 1 of 2

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Having a clean and efficient office is integral to overall business success. Some reports indicate that untidy workplaces contribute to over $2.5 million a year in “expenses” due to a lack of productivity stemming from such conditions. For this reason, you may want to consider Newcastle self storage solutions and create a space where you and your employees can be as productive as possible. In this article, we will present you with a few ways in which a clean workspace boosts productivity, so you can take the necessary measures.

The reasons why a clean workspace boosts productivity

Maintaining a clean office space should be the goal of every business. The main reasons why you might want to do so as far as productivity is concerned, are:

  • Improved concentration
  • Minimized sick days
  • A clean workspace saves a lot of time

There are numerous ways at your disposal to try and achieve that maximum productivity. First, you can go on a decluttering spree, having your employees figure out a way to better store your office supplies and necessary equipment. Second, you can find a storage unit near your location.

a clean office
A clean workspace is much easier to work in.

For example, if your office is in Issaquah, search for Issaquah self storage solutions. Most of the time, you will have a great option in front of you. Having more storage space means more efficient business, and more efficient business brings in more profits. And third, and most effective, you can opt for a portable storage solution.

Aside from that, you will be able to reap the benefits that a clean workspace brings. Let’s take a look at exactly how a clean workspace boosts productivity.

Improved concentration

There are numerous studies showing the correlation between productivity and clutter. They all agree on the fact that the presence of clutter makes it harder for employees to focus on particular tasks. To get a bit more into it, these researchers have discovered that the visual cortex can get overwhelmed by objects that are irrelevant to your tasks. This makes it more difficult to pay attention to the tasks at hand. And it also makes it harder to complete those tasks efficiently.

On the other hand, a clean workspace eliminates all those distractions, allowing the employees to concentrate on their duties. This, in turn, boosts productivity by a large margin, as there are no distractions to be had. When you can spend all of your “brainpower” on your work, the quality of said work improves as well.

But to achieve such a productive environment, you may need to get rid of some things that are occasionally useful. And this means that you may need more than a traditional storage unit. At Portabox Storage Seattle, we offer portable storage solutions that can help you organize your inventory in an efficient, affordable, and very convenient manner. You can have your storage space wherever you want it!

An unassuming way in which a clean workspace boosts productivity – Fewer sick days

Another reason why a clean office boosts productivity is due to fewer sick days taken by employees. Did you know that the average desk contains over ten million types of bacteria? This creates an environment that is several hundred times dirtier than a toilet seat! As a result, employees are running the risk of becoming ill, something that we’ve seen all too much in recent years.

The answer to this particular problem is proper sanitation. If you want to be running a clean workspace, you may want to encourage your employees to follow sanitary protocols at all times. That will minimize the chances of sickness and therefore maximize productivity. However, what you don’t want to do is simply add more work to your staff.

a cup of tea
By having your office clean, your employees will get sick less.

If you simply add the sanitation procedures to their already long list of tasks, the productivity might actually suffer. Instead, see to find a way that your employees will want to take their time to sanitize their workspace. Add incentives, potential rewards, and everyone is going to be much happier doing it. Just make sure to avoid using any potentially harmful cleaners, such as anything that contains sodium lauryl sulfate, formaldehyde, and ammonia. While undoubtedly effective at cleaning, these ingredients can irritate the skin, as well as the ears, nose, and throat of some of your employees.

If you have recently relocated, you might also want to take care of various supplies before they become a problem. For example, you will want to store most of your packing materials instead of leaving them in the office. These materials can quickly clutter up the space, allowing for lower productivity. 

Time saved is time gained

Ultimately, keeping your workspace clean is all about saving time. Time is your most precious resource, after all, and you want to be utilizing it to its fullest potential. With a clean work environment, it becomes much easier to file the paperwork properly, without any need to remember where to find certain documents. As a result, productivity considerably improves.

a wristwatch, symbolizing how clean workspace boosts productivity
A clean workspace saves time.

The whole trick to creating (and maintaining) a clean space to work in is to start the day with cleaning. If you do the cleaning first thing in the morning, it sets the stage for a productive and pleasant day. The benefits of creating a morning routine are well-known, and you can apply them to your workday, as well. You may also want to clean up after you’re done with your shift, as that will mean there is less work to be done the next morning. This allows your employees to start with their work earlier, which, of course, boosts productivity.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is in your best interest to ensure that your workspace is as clean as it possibly can be. While a clean workspace boosts productivity on its own, it is much more than that. Both you and your employees are going to feel much better working in such an environment. And, ultimately, that is what it is all about, you want to combine feeling good and being productive. And the best way to accomplish that is to create and maintain clean and healthy office conditions.

Latest Posts