Want Your Employees to Be More Productive? It’s Time to Redecorate

Business owners routinely try to think of ways to boost worker productivity.

You've probably tried to come up with ways to increase the amount of work your employees do.

Incentives and other high-flying, expensive attempts might work to some degree, but you might be missing out on a simpler solution: redecorating.

There's a reason that the row of cubicles has become the image of employee dissatisfaction and all that is wrong with today's workplace.

Sitting in a cubicle all day, hunched over a keyboard and squinting at a small computer screen isn't conducive to real productivity. If you want your workers to get more done, here are some suggestions for improving your office environment:

One of the simplest things you can do to boost office worker productivity is to let in more natural light. According to an abstract published by researchers at Northwestern University, workers who received more white light exposure than their counterparts during work hours slept more -- and better -- at night than their counterparts. Well-rested workers are more productive and make better decisions at work. Another study indicates that employees in an office with a window stayed on task 15 percent more of the time than their colleagues without windows.

If you want to improve worker productivity, allowing more natural light into the office as a whole, or looking for other ways to create a well-lit environment can help.
Adjust the Colors

The colors you choose in your work environment can also have an impact on your workers, according to research reported by Inc. magazine. Some of the best colors to use in an office environment include:

White, which opens up an area and works well with natural light. White can promote creativity.
Green is another color that promote creativity.
Blue works well in environments where detail is important. Blue is considered calming.
Yellow offers optimism, so a splash of this color can help in your office. However, the Inc. article warns, it can also lead to eye fatigue. Use yellow sparingly to add a dash of refreshment to the office, but don't overdo it.
Orange is a color that is designed to energize. This energy can help boost performance and productivity and improve endurance.
Carefully consider your color scheme with thought toward what is likely to refresh your team and help members stay focused.

Add Standing Desks to Your Business Environment

You might be surprised to discover that redecorating with standing desks as opposed to lower desks that require sitting can help improve productivity. However, there is ample evidence that standing desks are ideal for the work environment. Major tech companies like Facebook and Google offer their employees standing desks.

Reports find that not only do standing desks help employees focus better on the task at hand (increasing productivity), but that standing desks can be better for health. Healthier employees are, in general, more productive, and they are less likely to be absent from work. Consistency in the workplace can be helped by healthy employees. When you combine standing desks with good lighting, overall health and wellness can mean better results regarding productivity.

Even if you don't turn your office into one full of standing desks, you can still improve worker productivity with the furniture you choose. Comfortable, ergonomic chairs can help workers avoid distractions associated with uncomfortable working conditions. Consider offering different options to workers so they can work the way that feels best to them.


You might be surprised to discover that adding a second monitor to your workers' stations can improve productivity. According to a VIBE study, adding another computer screen helped workers boost their productivity by 9 percent. For more mundane tasks, like cutting and pasting, a second screen improved productivity by as much as 50 percent. It's easier for workers to complete their tasks with a second monitor, and that means they can finish quicker and move on to the next task.
Keep Frequently Used Items Handy

One of the biggest hassles to many workers is having to look for what they need, or the inconvenience associated with using equipment that isn't located nearby. Give some thought to the flow of your office. Where is the printer located? Are there filing tools nearby to help employees stay organized?

Whether your workers are looking for a specific paper, or whether someone needs to make a photocopy, you want things to be simple. Pay attention to the way the office is laid out, and to what employees are most likely to need. Keep frequently used supplies on hand and easy to access.

Keep the environment neat and tidy. Not only does this make it easier for your employees to find what they want, but it will also help them feel more comfortable. It is true that clutter can distract employees. If you can provide the tools your workers need to cut the clutter, productivity will improve because there will be fewer distractions.
Add a Plant

Believe it or not, adding a few plants can help improve worker productivity. According to research published by the American Psychological Association, adding household plants to the office environment can boost productivity. Greenery -- and nature in general -- can help workers mentally refresh themselves and improve their productivity.

