National Edition - February 24, 2008  Workplace Challenges Workplace can be like playground Gossip and innuendos are workplace intangibles, but they can have very concrete ill-effects, like high turnover in an organization, power struggles between cliques, low morale among employees and, in extreme cases, character assassination. Although it may seem overly ambitious and even futile for well-intentioned managers to try to eradicate workplace gossip and malfeasance entirely, there are several short-term strategies to address this insidious problem. (Source: Sudbury Star) How to deal with a psychopath at work Unless you're surviving off of a deceased relative's trust fund, it would seem that "work" is part and parcel with "food" and "shelter." Knowing how to identify and steer clear of a psychopath, someone with an antisocial personality disorder, is an important workplace strategy and indeed a matter of survival. The tricky part is that these snake-like individuals often disguise themselves by oozing charm and charisma. Keeping a personal record of their antics is perhaps the only defense against their back-room dealings and secretive manipulation. (Source: Financial Post) Health/Wellness The toxic workplace The combination of gossip at work and psychopath colleagues makes for quite a toxic workplace. Lusty and ruthless bottom-line thinking about the next quarter's earnings, rather than a more people-centric approach means that the toxic elements of the workplace are spreading quickly across North America. One way to take control of the situation is to become a consultant in your field rather than working for a single employer. It may mean taking a hit in pay while you get started, but the peace of mind may be worth more than all the tea in China. (Source: Macleans) Take the work-health quiz With nearly half of employees surveyed negatively effected by workplace stress, perhaps it's the end of the doing-more-with-less era. Yet at the moment, only five percent of companies are doing anything to alleviate the situation. In fact, it's up to individuals to bring their ills to the attention of their employer, devise their own solutions and demonstrate their flexibility when working on a suitable compromise. (Source: Jobboom, Career Zone) 'Sleepworking' phenomenon In an ideal job, after a full workday, employees can leave their work behind at quitting time and occupy their minds with other matters. But what happens when work invades an individual's dreams while sleeping? Psychologists familiar with the recently documented phenomenon of "Sleepworking" say that it isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, if it happens too frequently, it's a symptom of being obsessive about one's job. (Source: Jobboom, Career Zone) How often do you dream about work? To answer, click here. Do you... have plans for lunch? Some employees choose to skip the lunch hour altogether, while others sit down for healthy meals at their companies' green cafeterias.  - Major employers are overhauling cafeteria fare in a new effort to introduce healthier foods and programs that slash environmental waste.  - Companies hope that low-fat or low-calorie menu items will lead to savings in health care costs.  - And employers are increasingly going green - adopting such policies as turning cafeteria waste into compost in an effort to minimize environmental impact.  - In an extreme case, San Diego State University takes the oil used in cooking and recycles it to produce bio-fuel for the campus vehicles. (Source: USA Today) February 26 Anthony Robbins, The Power Within Halifax, NS February 26 - 27 2008 Crystal Ball Conference Montreal, QC March 4 - 8 CDC 2008 Vancouver, BC March 5 7th Annual Aboriginal Job Fair Winnipeg, MB March 6 Toronto Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer Job Fair Toronto, ON March 14 Communicating with Confidence Calgary, AB March 15 International Designers Workstation Competition Worldwide March 17 11th Annual Etobicoke Chamber Business Excellence Awards Etobicoke, ON March 27 Bilingual Job Fair 2008 Toronto, ON March 27 NetWORK Now Montreal, QC NOTICE: Jobboom and its sponsors do not necessarily endorse the opinions conveyed in the articles selected for this e-zine and do not assume any legal liability in consequence thereof. Comments: info@jobboom.com Research and editing: Austin Macdonald #noDossier#