Tag: remzem
How to boost productivity when working from home
Ah, the perks of work-from-home days: comfier clothes, plenty of snacks, a nonexistent commute. But there are productivity perils to working from home, too. Learn how to combat them with our guide to boosting your productivity from the comfort of your own home office. As companies increasingly offer flexible work schedules, employees are learning how […]
Antibacterial soaps strengthen the bacteria you’re trying to kill
Antibacterial soaps are everywhere. Loaded with floral fragrances and topped with foam-producing pumps, these colorful liquid soaps promise instant hygiene. The obsession with a germ-free lifestyle is such, that antibacterial products have raided our entire home — from the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom. And while most of us think that’s a good thing, […]
Finding it hard to quit smoking? Blame proximity
Living near a tobacco retailer could make it harder to quit smoking, suggests a University of Houston study. Associate professor of health Lorraine Reitzel used smartphones and GPS to track how tobacco sellers’ accessibility affects smokers, and found that proximity to tobacco retailers was a key factor in the ease of quitting. Professor Reitzel had […]
Bollywood celeb advocates hand washing at the United Nations General Assembly
Sanitation meets stardom. The 68th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) witnessed Bollywood celeb, Kajol Devgn campaigning for hand washing to reduce child mortality. Kajol advocated the cause at the Social Good Summit held at the UN Week in New York from September 23 to 25. Speaking at the Social Good Summit, along with other notable […]
Are these grocery store dress code policy signs justified?
A few weeks ago, we asked the question, “Do store owners really have the right to refuse service to just anyone?” The answer, of course, was no, but in examining some of the issues that surround this query, we mentioned the case of an Orthodox Jewish group in Brooklyn, fighting to keep immodestly dressed patrons […]
Guests must ask for clean towels at this green hotel
It’s long been traveler-code: a towel left on the hotel bathroom floor is a cue for housekeeping services to deliver clean replacements. Travelers are well aware of those hotel bathroom signs that notify guests that any towels left on the bathroom floor will be replaced. (Towels that guests leave hanging up are left for their […]
The Office Courtesy Series: Hostile behavior hurts office productivity
Growing up, many of us were taught to “treat others the way you want to be treated,” probably by a parent or teacher. Perhaps you haven’t been reminded of that lesson lately, but many companies would benefit from their employees following the golden rule. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, uncivil behavior at […]
New research says only 5 percent of people wash hands correctly
Would you have believed that the percentage of people who wash their hands the right way is in the single digits? In a new study by Michigan State University, researchers found that only 5 percent of people who used a bathroom washed their hands long enough to stamp out infection-causing bacteria. This means that 95 […]
Trends in American work productivity
It’s five past nine a.m. and you’re sitting down to work. Then your coworkers stop by your cubicle to share weekend stories or ask for your help fixing the coffee machine. After chatting with them, checking in with your boss, and answering a slew of emails and IMs, it’s time for an hour and a […]
Sayonara, Siri: the debate on banning smartphones in meetings
It’s meeting time and you’re up at bat to deliver an important project. You’ve spent hours devising presentation material and you’re excited to share all of your hard work with your colleagues. As you’re immersed in your presentation, you notice your colleague thumbing through his smartphone. You’re shocked by his discourtesy, until you recall that […]