A Book Stand as a Gift for Book Lovers

A book stand is a great gift idea for any real book lover. Currently marketed models range from straight forward wire devices such as the Fold’N'Stow that holds a book at user selectable angles on virtually any flat surface, to the ultimately sophisticated LEVO Bookholder which embraces a book or other reading material in either a floor standing model or a clamp-on design that securely fastens to any table, desk, or counter top. Most book stand designs function well with hard cover books, but most also can function very well with paperbacks when they are held by book holders like an OpenPage.

The Fold’N'Stow is among the least expensive of book stands. It folds virtually flat and is sold with it’s own convenient pouch designed for easy placement in a 3 ring binder. It may be placed on a countertop for cookbooks, or atop a desk, table, workstation, bench, etc. Wire arms with page holders swing from the back plane to secure the covers and open pages of your book, and, by adjusting how far apart the arms are, smaller and larger books may be easily accommodated. The back of the stand also has horizontal pieces that may be moved to vary the angle at which the book is held relative to the surface upon which it is resting.

The LEVO’s most popular book stand is the LEVO floor standing model, which includes a weighted rolling base for ease of movement from chair side to bedside to desk side to beside the kitchen counter top. Wherever you position it, it can support in just about any position. Incorporating a bookboard that swings, tilts, cants, yaws and rotates in any plane, and combined with a book mounting mechanism that will hold your book or other reading material, even upside down, the LEVO allows for totally hand-free reading from just about any position.

The LEVO Clamp On model is just as convenient as the LEVO Floor Model, but provides a clamp that securely attaches to just about any table, desk, work bench, counter top or other flat surface up to 2 inches thick, and provides identical movements as the floor stand model, without the degree of vertical telescoping movements. By supporting your reading materials off the surface to which it is secured, the desk design saves the weight and expense of the rolling base while conserving work space, since your book doesn’t rest on the surface.

Even though there are other book stand designs available, the Fold’N'Stow and LEVO designs have stood the test of time and function well under constant use.

Financial Spread Trading

Attain Liberty With Mobility Aids

Foundation

Mobility – it’s only pretty much achievable to value what mobility represents if your ability to move around freely is decreased, then it takes on a complete new purpose. Living with a person who’s partially handicapped gives me an understanding of the kind of dilemmas that people with physical challenges have to deal with. When you are capable as well as sure footed there isn’t any real understanding of the disadvantage of not having full mobility of your person. Aside from which nobody will be particularly concerned unless it concerns them themselves.

We all take it entirely for granted when everything ticks as it should and we get on with living our lives concentrating on making money, raising a family, having a good time and other such normal everyday activities. In reality quite often we do not even like to look at people who are disabled and finding it hard because it makes us aware of our own vulnerability which reminds us of our mortality. Next time you see another person who is in a wheel chair, inspect your own reaction to that human being, and be aware of how people dodge eye contact and deliberately get out of the way. People who use wheelchairs often state how folks they meet will speak with the carer and ignore them like they are stupid in addition deaf.

Early Disability Aids

The first type of disability aid that most people will be familiar with is the walking stick. For some, it will be something to make them feel more steady on their feet when they suffer some impairment in walking. If a person has a broken leg or hip then crutches for a period of time will be needed and later a stick until full mobility returns. When I broke my hip I found the most frustrating thing was that I could not carry a cup of tea from one place to another so I improvised with a trolley on wheels which I could push along. When you have to use two arm crutches as I did to get about, there are no arms left to carry anything. For non spilling things you can use a bag to carry your things in which can be attached to your crutches, but not cups of liquid. Recently when visiting my husband in hospital I watched while the nurses unpacked a Zimmer frame on which they attached a plastic box with a tray for a lid. It was fixed like a basket on a bike. The patient had to practice pushing it along, and I realised it was because he lived on his own and needed to be able to transport things but couldn’t manage without two handed support. These types of early aids are common for people as they get older and lose their youthful mobility because of age related problems. These are additionally required for those who have endured accidents and bones being broken so that non permanent mobility is disturbed.

Self-sufficiency

One of the major frustrations for people becoming disabled is their loss of independence and freedom to be able to do what they want, when they want. If a person becomes disabled after years of normal living and independence there will be a great deal of  angst and a need to make adjustments to the new situation. However, whatever the disability experienced there are a vast range of aids to help people live as independent a life as possible.

These days the physically impaired can obtain freedom and independence through the use of a mobility scooter, such as this Pride Libre scooter has an 18 stone capacity. Check out www.mobility-hypermarket.com to see all of their products plus the very best prices available.

In the Home

When suffering loss of mobility or normal functioning whatever the reason, the first task is to create safety and functionality in the home where the level of disability determines the type of support needed.

