Banner Blog

Any return to work transition is challenging at the best of times.

Whether you’re returning after a prolonged period of remote working or from maternity leave, a process must be implemented to ensure that this transition is smooth and successful. Signage can help facilitate this. For example, if an employee is returning after a workplace injury, warning signs can assure them that everything is being done to promote optimal safety and prevention.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused us to rely on signage more than ever. The government's plan for a phased return to work following the recent social distancing measures is set to be one of the most difficult challenges to date.

At Banner, we believe that office signage will be crucial in facilitating a smooth and safe transition back to work.

Lockdowns have forced companies to close their offices and enable their employees to work from home where, and as much as possible.

We all have a role to play in preventing the infection from spreading when workplaces reopen. Without an available vaccine or effective treatment, well-organised risk management is key to creating ‘COVID-safe’ work environments. One thing is clear: the office after coronavirus will look very different in many ways and managers need to prepare for ‘the new normal’.

If there was ever a time to take your workplace cleaning to the next level, it's now.

While keeping the work setting clean has always been important for employee health and preventing the spread of illness, this has taken on an extra level of significance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It’s likely that people pass Covid-19 to each other by either breathing in air-borne virus particles when someone coughs or sneezes, or by touching a surface that harbours these particles and then touching their face.

With respiratory viruses surviving on surfaces for anything from several hours to a few days, the thorough cleaning of surfaces and hands is essential for reducing the risk of contracting Covid-19 through touch. And as lockdown restrictions ease and workplaces prepare to welcome people back in bigger numbers, this is becoming even more pressing.

These hygiene measures will help to create a Covid-secure workplace:

Banner have been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service's Office Supplies RM6059 Framework.

Banner is pleased to announce that following a formal OJEU tender exercise, Crown Commercial Services (CCS) has awarded Banner a place on the Lot 2 Office and Electronic Office Supplies Framework Agreement.

As educational settings prepare to re-open in line with the government’s three phase plan for easing lockdown, some organisations are showing that a relatively low risk environment is possible.

Across all areas of industry, where front line staff have been dealing with the wider public during the Covid-19 pandemic, safeguards have been shown to protect staff. Measures that have been introduced included queue management to restrict the flow of people in public areas at any one time, two-metre space floor markings, Perspex screens at receptions, colleagues washing their hands every 30 minutes and the deep cleaning of communal areas.

If you’re formulating plans to re-open educational settings you need to carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment and implement a plan that aims for the best possible safety and wellbeing.

By doing this, you’ll give staff and students the confidence to return to settings, ensure a successful re-start and reduce the risk of educational interruption.

As workplaces prepare to re-open in line with the government’s three phase plan for easing lockdown, some companies are showing that a relatively low risk environment is possible.

Even in the retail sector, where front line workers have been dealing with shoppers during the Covid-19 pandemic, safeguards have been shown to protect staff.

At Marks & Spencer, the rate of coronavirus infection among employees has been no higher than among the general population, according to Retail Week. This achievement may be down to the measures that the company took in March. These included managing the number of people shopping at any one time, two-metre space floor markings, Perspex screens at checkouts, colleagues washing their hands every 30 minutes and the cleaning of self-checkouts after every customer.

If you’re looking to re-open premises you need to carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment and implement a ‘back to work’ plan that aims for the best possible safety and wellbeing.

By doing this, you’ll give people the confidence to return to work, ensure a successful re-start and reduce the risk of business interruption.

Brother are committed to helping customers and their businesses work as effectively as they can whilst working from home.

To help ensure this Brother have created a home printing solution containing four printers to help customers ensure they have the most reliable printers possible in their home offices. The printers the make up this solution range from a single function mono laser to an A3 all-in-one inkjet.

Sustainable cleaning solutions and protecting the natural environment remain high on the agenda for Banner, a supplier on several public sector cleaning and janitorial frameworks. 

Discussions about how to better protect the natural environment have moved higher up the public agenda in recent years, but this issue has long been on Banner’s radar.

As one of the largest distributors of workplace products, with over 350 fleet vehicles making over 18,000 deliveries per day, Banner has a responsibility to operate responsibly.

One element of operating responsibly is a commitment from Banner to continually review their highly complex supply chain, which is the most significant part of their environmental footprint and social impact.

This commitment has led to the introduction of many environmentally and ethically sourced products in recent years. In fact, Banner currently offers over 3,000 products that are 50% recycled and has introduced many products that help customers to reduce single-use plastics in the workplace.

The current situation has seen an unprecedented number of employees working from home, including those who have rarely worked remotely before. 

The information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has signalled that it will take the current circumstances into account when considering enforcement action under GDPR.  However, the ICO will still expect employers to take appropriate action to protect information when working from home.

In 2019, only 30% of UK citizens were able to work from home*; but in a time when many of us must work from home, it can be harder to get into a new routine. 

When working from home it’s not always in the front of our mind to get up from our desks, to walk around, to stay hydrated or even to get food. We can lose track of time, forget to take regular breaks and become more focused and engrossed in our work and jobs without thinking. 

For some, there are also distractions in our home environment, everything from children to TV shows, our phones and social media channels can all have an impact on productivity, motivation and overall wellbeing. 

So how do you find a happy medium? 

Read our tips on how to ensure your working from home set up, is working for you.