Nature images can also help boost worker efficiency. Humans have an innate connection with nature, and being able to interact with it, or even look at pictures related to nature, can reduce stress and anxiety and help workers better focus on their work.

While you don't want to clutter up the office space, adding strategically placed plants can enhance the environment and improve your worker morale.

While it's not exactly redecorating, you can get better results when you ventilate your work-space. Better ventilation can mean improved productivity, according to a study from the Center for the Built Environment. Better air circulation is good for the body, and it also provides a jolt of refreshment to workers. Once again, these realities help workers focus better and perform their tasks in a more efficient matter.

Source by: Business

3 Easy Ways To Cut Office Expenses

Office expenses can cut into your profits more than you would think.

As a business owner, one of your main focuses is to increase profits, and so in order to accomplish this you must look for ways to reduce costs when possible.

To remain competitive and keep your business moving forward, being cognizant and proactive when it comes to payments and expenses can help ensure the profitability of your organization.

Between your internal payments, external expenses, and everything that goes through accounting, there are many effective ways to make sure that you are not wasting any money.



It is common to think that everything your business is spending money on is necessary. When your business runs smoothly and similarly day after day, it is natural to think that your equilibrium is optimal and that no cuts can be made. In many situations this can be true – there are many costs that are important and must remain.

However, there are also dozens of costs and expenses that fly under the radar and don’t get enough attention. These expenses, which many see as small or unchangeable, account for a large portion of your office’s expenses.

One of the difficulties, as you may be aware, is that you are already juggling dozens of other tasks and projects – adding another to your plate is no fun. However, until you can maximize your revenue by minimizing unnecessary costs – other projects and agendas are being under-optimized. Here are three effective ways that you can cut office expenses.

1. Save Money on Employees

Stay away from making unnecessary hires and expanding your team before it is financially appropriate and stands to increase the value of the company. Cutting costs on your employees begins with the hiring process. Make sure to only hire when you need to fill a need, or a gap, in the company.

Merely “Growing your company” or “expanding your team” aren’t sufficient reasons to hire. When your company would measurably be improved by adding a new employee – that is when you add one. Make sure to have a system in place that calculates the maximum value each department has per employee, and from there extrapolate to determine how many employees will fit into each department.

When possible, consider replacing long-term employees with services like Fiverr, Staffly or Odesk to fulfill short-term or project-based needs. Fiverr is a popular, easy-to-use platform that enables users to find workers based on work which they need completed. It’s quick, simple, and to the point. Similar in some ways to Fiverr, Staffly is an online platform that matches employers with employees. It aims to quickly connect retailers with screened, insurance and trained staff – all by using their mobile phones.

Staffly is a go-to for employers looking to find someone to cover a few shifts, and for staff members looking to make extra income by helping out with a project or task. Odesk (also known as upwork.com,) matches freelancers and contractors with job opportunities and paid projects. For an employer, this is a great outlet to find mobile developers, web developers, customer service agents, virtual assistants, and more.

2.Watch Your Cable and Electricity

The average cost of internet in the US is $38 per month, and that can go all the way up to $150 per month, per individual. Between Verizon, AT&T, Xfinity, and RCN – there are dozens and dozens of cable providers to choose from, and choosing the best one for you is crucial for saving money. And, believe it or not, your company’s TV bill can really make a dent in your overall expenses.

One of the easiest ways to save money on your company’s TV bills are to know which cable providers are in your zip code and what deals they offer. Depending on your specific location, some cable providers might be far more favorable than others. Better yet, some providers will be offering discounts depending on where your business resides.

Your best option is to compare different prices and options before settling on any. This could save your company hundreds or thousands of dollars in the long run. In addition, make sure to find the best broadband coverage. By strategically choosing your cable and broadband providers based on advantageous price offerings in your area, you can drastically increase your net savings per year.


3. Go Digital

Using the cloud and other online storage software tools will make your office not only more efficient in terms of production, but also in terms of cost. Using the cloud, storage spaces, and computing services are held by a third-party provider, and thus office storage and software costs will be reduced. In addition, rather than using your customized or standard-paying email accounts, word processing, and other tools, take advantage of Google and Microsoft’s free version which you can obtain online.

