Office News

It can be difficult to get audience participation during a meeting. How many meetings have you been to where the chairperson asks a question only to be met by deafening silence? – Cue the tumbleweed. There are lots of reasons for this, from fear of saying the wrong thing, to genuine shyness to people just not listening. Getting people to contribute is important, you need fresh ideas, opinions or just to make sure your audience understands what the key issues are.

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In these trying economic times, asking for a raise might seem like career kamikaze, however if you do your research and plan effectively you can find the best way to ask for one.

Ask your boss for a review meeting, this way you’re in control of setting the agenda. Research the employment market, find out what salaries are being offered for your level of expertise. You need to have the facts and figures to show you know what you’re worth.

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If you want to ‘sell’ your ideas to your own or another company, there are a few ways to conduct a professional and productive presentation without all the stress and mess. Planning is very important, if you arrive unprepared and try to wing it, you won’t impress anybody. You need to have all the facts and figures written down, be ready for questions and try to keep within your time limit.

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Making a good impression –

Just like starting high school, your first day at a new job can be a bit scary. Will they like me, will I fit in, can I do it? Well, you’re a grown up now, and you got the job, so you can do the job! Remember it’s not a popularity contest, you’re not being judged on whether you’re a cheerleader or a jock, it’s about being professional and doing your job to the best of your ability. Be polite, professional and introduce yourself to your new co-workers, try not to leave anyone out, from the mail boy to the CEO.

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There is a lot to think about when choosing office furniture and making mistakes can end up costing you both time and money. A well thought out plan, and very importantly budget, needs to be created.

One of the main things to think about is space, take measurements of the floor space, windows and doors. You don’t want to purchase a desk only to find it won’t fit through the door. Read More »

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the minimum working standards for employees in most private and public employment, from the minimum pay, overtime laws, vacation, sick pay, age restrictions and safety in the workplace. Here are some examples of federal employee rights.

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Office dress codes vary from employer to employer, and since, in your professional life, a book really is judged by its cover, it’s very important to dress appropriately. Sticking to what is considered professional and acceptable at your workplace is crucial. If you are just starting your new job it’s always better to dress smartly until you can observe what other co-workers are wearing.

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It’s almost impossible to get along with absolutely everybody you work with. There will always be someone who rubs you the wrong way, who is loud, argumentative or just plain irritating. What you need to remember is that you’re professional, and you can’t let personal problems with other people in the office get in the way of your work. How you deal with your co-workers reflects on you professionally, if your boss has to continually be sorting out -school yard- problems it won’t look good.

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Love em or hate em, face to face meetings are still a necessary evil even in this digital/cyber/online world. People still need to get together and discuss issues, make decisions or just to get their point across. It’s important not to waste company time with unnecessary, long and boring meetings, which sometimes just seem like an excuse for the key speaker to yak on and listen to the sound of their own voice. Yes, their Mom may have told them they are fabulous, but we don’t all need to hear everything they have to say.

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