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 to create a productive work environment

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No matter the kind of work you do, it’s important to be nice to other people. It may seem like a no-brainer. However, it can be harder to do than you think. Things that may seem obvious to you now, may look very different once you’re face to face with a problem. If your job is to provide a certain kind of service, then you’re sure to communicate with various potential clients. Furthermore, you probably also have a long list of employees that you’re responsible for. Relocation can be stressful for both the workers and the clients. Service providers that offer temporary storage Seattle residents rely on, for example, understand that better than anyone. If you’re wondering how to create a productive work environment, then we can help you understand why that is important and how to achieve it. After all, we’ve been doing it for a while now.

Communicate with your team

Good communication is the key. It’s crucial that you remember that not everyone knows as much as you do. If you’re to be a team player, you need to listen to the people you work with. Learn all about their problems and try to find a way to help them. You won’t be able to do that if you’re not willing to compromise. Of course, it goes without saying that there are things that you should never compromise. The quality of the work you do should never suffer. If the employees are not able to meet the requirements, then you simply need to put your foot down. However, even then, there’s no need to be unpleasant. Providing Kenmore self storage services, for example, is tough enough. If the employees are failing to deliver, you should get to the bottom of the issue. But be nice!

people who want to create a productive work environment
If you want to create a productive work environment, good communication is the key.

In order to create a productive work environment, you need to know the people you work with

You sometimes do need to wild an iron fist, there are no two ways about it. It’s probably one of the most difficult decisions in the business world. However, it can’t be helped. We’re not all the same. If you work in a larger team, then you’re bound to meet various people. Some of them will be more responsible than others. By learning to recognize a character, you will be able to make smarter decisions.

Don’t be afraid to make hard decisions

If you notice that someone is constantly late to work, you can’t let that continue. And if it continues after you pointed out that that’s not okay, then you know that the person doesn’t really care about the job. It’s important to project an aura of authority. If you see that someone keeps making the same mistakes over and over again, then it might be time to terminate the contract. Conducting self storage Bothell services is an important job, after all.

Remember to always be nice if you want to create a productive work environment

Being a strong leader doesn’t mean that you need to be unpleasant, of course. You need to be able to recognize people who do care about work, as well. If you notice that someone is making an effort and doing well, then you should, at the very least praise that person. Create an environment where people are happy to go come to work. Team-building meetings are a good way for you to get some insight into different personalities you’ll need to deal with on the daily basis. Furthermore, it’s important for you to see how people behave in a non-formal situation. Gather the information and get to know the people you work with. Being able to recognize a slacker will save you a lot of time and energy later down the line. It may seem unnecessary, but you need to know everyone and be aware of their capabilities and mindsets.

an employee and an employer
Don’t be afraid to make tough decisions.

Mistakes will be made, don’t overreact

Problems will occur. It happens even when you have the best movers Seattle can provide. The world is not an ideal place, no matter how much we sometimes want it to be. Therefore, you need to be prepared to react at moment’s notice. If your team makes a mistake and the clients suffer because of it, your first step would be to contact the clients directly. This communication should go as follows:

  • ask the clients what went wrong
  • listen to their complaints carefully
  • apologize to the clients if your team was in the wrong
  • see if there is something you can do to fix the situation

Protect the people you work with if you want to create a productive work environment

After that, you should contact your team. Now that you have the client’s version of events, you should hear out what the workers have to say. Ask them what went wrong and listen carefully. If the two stories don’t add up, then you know someone’s lying. Based on your experience, you should be able to recognize which scenarios are most likely to happen. If your team was in the wrong, you should talk to them privately. You should never be unpleasant to your workers in front of the clients. It will embarrass them and will not achieve better results. It’s in your interest to make sure nothing like that happens in the future. Furthermore, if your team was not in the wrong, you should support them. Confront the clients, but remember to be nice. You need them as much as they need you.

happy workers
Be nice to everyone and listen to their complaints.

People should be happy to work with you

Now that you know how to create a productive work environment, you should also try to make the work environment as pleasant as possible. You should lead by example. Be courteous to everyone, both clients and coworkers alike. Being unpleasant won’t achieve anything. It’s important that you communicate with each other. Honesty really is the best policy. Therefore, you should be able to trust your coworkers and vice-versa. They need to be able to tell you what went wrong, without the fear that you’ll bite their heads off once they do. Providing excellent services is a difficult job. By working together you can make it easier.

 

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