It’s the 3 o’clock lull, a universal experience in the stereotypical office environment. You can see it in the “yawn wave,” as cubicle after cubicle emits a restless sigh or groan. Tired, distracted employees move in their chairs aimlessly. Paper shuffling declines, while keyboard tapping grows faint, and an occasional snore is heard coming from […]
Employees
How to Stay Focused at Work During Tough Times
Staying focused at work during times of trouble at home can be extremely difficult. A divorce, death in the family, or other traumatic event can turn your entire world upside down. So how are you supposed to care about work (much less stay focused at the office) when your entire life feels like it’s been […]
Do Tuition Reimbursement Programs Benefit the Employer?
Tuition reimbursement programs – agreements in which you (the employer) agrees to finance all or part of an employee’s post-secondary education – are one type of benefit that many employers choose to provide to their staff. But it can sometimes be difficult to decide whether or not a tuition reimbursement program is right for your […]
Should You Work More Than 40 Hours a Week?
Maximize efficiency and productivity at work by limiting yourself to reasonable hours. How long is your work week? Fifty hours? Sixty? Seventy? If you consistently work more than 40 hours a week (or are the manager of employees that do), it’s probably time for you to make a change. Overwhelming evidence suggests that work weeks […]
Holding Employees Accountable for Performance
Employee performance in the workplace is a subject that can be evaluated from a multitude of different standpoints, one of which is the importance of setting employee performance standards. Establishing standards for measuring employees’ performance allows you as the business manager to evaluate employees’ achievements and effectiveness and make the adjustments necessary to encourage an […]
Tips for Managers on Giving Feedback to Employees
Giving employee feedback is considered by many managers to be one of the most difficult parts of their job, and many managers struggle with nearly every aspect of employee feedback, including when to give it, what types of activities warrant inclusion, how to deliver their message, and other specifics of the task. Because of this, […]
How Office Lighting Affects Productivity
There are certain factors that everyone knows affect workplace productivity, but there is one important factor often overlooked by most employers across the globe: lighting. Sure, it’s common knowledge that reading in the dark can harm your eyes, but lighting has effects well beyond that, and an employer’s choice of lighting can have a significant […]
Developing a Policy for Employee Texting at Work
Years ago, employers’ biggest concern about communication during work hours involved employees using the business’s phone line to make expensive long distance phone calls on company time and with company money. However, the days of paying for long distance phone service have mostly gone the way of dial up internet connections and Facebook as solely […]
How Does Workplace Attire Affect Productivity?
Across America, company dress codes for employees are as diverse as the employees themselves. From being so strict that hemlines are measured, to telling employees, “You can wear anything, as long as you wear something,” companies certainly seem to be in disagreement over how workplace attire affects productivity. Some contend that allowing casual attire implies […]
5 Ways to Create a Motivating Work Environment
What is most likely to motivate your employees on a day to day basis? Is it the paycheck at the end of the week? Or, is it the possible profit sharing or bonuses? Is it the occasional rewards or company picnics? While all of these factors may motivate an employee to perform exceptionally well over […]