One of the first things to consider is the quality of comfort while resting. Correct support in bed and while sitting in a chair will allow the muscles to relax properly so that the body will function as well as possible. There are a range of Orthopaedic beds which allow for many different positions from lying to sitting and the best examples are the hospital beds where you will find electronic buttons to change the position of a patient with ease. Chairs can also be found that will allow for different positions and even a vibrating and massaging function incorporated into the frame. A friend of mine had a chair specially made which reclines, vibrates and massages in three different places and also tips forward when you want to get out for ease of standing up. When we stop by we all want a go in it because it is such great fun.

The next test when disabled, is the function of toilet, bathing and dressing. There are a huge range of aids to chose from such as commodes and other toilet necessities, grab rails for showers and baths. My mother is severely arthritic and cannot get into the bath anymore, so she has a seat which lowers and raises her in and out of the bath. There are also walk in baths and then specially adapted showers with stools and slip mats to aid the sufferer. Also because my mother is partially sighted she is unable to read the numbers anymore, so she has a set of talking weighing scales.

Having managed the getting up, washing and dressing as well as maybe a good rest in the special chair, moving around the residence will be next on the agenda. Depending of the level of incapacity it might be that a simple walking stick or Zimmer frame will support mobility. As well as grab handles in the bathroom, handles can be mounted alongside entrance doors and steps to help with negotiating different levels. Just because people suffer some sort of disability it doesn’t mean that they want to leave their homes, but when they live in a house and have stairs to negotiate then the use of a stair lift is a wonderful invention. Severely handicapped people may need a wheelchair in the house which requires a lot of living area and probably larger doorways to accommodate it.

The next activity for independent living is food preparation and dining. Standing can be a problem so a high stool to perch on might be helpful. Otherwise do as much preparation as possible sitting at the kitchen/dining table. If a person has a problem with holding cutlery and kitchen utensils, there are specially adapted items with larger handles for ease of use. With arthritis in the wrists, lifting items such as kettles and saucepans can be a problem, but there are available cleverly designed kettle and teapot tippers for ease of pouring. Using a food processer and electric gadgets will save a great deal of time and effort when preparing meals. Another simple aid which my mother found very useful is a grabbing stick or ‘Reacher’ that picks up items to save bending down.

The idea of a four wheeled scooter getting you around is very appealing when the legs fail to do the job appropriately.

Maintaining the home is sometimes challenging for a disabled person. Obviously there are washing machines, dryers and dishwasher to aid with tasks in the home but you can also get remote control vacuum cleaners that are radio controlled with a joystick or key pad such as for toy boats and aeroplanes. Long handled brushes and dusters help with hard to reach corners particularly the microfiber dusters that attract dirt and dust to them.

Other items available for people who experience some level of limitation may be lever type handles for taps to make them easier to use. If a person has lost their grip there are special items to open cans, bottles and jars. Because my mother is partially sighted she has large buttons on her telephone and speed dialling so she can stay in touch with her family who are spread far and wide. She can order goods by phone which means with such aids she is able to retain her independence and stay in her own home. It seems that whatever the disability there is some clever invention to help overcome the problem.

Outside the Home

To enable a person who is disabled to live as normal a life as possible then aids outside the home are just as important as those inside. Wearing an alarm cord around the neck is a wise precaution so that if a person does get into difficulties while outside they can call for help. To be able to move around easily outside may only require a walking stick or a Zimmer frame for support but where mobility is more restricted, wheelchairs or electric scooters may be necessary. My mother used to love to garden but now the arthritis and osteoporosis has taken hold and her eyesight is impaired, she is severely limited in any activity outside. On a good day however she does have a garden stool which enables her to do some weeding and tidying of the flower beds. There are even wheeled seats for moving along the edge of flower beds when weeding. Long handled garden items can be used to avoid bending or kneeling and raised beds will allow even wheel chair users to tackle the garden plot. Ramps may be installed to allow a wheelchair to move from one level to another, and sit-on lawn mowers are a possibility if you have a big enough lawn.

There is a relatively new product on the market called Flexiloc which is a modular system of tough polyurethane tiles that interlocks to form ramps of any size. It has the advantage of being able to run straight, turn corners, be used indoors or outdoors and has a good grip surface that is more comfortable than conventional surfaces. It can be used as a temporary solution where a permanent ramp is unsuitable and is easily dismantled to be reused again and again.

If a disabled person relies on a wheelchair then automatic gates and garage doors which open remotely is a big help. Cars or vans used for transporting electric scooters are usually specially adapted vehicles with ramps or lifts to allow the mobility scooter to be loaded up. Sometime cars may have to be adapted to allow for the lack of functioning of particular limbs. My husband cannot manage the foot pedal movement required for gear changing so we have switched to an automatic car to enable him to still drive.

There is a choice of 3 and 4 wheeled types of all terrain mobility scooter however it is important to realise that whilst the three wheeled version is more manoeuvrable it is a bit less stable.

