Ways remote work is reshaping how tech companies operate

Let’s admit it; no one could have truly predicted what the world is currently dealing with due to the effects of COVID-19. The pandemic struck fast and hard and caught all of us off-guard.

For tech companies and most other businesses, that meant one thing; it was time to adapt (and do so quickly) or die. While remote work (or working from home) is not a completely new thing, it wasn’t a big trend yet pre-COVID.

Today, big tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook have embraced it, with many more like Blueground, a provider of furnished apartments in San Francisco, joining the bandwagon daily.

In this post, we look at how this new trend is rapidly changing how tech companies operate for the better.

Reduced costs

It is impossible to talk about the shift to remote work and not mention the positive impact it has on finances for both employers and employees.

With COVID-19 negatively impacting revenues, finding effective ways of cutting costs is a necessity. That’s why employers are offering workers the chance to work remotely at the expense of significantly reducing their salaries.

In addition to cutting operating costs, remote work is opening other avenues for employers. For example, it’s now possible to hire employees from different geographical locations, including offshore countries where labor is cheaper. Again, the net effect of this is reduced costs of doing business, which is key during times like these when companies are dealing with unprecedented economic challenges.

Increased productivity

According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, remote work can motivate employees to be more productive and yield higher results.

By working from home, workers are able to cut down the time it takes to commute to their workplaces. The truth is, commuting to work takes up a considerable amount of employees’ daily schedules. This not only increases fatigue but also raises their stress levels, especially if the commutes are hectic.

Remote work makes it possible for employees to earn a living without having to deal with such stressors. Ultimately, they become more productive and this shows in more sales and improved relations with other team members.

Wider pool of talent

When tech companies require employees to work in the office, they are oftentimes limiting their talent pool to just those who can work at their location. As a result, most end up missing out on sharper and more qualified candidates from other regions.

For example, living in Silicon Valley is expensive, which means candidates who don’t have enough money to live there will be unavailable for selection.

By embracing remote work, companies can comfortably widen their talent pool as they can recruit workers from any geographical region.

Are there downsides to working from home?

As with anything, it’s not all rosy when it comes to remote work. The increasing popularity of the trend means a lot of information is coming up on the negative side of it.

For starters, reports show that remote work has taken a toll on some workers since most were used to collaborating with a team in an office setting. As a result, some have found it difficult to self-motivate when working at home without any physical supervision. On the upside, the self-driven ones have benefited immensely from a lack of physical supervision.

Another problem that is arising is a lack of proper work-life balance. Some employees are finding it harder to separate work from their social life, thus eating into their personal time. This has led to issues such as increased divorce rates and gender-based violence cases. The premise behind it is that parents and partners no longer spend as much quality time with their loved ones as before.

However, all these hiccups are slowly getting smoothed out and soon, remote work will become the norm—especially in the tech sector.

Conclusion

When remote work first started to pick up speed, employers doubted they could manage their staffs, and that it would lead to a dip in productivity. However, this has been proven wrong, with most workers and supervisors now working smoothly via virtual platforms like Zoom.

This continues to work well for both companies and employees, as the former cuts down on operating costs, while employees benefited from the reduced hassle and cost of commuting to and from work.

Overall, shifting to remote work has enabled many tech companies to remain competitive and profitable. Whether it will be a future trend or just a temporary way to survive the disruption caused by COVID-19, it is easily the best thing that has happened to the tech industry in a long while!
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Cardio Crushers: The Best Exercises For Heart Health

Strengthening your heart is one of the best things you can do to live a long and healthy life. As you probably already know, your heart is a vital organ that supplies oxygen and essential nutrients to all parts of your body, which is why keeping it in tip top condition should be on everyone’s priority list. Leading a healthy lifestyle, keeping active and eating a nutritious diet all contribute to good cardiovascular health, and today we’ll be focusing on 6 of the best exercises that you can engage in to strengthen your heart. Read on to find out more! 

