It's the time of year when the majority like to switch off for a couple of weeks, leaving work stress behind them and enjoy the sunshine with their families. Not always the case for SME owners.

According to research carried out by Sage more than 30% of small business owners in the UK did not take a summer holiday last year.  The smaller the business the more likely this is to occur.  Ironic really, as most small business owners work far longer hours than the average, certainly not the nine to five grind.

Whilst many SME business owners believe that they can't leave their business for a break as it may be damaging, it is actually more dangerous and less productive.  Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University Management School says that people who are constantly thinking and working on their business are causing more harm than good.  "Keep that up over a long period and it can be destructive. There's profound evidence that if you work extremely long hours over a sustained period you'll end up being less productive."

It is also proven that taking a break helps with productiveness, wellness, health and family relationships.  Many SME owners aren't able to spend as much time connecting with family as they would like, so taking a break allows them do just so.  It is a fact that most people return from holiday rejuvenated and refreshed, with a clear mind you can refocus and actually see things more clearly.

It is recommended to have a complete "digital detox" but this isn't highly likely.  With smart-phones creating instant access to everything back at home, it's hard to completely switch off.  You can't relax on holiday if your phone is constantly ringing, yet if your not answering calls then you could be losing potential sales.

This is where we come in; to help you get that much needed break.  Taking a temporary telephone service at The Virtual Office from as little as £6 per day allows your business to still run effectively, whilst you're enjoying yourself away from the stress of everyday life at home.  We can help you out of your 'catch 22'.  As the first Virtual Office, with over twenty years in the business, our reliable and experienced staff take pride in the telephone service which we provide.

Simply divert your telephone line through to our receptionists to answer and handle your calls.  With our unified voicemail messaging you can receive email alerts and return to callers as you need.  If you're expecting important calls you can just inform us and we can transfer them through to you.

No need to make the choice between family time and work.  You are free to enjoy your much needed break.

 

Author: Jess Hill

Virtual Office Team member

30 June 2014

Go Ahead - You Deserve a Break!

Its that time of year again... and for the first time in a long time, it seems like summer has FINALLY arrived in the UK, which means thoughts will be drifting to holidays...

Whether you fancy a trendy recession-inspired 'stay-cation'; have children who will be unleashed by their schools and therefore require some extra attention; or would love to indulge in a proper long-haul holiday, if you run your own business taking time for any or all of these reasons can be daunting. But, it is so important to remember that everyone needs a break sometimes in order to maintain their sanity!

So many people who run their own businesses struggle with taking time off. There is concerns about losing money or customers if they take a break, plus stress about who, if anybody, can be entrusted to take on tasks in their absence. Still another hurdle is the guilt that business owners feel when they take time off which is often overcompensated for by spending the duration of any time they do take off working and forgetting to actually relax!

Believe it or not, there is a solution to this problem... The Virtual Office Group. Part of our range of virtual office solutions specialises in holiday cover. Just arrange to forward your calls to the Virtual Office, where our friendly and professional live receptionists will personally answer your calls for you and manage them according to your specifications. We can arrange to have certain calls (or all of your calls) transferred to you wherever you are so that you can choose which ones you want to deal with. Alternatively, we can have the callers greeted and given an explanation of your choice for why you are unavailable, and put through to your voicemail which can be checked at your convenience via SMS, email, or on the phone. This means that you don't have to answer and deal with every call yourself, which gives you the freedom to actually relax and enjoy your time off. We can provide this service for a period of a few days, a fortnight, a month, or whatever you require! If you would like more information, please feel free to contact Kat on 0207 917 9918.