There is a vast range of mobility scooters available both new and second hand. The mobility scooter is mostly a four wheeled vehicle which travels between four and eight miles an hour. However for the electric scooter there seems to be more three wheeled versions which travel at a maximum of six miles per hour. The speed is determined on the weather, the terrain and riders weight. A three wheeled scooter is inherently less stable and unless greater manoeuvrability is required it is better to get the four wheeled variety. Some scooters can be completely folded up to go into the boot of a car. The scooter usually has a chair with arms mounted over the battery enclosure with handlebars like a bike for turning and controls in reach of the hands. They are very easy to operate and comfortable to ride. The chairs vary with the amount of padding and enclosed back, usually the more expensive the more padding there is.

As well as the open versions of mobility scooters there are enclosed ones to protect the passenger from rain and wind. These come with lights, windscreen wipers, full suspension, mirrors and lockable doors as with a car and can cover larger distances. I have seen them in my local area travelling along the road rather than on the pavement.

Home Remote Controls

Where an individual is physically unable to get about inside or outside the home the use of remote controls is a valuable aid. Being able to manage and operate your entertainment centre remotely is only one of the possibilities. The availability of remote controls for opening and closing of blinds and curtains, switches for electrical equipment such as ovens, lights, cooking appliance and washing machines, is a boon. For people who cannot easily answer the door there is a keyless door entry system designed to fit most latch locks which enable the elderly, the disabled and partially sighted who have difficulty using keys, to manage their security remotely.

One story I read in the paper a few weeks ago was of a young man who was so obese, in the region of forty stone, that he could not move out of his bed. He had an entertainment centre in his room remotely controlled and he ordered food online to be delivered to his house. There were three healthcare workers in attendance at all times to turn him in bed and see to his bodily needs; as well as people to cook for him the food he had ordered. He was waiting for a stomach operation to staple his stomach together to reduce his intake of food. And all this was paid for by the tax payer. My feeling was that if there was no one to take such good care of him he would soon lose weight because he would not be able to get about and eat all that food. Having read that story I question the value of having remote controls so easily available, because the forced activity of getting up and out of your chair to change channels is at least exercise to keep your circulation going. However for people who cannot move around easily then remote controls are a boon I am sure.

Conclusion

For the kids who were born with a physical disability, may never know what it is like to be fully mobile and they may always yearn to live a normal life. For those who were once completely functional, when they become disabled they have to come to terms with their loss as well as face up to their own mortality. If the time comes when you are no longer able to do all the things you used to do, then be sure there are numerous ingenious devices that can assist you preserve as much independence as possible.

Do Massage Chairs Work?

Massage has been used for a long time to help relieve aches and pains, muscle stiffness and some joint pain. Like many things, if it’s done properly it can work wonderfully, although you may have trouble massaging your own back, if it’s aching. And it costs money. A professional massage can cost 40 and up and for many people it can be too expensive to have done on a regular basis.

If you can’t afford regular massage, is there any solution to the problem? The benefits of regular massage can be extremely attractive. Well, there are a number of things you could doOne of the easiest and most economical over the long term is to buy one of the growing selection of home massage chairs, such as the SBM-500h, especially if you get a homedics shiatsu massager at a good price.

What a massage chair is for is to give you varying levels of massage intensity and, sometimes, to add heat to the massageas well. Different models have different features, but all the good ones have the concept of “zones”. There are usually at least a couple of zones of massage, which may be independently switchable and controllable so that you can enjoy the massage in the area where you need it most.

Quality models, like the homedics massager, or Homedics shiatsu massage cushion offer independently controlled back and shoulder massage. When you’ve tasted the ability to choose the area that gets massaged, at the flick of a switch, it’s hard to go back to a basic model!

The models with heat output are also lovely to sink into on a cold winter’s day. Relaxing on a chair that gently warms your back and shoulders and combines it with a gentle de-stressing massage is a lovely way to relax and unwind after the tension of a long day.

If you have any health issues, or joint, back, or heart problems, consult your doctor for professional advice before self-administering any massage.

Why Keyword Research Is Better Than Sex

I have all my websites and affiliate sites all set up for the festive season so I thought I would have a crack at micro niche adsense sites which are going off like gangbusters at the minute. 6 days ago I crank up google adwords keyword tool (GAKT) and start throwing in any old niche and start drilling down. I already have my criteria set out that the keyword phrase has to meet and you go through quite a few before you hit a nugget.

I am sitting here clicking away when my daughter walks in the room and tells her mother that she just bought a popular brand of perfume for herself. Now my family accuse me of turning off when I am on the computer but when my wife asked what brand of perfume, and my daughter told her it was red door perfume my ears stood to attention immediately.

Bang!! I whack the keyword phrase into GAKT and while the little coloured balls are jiggling across the screen deciding my fate I tell my 18″ screen how much I love her and to please be good to me. ( I don’t really…)

YES!! She comes back and tells me that 6,600 other people are searching for her exactly every month and that there are numerous people paying money to advertise her assets.