  1. Cycling 

 

Cardiovascular exercises don’t have to keep you constricted within the four walls of a gym or slaving it out on a treadmill. Cycling outdoors or in a park is one of the best examples of this! Cycling has been long known to be one of the best heart healthy exercises that aid in reducing the chances of high blood pressure and heart disease. Just a 30 minute hop on your bike 2-3 times a week is enough to elevate your heart rate and significantly strengthen your heart muscles. Furthermore, the average person can burn up to 300 calories in 30 minutes of cycling, resulting in weight loss that can also lighten the burden on your heart should you be a few kilos over your ideal weight. 

 

  1. Swimming

 

Swimming is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise and is also the perfect option for anyone who is suffering from joint problems which make running, cycling or walking difficult. The buoyancy water allows you to move your limbs and joints more easily through their normal range of motion and can assist in reducing the impact and stress placed on your legs, knees and arms. And of course, enrolling yourself in a water aerobics class or simply swimming laps a few times a week can offer you a full-body workout that will strengthen not only your body, but your heart. 

 

  1. Strength Training

 

Strength training has been steadily gaining popularity over the last few years and although it is often assumed to be the antithesis of cardiovascular exercises, you’ll be surprised at how beneficial it can be for your heart. Building up the other muscles in your body is a fantastic way to strengthen the heart and research has shown that those who engaged in an hour of weight training per week had a 40%-70% lower risk of heart attacks. If picking up weights isn’t your thing, fret not. One of the most effective forms of strength training is when you utilise your own body weight with exercises such as push-ups, squats and pull-ups. 

 

  1. Jumping Rope

 

Jumping rope isn’t just for kids on the playground…in fact, there is a reason that professional boxers all over the world include a jump rope in their exercise routine and training regimen. This simple yet effective exercise that can be done in the comfort and privacy of your own home is cheap, easy to do and will also give your heart a great workout. Jumping raises the heart rate up to 3 times faster than other exercises, thus providing cardiovascular benefits in a much shorter time compared to most other exercises. You learn something new everyday! 

 

  1. Interval Training

 

Interval training is a form of exercise that switches between short bursts of high intensity exercise with longer periods of recovery. This is a favourite amongst many gym goers as it is a great way of fitting in a full workout in a very short span of time. An example of interval training could be as simple as running for 1 minute, walking for 3 minutes and then repeating this pattern/cycle another 3-4 times. You don’t need any fancy equipment to engage in interval training, and the best part is it raises and lowers your heart rate  to burn calories and improve the overall function of your blood vessels.

 

  1. Walking

 

We get it, some people just don’t like sports or exercising, so if you’re one of those people, you’ll be pleased to know that the simple act of walking is a great way to boost your heart health. Most experts recommend getting in at least 10,000 steps per day which isn’t too difficult if you’re out and about most of the day. Walking can quickly raise your heart rate and is much easier on your joints than other types of exercise. The great thing is that you can do it anywhere and anytime, making it one of the most practical forms of cardiovascular exercise that anyone can think of!

 

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Whether you choose to hit the local swimming pool a couple of times a week, go walking with a loved one or simply engage in some heart pumping high intensity workouts, regular exercise is essential to maintaining a strong and healthy heart. As always, don’t forget to consult your doctor before embarking on any new exercise routines and cheers to good health!

 

Why does a Home Encounter Structural Damage?

A homeowner tries to keep his home as tidy and neat as possible. Overtime, he experiences structural damage and doesn’t understand what causes some issues like uneven floor, cracks on wall, termite infestation, etc while he is keeping up with the maintenance. 

 

The first thing you should know is that a structural damage to your home isn’t your fault, unless you choose low quality material. More than 80 percent of damage is due to structural defects while almost 20 percent is caused by framing related issues.

 

As soon as you notice these damages, you try to find a Minneapolis foundation repair service provider. Before you ask for professional help you should know what’s the main cause behind structural home damage.

 

What Causes Structural Damage?

Here are two main reasons behind this big issue.

 

Soil movement

This movement is never in your hand and many times the damage is resulted from it. There are two types of movement one is due to settlement and other is heave from expansive soil. Although many homes experience damage due to hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes but mainly the soil movement is the major cause.

