Workplace Culture

Ever notice how, after spending a few minutes checking your updates and news feed on Facebook, you feel depressed—or at least a little like your life isn't quite as exciting as you'd like? You aren't alone. Seems a lot of people experience the same thing. 

For something that's supposed to be all about social networking, Facebook can actually make you feel pretty anti-social. On a bad day, it can really make you feel like other people are deliberately trying to get on your nerves.

Are young workers today lazier than their more "seasoned" co-workers? That depends on whom you ask. There does seem to be a common complaint among some older workers that young people aren't as ambitious or hard-working as previous generations.

And as this article discusses, a recent survey found that many workers believed younger employers weren't as motivated as other workers.

We’ve addressed many of the complications that arise during the holiday season and at holiday office parties. Sometimes all of the hoopla surrounding the holiday season just doesn’t seem worth it. There is stress, time management and productivity concerns and then that awkward feeling of having to dance in front of your boss.

The holiday season means exchanging gifts with friends and co-workers. And while it's great to show someone how much you appreciate them—and bringing a smile to their face can really brighten your own day—sometimes it can be a stressful trying to find a gift they will love. To try and help you cross a few things off your shopping list, we will be featuring some ideas for items that would make great gifts for friends or co-workers.

• What Really Matters in a Resume [Glass Door]
• How to Save an Unproductive Day Quickly [WSJ.com]
• Score a Promotion at Your Office Holiday Party [Forbes.com]
• Brand Yourself for the Job Hunt [USNews.com]
• Make-Up Tips for a Job Interview [Jobacle]

It’s been a tough few years for everyone. From the unemployed, marginally-employed, underemployed and unhappily employed, office professionals everywhere are worried about one thing and one thing only: money. Most of us have less money than ever, even though we need more of it than ever to feed our families, educate our children and put gas in our cars. So when we consider the value of our jobs, we tend to frame them in terms of money. But this can be a superficial and misleading way to shape one’s career and financial situation.

It's holiday season—and if you work in an office, that can mean many fun things, like office parties and decorating your workspace in festive trimmings. If you're lucky, it also means some time paid off and maybe even a holiday bonus.

But there's one workplace holiday tradition that can cause a lot of stress: gift exchanges. Holiday gift-giving at work can be loaded with pitfalls and questions: you need to figure out how much to spend, what types of gifts are appropriate and for whom you're supposed to buy gifts.

• Get Career Benefits by Making Good Impressions at Holiday Parties [Glass Door]
• Why You Should Think Twice Before Dating a Co-Worker [USNews.com]
• What Not to Do at the Office Potluck [Jobacle]
• How Self-Promotion Can Harm Your Career [Forbes.com]
• What to Do When You Hate Your Job [MSN.com]

People like to be invited to things: weddings, baby showers, and yes even holiday parties. The problem with the holiday season, however, is that all of those parties are shoved into a few short weeks, and before we know it those parties are no longer fun events, but obligations that wear on our mental state like a long shopping list on a short credit limit. Somewhere along the way, the holidays stopped being fun for many office professionals, particularly when the holidays interfere with our already overloaded work schedules and pressing social lives.

A new year often means a trying to get a fresh start with some aspect of your life. Based on a recent survey, it seems many workers are hoping the New Year gives them a fresh start at a new job.

The study showed that 84 percent of workers are planning to look for a new job in 2012. That might sound surprising, considering that, with unemployment so high, it might seem that these workers should be lucky they have a job at all, as opposed to seeking greener pastures.