ELC PAIRWORK WWW

You and a colleague are taking a short break at the office lounge.
Both of you comment that many work cubicles are cluttered with old documents and non-
functional electrical items.
You discuss ways to de-clutter these work cubicles to increase work space and physical
comfort.

S: Hi. Good afternoon! Can I sit here?

E: Hi. Good afternoon! Yeah sure. You can sit here.

S: Which department are you? Cuz I haven’t seen you before!

E: Yes I think this is the first time we met. I’m Atiqah from financial department. So, how
about you?

S: Oh I see. No wonder why we’ve never met before. I’m Shukirrah from human resources
department.

E: Oh I see. Yeah no wonder! Because our departments are in different levels. Have you take
your lunch?

S: Yes. I brought food from home today.

E: You cooked for your lunch? What are you cooked for today?

S: Yes. I usually will cook for my husband and child before going for work. For today I just
made the fried rice because my child like to eat fried rice and also that the simplest dish to
make when we are in a hurry right? haha. Then, have you eat your lunch?

E: Yup haha. Me also cook before going for work too. But today I woke up a bit late, so my
husband said we should just eat outside. So,actually I’m waiting for him right now.

S: Oh I see, so kind of him!

E: Hehe. Thanks! So how about your work?

S: So far everything’s okay. I like my work and also my colleagues. How about you?

E: Me too! My coworkers are nice and friendly. But I think working at financial department is
a bit tough. When its come to the end of the year, we will always have overtime.

S: Yes I heard that before. Your department always had to stay late night to prepare the
financing statement.

E: Even sometimes we are not going back and stay to prepare that. But what can I say, that is
already our nature of department right. So, We can just have to be ready for that.

S: I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you guys will always be healthy even though there are a lot
of pressure.

E: No worries. So far I’m enjoying doing my works even there are lots of pressure. Hmm,
Your work of nature will also have obstacles right?

S: Of course. We also have to handle employee’s problems. As you know, as human we

E: Oh I see. That is tough too. One main problems in our department is that many cubicles
are cluttered with old documents and non-functional electrical items. Can I ask you for a few
ideas to solve this problems.

S : Let me think about it. Oh yaa, did you know about four box method?

E: Sorry but I’ve never heard about it before? Would you mind to explain more?

S: Sure, four box method is a simple method. You just need to get 4 boxes and label them as
trash,give away, keep, and re locate. Then, You can place unused item into one of the
following boxes. Don’t skip a single item. This may take a lot of time like days, weeks or even
months, but it will help you see how many items you really own and you’ll know exactly
what to do with the items.

E: What a great idea! But as you know we’ve been so busy lately. What If i hire a
professional organizer to organize it? What do you think?

S : Of course, that would be more fast and reduce the time taken.If that is in your budget
then you should hired the professional. Meanwhile, you guys can focus on your work.

E: Yeah, we will and I’ll ask for my boss’s permission. Before this, I’ve always thought I didn’t
need an organizer because, “I know what to do, I just need to do it.” And yet, after reading
tons of books and blogs and watching nearly every episode of Clean office , I still don’t have
a good system for my papers that I can stick with. And paper isn’t the only problem. Maybe
the right organizer could help us get started. I’m starting to think it’s worth a try.

S:I feel you. It looks really easy but actually really difficult to do. Before this, my department
also have a problem to declutter the office cubicles. Then we made a day cleaning schedule
and clear all the stuff that we don’t need. And yeah, everyone gives a good commitment.

E: Wow, you guys also made a day for cleaning stuff. I really hope my office mates also will
do the same things. I have been tired to see the desk that is messing with old document and
non functional items. Some of us also said we feel more stressed with the environment.

S: Yeah that’s right, clean workplace can bring in positive energy. So, do you have any
suggestion to make your work pace more cheerful and comfortable? Maybe more ways can
improves the results.

E: I’ve think of a few ways. One of the the ways is selling the non-functional electrical item to
the secondhand store or to the scrap metal shop. Do you think that’s a good idea?

S: Yes, it is a good idea. At least you’ll get some money after selling it. But I think those
substances contained in an electronic product which can bring adverse effects to the
atmosphere and hence managing it in a proper way is important. Apart from affecting the
environment it can also affect the health of the people.

E:Oh yeah. While talking about this, I’ve remembered some statement that I read before. It
tells us that there is need to encourage recycling of all useful and valuable material from
electrical items so as to conserve the ever depleting natural resources. Recycling end- of- life
products is vital if we are to save resources and minimize waste.

S:Yes I also have heard about it somewhere. Also the correct disposal of old product will help
prevent potential negative consequences for the environment and human health.

E: By the way, thank you reminding me. I almost affect the health of people by selling the
electrical items.

S: Hehe welcome. So, any other ideas?

E: As you said before, we could differentiate the items into the recycle, keep or throw it
away. So, I was thinking maybe we should buy more bookshelf to organize the files that we
still need and named every bookshelf for certain document of date to make us easier to find
which file we’re looking for.

S: That’s a good idea. Your work place will be more organize. The environment also will
become more comfortable. And maybe you can suggest to your department to reduce from
using paper. With that, you can save more budget and the important documents would not
mixed up because it will be saved in the computer.

E:That’s great. I would definitely suggest that to my departments. Btw, thank you so much
for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. I really hope my work place will make us feel
more happy to prepare our financial statement after this hehe.

S:As the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” Keeping your space clean will allow you to
focus on the task at hand and solely make sense of the things you need.

E:Absolutely you’re right and I’m sorry if I make you feel uneasy with so many questions.

S: No no it’s okay. I really enjoyed talking to you. Hope to see you again after this.

E: Me too. Thank you for your time. I think my husband has arrived and I need to go now.
See you later and take care of yourself okay! Goodbye!

S:Don’t worry about that. You too, take care! Goodbye!