With summer and lawn mowing season in full swing, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) reminded landscaping crews to keep safety in mind when using lawn mowers, trimmers, chainsaws and other lawn and yard gear. 

“Remember to learn the safety features and adopt safe practices when using your mower and other outdoor power equipment,” said Kris Kiser, OPEI president and CEO.

Before moving, get ready first:

• Walk your yard.Scan the yard and remove rocks, sticks, and any loose objects that get in the way of mowing and other equipment.
• Check terrain.Note any steep slopes, holes, or low-hanging branches so you can navigate them with care.
• Inspect and service equipment. Check oil and air filters. Look for damaged or missing parts.
• Read and follow the equipment manuals.
• Clean and store equipment properly.Wipe off dirt and debris and keep your equipment in a dry place. 

Tips for fueling include:

• Use fresh fuel.Never store equipment with fuel in the tank. Remember, storing fuel in hot, humid conditions will make the fuel grow stale more quickly. 
• Always turn off the engine and allow the mower to cool completely before refilling the tank.
• Charge batteries using an appropriate charger. Use the charger that came with your equipment and follow the manufacturer instructions, including how to store batteries properly.

Use equipment safely:

• Never disable, modify or remove safety devices.
• Always keep children and animals away from operating equipment.
• Wear closed-toed shoes, long pants, safety glasses, and hearing protection.
• Use caution when mowing on slopes.

For more safety information about outdoor power equipment, visit www.opei.org.

The often-dreaded return-to-office (RTO) mandate seems to be making the rounds for larger companies, often causing hard decisions on the part of workers who might have moved away from their employers’ offices in favor of a lower cost of living. 

A new knowledge worker survey on remote work and RTO perception from tech recruiter Howdy.com found that despite management narratives around company culture, one in two workers think that RTO mandates are about corporate control. Key takeaways from the report include: 

• 61% said fully in-office work is the least productive (most favor hybrid).

• 53% said hybrid is the most productive arrangement; 61% said in-office is the least— and even in-office workers rate hybrid above their own setup.
• 82% believe fully remote teams can have great culture; workers define culture through engagement and trust, not in-person events

• 72% of in-office workers want some form of remote work; 51% said they don’t need to be there to do their job.

Interestingly, collaboration ranked dead last (1%) as a contributor to employee happiness; flexibility (32%) and salary (26%) led by wide margins across generations and work styles.

RTO mandates also aren’t the ultimate issue: Worker monitoring is. Whether it’s screen activity monitors or watching for green dots on MS Teams, these instruments of corporate surveillance were the No. 1 morale killer for 60% of respondents, negatively affecting workers even more than mandatory office attendance.