Believe it or not, the average employee uses over 10,000 sheets of paper per year, which adds up to a couple pounds per day. By reducing this and going digital, it enables you to send data anywhere you want to send it. This allows you to streamline communication with clients, employees, and partners, and give them access to information right away.

Which projects and materials can become digital? Almost everything. The only items that will have to remain as physical copies are insurance documents, employee records, and safety reports. While it may seem like a small change, going paperless will help you save money, give you quick access to info, reduce clutter, help the environment, and promote easier disaster recovery.
Source by: business

Khmer Boxing, Beoung Kayak Vs Thai, CTN Boxing on 14 November 2015

Khmer Boxing, Beoung Kayak Vs Thai, CTN Boxing on 14 November 2015
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Muay Thai, Inter Fight at Vietnam, มวยไทย, Keo Romchong Vs Iquezang, 2015

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Kampot pepper defying drought fears

The increased cultivation area of Kampot pepper has offset losses due to drought, with farmers of the premium quality peppercorn estimating that production could reach 80 tonnes in the coming harvest, nearly 40 per cent more than last season.
“Even though our farms were impacted by the drought, the total size of harvested land has increased,” Ngoun Lay, president of the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA), said yesterday.
The association’s 242 members have planted pepper trees on 100 hectares. Lay said he expects 40 hectares will be ready for the next harvest in late-February, yielding 70 tonnes to 80 tonnes of certified Kampot pepper.
This would be a 38 per cent increase over last season’s harvest, which saw 58 tonnes produced on 25 hectares under cultivation.
Kampot pepper was awarded the World Trade Organisation’s geographical indication (GI) status in 2010, linking the quality of the product to its origin and unique attributes.
Exports and prices rose sharply after receiving the status, but prices have levelled off at around $15 per kilogram for black pepper, $25 per kilogram for red pepper, and $27 per kilogram for white pepper.
Demand, however, continues to grow. Lay said orders have already been received to cover 80 per cent of the upcoming season’s production. About 70 per cent of the orders were placed by international buyers, while 30 per cent were for domestic supply.
The market’s appetite for the premium pepper has encouraged more farmers to join the KPPA. Lay said 30 families have applied for membership, which would expand the association’s total cultivation area by about 50 hectares.
But the members must first be carefully vetted to ensure the product’s quality.
“We always have an annual meeting where we announce the new members and release information on what we have already accomplished and what we plan to do in the future,” he said. “Fifty hectares of pepper farms will be added to association after we check whether or not they meet our criteria.”
He said only members living in Kampot province and producing peppercorns according to the GI designation’s specifications can use the label.
KPPA recently found a number of merchants falsely claiming their product was certified Kampot pepper, though without the distinguishing printed codes on the packaging of the original.
“Our peppercorn has a reputation in the international market because of its quality and this has fuelled its high demand,” said Lay. “We found there is a lot of fake Kampot pepper in the market . . . and we have called the economic police to investigate these cases.”
Phok Ly, a 69-year-old farmer with 3,000 pepper trees under cultivation, said the association’s efforts to maintain quality have resulted in higher incomes for its members.
“Our peppercorn sells at a high price and has been recognised as the finest quality pepper because we follow the association’s guidelines,” he said.
Farmer Sok Huy, who cultivates 20,000 peppercorn trees on 10 hectares of land, recently applied to join the KPPA. He said peppercorns sold under the Kampot pepper label fetch twice the price of those without the designation.
“It’s really important to be a member of KPPA because we get a certificate from the association [to certify the Kampot pepper designation] and can sell our pepper either directly to the buyer or through the association,” he said.
Huy said he expects to receive membership because his farm has followed the association’s guidelines since it first planted pepper trees. KPPA representatives will inspect the farm by the end of the year to determine its status. Source by: Phnom Penh Post

Rainsy blasts embassy in KL over worker abuse

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Tuesday called out Cambodia’s overseas embassies for not doing enough to protect Cambodian workers, singling out the embassy in Malaysia, where Cambodian maids have faced a pattern of abuse.

