Today was not one I was looking forward to. I had agreed with my PA that we would have a clear out of filing – in readiness for 2010! It was suggested that I was a magpie – but I like to think that I can put my hand on papers / files quickly. Alas they are going to secure storage …
The files for archiving (you can't see the ones on the floor!)
I would love us to have a paperless office – and it is something we are looking into. In fact we do a lot of our correspondence by email. Earlier today my mate at Purple Circle – John Lyle blogged about writing letters. He was advocating their use. I am actually in agreement as I think they do have a place, but as I blogged about before we do need to sort our postal system! My Christmas Card episode and the Postal Strike do put me off.
But what is really worrying is the amount of paper we use! Our photocopiers have counters on – and were at 524,000 copies last year. That is a frightening amount of paper! Not to mention toner and electricity – or files to put the stuff in!
You can also see where it all goes – into files. We need to keep files for our professional records, but there has to be a better way. Lawyers have a case management system; I spoke to one before Christmas and she has no paper at all! I think surveyors need the same, although I am not sure I could read a lease on a screen – plans are also an issue.
It would also be great if you could somehow ‘manage’ email threads – so that you didn’t re-print pages of the same emails. Now that would be clever – if someone could invent it?
In the meantime – we have some space in the cabinets in readiness for filling up next year! I will have to plant a tree (or two).
December 29th, 2009 at 20:11
Good luck on your quest to go green! It is good for the environment, your wallet, and your office sanity.