SAFE AT FIRST BASE

I am fairly excited at this stage but have to tell myself to calm down, go reeeeal slow, there is a lot more boxes to tick before we snatch up this little hummer. Right now all I want to do is go hammer and tong at this to find out if I have a winner but I decide to pull back and simply admire my technique so far. At this stage I invite GAKT’s sister to join in the act. Google Search is going to tell me about the competition I have for this little beauty. Once again, I have criteria that have to be met in terms of my competitors. I will only be successful if I am on top. Afterall, top 5 on page 1 is vital.

I JUST STOLE 2 BASES

The competition is quite low. I will not go into figures etc, that is for a different post, but I am delighted so far. High searches and low competition on a term that, especially with xmas coming up, is going to be more popular than the queen of the prom. Right now I am sweating profusely. I can feel the excitement building up as I am getting closer to utopia. My muscles start to tighten. My keyboard strokes are getting faster and faster with more intent in each one. My only hurdle between climbing Everest or certain doom is the domain name. I have recently come to the conclusion that exact name domains are the way to go. No dashes or hyphens.

Please, don’t stop now. I grab one of my favorite tools, ajaxwhois.com, to check availability. For those that don’t know this tool tells you if the domain is available as you are typing in your keyword. I begin typing in the 3 word phrase. I am checking .com, .net and .org. The pressure I am feeling is enormous. I am going to explode soon. Firstly, .com is gone. I sigh but push on relentlessly. Soon I am told that .net is a no-no too. It cannot be happening. All the ground work has been laid. I can’t fail now. I refuse to.

STOP RIGHT THERE.. I GOTTA KNOW RIGHT NOW

It all hinges on .org. Whats it gunna be boy. Yes or No, Whats it gunna be boy.
YEEES OR NOOOO

I couldn’t take it any longer….. (you know the rest)

YES….YES….YESSSSS (Think Meg Ryan here)

I have done it. www.pcroleplayinggames.org is available. A sense of relief envelops me as I have reached my climactic end of keyword research. I jump wildly up from my chair, pumping the air with my fists and yelling in rapture when it finally hits me. My wifes feather duster that is. Smack in the back of the scone. She is so over my rantings for the last 10 minutes and had an explosion of her own. I bet the Earth didn’t move for her.

I sprint over to godaddy and pick up my beautiful .org and race her back to our cozy little C Panel. While tucking her in to her new home I spoil her rotten. I give her optimsation like you have never seen. I spoil her with the most beautiful .jpg’s and I give her a title and description that any search engine would fall in love with. I introduce her to the world in all her splendor. She is radiant and I stare at her, mesmorised by her beauty and elegance. But will the rest of the world have the same feelings as I?

I go to a few neighbours houses and introduce her. I even dropped her name to people I didn’t know. Important people like Mr and Mrs PR7 and above and it worked for within 5 days she makes her debut to the world at #10. I am so proud of her. Such a rapid riser and a hard worker for since debuting 2 days ago she has earnt me $3.85. Now, I am going down the pub for a beer and brag to my mates about my latest conquest.

A2Z Whats Up With Baby

Mobility Scooters, Wheelchairs And Recliners

Several mobility products use electricity to be of assistance lend a hand those that are disabled or may having problems walking. These machines be inclined to take the mode of scooters, wheel chairs and types of reclining seating. There are countless dissimilar types of scooters available that come in a diversity of types. You can get heavy duty scooters that can be used for out-of-doors exercise and possess exceptional gripping tires and high operation.

There are also lightweight scooters that can be folded and take a trip with you effortlessly. All scooters has padded seats and arm rests for comfort and offer plenty of leg space. They possess suspension in both the front and back for easy riding and less jarring due to bumps and imperfections in the road. It is doable to add a basket to the scooter to keep things with you. Most of the controls are by using levers controlled by your hands.

There are numerous different powered wheel seats that use electricity. All power wheel seats can be dismantled and without difficulty fit in your car. They are provided with rechargeable batteries. These wheelchairs are mainly for indoor exercise but can be taken outdoors as long as the conditions are good, superb paved path and no snow or ice. It is doable to get a powered wheel chair in a captain’s chair and the back can recline. The armrests will fold down making it easier for you to get in and out of the wheel chair.

A riser reclining chair is a custom-made chair that provides exceptional back support, disguised arm rests and designed for outstanding backside rest. You can get a recliner that has pockets for your remote and glasses and can also add a undersized table for getting work done. Unlike other recliner the electric recliner reclines using electricity and not your own muscle. It leans back and lifts the foot rest to your desired resting place all by using an easy manager.

Above and beyond being used for individuals that are disabled some of the electric mobility products, like scooters are utilized at resorts, construction sites, factories and airports as other means of transportation instead of gas powered machines. Some electric mobility scooters are so insubstantial and small that they can fold down into the size of a briefcase and be effortlessly carried around. 4 wheel mobility scooters are very good for out-of-doors use.