Expert construction agents build homes to deal with active soil movements over time. According to industry standards, builders need to adjust the design in a way that settlement won’t cause big issues.

When a home has a basement, it usually moves more than 12 inches due to swollen soil. As far as the entire house structure is concerned, the change is almost six inches. As the basement moves more than other structures, this uneven movement leads to serious structure damage. Professionals of foundation repair companies assess your home movement and then come up with a solution that minimizes damage effects.

 

Settlement Consolidation

Native fill soils is another reason for structural damage.Geotechnical engineers usually design how to create composite soil for fill material. If that compositte isn’t perfect then the weight of home usually compact the material and lead to settlement.

 

 Sometimes, builders don’t supervise the fill soil placement process, this ignorance costs homeowners big bucks later on.Hydrostatic pressure results in hydro-collapsible soil, and it’s another reason behind foundation wall damage.

A team of experts from a foundation repair company properly assess the foundation, they do geotechnical investigation and quantitative study so that they better understand fill material and types of soils. Once the gather this vital information, they suggest the best solution.

 

Water Issues

Many home structures experience instability due to water. You need waterproofing services for your basement and attic so that you won’t have to deal with major structural damage. When you have wooden beams, floor and structure then water in those areas cause structural problems.A home with leaked pipes experience major problems later on. Water can easily saturate soil and result in significant home problems.

 

Address Issue Quickly

No matter your home structure experiences damages due to water, soil movement or settlement, you should contact Minneapolis structural repair services asap. Experts do visual inspection and then start fixing the main issues. If you don’t call them quickly, damages in one area spread to another quickly requiring you to spend lots of money on structural repair of your home.
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Why You Need a Professional for Plumbing Repairs

When you own your own property, all sorts of problems can arise that need to be dealt with. In a rented home, the landlord would generally sort these out, but as a homeowner, you need to do it yourself. When it comes to plumbing issues, which are common issues in homes, you need to ensure you do not make matters worse by attempting to do the work yourself. This could actually end up costing you more money in the long run as well as wasting your time.

What you need to do in the event of plumbing issues in your home is contact an experienced professional with a solid reputation. Someone with expertise and experience when it comes to plumbing repairs can ensure the job is completed quickly, efficiently, and to high standards. This will make life far easier for you and could be far cheaper than finding someone who is not qualified or attempting it yourself.

Why This Is So Important

There are many reasons why it is so important to use a professional and reputable plumbing expert for your plumbing issues. Some of these are:

Avoiding Wasting Your Time

If you attempt plumbing jobs yourself without the necessary experience, knowledge, and tools, you will simply end up wasting your own time and possibly being back at square one – or in a worse situation – at the end of it all. With a qualified professional, the work will be done properly, and you won’t have to spend time trying to work it out yourself.

Avoid Making the Problem Worse

Another reason you need a professional for plumbing work at your home is that it means you won’t end up making the problem worse. If you make a mistake, you could end up causing more damage and this will then cost you more money to put right. With a professional, the job will be completed to professional standards.

Save Money

Following on from the last point, getting a professional in can save you money because you are not risking making the problem worse. You won’t have to go out and spend money on tools to try and fix the issue, and you won’t be spending your time trying to work out a problem you know nothing about, so you can get on with other things. All of this can save you both money and time.

Get the Job Done Right

One other reason to get a professional in is that you can benefit from greater peace of mind because the job will be done properly and to high standards. You won’t keep having the same problem over and over again, and even if you do, a reputable professional will get it sorted out for you. This makes the whole process far easier and means that you can get the plumbing issues sorted out quickly and permanently.

These are some of the reasons why it is so important to get a professional out to work on plumbing issues at your home. 
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How To Choose The Right Teeth Correction Solution For You

As you get older, you might find that you aren’t happy with the current layout of your teeth. Over time, your teeth can move slightly, and this can cause problems with the placement and leave you feeling uncomfortable. Additionally, there are cosmetic reasons why you might not be happy with how your teeth are placed in your mouth.

