SavvySugar

Where Do Workers Receive the Most Vacation Days?

SavvySugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:30:41 -0700

Ah, vacation. There never seems to be enough time away from it all, but that's not necessarily the case for workers everywhere. In some places there's no pining for days off because they are plentiful. Wondering where they're most generous with days off? Take the quiz!

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Want to Work Less? Try Sharing Your Job

SavvySugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:27 -0700

We all know that it’s important to maintain a happy work-life balance, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. Over the past decade, more and more employees, most of them women, have turned to job sharing to strike that balance. Job sharing allows you to essentially split a job (and its title, responsibilities, and salary) with another person, meaning you both work part-time.

Aside from the obvious benefits for the job-sharing employee, a job share can actually work out pretty well for employers, too. It often results in happier, more productive employees who are extremely thorough in their work. It also means better job coverage, since one job-sharing partner simply fills in while the other is sick or on vacation.

Even if your company doesn’t currently offer any shared positions, it might be open to doing so. One friend worked herself into a job share by writing up a detailed proposal for her boss and getting a partner on board with her plan ahead of time; another friend did the same with her teaching job in order to spend more time with her young kids. