Office courtesy
‘Tis the season for awkward interactions: How to survive the office holiday party
Some offices put the awkward interactions on “The Office” to shame. For employees at Dunder Mifflin-wannabe companies, the current season brings with it the dreaded holiday party, an event that’s fun in theory, and often the opposite in practice. But office parties can be fun! Follow a few simple guidelines, and spare yourself the awkwardness […]
How to deal with high spirits and low inhibitions at office holiday parties
Holiday party season is now in full swing, and while last year, we doled out survival tips to the party-going employees, this year, we’d like to take a moment to caution the employers. Employers planning holiday parties for their businesses should prepare to handle overindulgent employees and the ensuing uncomfortable situations. Additional efforts on the part of the employer […]
Would you recognize an office psychopath?
Here’s something spooky in anticipation of Halloween later this month: Psychopaths. They’re overtly charming, capable go-getters, but ultimately callous individuals with no capacity for empathy. And they may work in your office. While the most famous psychopaths are those who have resorted to criminal behavior, this is not prerequisite to falling into the category. In […]
Chicago company limits bathroom breaks to six minutes
A Chicago company has demanded its employees limit daily bathroom breaks to an average of six minutes per day, or face discipline, according to a worker’s union, reports CNN. The union, Teamsters Local 743, issued a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, stating that the company — WaterSaver Faucet Co. — unreasonably punished 19 workers last […]
Windowless offices result in less sleep for workers, says study
That sweet corner office isn’t just about the little luxuries, like stretching legs and slamming doors: Being exposed to natural light may have a major impact on worker health, according to a recent case study, reports Co.Design. This small study, led by architects and medical researchers, compared those workers exposed to natural light at work […]
’Hoffice’ aims to solve key work-from-home issues
For people who suffer from work-from-home-alone syndrome, Hoffice might be the solution. The Scandinavian start-up defines Hoffice as “a network for everyone with flexible workspace needs, with the aim of creating temporary and amazing working session [sic] in each other’s homes.” Simple –eh? Why didn’t people think of this before? How it works Hoffice brings together telecommuters […]
Now, a device to keep chatty coworkers at bay
Fact 1 – In a survey conducted by Ask.com on American workers, ‘noisy colleagues’ cut to the top of workplace distractions list leaving phone calls and social media behind. Fact 2 – Another survey by University of California concluded that it takes about 25 minutes for an average worker to refocus on work after she […]
End hand cramps: Robots can write your ‘handwritten’ notes
As hiring managers, gift-givers and nostalgia-appreciators of all sorts know, there’s no small gesture quite as touching as a handwritten note. But as anyone who has ever interviewed for multiple jobs, gotten married, or received a ton of fan mail knows from experience, writing countless cards by hand is an especially laborious labor of love. […]
Fantasy football turns colleagues into comrades
Ever glimpse a colleague furtively checking out their fantasy football stats at work? Don’t scoff — unifying coworkers over fantasy football is actually good for morale, as Business Journals reports. In fact, one recent study by Quantum Workplace shows that employees who participated in fantasy football with their coworkers were more engaged while on the job […]
Are good coworker relationships more important than pay?
As much as we love to complain about our cubemates, most workers are actually quite happy with their coworkers, according to a recent poll from employment site Monster.com. What are workers’ real gripes? Low salaries. The survey, run in conjunction with the WageIndicator Foundation, discovered that almost eight out of 10 workers “find great satisfaction […]