Electric mobility products make it workable to uphold your quality of life while maintaining your self-sufficiency. There are loads of benefits to using an electric mobility product.

HTML clipboard Mobilityplus.co.nz is a leader in the area of providing Mobility Scooters in New Zealand. All Electric Mobility Scooters sold by MobilityPlus come with a 12 month warranty, plus a 3 year warranty. Contact us for a Free Trial.Search Engine Optimisation  by Digitalawol.com

The World of Online Shopping

You would have surely asked this question at least once to some one or to your self. The truth of the matter is that online purchases are so much better for so many reasons. Some of the reasons are listed below why you should make the internet your shopping venue.

Probably the first thing you need to do when you decide to go for shopping to the mall is the dress up appropriately depending on the weather around. When you do your purchases online, you can even be in your house clothes to research the item you wish to buy.

Apparel Clothing

When you decide to shop at the mall, you have to think of ways of reaching the spot like a bus, a car or something else. but you are free of any worries of finding the right mode of transport, when you decide to stay at home and shop online. Finding a parking space can be an exhausting experience when you take your car to shop at the mall. All you need for online shopping is a chair, which is waiting as your own parking space.

For shopping at a mall, do not forget the counter-productive experience of locating the specific shop from where you want to do your purchases. This is also a sheer waste of time and leaves you flustered so why not ask your favorite search engine to find the goods you are looking for?

cargo ugg

Malls are usually filled with people who are just as frustrated as you are and are moving quickly and carelessly. It is common to see people stumbling upon each other and you might also come in someone’s way. Such situations are impossible when you are looking for things to buy.

There are 5 reasons why you would find online shopping a smoother experience, goods are cheaper and the whole process taking less amount of time as compared to a visit to the mall. You can also find unique clothing that has creative designs and hilarious sayings on them. Remember there is one online store called 4u2wear2 Online Store which is famous for stocking all these items.

classic tall ugg chocolate

This store has plenty of stocks of less expensive and TV-inspired t-shirts for women, men, teenagers, children and infants. It also has awesome gifts for everyone in your life and it just added a baby boutique called 2cute4u. I mean, can you seriously find these great products in one spot at a mall?

I however believe that the mall experience can be worthwhile if you have the right kind of money, lots of time in your hands and the requisite equanimity. When nothing of these is at your disposal, go for online shopping. So get ready for some online shopping sitting in the comfort of your home, sipping a cup of coffee and wearing anything you like.

Important Information for Home Workers

An Introduction to Working from Home

Ask anyone to choose their ideal job and home working would come high on their wish list. Whether home working is an option provided by your employer or a decision you have taken yourself in starting your own business, the thought of just getting out of bed, walk over to a workstation and just start work is very appealing. No commuting to and from the office and working hours to suit yourself.

But is home or flexible working right for you as an individual, or good for your business as an employer? Well there are many advantages and disadvantages. Home or flexible working brings new responsibilities for both the employer and employee. Equally with advances in mobile technology it has never been easier to set up your own business to work from home.

An Increasing Trend

From a business point of view, allowing staff to work at home on either a full or part-time basis can bring a range of business benefits, from increased productivity, greater staff motivation to effective use of your premises. Advancements in mobile technology has contributed enormously to the increase in opportunities for working at home.

The spread of home working using the internet or telephone opens up a new range of possibilities with regards to the way a business works and structures itself. Computers, mobile phones, broadband and mobile broadband all play a role. For the individual, becoming self employed and working from home has also never been easier. If you have a laptop and mobile phone the opportunity is there, it’s just deciding what you want to do. So home working is becoming a way of life for many individuals and businesses, but what is home working?

Some employers will offer selected employees the opportunity to become a teleworker, whereby an employee can undertake their role from home utilising various types of technology, which is provided at the employees home by the employer. The employee will remain in touch with the business and other teleworkers. Some businesses, for example the utility companies who require gas, electric and meter readers, will class employees undertaking this type of work as teleworkers or outworkers.

Some individuals opt for the self-employed work life. The self-employed will operate their business from home, offering a product or service such as web development or business consultancy from home. In these types of roles, the individual can often plan their day to suit their own needs. I know one web developer who often works well into the early hours of the morning as this is when he feels most productive.

Others such as a painter and decorator, plumber or gardener, whilst providing their services away from the home, use home as the office for paperwork such as pricing future jobs and preparing invoices. I know of several painters and decorators who work Monday to Thursday, but use Friday’s to go out and price up future potential work. That is one thing to bear in mind when setting up as self employed, you need to allow time to find or prospect for future work.

Some types of work are more suitable for flexible working than others, the following list is not exhaustive, but will give some guidance:

• Telesales and Marketing
• Customer Services
• Professional services & consultancy i.e. HR Administration & Accountancy
• Certain types of administration work
• Data input
• Creative/Graphics
• Writing, editing, translation and research.
• I.T. Support & Programming

Many of the above have a common theme and that is that as long as you have access to a computer and a phone, you can undertake almost all of these tasks from home.

