Job Vent

I’ve worked a number of jobs in a variety of offices over the last couple decades and it never ceases to amaze me just how offensive co-workers can be, regardless of the company’s caliber. I’m not referring to blurted-out remarks that reveal way too much about an individual’s values or his experiences in a bathroom stall (not that such a brand of offensiveness doesn’t exist – that’s another blog post altogether). The offenses of which I speak pertain to attacks on our five senses – the sorts of attacks that evade the senses of HR reps during digital interviews. For those of you who work in rather compact office quarters, you know what I mean. We all tend to take our five senses for granted until a neighboring office worker unexpectedly intrudes upon one or more of them, typically with something they’re wearing, listening to or eating in an effort to appease their own senses. I trust that coworkers do not rile our senses … [Read more...] about Top 5 Offenses of the Senses at Work

Most office workers vent on the job. After all, there is certainly no shortage of things to get upset about. From backstabbing coworkers to incompetent bosses, stinky lunches to the way people invade your personal space, everyone finds something to get annoyed about. Some people will let out an audible sigh for the world to hear, others will take their aggression out on their office supplies (poor inanimate objects!). However you choose to job vent, I'm willing to bet that there's a healthier way. At a previous job where I had a private office, I would do 20 pushups every time I found myself frustrated, miffed, or plain ol' pissed off. Let's just say I got myself into pretty decent shape. This post is about taking the negative energy that's associated with work frustration and harnessing it into something positive. Here are the tactics that I use. I'd love to hear how you cope with "workstration" in the comments section below. WALK THE LINE. The power of getting up from … [Read more...] about Frustrated at Work? Here's How to Job Vent

Okay, I admit it.Back in the day, when I was a worker bee in the corporate arena, one of my favorite days, (other than pay day) was casual dress day.Probably because most of my work experience was in very “professional” type environments, these days were as rare as steak. In fact, if I can recall correctly, the only time we got them was if we had filing and purging projects around the office, or weekend work, or were being rewarded for reaching a departmental goal. Casual attire usually accompanied a more lax, laid back attitude, and less formality in terms of interaction. We felt less inhibited, freer to express our personalities through our attire, and just down-right groovy.Who wouldn’t love it? Now, don’t get me wrong; I dig dressing up in sexy stilettos and nylons, and wearing tailored suits, (that show off my curvaceous legs), but every now in then, jeans can bring real joy too.Not to mention, casual days have also been said to improve overall office … [Read more...] about A Serious Talk About Workplace Casual Days

How DO These Folks Stay Employed?Is there a co-worker in the cube next to you who repeatedly messes up, yet somehow is able to keep their job? Of course there is. A couple recent customer-service experiences reminded me that in the workplace, it’s often the lowest-common-denominator characters that flourish. Don’t get me wrong; I firmly believe that most customer-service reps do a great job under ridiculously stressful conditions. I only use the following examples to illustrate.The first occurred when the “Large Benevolent Bank That Holds My Mortgage” sent two letters (dated 2 weeks prior) telling me that there had been a gap in my homeowner coverage. Out of the kindness of their hearts, they covered that (non-existent, by the way) gap and for that I owed them $210.00. Fortunately, my insurance agent was able to solve that one for me.The second incident happened to a friend who was moving. She reserved a 14-foot YouHawl truck. A follow-up call led her to … [Read more...] about Workplace Incompetence

I never pay attention to advertisments, EVER.  But when I recently heard a radio ad that asked if I suffered from "Shift Work Disorder," it grabbed my attention.The voice asked: "Sleepy during work?" "Trouble sleeping when you should?"It had to be a joke, right?So I made the leap.  I got home and punched the URL into my browser, expecting it to be a viral campaign for one of those SimplyHotMonsterBuilder job boards or some caffeinated energy drink.  Who else would set up a group called The Wake-Up Squad?Lo and behold, SWD is a real disorder, at least according to Cephalon, a drug company hawking its FDA-approved prescription medicine NUVIGIL.  Designed to "improve your wakefulness throughout the day," the meds come along with the usual myriad of scary warnings; possible hallucinations, psychosis, mania, thoughts of suicide, aggression, and even trouble sleeping! Apparently when you work odd hours, and change the times you sleep, you throw off your circadian rhythm, … [Read more...] about Tired at Work? The Wake-Up Squad Wants to Drug You

Several years ago a coworker of mine showed up to a high-profile meeting with nothing but a netbook.  As we all doodled in our pads like 20th century relics, this high-tech specimen tapped away, even offering to connect to the Internet when the 'conference room laptop' failed.At the time, he was the odd man out.These days, about 30% of our staff shows up to meetings armed with technology in lieu of paper, and quite honestly, it makes me uncomfortable.It might be the skeptic within; a little voice that tells me these machines are being used as the perfect prop to look like a participant while secretly slacking off.  Or maybe it's the simple fact that I prefer taking physical notes with real paper and pens.  I realize I'm not doing the environment any service here, but it's what I like!Perhaps playing solitaire on a computer and doodling on a pad are really the same thing, though I tend to think the former takes up more brain power.When I speak at meetings, I expect people … [Read more...] about Computers at Meetings Make Me Uncomfortable

An envelope stamped CONFIDENTIAL arrived in my home mailbox today from my company's Human Resources Department.  Inside is a "Personal Earnings & Benefits Statement," a pamphlet that lists my annual salary, 401k contributions and the cost (to them) for all of my benefits.While a convenient "stat card," I'm not sure what the purpose of this mailing is.  Oh wait.  I think I DO know.  It's propaganda.The final page includes my "total compensation," a figure that adds items like my 12 vacation days and 10 paid holidays to my salary.  The number is displayed in bold at a larger font size than everything else.The point they are trying to make is you think you make X but you're really making Y.  You should be grateful.  Look how generous we are.And I AM thankful to be gainfully employed, making an honest living.  However I'm not a child.  I don't need to be reminded that my "compensation does not mean salary alone."Is this a foreshadow of … [Read more...] about Company Says You Should Thank Us, Employees Barf

Why does no one want to admit that the only reason they work is so they can buy stuff?  Even if you enjoy what you do for a living, you are doing it because you have to.  Whether it's the roof over your head, the hot meal in your tummy, or health benefits for your family - we work because we have to- we need the money.And your boss, you know, the one who lectures you on a regular basis and takes himself too seriously?   He too, is only there for one reason - a paycheck.But we all dance the dance, pretending that other factors are keeping us at work.  We are living in a society that fools us into thinking we must "like" what we do or that it should "satisfy" us.  Those are bonuses, not requirements.  If you are lucky enough to touch them throughout your work travels, hold on for dear life.  But the rest of us will continue to work as a means to an end.Personally, I don't think being honest about your work motives should cast you in a negative … [Read more...] about We ALL Work for the Money. Period.

“The key to every man is his thought."  - Ralph Waldo EmersonTruth be told, many office workers merely want credit for their concepts and hard work, but the reality is, pats on the back are on the verge of extinction.Throughout my career, I've heard work colleagues gripe and vent on just about anything.  From the smelly office fridge to the woman in HR who doesn't wash her hands after using the restroom.  The grievances vary from job to job but there are some consistencies.  None more obvious than workers' desire to be acknowledged for their work ideas.Workers simply want to hear, "It was your idea.  Thank you."Not getting credit for concepts and solutions is unfair, but it's also a fact of office life.  With most people hiding behind the "forgetful" defense, claiming ownership is a difficult and awkward case to present.  That's why you need to let it go.  Here's why.YOU GET PAID.  It might not be in your official job description, but … [Read more...] about So Many Ideas, So Little Credit