The Cambodian National Rescue Party president, accompanied by CNRP deputy chief Kem Sokha, made his remarks in a talk with the Cambodian Youth Association in Japan.
“It is very regretful our embassies have not paid attention, not only in Japan but also in Malaysia, where women are mistreated,” Rainsy said in his videotaped speech. “[The embassy] has not cared, nor defended the Khmers at all.”

Rainsy said that because authorities are unreliable, victims should turn directly to lawmakers and the media. He called on Cambodian labour representatives overseas to provide victims’ contacts to lawmakers and newspapers for investigation.

When there is enough evidence of mistreatment, the authorities will have to take action, he said.
Neither the embassy in Malaysia, nor the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman could be reached for comment yesterday.
But Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan dismissed Rainsy’s allegations saying that embassies “not only in Malaysia but also in Thailand and China have resolved problems in many cases”.
Eysan went on to add: “However, if [labourers] go with properly licensed companies, there are no problems. Those that have problems have mostly gone there illegally, which is difficult for our embassy to solve.”
More than 8,000 Cambodian women work in Malaysia, according to government data, despite a 2011 ban on sending workers there. Those that continue to go do so unofficially, often through Vietnam, according to rights groups, who called the travel ban a “cop out”.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with members of the Japanese parliament and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiki Kihara yesterday, Rainsy and Sokha asked Japan to keep an eye on Cambodia’s upcoming 2017 and 2018 elections, in light of the recent violence against two CNRP lawmakers. Rainsy and Sokha said that the Cambodian people are hoping for a change in leadership.

According to Sokha, Kihara told the CNRP delegation he has closely followed the October 26 attack and remains concerned.
“Such a problem can repeat. He worries about the safety of lawmakers,” Sokha wrote on his Facebook wall. “[Kihara] indicated that [Cambodia] needs political stability, but free, fair and open elections must be guaranteed.”
In response, Eysan labelled the CNRP’s trip as “diplomatic talks only” that will not influence the government.

“The Japanese government does not officially recognise the opposition party. Japan recognises the Cambodian Royal Government that was elected.”
Source by: Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia’s energy policy out of balance

Expensive and unreliable electricity continues to weigh down Cambodia’s ranking on the UN-accredited World Energy Council’s annual Energy Trilemma Index, according to a report released yesterday.

The Kingdom ranked a low 115 out of 130 countries on the annual index, which assesses countries according to how well they manage the trade-offs between three competing dimensions of energy policy: energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability.
The index reflects the challenges that countries face in developing a sustainable energy policy, with balance scores given as letter grades. An A grade and low ranking is given to top performers, while a D grade and high ranking is assigned to poor performers.
Cambodia maintained its sub-par CDD balance score on the 2015 index, seeing last year’s gain in energy security – a measure of a country’s ability to meet its current and projected energy demand – reversed to rank 121st overall.

The Kingdom’s rank in energy equity – a measure of the accessibility and affordability of energy across the population – edged down to 116th. It also lost ground and ranked 70th on environmental sustainability, which scores the use of renewable or low-carbon forms of energy.
Cambodia relies heavily on imported fuel and electricity for energy security, and costs of electricity are among the highest in the world. The government’s efforts to increase domestic power generation, including new hydropower and coal-burning plants, carry environmental trade-offs.
Joan MacNaughton, executive chair of the World Energy Trilemma study, said a balanced approach is necessary to transform energy systems to meet the three goals of the Trilemma.
“Our research underlines how priorities vary from country to country – though energy security is key for all,” she said in a statement.

“For countries to move up in the rankings and remain ahead of the pack, they must adopt prudent, forward-looking energy policies to meet decarbonisation goals and maintain competitiveness.”
Sweden and Switzerland were the only nations to receive an AAA balance score on this year’s index. Canada ranked top overall for security, while the US maintained its top ranking on affordability.
Source by: Phnom Penh Post