Work Environment

There are so many rules regarding behavior at the workplace that sometimes it’s difficult to know just how to act. We’re told to be ourselves, but also told not to say or do anything that would upset a coworker. And let’s face it, there is always a coworker in your office who is more than happy to become upset by something: a comment about religion or remark about the Yankees or simply rolling your eyes at the mention of the presidential election. Some of your colleagues just can’t wait to be offended.

You might say we’re living in the age of the start-up. Lots of out-of-work professionals types are deciding to go the entrepreneur route and starting their own businesses. And if you are frustrated with the corporate environment, you might be tempted to go work for a start-up.

At the office we’re surrounded by corporate policy that dictates everything about the corporate environment from the ways the bathrooms are decorated (or not decorated) and the color of the kitchen refrigerator to the number of plants in the lobby to even what you and your coworkers can wear. It’s overbearing and can make us feel almost inhuman.

We’ve been told about the importance of paying our dues. You start at the bottom and work your way up. That is just how life works. It’s how your grandfather did it. It’s how your father did it. And now it’s your turn to do it. For many young men and women just entering the workforce, this means acquiring an internship—a place to get your foot in the door, perhaps fetch some coffee and hopefully learn about the industry you’ve discovered is your calling in life.

Office professionals know that part of being a professional entails being able to handle their coworkers quirks, annoying habits and idiosyncrasies. Harold Cummings in account cracks his knuckles. Anita Swanson in human resources clicks her dentures (gross!). Tim Swanson cuts his toenails in his cubicle (really gross!). Nevertheless, you are a professional, and somehow you manage to overlook these distractions that swirl around you all day and accomplish your work.

• States with the Best and Worst Minimum Wage [MainStreet.com]
• Why the Open Floor Plan Flops at Work [Jobacle]
• Signs of a Dysfunctional Company [CBS News]
• • Effective Communication
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You know the old warning about how the grass is not always greener on the other side? That’s something people often forget when they’re unhappy (or just plain bored) at their jobs. They will often jump into the first opportunity they are offered—but sometimes realize their new gig is even worse than what they left.

If you’re like many office professionals, you spend your days working 9 to 5 in a cubicle. And, if you’re like many office professionals, you don’t necessarily think that’s the best working environment or situation. And many experts would agree with you.

The problem with a prolonged struggling economy is that it gets old. People grow weary of listening to others bemoan the unemployment situation, gripe about their long hours and anemic pay and lament their dwindling professional opportunities. Though these sentiments may indeed be true and warranted, they just become tiresome after you’ve heard them for the 100^th time.

If you’ve been looking for a job, you know how much you are hoping to get that call with an offer. These days, any good job opportunity is hard to resist—even if it requires you to move out of town. More and more people are taking (or at least considering) positions away from home.

And while the new job may be great, there are a whole host of additional issues that go along with it—finding a new house, relocating yourself (and possibly your family), and getting accustomed to your new environment.