By now, we know that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning. What you may not know is that the groundhog’s prediction about an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter is only right 39% of the time anyway. In climates with winter, we’re likely facing more winter, famous groundhogs notwithstanding. For all you essential workers in dispatch, command & control and healthcare who must get to work, this is a great reminder to keep your car winter ready.

I just read that “the R.T.O. date is gone.” With Omicron and other variants, the ongoing pandemic is so unpredictable that companies have stopped setting Return to Work (R.T.O) dates. I’m not sure why this headline caught my eye because it’s not relevant to most of our customers. At Xybix, we serve essential workers in dispatch, command & control and healthcare. You never stopped showing up at work and neither did we. What we did do was focus on how we could make your time at work safer and more comfortable.

A core value at Xybix is innovation, and it’s not just something we say or print on T-shirts. Innovation is something we live as we’re truly excited to solve customer problems and design products for a healthier and more productive workplace. I’m excited to share our latest innovation—the first-ever smart workstation that adjusts to all your preferences with a single touch of a button. We call this Axys because your entire workstation will revolve around you, your needs, and your moods throughout the day.

We’ve been through a lot these last couple years, so let’s give ourselves a break in 2022. Rather than a resolution to return to your fighting weight, how about committing to simply moving more for your overall health? Even light movement benefits your muscles, bones, joints, brain, heart and lungs. And if a few pounds fall away in the process, all the better.

I do tend to believe the old adage “cold hands, warm heart” as my mom has the coldest hands I know. But I can’t prove that cold hands specifically lead to more errors at work—at least not in the type of work we all do at our desks. In my research about cold hands, however, I learned a few things that confirm my devotion to climate controls at individual workstations.

"Go out there and enjoy.” That’s the gov’t guidance on trick-or-treating this Halloween. And given that it’s a Sunday night after a year of pent-up demand, we may see more kiddos out than normal. To get in the spirit early, share your photos and inspire others. We’re looking for creative office décor, costumes, face coverings and mask selfies.

It’s a happy day in my house when the Costco Connection magazine arrives. Flipping through it is like an extension of the treasure hunt that is a trip through the Costco warehouse. The latest issue had the last thing I would expect from my favorite purveyor of paper towels—some really good information on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).  

Back in the day, Oconee County dispatchers started off their 12-hour shifts in a gray workspace, wondering whether their old, rickety, uncomfortable consoles would even function that day. Collaboration with Xybix changed all that, creating an open, functional and comfortable workplace that boosts morale and productivity.

We didn’t design our imaging desks in a vacuum here at Xybix. We visited reading rooms, checked out the equipment and talked to radiologists to learn about must-have, nice-to-have and simply delightful features. Then we designed those features into our imaging desks while providing a few cool touches of our own. Did we cover all the bases? We think so, and we tell you all about it in a series of 1-minute videos that provide answers to common questions.

We’ve been doing this for 30 years at Xybix. Does that make me feel old? Why yes, yes it does. It also makes me feel wise because I’ve learned a lot about ergonomic sit-to-stand consoles and how they enhance the health, happiness and productivity of dispatchers, who are literally the first responders to calls for help. I’ve learned what’s important to 911 centers in terms of features, quality and service. And I know how much that all costs.