The good news is that in 2021, there are tons of excellent teeth correction and straightening options that you can choose from. The decision on whether you decide to opt for metal braces or simple invisible aligners is entirely up to you and your budget. What works for some people won’t necessarily work for others. So, how do you choose the right solution? Here are some of our tips to help you make the right choice.

Check Out Your Options

The first thing that you should do when you are hoping to choose the right teeth correction solution for yourself is to look at the options. Many people are only aware of the most popular options but over time, more companies have created solutions that can be more discreet. 

Some of the most common options include clear aligners, metal braces, ceramic braces, veneers, bonding and lingual braces. The only real way to determine which is best for you is to check out each in great detail and uncover some of the advantages and disadvantages of each. Some are more visible than others while you can expect to pay more for certain options. Once you know a bit more about the options that are available to you, you can make a clear decision. 

What’s Your Budget?

It is unlikely that you are going to be able to correct your teeth without making some kind of financial contribution to the procedure. There are some cases where it can be a medical emergency to correct the shape of the teeth and there may be some reductions in price for these patients. However, the majority of options will set you back a fair bit of money, so you need to be willing to pay for it.

Before you start booking appointments with experts who can check your teeth, take a look at your budget. How much can you realistically afford to spend on this solution? This also comes down to how important this is to you. Some correction options will cost you thousands of dollars – are you willing to pay that? 

Determine your budget and find a solution that fits within that. It might be worth pushing this change a bit further into the future so that you can find time to save up for a solution that works better for your lifestyle. By waiting a bit longer, you’ll also be sure that you have made the right decision and you are happy to proceed.

Find a Reputable Company

You might think that your only option when it comes to correcting your teeth is to visit your dentist but that is not the case at all. Yes, your dentist can offer recommendations on which options might work best for you and help you to keep you spot any issues that need to be rectified quickly but they don’t have to be the one that goes through with the procedure.

You will find that if you opt for an alternative to traditional braces like invisible aligners, for example, you’ll want to find a reputable company who can help. For example, Straight My Teeth offers a range of options and they have a long list of happy clients. 

Reading reviews can be really useful when it comes to finding a reputable company. Why not spend some time looking at the reviews over at straightmyteeth.com to see what the happy customers have to say? This way, you’ll know what to look out for.

Ask Around

Sometimes, making the decision on which tooth correction solution is best for you is as simple as asking around. Do you know someone close to you that has a great smile? Has a relative recently undergone a procedure to improve their teeth and they are happy with the final result? You could find that by asking your close friends and family members that you can learn more about the options that are out there.

You could even find that some reviews from relatives suggest that an option won’t work for you. Spend some time asking around your circle and see if you can find any answers there. They might not be entirely educated on each option, but they can give you a summary of their experience and you can use this information to determine the right choice. 

Visible or Invisible?

One of the main things that you should consider when you are choosing a teeth correction solution for yourself is the visibility. Many people around the world have already experienced wearing metal braces as teenagers and know how visible these can be. Is this something that you want to experience again? If you are comfortable with others noticing your teeth correction solution, then this might be the best option for you as it can be very affordable.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a more discreet option, we recommend looking into some invisible aligners. This option is becoming much more popular with adults who are hoping to correct the alignment of their teeth without drawing too much attention to it. 

Check Out Treatment Times

Are you looking for a quick fix or something that might take a bit longer to really work? This is a consideration that you need to make when you are choosing a solution as some are quicker to work than others. For example, if you were to choose at-home clear aligners, you might expect the treatment time to be around 6 months.

Additionally, bonding will usually be done in just one or two appointments with your dental company so this might be something to consider if you want to resolve the problem sooner rather than later. Some alternatives such as braces or veneers might take a bit longer, but they will be worth it in the end.

Usually, when you go to a consultation, you can learn more about how long the process will take. While some might be quick to implement, they might need to be fitted for a longer period of time so make sure to consider this carefully. Hopefully, you’ll find something that works for your lifestyle.

