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Our receptionist is on the phone eight hours a day. How can we ease the difficulty of that work?

If you haven't done so yet, invest in a quality headset. Long gone are the earmuffs of recording studios. Today's headsets are small, sleek, lightweight, and definitely cool, according to an article on Ahern Communication's Web page, which lists Janet Jackson, Tom Cruise, and the staff of your local Old Navy store as some of the cool people you can catch wearing headsets. Plantronics, a major manufacturer of headsets, recently began running ads on prime-time television to encourage people to use headsets even at home.

The benefits of a headset, according to Ahern, include less discomfort from nerves pinched by scrunching a phone receiver between neck and shoulder; reduced tension in the back, neck, and shoulder area; and increased productivity. A study by H.B. Maynard Company (cited on Ahern's Web page) said that workers using Plantronics headsets showed a 43 percent productivity increase over people who answered the phone the old-fashioned way.

With a headset, a worker's hands are free for typing, so calls that require information checking can be done more quickly. Most importantly, workers with headsets report higher morale, lower fatigue levels, and fewer phone-related physical complaints.

Headsets range in price from $40 to $250. Look for features like long cords (or no cords), quick disconnect, noise canceling microphones, adjustable earpieces that fit over the top of the ear, and, of course, compatibility with existing phone equipment. Ahern also offers headsets for PCs, conference telephones, music on hold, caller ID, and other telecom products.

Ergonomic products will also ease the strain of office work. Consider up grading the receptionist's computer keyboard to an ergonomic keyboard, or offer her a wrist pad to increase comfort and work output. Foot rests, document holders, and ergonomically correct chairs are also helpful. They're also inexpensive ways to decrease the medical costs associated with repetitive motion tasks or eyestrain-related problems.

Perhaps the best way to jumpstart productivity in the office is to offer a great cup of coffee. Check out Coffee Wholesale USA, which offers everything from small office coffeepots to medium-sized brewers that can make three pots of coffee, keep them warm, and automatically shut off after four hours so there are no nasty baked coffeepots to clean.

Coffee Wholesale USA also offers flavored coffees, such as Banana Foster, Amaretto Supreme, or Southern Pecan. To reward the entire staff with a gift that keeps on giving, consider purchasing an espresso or cappuccino machine with a combination grinder and brewer. Coffee prices from this company start at about $6 a pound. Small commercial coffee machines are available for less than $100.

We currently send our bulletin out for printing. Is there a way we can save money by producing it ourselves?

First Baptist Church of Austin, Texas, had the same question. Increasing costs from outsourcing the church newsletter persuaded Judy Davis at the church to find a better solution. The church bought a RISO duplicator (model 3750). Not only does the duplicator save the church a lot of money by not having to pay an outside printer, but it's also used in other ways to enhance ministry efforts.

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