Janice works in a department where there is a lot of sensitive financial information which cannot be outsourced to storage. She has limited space and her work area has become the storage area for everything.
Well this one is tough because she can't outsource for a certain amount of time -- years! Here are a few ideas:
- Can you scan any of the information, keep the soft files and send the hard copies to storage?
- Purge or shred anything you possibly can. I know I keep client folders for years. After awhile, I don't need to hang on to certain pieces of paper or information that is in the file. If you can just eliminate 2 or 3 papers from each file, that could add up to a lot of unnecessary paper.
- Papers that are stacked on top of boxes: Put all the loose papers in a file folder and store it in an actual box even if it means you have to purchase another box. Space always looks messier when papers are sitting out or around.
- Nicely mark each box. Stack neatly.
- Try to select just a few areas in your department where the boxes will be stored.
Your work space is a reflection of you and your group, as Janice knows. She wants her group to appear like they are -- intelligent and professional.
Joan Burge