- Tips on getting your well deserved raise -

If you’ve been on the job for a while, and you’re good at what you do, chances are that you are starting to feel like you deserve more money from your employer. Seems like a no-brainer, right? You rock, so give up the dough! But in reality, the manner in which you ask for your raise can make the difference between whether or not your request is granted.

Here are some simple tips for nailing that raise request!

1. Do your homework.

Before you charge in the boss’ door, understanding what you’re worth on the “open market” is essential. Check out national salary surveys or research job postings related to your position in order to find out what other companies are paying. If you’re making less than others in your field (and in your city) you have a more valid case for a raise.

2. Do an amazing job.

Walking in and asking for a raise is a lot easier if you have the kick-butt performance to back it up. Make sure you have put together a nice long string of great work, and use that performance record to bolster your case for a performance-based salary increase.

3. Understand the current business climate.

Asking for a raise at a time when the company is downsizing or struggling to make a profit is not a good idea. Timing plays a big role in whether or not your raise request will be granted, so get a solid read on the corporate climate at your workplace and act (or don’t act) accordingly.

4. Assert yourself.

Don’t go soft when you ask for a raise. Show confidence in your abilities without being cocky or demanding. Build a clear, powerful case for your request and don’t come off as if you were begging for more money. Never cite personal problems or unexpected life events as a reason why you are requesting a salary increase.

5. Run through what you’re going to say.

There’s no rule that states you can’t do a “dress rehearsal” before you go in and ask for a raise. Running your “lines” a little bit helps you be more prepared when you pop the big question.

6. Be gracious.

When you are approved for your raise, keep the information to yourself. Never gloat about it in front of your co-workers. This breeds resentment in the workplace, and puts your boss in an awkward position.

For office furniture that looks like a million bucks (but costs a heck of a lot less), visit www.aceofficesystems.com. Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Five simple ways to reduce stress in the workplace

Reducing stress at the office will help you be healthier and much more productive. Here are some simple tips for making the workplace more enriching and less stressful.

Move around during the day.
Sitting for long periods of time in front of the PC can give you headaches and cause stiffness. Find the time for a couple of short walks outside throughout the course of the day. Nothing too crazy – just 10 minutes each will do the job.

Don’t each lunch at your desk.
Break up your day and get out of the cube. Grab that sandwich you made at home and enjoy some natural light – no matter what the weather is like outside.

Clean up your workspace.
A messy desk drains your motivation. Getting organized makes you feel like you can take on the world! Create Inboxes and Outboxes and do everything you can to streamline the area.

Eat healthier snacks.
Stop the endless trips to the vending machine throughout the day. Trust us, there’s nothing good for you in there! Bring fruits and veggies from home, and always keep them within arm’s reach so they’re there when you get the urge to snack.

Head home.
Your health at the office depends on how well you can strike a balance between work and family. Really, is there anything that can’t wait until morning? And besides, at the end of the day, you’re tired and not operating all cylinders. Go home and get some much needed rejuvenation from the ones you love.



Don’t forget, to create the ideal, ergonomic workspace , visit www.aceofficesystems.com. Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

The Design Don’ts of Cube Decor

Everybody loves self-expression, but when it comes to your cubicle’s décor, there need to be some limits people! Here’s a quick rundown of some cube decorating no-no’s that span industries and job types universally.

· Action figures

Yes, Boba Fett is cool, and yes we know he would fetch $1,400 on eBay, but no, we do not want to see him, laser in hand, freezing Han Solo on our way to the copier every day.


· Cat posters


Hang in there baby, Friday’s coming. Nuff said.


· Candles or other scented materials


Just an FYI: We don’t all like the scent of that Cinnamon Apple votive that was 50% off at Yankee Candle Company. Plus, we’re pretty sure it’s a fire hazard.


· Fraternity/Sorority memorabilia


You’re so glad you still keep in touch with your brothers at the Gamma house, but that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate to hang your pledge paddle in the workplace.


· The squares sheet from last year’s Super Bowl office pool


We were all impressed when the Giants went for two and missed, thus delivering your 40% share of the Super Bowl pool, but that was 17 months ago! Stop gloating.


· Excessive amounts of your children’s artwork


One or two pieces of your Picasso-to-be’s masterpieces in Crayola are cool, but too many childrens crafts variations on the house-with-smiley-sun overhead is a little tough to take.


For the best in furniture for your cube, visit www.aceofficesystems.com. Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Infants and Toddlers Furniture Sale

Home Office Essentials

Home Office Essentials

Working at home can be a great thing, but it also has its own set of unique challenges. Carving out a space that is devoted solely to work (free of kids’ toys or scrapbooking supplies) is essential if you want to be productive. And of course, what you do with that space is equally important, as your work area must be well-organized and free of the clutter than can keep you from peak levels of productivity.