The shift towards flexible working does not mean employees only work from home. Splitting time between the workplace and home is the most productive solution, as you want employees to attend meetings, therefore keeping them informed and involved. Continued face to face interaction within the business remains a key requirement.

With the introduction of home working regulations, employers now have to seriously consider employee requests to work flexibly from home, especially if they have parental responsibility for children under 16 years old, disabled children or they are carers for other adults with disabilities.

Employers and individuals also need to consider what equipment will be required to ensure that an efficient business operation and working environment is set up.

Whatever type of home working you undertake, you will be unable to avoid paperwork and filing cabinets will be of interest to help keep your systems in order.

The Pros and Cons

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of an employer allowing employees to work from home or use their home as a base for at least part of the working week? It’s clear there are a number of benefits to the employer:

• Staff Retention is increased
• Wider pool of applicants to recruit from e.g. disabled people who prefer to work from home.
• Productivity gains through having fewer interruptions and less commuting time.
• Reduced stress and sickness increasing staff motivation.
• Savings on office space and facilities.
• Sales staff closer to clients, rather than being based at the office which could be miles away.
• As with life if there are advantages then there are also disadvantages to home/flexible working:
• Management of staff and monitoring performance
• Possible deterioration of key skills and quality of work.
• Capital costs – training and providing suitable equipment, this could include adaptations to meet Health & Safety standards or meet the needs of disabled workers.
• Difficulties maintaining staff development and upgrading of skills.
• Information security risks
• Increased telecommunication and I.T. costs
• Sense of isolation and communication problems amongst home workers.
• Staff morale and difficulties in maintaining team spirit.
• Home working may not be suitable for certain types of jobs.

One thing I particularly miss is the Monday morning office banter about what you did at the weekend of how your football team has fared compared to others. Often the camaraderie that is unique to an office where you get to know people well over many years is also lost where flexible working becomes an option.

Are You Suited o Working at Home?

Having identified the types of work that is suitable for flexible working, the employer must satisfy themselves that employees are suited to this type of work. It’s likely they will need a number of skills in key areas to allow them to work away from base.

• Time management and self discipline
• Motivation
• Communication
• Technology

We must make it clear that flexible working is not suitable for everyone and care should be taken, because allowing one person to work from home will set a precedent that others will want to follow. Others will see an attraction to working at home particularly on a lovely summer’s day, rather than being stuck in an office. I must confess that as I write this article, I am sitting in our summer house at the bottom of the garden with the laptop on a glorious summer’s day in June.

An employer you must have a clear idea of how home/flexible working could fit in with the needs of the business. A set of house rules need to be established and maintained, i.e. priority is given to requests from parents of young or disabled children. My wife for example, plans her day around the hours of taking the children to school and collecting them later. She maintains that she is extremely focused on what she needs to achieve within those six hours in between. No distractions or idle chit-chat that will occur in an office environment.

In some cases the employer is legally obliged to seriously consider requests for home/flexible workers. Employee with parental responsibility for children aged 16 or under, or disabled children who are under 18 and receive disability living allowances can request a range of flexible working patterns from their employers, this includes the right to work from home. There are similar rights for employees who are carers of adults.

The introduction of home working can also lead to an overhaul to employment contract terms and conditions. In a majority of cases an employee’s place of work is listed in the written schedules of their employment contract. It’s important that when an employee starts to work from home it may be necessary to review and amend their employment contract.

The following is a list of contractual aspects an employer should consider when implementing a home/flexible work policy:

• Stated hours of work
• Identify core times when employees undertake to work and/or are contactable.
• Extra duties or responsibilities that may need to be assigned in addition to those already agreed
• Identify the terms regarding the supply and insurance of any equipment that may be required, these should clearly state ownership and use, especially that its not to be used for personal use.
• Clearly identify what the employer will reimburse to cover additional expenses the employee may incur, its especially important to identify the calculation method when costs are shared i.e. utility bills and telecommunications
• Procedures to be put in place if either the employee or employer wishes to terminate the home/flexible working arrangement.

Allowing home working the employer should remember that they still have health and safety responsibilities for people who work at or from home; and you are likely to have to provide and maintain equipment for employees to use, these include:

• Workstation complete with suitable task chair
• Filing cabinet, shelves or storage
• PC/Laptop with office software, email and broadband internet connection
• Dedicated business telephone line
• Printer & fax machine
• Stationery and Office Supplies

Whilst working at home you may wish to create a more luxurious environment where executive office furniture will create the feeling of luxury and a pleasant work environment.

