National Edition - November 5, 2006
 |
|
|
|
Tech firms top U.S. list of best commuter workplaces
There is such a thing as living too close to work, like in a downtown, condo high-rise next to a corporate office tower or, maybe worse, in a subdivision monster-home next to an industrial park. However, geopolitics, the quest to balance work, family-life and some environmental considerations, makes companies with employee-friendly commuter policies a popular bunch. It seems that high-tech companies, reputed for such workplace innovation as business-casual and flextime, are once again among the leaders in this latest employee perk.
(Source: Reuters)
One fifth of Brits bullied at work
Playground and classroom personalities from grade school reappear grown up and slightly altered in the workplace. It seems that white-collar office workers still have to watch out for the dreaded lunchroom bully. However, this time around, it's not lunch-money that's at stake. Rather, critics worry about employee morale and productivity. In Britain, there's even the added threat of bumping into the workplace soccer hooligan.
(Source: The Register)
The truth behind women 'opting out'
The economic recession in the United States, since around 2001, has not discriminated between the sexes. Both employment rates of men and women have declined, leading some to question the "opt-out" myth reported in glossy magazines. Upon further examination, the idea that women can merely opt out of the job market for family reasons is a notion probably reserved for the privileged elite. In truth, lack of opportunities and inflexible working arrangements have actually "pushed-out" the rest of women who require their added income to make the household work.
(Source: Christian Science Monitor)
Sex at work? Be very careful
The ever-changing role in a flight attendant's job-description has been a bellwether for sexual attitudes in the workplace. This columnist harks back to the heady days of colleagues freely dating and philandering in the newsroom. Whereas now, not so much. Companies are tightening their tolerance for this type of behavior, in part, so company money isn't misspent on fancy bottles of wine and such.
(Source: Toronto Sun)
The boss puts the iPod to work
It may seem crazy, but the most tangible fallout from this iPod trend is more people in the streets talking to themselves out loud in foreign languages. The iPod, a pervasive statement of turning-off, tuning out and dropping out, seems slightly less cool now that it's been co-opted by employers for something practical like language instruction.
(Source: Computer World)
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Do your co-workers stress you out? A recent poll of 1,000 employees indicates that most individuals are stressed out by those around them at work. This confirms existentialist Jean Paul Sartre's notion that "Hell is other people."
| • |
Altogether, 55 per cent of workers say their stress levels are high and they feel out of control or fatigued by work. |
| • |
People issues were the biggest cause of workplace stress. |
| • |
Annoying workers regularly dump on, compete with or otherwise add strain to colleagues. |
| • |
For about 25 per cent of those surveyed, the stress caused by others was worse than what they faced by workload or work/life balance issues. |
(Source: Washington Post)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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#
|
|