Here are some basic tips for creating the perfect home office, and keeping costs down while you do it!

1. Carve out as much space as possible. You need room to think! Don’t back yourself into a cramped corner of the house. Find a space that is big enough to get up and move around and stretch your legs, while still keeping everything you need within close reach.


2. Don’t share the space. You love your family, but having their stuff in your home office space is a distraction. Let everyone know that the area you choose for your home office is exclusively for work materials and nothing else.


3. Avoid clutter. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by paper and other materials, but the more materials you keep lying around, the easier it will be to lose track of what is the highest priority. Plus, people work more efficiently when they can focus solely on the task at hand, without looking around and seeing everything else that needs doing. A clean, uncluttered workspace enhances the professional feeling of your home office, and reinforces the fact that you “have a real business to run here.”


4. Save money wherever you can. Big offices can save on supplies and other materials because they buy in bulk. Small businesses like yours don’t always have that advantage. Reuse the backside of paper, buy recycled toner cartridges, and shop at online office furniture companies that offer great prices. You’ll find that the little things add up fast when you’re on your own!


5. Let there be light! Try and select a location in your home that gets a decent amount of natural sunlight. It will help your mood throughout the day, which will in turn enhance productivity.


6. Make your workspace healthy. Consider the way your desk, chair and PC are placed. This configuration can make the difference between good physical health and carpel-tunnel syndrome. Buy ergonomic office furniture and make sure it is adjusted to provide proper support for your back and arms.

For furniture that makes your home office the pride of the block, visit www.aceofficesystems.com. Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Great moments in office furniture history: The Aeron Chair

Great moments in office furniture history: The Aeron Chair

Designed in 1994 for arch design house Herman Miller, the Aeron Chair quickly became known as the Lexus of office chairs among those in the industry. Every hip company needed to have one, which led to a strange association between the chair and the dot-com boom of the late 1990’s. Orders for the ergonomic Aeron poured in, as start-ups that were flush with VC cash order them by the truck load full. Then, when the bubble burst on a nation of online grocers and pet chew-toy sellers, the chairs were sold en masse at public auction, and not ironically, on eBay where individuals gobbled them up at a price greatly reduced from their original high cost.

Although we have moved on to a more stable Web 2.0 world, the chair remains one of the most comfortable and well-designed office products of the past several decades. It is adjustable in myriad ways and designed to seat almost anyone comfortably in a variety of office settings.

Want Aeron comfort without harming your wallet? Check out the high office back chair at www.aceofficesystems.com. It’s just one of thousands of great, affordable products for your office available at Ace Office Systems.

Use this link for the high office back chair.

http://www.aceofficesystems.com/SPACE_High_Back_Office_Chair_p/27008.htm

The greatest movies and TV shows about office life

The greatest movies and TV shows about office life

When Hollywood isn’t busy telling tales of pirates and alien invasions, it will occasionally focus its attention on the most universal of settings, the workplace. Here are some of the best:

1. The Office (UK edition). Considerably darker than the NBC version of the show. Ricky Gervais and company add that air of desperation to every moment that really gives the series additional weight.
   
   
2. The Office (US edition). Anchored by the amazing Steve Carrell, this show is wackier and more upbeat than its British counterpart, but manages to sneak in just enough believability to see our own lives tucked away in the storylines.
   
   
3. Office Space. This cult classic is story of a man who rebels against his cube, and everything it represents. Just because you sit next to a guy who quotes the film daily doesn’t make it any less hilarious. Fact: Office Space made almost no money at the box office, and didn’t see any serious returns until it became a home video sensation.
   
   
4. Secretary. Talk about dark comedy, Secretary is sexy, scary and hilarious all in one bizarre package. James Spader only knows how to play one role (James Spader) but he executes it flawlessly here.
   
   
5. 9 to 5. Put this early 80’s classic in your Netflix queue. Go ahead, we’ll wait. Over the top slapstick drives the film, but discontent with the glass ceiling makes is very real.
   
   
6. Working Girl. Another classic tale of women in the workplace, and the special challenges they face. Other than Lt. Ripley in Aliens, it’s hard to imagine a more signature role from Sigourney Weaver. Heck, it’s even got Han Solo in there to boot!
   
   
7. Clockwatchers. This litte-seen cult classic features Friends’ Lisa Kudrow and tells the tale of four temps grinding away at huge corporation. Very funny, and very real.
   
   
8. Swimming with Sharks. A sordid little tale about life on the bottom rung of Hollywood’s golden ladder. Watch Frank Whaley go from optimistic young go-getter, to angry, fed-up hostage-taker right before your eyes.

For office furniture that will land your business on the “A-List”, visit http://www.aceofficesystems.com/. Call us at 1866-964-8457, or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.