Every office has those items that are boring and seemingly insignificant, that is, until they run out or are no longer used, then all of a sudden, chaos ensues.
These things you take for granted often fly under the radar until the last is gone or something breaks down, then what happens next? If you’ve experienced this, you likely already know how much it’s the small things that keep the office running.
But the good news is, with a bit of planning and foresight, you can stock up on the essentials and have a good supply of them, so you never run out and experience the drama of the breakdown and the last-minute dashes to Tesco that running out leads to.
But what exactly are these items, and what office essentials should you never run out of?
Printer Supplies
Nothing derails productivity like a printer that refuses to cooperate. Whether you need to print out a contract that needs signing today or you have a presentation to prepare if your printer breaks down or runs out of supplies, it’s a scramble to get back on track. You can do without it.
The simple fix is to keep a steady supply of everything your printer needs to stay operational. From topping up paper to having enough HP toner cartridges and spare parts, you can keep the printer operational and ensure the tantrums are few and far between.
Stationery Supplies
Sure, we’re in a digital world now, but that doesn’t mean the humble pen and notebook are relegated to the history books, far from it. Your stationery still does a lot of heavy lifting in an office, even if it’s just sticky notes to leave messages or memos around the office or notepads for people not to scribble ideas on. Good office managers maintain a centralised stock of office supplies and monitor them regularly, ensuring levels never become low. However, when supplies are scarce, staff may resort to stealing, as seen with Susan’s “I Love Chihuahuas” pen from her desk, resulting in office squabbles and detective work to pinpoint the culprit.
Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies
No one, and we mean absolutely no one, wants to work in a grubby office. Cleaning and hygiene must be a top priority. Even if you have an office cleaning crew coming in to do the heavy work, you need basic supplies to help you keep on top of office dirt and grime. From clothes to wipe up tea spills to screen wipes for removing dust from screens or that sticky goo for getting crumbs out of keyboards, you at least need the basics.
Toilet roll, kitchen rolls, anti-bacterial spray, toilet cleaner, and fresheners are all essential and greatly missed when they’re not available.
Tea, Coffee, and Snack Supplies
One of the most important stockpiles to replenish is the supply of tea, coffee, and snacks. It might not be “business critical,” but it’s critical for employees who need to stay on top of things. A morning without caffeine can really bring down staff morale and increase friction for those who rely on their morning fix to get going. And let’s be real, in the UK, tea is the answer to any issues you might be having, so running out of tea bags can actually be disastrous.
Feature image taken from pexels.com.
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