IT equipment and software can be expensive so it’s important to ensure it meets your genuine business need and is compatible with your existing systems. Technology changes almost daily and with today’s advances the establishment of virtual teams where employees work together despite working at home can be set up easily and at reasonable expense. These teams could be two employees talking over the phone or you could use more hi-tech solutions like high speed internet, instant messaging, webinar and video conferencing. Many laptops now have web cam and this also offers the chance to see the person you are speaking with.

Providing all this kit and equipment it is important to ensure your business insurance cover is extended to cover home workers, as their home insurance is unlikely to cover this, however they should check with their insurer and extend their policy to include working from home.It is also a good idea to find out who would be responsible for a claim should you have an accident at home, during working hours.

Workers who undertake home working should check with their local council and mortgage company the position regarding using their home as a work base, and whether they may have to pay business rates for the portion of their home they use as an office. Some self employed businesses will involve use of a vehicle which will need to be parked up at certain times of the day. For example painters and decorators and builders are likely to utilise a transit van or pick up truck in the work. You should therefore ensure that neighbours will not be offended by having the vehicle parked in the street or to block light out of their homes. If you are to park a vehicle at home, let the neighbours know, it may save a lot of hassle later.

The employer needs to ensure that employees take care of business equipment and information in their possession, it’s important to establish procedures to be followed if any item is damaged or lost, especially data and intellectual rights.

We all agree that flexible working offers a wide range of benefits to both the business and employees, but it needs to be carefully managed to be successful. Procedures should be put in place for managers to monitor and assess home workers, this is the most significant managerial challenge an employer will face. It can be helpful to measure their effectiveness in terms of output rather than the hours of work. Agree set goals and deadlines for particular tasks, and ensure these are being met, give feedback promptly and sensitively if things go wrong.

Ensuring home workers have access to training can prepare and help employees develop the necessary skills they need.For staff who work alone a sense of isolation is one of the main factors most likely to make home working fail, therefore it’s important to ensure procedures are put into place to make people feel part of the team, these should include:

• Frequent 2-way feedback sessions about work and work related issues
• Regular scheduled visits to the workplace
• Inclusion in social activities for home based workers.
• Clear procedures that can be followed and contact lists for when things go wrong.

When the employees job is entirely home-based from the start, make sure their initiation is undertaken at your premises, this helps the home worker focus and be productive if they have a chance to establish a clear idea of the people they will be working for.

My current chair was in need of repair, so I asked myself, where can I buy office chair parts and accessories?

A Brief Health & Safety Obligations Check List for Home Workers

If you use your home as your main business workplace, you must carry out a health and safety risk assessment to identify any possible hazards to yourself, workers, visitors and other members of your household.

Possible hazards include:

• Using work equipment at home, including electrical appliances
• Your workstation set-up
• Handling loads
• Hazardous substances and materials
• Psychological hazards, such as stress or loneliness
• Fire
• Slips, trips and falls
• Excessive noise or vibration

Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common causes of injury in the work place. Even something we take for granted on a daily basis, such as walking up and down the stairs, should be regarded as a hazard. Evaluate whether a hazard is significant and if it is, whether you have taken enough precautions to make the risk as low as you reasonably can.

You need to consider:

• Your home and those who live there – including vulnerable persons, e.g. children, the elderly, and new and expectant mothers
• The work done in your home
• The equipment in your home
• Emergency procedures
• First aid provision

Five steps to a health and safety risk assessment

1. Identify any hazards.
2. Decide who might be harmed and how.
3. Assess the risks and remove them or, otherwise, reduce them as far as is reasonably possible.
4. Record your findings.
5. Check the risks regularly and take further steps if needed.

Conclusion

With advancements in mobile technology, working at home has become far easier to do. It can offer a very balanced way of life and the rewards can be significant. In the current economic climate, many who have been unfortunate to suffer redundancy or reduced hours are considering setting up their own business to work from home. Having worked in the corporate world for over twenty years and just suffered redundancy, it is certainly an option to consider.

But working at home needs to be considered carefully. Is it right for you? Is it right for your employer? What impact will it have on my homelife? Many advantages, but also many disadvantages and bear in mind the health and safety requirements and risks. Your health is important so choosing the correct office furniture to meet your needs is a must for any home worker to ensure you have the proper facilities for home working.

For years a friend of mine worked from home with his desk in his living room and eventually he realised that he could never get away from work, which is as important as doing the work in the first place because we all need time away from work.

If you are lucky enough to really love your work the temptation can be to do it all day long. Eventually this can lead to burn out and can also take away some of the pleasure of working, even if it is something you really love. Therefore it is important to have balance in your life, even more so when you work from home. Some suggestions to help to achieve this are to make sure that when you have lunch, for example, remove yourself from the work space and don’t eat at your desk, get some separation from the work when you are not doing it.

Remember that just because you work from home it doesn’t mean that work has to take over your life either.

