SavvySugar

Get a Glimpse of Other Workers' Cubicles

SavvySugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:33:25 -0700

We spend so much of our weeks at work that our offices can seem like a second home. And our cubicles and desks can develop a sense of style (or clutter) of their own. You see your co-workers' desks all the time, but here's an opportunity to glimpse into strangers cubes. When you're finished clicking through, pick up your camera and snap a pic of your own workspace - then join my Capture Your Cube group and share with the rest of us! Source: Flickr User Jeffrey Beall

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Your Two Cents: Which Bad Office Behavior Is Worse?

SavvySugar — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:30:27 -0700

How Would You Rate Morale at Your Workplace?

SavvySugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:30:57 -0700

It's tough for employees to keep their chins up and maintain rah rah attitudes when their colleagues are receiving pink slips and their companies keep making budget cuts. Sustained economic related stress at work has pushed job satisfaction increasingly lower, and according to a new survey from Workforce Institute at Kronos, morale is suffering at a large percentage of companies that have gone through layoffs. How would you rate morale at your workplace?

Your Two Cents: Which Bad Office Behavior Is Worse?

SavvySugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:30:15 -0700

Get Office and School Supplies For Pennies

SavvySugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:30:48 -0700

Pennies aren't just for picking up anymore. This back to school season single pennies can buy brand new supplies at stores like Staples and Office Max. They're offering weekly penny deals, for example, this week each store is offering folders for $0.01 a piece.

Retailers are hoping penny sales will draw customers in and they'll purchase other items while swooping up sale stock. Paula Rosenblum from Retail Systems Research explained, "Retailers are trying to stimulate demand. This is about getting people into the store. If you end up buying ink refill for your printer, the retailer has made back the money."

Your Two Cents: Which Bad Office Behavior Is Worse?

SavvySugar — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:30:41 -0700

Hiring Managers Share the 20 Strangest Employee Complaints

SavvySugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:30:22 -0700

Complaining about your co-workers to your office's or department's hiring manager is only acceptable when the issue is actually intrusive and hinders your ability to be an effective employee. Some workers have interesting ideas of what managers care to spend their time deliberating, and CareerBuilder gave these office referees a chance to vent by asking them about the strangest employee complaints they'd received.

I'm convinced that some employees are just bored, and some are really meant to work by themselves at home. Check out the top 20 complaints below; which do you think are the strangest?

Employee is too suntanned.
Employee has big hair.
Employee eats all the good cookies.
Employee is so polite, it’s infuriating.
Employee suspected co-worker is a pimp.
Employee is trying to poison me.
Employee’s body is magnetic and keeps de-activating my magnetic access card.
Employee is personally responsible for a federally mandated tax increase.
Employee was annoyed the company didn’t provide a place for naps during break time.
Employee only wears slippers or socks at work.

See 10 more complaints when you read more.

Employee’s aura is wrong.
Employee smells like road ramps.
Employee breathes too loudly.
Employee wants to check a co-worker for ticks.
8:00 a.m. is too early to get up for work.
Employee wore pajamas to work.
Employee has bells on her shoes, and it’s not the holidays.
Co-worker reminded the employee too much of Bambi.
Employee spends too much time caring for stray cats around the building.
A male employee keeps using the ladies’ room because the men’s room is not as tidy.

Ask Savvy: How Do I Tell My Co-Worker Her Lunch Stinks?

SavvySugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:34:38 -0700

Dear Savvy,
I work in a small office with four other people. I am lucky in many ways - they are smart, funny, and friendly. We coexist well, and three of us usually grab lunch together or send one person out for takeout. Our fourth co-worker is a nice woman, but she is the quiet loner of the group who doesn't partake in our lunch missions. In fact, she brings in strange, saucy food everyday, heats it up in the kitchen right near our workspace, and eats it at her desk. It stinks. And I'm not talking about a faint scent of food that passes in 10 minutes. I'm talking about really, really smelly grub. My most outspoken co-worker has asked her to open the window on occasion, but she seems totally oblivious that the rest of us are suffering. How can I tell her that her lunch makes us sick without offending her?
Thanks,
Sensitive to Scents Sally

Savvy says: Smelly lunches at the office are no laughing matter and a very common problem. PartySugar has tackled this phenomenon before and says bringing stinky food is a major breach of office etiquette. I agree with her. Most SavvySugar readers admit they judge their co-workers by their lunch smells or have been bothered by a co-worker's food before. You don't want to resent this woman because of her lunch. To see what I think you should say, read more.

If you worked at a larger office, I would suggest talking to HR and having them do the dirty work for you by sending out a blanket email about shared space, eating in the kitchen, and making sure to open windows midday for proper ventilation. Given your office size, it sounds like you will need to take matters into your own hands. Start by mentioning "it smells like food" a few times and asking if you can open the window. If you do this throughout the week she'll catch on and be more conscious about her lunch. If she doesn't change her habits immediately, talk to her and be completely honest. Tell her you appreciate that she wants to eat in the office so she can push through work, but you have a queasy stomach and any fancy food scents upset you. Ask her if she wants to eat outside on a park bench with you (the breeze will blow it away). Focus on your sensitive nose and stomach and not her strange food and she won't be offended.

It's likely that she will alter the food she brings in or become more conscious about her lunch once she realizes it is bothering you, but if things don't improve you may just have to make it work. After all, she may think your food is disgusting too. You can always use the half hour it takes for the smell to dissipate to grab your lunch or take a walk around the block. Like it or not, you will be sharing space with your co-workers so long as you work together, so you just have to bear the scents.

Your Two Cents: Which Bad Office Behavior Is Worse?

SavvySugar — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:30:24 -0700

I'm Asking: Is Wearing Makeup at Work a Must?

SavvySugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:30:29 -0700

Some things are non-negotiable when you leave the house in the morning, and according to 51 percent of glamour.com readers, wearing makeup to work is one of those a.m. must-dos. It was a tight split between those who said going to work without makeup is a do and those who declared it's a don't. What do you say - is wearing makeup at work a must?

Photo courtesy of Showtime