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Reduce power usage this World Earth Day and share office space

Thursday 24 April 2014, 5:10PM

By Pure SEO

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Regus offers local workers free flexible workspace to lessen the environmental impact of b electricity

To celebrate and support World Earth Day today, global workplace provider Regus, is providing free use of all of its business lounges across New Zealand for the day. The initiative will allow kiwis to reduce electricity usage by working in a collaborative Regus space after the Easter break, while still maintaining productivity. Regus’ main locations include Auckland’s CBD and Newmarket and Wellington’s CBD.

The cost of power usage in NZ for businesses amounts to $1.25 billion per year . By offering free flexible work space for everyone, not only is Regus encouraging workplace sustainability, but it also hopes that participating corporations will experience the benefits of giving employees flexible work options.

Country Manager Nick Bradshaw said that with a lot of workers taking time off during the gap between the public holidays, Regus is offering the space so businesses do not to have to worry about using up huge amounts of power with only a few employees at their desks.

“With Easter and ANZAC Day so close together this year, many workers are taking a break, particularly parents as it coincides with school holidays,” he said. “However, this means many companies only have a few employees in the office, which can lead to a lot of unnecessary power being used. There’s no point having six buildings in a row, all with their lights on but only a few people in each, when everyone could combine and work from a collaborative space. So, this World Earth Day, we are doing our part and offering free use of our business lounges. It’s part of our call for businesses to offer more flexible practices of working to their employees.”

For employers considering offering flexible work options to their employees, Regus has a few tips for beginning the process:

• Have a conversation with your staff: Learn more about their individual needs and discuss their wants. This conversation will help drive creation of the office flexible work policy, understanding that there will likely be a broad range of requests.

• Consider alternate work location options: Long commutes increase stress while decreasing employee productivity and happiness. Allowing an employee to work from home or drop in to a nearby shared workspace will improve work/life balance and decrease commuting expenses. It also promotes a greener corporate culture.

• Measure performance by output: Managing remote employees definitely requires an adjustment but the process is made easier when clear goals and benchmarks are established. These goals allows managers to focus on the quality of the work being delivered and less on micro-managing.

• Change your communication style: Make sure employees are given the right tools for success while working from alternate locations. Invest in technology options like web-based project management programs and video conferencing to help them stay up-to-date on projects and office happenings.

Regus offers businesses the flexibility of working from a fully equipped, modern business center that provides all the amenities needed. It also enables businesses to extend flexible working practices to their staff, increasing employee health, morale, loyalty and productivity.

Regus business lounges offer a variety of workspaces, from custom designed Thinkpods to shared workbenches and comfortable lounge seating.  Those taking advantage of the special World Earth Day open days will also receive complementary Wi-Fi as well as tea and coffee.

To find a nearby Regus center this Earth Day, please visit http://www.regus.co.nz/