Keeping a workplace tidy sounds simple enough, but it can be difficult to achieve when employees have nowhere to put their personal belongings.
Coats, bags, laptops, paperwork and other everyday items can quickly end up on desks, under chairs or around shared workspaces.This can be even more of a problem in offices where hot desking or hybrid working is used.
A clean desk policy can help, but employees also need somewhere practical to store their belongings.This is where office lockers can be useful.
What is a clean desk policy?
A clean desk policy is a set of guidelines asking employees to keep their workstations clear and tidy. This might include putting away paperwork, removing personal belongings at the end of the working day and making sure desks are left clean for the next person.
For some businesses, security is also an important part of the policy. Documents containing sensitive information and laptops or other equipment should not be left unattended on desks.
A clean desk policy can work particularly well in shared offices, where one person may use a desk one day and somebody else the next. But without suitable storage, it can be difficult for employees to follow.
Giving employees somewhere to put their belongings
One of the main benefits of office lockers is that they give employees a dedicated place to store the things they bring to work.Rather than leaving a coat over a chair or a bag next to a desk, these items can be kept safely in a locker.
This may seem like a small change, but having convenient storage makes it much easier to keep workstations clear. Employees don’t have to carry their belongings around the office, and items aren’t left taking up space in communal areas.
A practical solution for hot desking
Hot desking has become increasingly common, particularly in offices where employees split their time between home and the workplace. The downside is that employees don’t necessarily have a permanent desk or their own storage space.
Office lockers can help solve this problem. An employee can use an available workstation while keeping their personal belongings in a locker elsewhere in the office. This also means desks can be cleared at the end of the day, ready for somebody else to use.
Probe’s office lockers are available in a range of configurations, making them suitable for different workplace layouts and staff numbers.
What can be kept in an office locker?
The answer will depend on the employee and the type of workplace, but lockers are commonly used for:
- Coats and jackets
- Bags and backpacks
- Laptops and laptop bags
- Chargers and headphones
- Notebooks and stationery
- Personal belongings
- Work equipment
- Gym clothes and shoes
The size of the locker is worth considering when planning an installation. If employees only need somewhere for a coat and small personal items, a smaller compartment may be sufficient. If they need to store bags, laptops and equipment, more space may be needed.
For businesses that need dedicated storage for laptops, specialist laptop lockers and charging lockers are also available.
Keeping equipment and paperwork secure
A tidy desk is not necessarily a secure desk. Leaving laptops, documents and other valuable items in plain sight can create unnecessary risks, particularly when desks are shared. Lockable office storage gives employees somewhere to put these items when they leave their workstation.
There are different types of locker locks available, including key, combination and electronic options. The right choice will depend on how the lockers are going to be used and managed.
For example, a business might choose individually allocated lockers for permanent staff, while shared or hot-desking environments may benefit from a different approach.
Choosing the right office lockers
Before purchasing lockers, it is worth thinking about how they will actually be used. Consider how many employees need storage, what they are likely to keep in their lockers and how much space is available in the office.
The location is important too. Lockers should be easy to access but positioned where they won’t get in the way of walkways or working areas.
Appearance can also be a consideration, particularly in offices where the storage needs to fit in with the existing furniture and décor. Probe office lockers are available in a range of configurations and colours to suit different workplace environments.
Making a clean desk policy work
A clean desk policy shouldn’t just tell employees what they can’t leave on their desks. Businesses also need to provide a practical alternative. Office lockers can provide that alternative, giving employees a secure place for their belongings while keeping desks and shared areas clear.
For offices using hot desking or hybrid working, they can be an especially useful part of the overall workplace design. With the right locker configuration, businesses can provide the storage employees need without taking up unnecessary floor space.
Office lockers from Probe
Probe Lockers Ltd offers a range of office lockers designed for modern workplaces, with different sizes, configurations and locking options available. Whether you’re introducing a clean desk policy, moving towards hot desking or simply looking for better storage for your staff, the right locker solution can help keep the workplace organised and make better use of the space available.Browse our lockers for sale today!
Tags: Probe office lockers