The expert talked about ways to increase productivity in the open space

Working in an open space can reduce concentration and accelerate employee fatigue, but even without serious costs, working conditions can be made more comfortable. On February 24, an expert from the online hypermarket for professionals and businesses "All Tools." told Izvestia about the available ways to increase productivity in an open office.<url>" by Alexander Chikhrinov.

According to her, the main sources of discomfort in open offices are constant noise, visual distractions and lack of privacy. Colleagues' conversations, phone calls, and the work of technology create a background that the brain has to continuously filter, which accelerates fatigue. It is human speech that causes the greatest harm to concentration, since a person involuntarily tries to grasp its meaning, even if it does not relate to work.

"One of the most affordable and effective tools is noise—canceling headphones. It is important to purchase an original device so that all functions work properly. Acoustic partitions, which partially absorb sound, also help. If the layout allows, it is worth allocating areas for calls and discussions away from workplaces where concentration is required," the expert noted.

As Chikhrinova emphasized, visual clutter can also reduce concentration — scattered documents, wires and unnecessary objects on the table. To reduce the burden on perception, the specialist advises using organizers, paper trays and cable fixing systems, and putting rarely used items in drawers.

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Another common problem is lighting. Glare on the monitor, lack of light or flickering lamps increase the strain on vision and can cause headaches. In such cases, a desk lamp with brightness and temperature control helps, allowing you to adapt the lighting to the time of day, the specialist added.

"The location of the desk and monitor also plays an important role. It is better to place the monitor perpendicular to the window so that the light falls from the side — this minimizes glare and contrast differences in illumination. The distance from the eyes to the screen should be at least 50-70 cm, and the upper edge of the monitor should be at or slightly below the eye line. If overhead lighting prevails in the office, it is useful to use a matte screen," Chikhrinova said.

With a limited budget, it's worth investing in an ergonomic chair with lumbar support first. Additionally, a laptop stand and a footrest can help — they contribute to a proper fit and reduce the load on the spine, which allows you to maintain concentration longer, concluded Chikhrinova.

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On February 17, it was reported that an employer can assign other people's duties to an employee if it is stipulated in his employment contract or for an additional fee. However, if this clause is not in the contract, then the employee can do someone else's work for an additional fee.

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