companies made significant investments in their well-being programs. To protect their life-work balance, workers are demanding more flexibility in how, where and when they work. Gad Levanon, head of The Conference Board’s Labor Market Institute, says businesses can do a lot as they prepare to retain or recruit talent. “They can raise wages and benefits, start internship programs, improve recruiting and allowmore flexible work policies,” he says. According to Microsoft, 73% of workers surveyed want flexible remote work options to continue. At home, people are working harder than ever. According to a study of 30,000 Americans by researchers at the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago, flexible work arrangements did not materially damage business productivity. Instead, this new way of working boosted productivity by 5% as workers adopted new technology and spent less time commuting. But Forbes says high productivity is masking an exhausted workforce with 54% feeling overworked. Along with an increase in time spent in meetings, Microsoft found that the average Teams meeting is 10 minutes longer (up from 35 to 45 minutes). Plus, the average Teams user sends 45%more chats per week and 42%more chats per person after hours, with 62% of meetings not planned. For this overworked, health-conscious workforce, promotional desk and office supplies will become practical daily tools. According to The NPD Group’s new annual forecast, the Future of Office Supplies, the U.S. office supplies industry is expected to end 2021 with revenue up 8% compared to 2020. Compared to pre-pandemic revenue in 2019, this is also an increase of 8%. Back-to-school shopping drove revenue, but The NPD Group expects low single-digit declines for 2022 and 2023. With less paper sales and the push to digitalization, a demand towards home offices and devices like PCs and printers is expected to increase at least until 2022. As clients look for ways to retain and recruit top talent, distributors can offer functional desk and office products to create a connection. Desk and office-related promotional products will be used and seen daily, generating unlimited exposure for a client’s brand. Desk & Of f i ce Desk & Office Products Perfect for days in the office, this wheat straw bento box has dual lunch compartments that stack neatly and are secured with an elastic strap. Each compartment comes with its own plastic lid and a plastic knife, fork and spoon. The compartments are constructed of 30% wheat straw and 70% plastic. Each compartment holds 20 ounces and are microwave and dishwasher safe. High Caliber Line / PPAI 205801, S10 / www.highcaliberline.com Suggest this ecoinspired spiral notebook and pen as an onboarding gift. This 80-page lined notebook has a matching pen with a paper barrel in an elastic pen loop. The notebook has an elastic band closure and a cardboard cover. Hit Promotional Products PPAI 113910, S13 www.hitpromo.net 58 | APRIL 2022 | GROW
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