Google is giving each employee $1,000 to buy new office furniture

Thursday, 28 May, 2020

If your home office needs a little bit of sprucing up, you might want to see if Google is hiring.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced in a blog post the tech giant would give “each Googler an allowance of $1,000 USD, or the equivalent value in your country, to expense necessary equipment and office furniture,” as the company’s employees largely work from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

A Google spokesperson clarified Pichai’s comments, noting the money could be used for ergonomic chairs or a desk. The spokesperson declined to comment on how the money would be doled out to employees.

Production returns to the Bisley’s Newport factory

Wednesday, 27 May, 2020

Newport-based office equipment manufacurer Bisley has restarted work at its factory in Caswell Way on the Reevesland Industrial Estate.

The firm, like many businesses, has been affected due to Covid-19 and the government’s announcement for all non-essential businesses to close or to work from home over the last nine weeks.

Major London operator buys business services firm out of administration

Friday, 15 May, 2020

Smethwick- and Telford-based OfficeTeam has been bought by Paragon Group, after its parent company Spicers Office Team (SPOT) went into administration.

SPOT appointed administrators last month, when its private equity owner Better Capital announced it was looking to find a buyer for the business.

Paragon, a provider of customer communications, identification, graphics and business services, announced the deal, alongside the acquisition of Oldham-based ZenOffice.

Spicers Ireland appoints official liquidators

Monday, 04 May, 2020

Following last week’s announcement that Spicers UK and OfficeTeam have filed a notice of intention to go into administration, it is with regret that we inform you that on 1st May 2020 a petition was presented before the High Court to wind up Spicers (Ireland) Limited and appoint official liquidators.

 

Largest FDMC 300 contract furniture companies post sales gains

Monday, 04 May, 2020

The office and contract furniture manufacturers had another strong year, with most posting solid gains in sales.

Overall in 2019, sales for the FDMC 300 group of companies grew 4.5 percent, to reach $57.171 billion.

This group of cabinet, millwork, furniture and store fixture manufacturers recorded an eighth consecutive year of sales expansion in 2019, the year just completed. Among the largest office and contract manufacturers, there were no changes in the order of the 10 largest companies in this market sector.

 

Stronger Together: How the A&D Community is Helping Others

Thursday, 01 May, 2020

As the novel coronavirus quickly rattled the world, forcing people to change the way they live and work indefinitely, the architecture and design community sprang into action—finding ways to help others, even as they faced their own respective challenges. From donating textiles for the creation of medical masks, to outfitting field hospitals in New York City with showers, to envisioning prototypes for patient body shields and funding meals for food banks, the community continues to step up.