Great Connections for Fall 2018

GREAT Connections FALL 2018 7 A Timeline of Workplace Evolution Generally speaking, today’s workplaces look much different than they did 30 or 40 years ago, due to both changes in technology and in the approach toward employee productivity. It’s interesting to recall where we’ve been in recent decades and think about what workplaces will be like in the future. 1970s to 1990s • Offices typically featured semi-enclosed cubicles for employees and private suites for executives. Employees were often encour- aged to work independently. • Work took place almost exclusively at the office building, and there was a “punch card mentality” which clearly delineated work time vs. personal time. • During these decades, business communication went from taking place mostly over landlines or in-person meetings to an increasing reliance on computers and email. 2000 – Today • Company culture becomes more social and collaborative, and group work spaces and multi-purpose areas start to replace separate cubicles and offices in an effort to increase conversation. • There is an increased focus on comfort and ergonomics with furniture such as standing desks. • Tools and technology transform work communication, from video software such as Skype to social media platforms. • Work is increasingly agile, meaning it can be done virtually anywhere with an Internet connection. This leads to a rise in remote working, whether on a full-time or occasional basis. Future Workplaces • Significant changes in workplace location and design will continue as a reflection of technological innovation. • Sensors may help to optimize how space is used, and robots could account for a growing proportion of the workforce. • Virtual reality and hologram screens could facilitate communi- cation between teams based in different locations. • With the increase in remote working, fewer physical office buildings could be needed. As technology for business communications evolves, Great Plains Communications will continue to update our product and service offerings to meet your work- place needs today and tomorrow. To learn more, call 402-456-6467. On August 1, 2018, Google rolled out one of its biggest algorithm updates, which it described as “a broad, global, core update,” implying every niche and type of site could be impacted. However, it’s been unofficially nicknamed the Medic Update because of its focus on the medical and health space as well as Your Money Your Life (YMYL) pages. YMYL pages are defined as those that allow you to buy something or that offer medical or health information, legal or financial advice, or advice on making major life decisions. Google said there’s no ”fix” for pages that may perform less well in search rankings after this update, other than to remain focused on building great content. The company also said, “As with any update, some sites may note drops or gains. There’s nothing wrong with pages that may now perform less well. Instead, it’s that changes to our systems are benefiting pages that were previously under-rewarded.” The advice overall has been to make your site, content and user experience better overall and keep working at small changes that can have a big impact on your rankings. Google Rolls Out a Major Algorithm Update