Choose An Option That Works For You

You should discuss the solutions that you are considering with your loved ones, but you should remember that this is your decision to make. It doesn’t hurt to check in with your dentist to see what kind of solution they recommend you get.

Think about the variety of solutions available and consider important factors such as your budget, the duration of treatment and the company that will perform the procedure. Once you know what you are looking for, you can get booked in and start your oral transformation sooner rather than later. We hope that we have helped you to come to a final conclusion. 

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Why You Should Never Put Off Foundation Repairs

The foundation of your home is what provides it with stability, and if any damage occurs it can create many difficult issues. Some people never expect their foundation to become damaged, and when this happens it leaves them wondering what to do. A lot of people are concerned about the expense of getting the damage repaired, and as a result, they often push the issue onto the back burner and fail to get it addressed.

However, this is something that can prove to be a serious and costly mistake, as foundation issues can have a huge impact on your home. It is important to ensure you get foundation repairs carried out as soon as you can and you must ensure they are completed by a professional with the right experience and expertise. In this article, we will look at some of the reasons you should never put off foundation repairs at your home.

Top Reasons to Get These Repairs Completed

There are many reasons why you need to ensure these repairs are carried out both professionally and quickly. Some of the top reasons you need to act are:

Avoid Serious Damage to Your Home

One of the top reasons to get these repairs carried out in a timely manner is to avoid serious damage to your home. When you have foundation problems, all sorts of serious issues can arise at your home including damage to walls and floors, sinking areas of concrete, and a drop in safety levels at your home. So, you need to get the repairs done quickly to try and avoid these issues or at least to minimize the impact.

Reduce the Cost of Repair

Another major reason you need to act quickly to get the repairs on your foundation sorted out is to keep the cost of the repair work down. While you may think that getting the foundation repaired is going to be expensive, it will cost you a whole lot more if you leave the problem to get worse. The more damage to the foundation, the more difficult it will be to repair and the most it will cost you to put right. In addition, the impact on other areas of your home will also be worse, and this will also then cost more to sort out.

Maintain Your Property Value

One other key consideration is the value of your home, which can be heavily impacted by the state of your foundation. If your foundation is damaged and repairs are not carried out, it can have a serious negative effect on your property value. In addition, the problems stemming from the foundation damage can also further impact the value of your home. If you decide you want to sell in the future, the foundation issues can make this far more difficult, and you will get far less for your home if you do sell.

These are some of the reasons you should never put off foundation work at your home. 
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Tips for Starting a Food Delivery Service

coronavirus, is food safe, is coronavirus on food, can I catch coronavirus from food? takeaways.Starting a food delivery service in this climate is quite a savvy move. 

After all, food delivery was always incredibly popular, but the pandemic has sent things surging to brand new heights. The Guardian highlighted that even dry cleaning services have turned to dropping off groceries for a profit due to a lower than usual demand in their own trade. There’s a lot of stiff competition, but there’s plenty of room for success and innovation too. 

Keep reading after the jump to learn some tips for starting your very own food delivery service. 

Understand the Legal Procedures

You can’t get started until your plans to begin or resume a food business are on official record. 

For all your licencing and registration needs, you should consult gov.uk, registering at least 28 days before your opening. 

Food hygiene procedures also need to be followed to the letter. There is no cutting corners here, so proper cooking practices, cleaning methods, and temperature control all need to be properly maintained and regulated. When you tick all these essential boxes and have a plan to action, you can then put your best entrepreneurial foot forward. 

Consider Insurance

Food delivery will obviously require a great deal of time spent transporting goods, so a suitable car or van will be needed to make the trips. 

However, a standard insurance policy won’t cover you for these trips – you’ll need courier van insurance or courier car insurance instead. In fact, if you deliver food and you only have a standard insurance policy in place there’s a good chance that policy could be invalidated because you’d be breaching the terms of that policy, so the right courier insurance really is a must.

Define and Tailor Your Service 

The broader your objectives are, the more you will struggle to keep up with supply and demand at the very start of things. 

