Productivity

Good communication is one of the keys to a peaceful, well-rounded workplace.

Knowing how to communicate effectively with your employees can mean the difference between an office filled with stressful conflict and one that promotes cooperation and mutual respect.

Of course, a certain degree of conflict is to be expected in an environment that mingles people with … Continue Reading »

Are your employees working too hard?

A recent UK survey of 2,600 adults found that one in four people work all day without taking a break.

More than half of those surveyed said they force themselves to come in to work even when they’re sick.

Most cited a heavy workload as the main reason, as well as … Continue Reading »

As summer heats up, more and more of your staff may be giving their vacation time a workout.

For those stuck inside the office, blue skies and sunny weather might have them doing more daydreaming than actual work. It’s tempting to give in to the siren song of this lazy, laid-back season.

And it seems that many … Continue Reading »

Ask anyone who suffers with allergies, and they’ll tell you that it can certainly make life difficult.

Maybe you have to avoid shellfish at all costs, or you live in fear of bees. Perhaps dust and pollen are your downfall, or pet dander keeps you from visiting friends with dogs and cats.

No matter what … Continue Reading »

Imagine your workplace buzzing along at optimal capacity, employees alert, focused, happy, and productive.

No, it’s not the Stepford staff. It could just be the result of your turning them onto so-called brain foods. These “smart foods” are believed to enhance cognitive function in a number of ways: improving memory, sharpening focus, lengthening attention span, and … Continue Reading »

Hard work never hurt anyone, right?

Not so fast. Recent research gathered from a long-term British study shows that working overtime may be bad for the heart.

Following more than 10,000 civil servants in London, the study found that those who worked three or more hours longer than a normal seven-hour workday were at … Continue Reading »

New research offers surprising good news about caffeine: It may help shiftworkers stay alert and do a better job.

Caffeine, a stimulant, is often vilified for its tendency to interfere with sleep, cause jitteriness, raise heart rate, and intensify anxiety in some people.

However, according to WebMD, recent research on the effects of caffeine … Continue Reading »

Whether or not your workplace feels like a pressure cooker, you can bet that some of your employees consider it one.

Stress is a normal part of life to some degree, but when it is excessive, chronic, or both, it can wreak havoc on the sufferer’s mental and physical health and negatively affect your business. … Continue Reading »

Work hard, play hard, eat right, exercise daily, sleep well, repeat.

Such is the go-go-go mentality of today’s fast-paced society, and it often comes with some unwelcome side effects. For people striving to balance a full-time job, a family, social obligations, and time to take care of themselves, stress is likely part of the package. … Continue Reading »

Two for one sounds like a good deal, right? Not if you’re talking about sleeplessness and depression.

The two conditions tend to go hand in hand, and, like the chicken or the egg, it can be hard to tell which one came first.

Are those long, frustrating wakeful hours to blame for your listlessness and unshakable … Continue Reading »