offi ce life


Penny Pressler, director, Pink Angels Offi ce Services


Does your business have a dress code? Why? Yes. The dress code is smart offi ce wear as in our business we deal with the general public, as well as many


business people and want to promote a professional image.


Team building – does it work and what do you do? Teambuilding does work. It helps to get to know each other on a personal level. We fi nd we have very little time at work to talk about anything else but work. Team building allows us to discuss other things other than work. We go out for drinks and meals and have also been ice skating, which none of us had ever done


before. This was very enjoyable and very challenging.


Under what circumstances are staff allowed to work from home? Only under extreme conditions such as snowed in, car broken down or no internet connection or electric in the offi ce for whatever reason.


If you had a magic wand and could instigate one thing to make a better working environment what would it be? (We won’t hold you to it...) It would be to ensure a positive attitude towards feedback. It is good to get feedback, and often staff members don’t know if they are doing a good job because this feedback loop is missing. So my answer would be to make time to provide feedback to all staff members. My other answer re magic wand would be to install luxury spa in our offi ces that we could go in before work, lunch times and after work!


James Pugh, of County Industrial Supplies, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran


Does your business have a dress code? We have a dress code as it is easier for our


customers to see who works hear, plus we all like to look the same. I also found out recently you can claim money if you wash your own works clothes.


Team building – does it work and what do you do? We don’t do too much in team building as we see enough of each other in work, although occasionally we do go to the rugby or take customers golfi ng. I don’t think it works as most people are so busy working they have not got time.


David Jones, surveyor, Hutchings & Thomas Chartered Surveyors, Newport


Does your business have a dress code? Why? We always like to look professional. I am a fi rm believer that fi rst impressions count.


Team building – does it work and what do you do? We have an annual day trip for the team. The last one to was to London. We also have a Christmas party. It is important to ensure everyone is rewarded for the hard work through the year and maintain everyone’s motivation


Under what circumstances are staff allowed to work from home? With today’s technology we are able to work from home and no one would ever notice the difference. Although in our business it is important we are in the offi ce, communicating with each other and bouncing ideas around. We would be able to work from home if, for example, we had child care problems or, in my case, dog care.


If you had a magic wand and could instigate one thing to make a better working environment what would it be? (We won’t hold you to it...) To be like the Google headquarter offi ces – Google it.


Under what circumstances are staff allowed to work from home? Staff are allowed to work from home but in their own hours. It’s diffi cult to sell stuff out of a showroom from home, although our sales team work from home in the evenings.


If you had a magic wand and could instigate one thing to make a better working environment what would it be? I would like to try fl exi-time or maybe fi nish early on a Friday, possibly every other week as I think it gives staff something to look forward to and also gives them more control on what hours they would work.


Nikki Thomas, HR officer at HardingEvans


Does your business have a dress code? Why? HardingEvans has a formal/business


dress code policy and expects staff to dress in a manner appropriate for the nature of their work. Whether they are in court, attending a networking event or at the office for the day – our employees may meet and deal with clients, or even simply pass them in the corridor. Therefore we feel it is important that a professional standard of dress is maintained – in keeping with the high standards we set in all aspects of our work and professional image.


Team building – does it work and what do you do? We take a slightly different approach to


the standard team building exercises. Each year we select a charity and our social committee are responsible for organising a multitude of events – bringing departments and teams together to raise money for our chosen charity. Previous events have included a rowing regatta, dragon boating, quizzes and table tennis tournaments. All good team work, and with a worthwhile outcome! This year we are working with Bobath Wales and we look forward to taking part in lots of fundraising and team building exercises to raise money for them!


Under what circumstances are staff allowed to work from home? We recognise that sometimes for a member of staff to work more effectively on a particular piece of work they may need to escape the interruptions that come as part of working in an office environment. Also home working is a particularly useful temporary solution to travel difficulties – weather related and


otherwise. In reality I think many of us will often pick up a piece of work in the evening and HardingEvans certainly makes use of advances in technology to afford members of staff the flexibility to be able to do that easily.


If you had a magic wand and could instigate one thing to make a better working environment what would it be? (We won’t hold you to it...) I’d like to work in a thriving up and coming city where I can meet friends for coffee or do a spot of shopping during the lunch hour. Newport city centre is suffering due to the high street casualties and the development of out of town shopping centres. Almost a quarter of the shops in the centre are sitting empty and as one of the largest private employers in the city centre I am confident our staff would welcome a few trendy bars and restaurants to escape to after work!


THEbusiness QUARTER 19


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