Work Environment

For workers struggling to stay awake in the afternoon, some companies are providing a better alternative than coffee and energy drinks. According to this article, an increasing number of employers are offering spaces to take a nap. In a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 34% of respondents said their employers allow them to nap at work, and 16% said their employers also have designated napping areas.

• How to Cope with Job Loss [Career Realism]
• Create Space in a Cluttered Home Office [Lifehack]
• Why You Sometimes Need to Ban Email [Inc.com]
• Are You Really Ready for That Promotion? [US News]
• Why Women in Business Should Shake Hands [Forbes]

Does the sex of your supervisor matter? For some workers, the answer is “yes.” A recent survey conducted by Salary.com on gender perceptions in the workplace found that 36 percent of women would pick a man as a boss if given the choice. Only 11 percent of women said they’d rather work for another woman. On the flipside, 31 percent of men would prefer a male boss and 9 percent would choose a female.

• Crimes of the Cubicle: 15 Desk Don’ts [Salary.com]
• Be Productive by Doing More and Working Less [Lifehack]
• Cultivating Your Soft Skills Can Help You Get Ahead [WSJ.com]
• Ways to Be More Productive at Work [RetailMeNot]
• How to Hate Your Job Less [US News]

• Your Employer is Probably Watching You [CNBC]
• Three Ways to Get Unstuck in Your Career [WSJ]
• What to Do When You’re Getting Nothing Done [CBS News]
• 7 Things That Can Help You Work Better [Lifehack]
• Six Signs You Should Quit Your Job [US News]

While administrative assistants have been a vital part of office life for decades, most modern-day pros perform duties quite different from their historical counterparts. As this article notes, tighter budgets and pared-down staffs are forcing employers to redistribute responsibilities. Many admins find themselves assuming some managerial duties. Others become the office’s go-to person for tech issues.

• Key Career Lessons from The Apprentice [LinkedIn]
• Job Search Fears to Conquer This Summer [Glass Door]
• The Most Unfair Cities to be a Working Woman [Forbes]
• Surprising Health Dangers in the Office [Healthy Living]
• How to Accept and Decline Job Offers [Lifehacker]

In a shaky economy, workers are encouraged to become “indispensable.” But what does this word mean? While the exact actions needed to be too critical to let go vary by company and the extent of the layoffs, here are some behaviors that can be helpful:

• How to Look Good in a Video Interview [Rivs.com]
• Is Your Self-Confidence Affecting Your Job Performance? [Lifehack]
• Tips for Dealing with Workplace Harassment [Career Realism]
• Work More Efficiently by Identifying Your Unique Working Style [Lifehacker]
• Do All Job Seekers Need a Personal Website?
  

Hesitant to get clarification or admit you don’t understand something? Instead of worrying that asking questions will make you look incompetent, realize that most managers see speaking up as a sign that you care about your work and want to be sure you’re doing the job right. Unfortunately, baggage around this issue keeps many people silent.