Everyone wants food, and that’s a universal truth. However, if you don’t steadily pace the growth of your operations, you will find yourself tripping over your own feet incredibly soon. Customer guarantees fall through, reputations are whittled away, and ultimately you will receive more work than you know what to do with. 

To kick things off, start by more acutely defining the following: 

  • Who you serve: Will you specialise in delivering food to the disabled or elderly, who need your service is a lifeline? 
  • What you serve: Do you provide people with their groceries in the morning, or provide takeaway quality foods in the evening? What markets are oversaturated in your area?
  • Price points: Is the service a cheap and affordable alternative to patrolling the local supermarket, or are you offering the finest quality foods in town? What are your profit margins?
  • Where will you deliver: What is the maximum distance you are willing to travel with the food? Are you serving in an affluent area, or a smaller and humbler town? 

It’s important to be specific with what you are offering from the outset. Humble origins enable you to build things up slowly, well within the confines of your capabilities, finances, and resources. By starting locally, you can also steadily build up a loyal customer base and community, becoming a homegrown business with a loyal following instead of being a faceless, vague entity.  

Flourish Your Appeal

Once the broad strokes of your food delivery service are well-defined, it’s time to flourish the broader appeal of your venture. 

There are many ways to add value to this particular sphere of your operation. You can contemplate lines of enquiry like: 

  • Fair trade: Does your business practice ethical trading methods? Do you source homegrown, local supplies?
  • Public eating habits: Last year, the BBC reported that vegan diets were steadily rising among the masses, which could yield interesting business opportunities. Could the trend towards healthier eating be worth tapping into?
  • Customer service details: Are potential employees friendly and personable? 
  • Marketing signatures: Is your brand sufficiently recognisable? Will you pay for advertising privileges in shop windows, or develop SEO marketing strategies online?

There’s a great deal to cover here, but for many businesses, each one of the points above adds depth to a dynamic service. There are many food delivery services out there, but yours needs to be a cut above the rest to be truly worthwhile. Examine all the areas of your operation where you can add some finer touches to make your offerings more niche and unique, and more customers will gravitate to your services. 

 

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Benefits of a 360 Lace Wig Vs. a Lace Front Wig

As you look into wigs and finding the right one for you, you will quickly learn about different wig types. For example, you could pick between lace front or 360 lace wigs, which have their own benefits and drawbacks. Due to this, we will talk about the differences between these two wig types so that you can make an informed decision.

What Are They?

The names do a good job of summarizing the differences between the two. A front lace wig uses lace to cover the front of the wig while using a net for the back portion of it. This means that the rest of the wig remains stationary, allowing it to sit firmly on your head while giving you options to adjust the front of the wig.

As for 360 lace wigs, the lace covers all over your head, allowing you to make adjustments throughout it. The 360 lace wig still includes a net to help it stay on your head, but the lace goes over the top of it. In short, the differences between a 360 lace wig and a lace front wig is how much of the lace covers your head.

Pros and Cons

Front lace wigs require less maintenance since you only have to worry about the front portion when adjusting it. On top of this, you can rest assured that the rest of your hair will look good. On the other hand, you can’t adjust front lace wigs exactly how you want them and you can’t do certain hairstyles with them.

360 lace wigs give you more versatility when styling and adjusting them. This way, you can make adjustments all over the wig to get it exactly how you want. You can also try different styles with it. However, these wigs require more maintenance to make them look good. It also takes more prep time if you want to get it to look a certain way.

Choosing Between Them

This comes down to how much flexibility you want with your wigs. A front lace wig allows you to make changes in the front, but a 360 lace wig allows you to adjust it throughout. Due to this, if you want to keep your wig adjustments low maintenance and less time consuming, then a front lace wig would work.

In short, determine how much effort you want to put into your wigs. This will allow you to decide on the wig that works best for your situation. You may need to spend time researching these various wigs and picking one, but doing so allows you to find a suitable lace wig.

Conclusion

Both lace front and 360 lace wigs work well for those that want to wear wigs, but you should still know the differences between them. This way, you can easily make a decision and determine which wig will work for you. Feel free to look into your options and pick the wig of your dreams.