Bean Bag Chairs

People loved to jump in a gigantic bean bag chair. Bean bag chairs are very entertaining and fun to wrestle on and just to sit and just to chill. Sometimes you can find kids bean bag chairs for a discount. Bean bag chairs are a lot of fun for everyone. I personally like to play video games in a very soft bag chair. A lot of my brothers and sisters often times when we were kids would take their bean bag chairs and we would put them all together. Then, after we had five or six of the big bean bag chairs all in a pile, we would have a big wrestling match.

 We would take the bean bag chairs and maneuver them as weapons so we could tackle each other. As far as what kind of chair I like it really doesn’t matter. I like bean bag chairs that are soft. There are bean bag chairs with various materials as the cover. There are leather covers, vinyl covers, cloth covers, and many others that you can choose from. Many times you can find a good guarantee for a nice chair. These guarantees can last about 2-3 years if you’re lucky. 

About older bean bag chairs I do not have a preferenced one, type, or company that I prefer over the others. Basically, I just like the ones that are really big and when you come home from a long day at work you can just plop down in them or dive right into them. So come check out our site and decide which bean bag chairs are at your favorite.

Number One Gray Cells

Baby Tubs – Knowing The Safety Aspects When Choosing A Baby Tub

Bathing your newborn will get them off to a right start when it comes to bathing and personal hygiene for future years.  You want to enjoy this time with your baby but it is very important to make this a safe moment so choosing the right baby tub is essential.

All new mothers start shopping for baby gear for their newborn and buying a new tub for baby is no exception.  There are so many baby tubs on the market today but which one to choose?  You need to take into account the comfort for baby first and foremost, but you also need to take into consideration the comfort for you, especially if you suffer from back problems.

Bath tubs for baby are small and are normally shaped to fit the general shape of the baby.  They are semi-reclining which helps support the baby in keeping it in a slightly sitting-up position.  However, you must support and hold baby at all times, this is very important.  You do this by putting your arm around the baby’s back and holding him/her under their armpit.

The baby tub is normally made of hard plastic, some have a bit of padding inside for comfort.  Also, some baby baths have a bar or a strap to keep the infant in their position, but I am not a fan of these as they can rub against the baby and you still have to hold them anyway regardless of using a strap or bar.  Most of them are slip proof, but again, don’t take this as being totally safe for your infant.

The smaller baby baths are convenient to put away and they can be used on a bath-stand, on the kitchen bench or on the floor.  Having the bath on a stand or bench would be wise as you won’t have to bend over which causes major back problems for yourself.  The other type of bath tub is the one where it fits onto the rim of your own bath-tub.  For this to happen the baby tub has to have an extra wide edge in order to it to stretch to the width of your own bath.

These baby tubs have a little plug-hole on the bottom and the water can easily be drained out into the main bath.  You can sit on a chair or kneel beside the bath-tub and bathe baby this way.  However, because they are extra wide, they are a bit of a nuisance to store.  You could just leave it in your own bath as to save on storage space.

Bathroom tubs come in all shapes and sizes and baby tubs are no exception!

Decorative cusions for your kitchen and home

Chair cushions add needed softness to hard wooden kitchen and dining room chairs, but choosing decorative cushions that don’t overpower the kitchen set isn’t easy. Although you can purchase a set of chair cushions for $5 at the local dollar store, they may not match your room’s decor or complement your style. Cheap chair cushions have thinner padding, less durable fabric and shoddy workmanship.

You will be rewarded with a set that lasts longer and is far more comfortable if you take the trouble to choose well-made, quality chair cushions. In selecting chair cushions to be used on wood chairs, be sure to consider these factors. Select the appropriate dimensions for the seat because it won’t be comfortable if the cushion isn’t big enough. If the size is too large it won’t look nice, plus the chair edges where the cushions overlap cause extra wear and shorten their lifespan.

It is important that you sew ties securely into the cushion seam. Chair ties must be strong enough to withstand pulling and tugging when people sit and stand. They are far more likely to stay attached if the ties are sewn into the seam.

Your purchase of seat cushions will actually help to keep your room tidy as stain guard treatment will rest stains. If the perfect cushions are not stain resistant, Invest in a can of stain resist or stain guard to keep them looking fresh and new. This is your family kitchen and the kids will eat there too. When choosing chair cushions, look for either washable ones or ones with removable, washable covers. Some spills are going to soak in, even with stain guard. Your life will be made easier by being able to toss your chair cushions into the washer. Select cushions constructed with sturdy fabric that will endure the wear of plenty of seats on the seat.

If you are looking for a durable fabric, corduroy, denim, chintz, canvas or duck are some of the toughest. Rolled edges, piping and ruffles should all be firmly sewn into the seam between the top and bottom of the cushion. Examine the full length of the seam for any gaps or breaks and pull gently on ruffles or piping to be sure they are fully attached. Nice to look at may be a tufted chair cushion, but in the long run such a surface and be less commodious for the user. If you choose a natural cushion to ensure that any button on all joints through a variety of levels of a chair cushion are sewn in order to avoid the loss of peristalsis button to bottom.

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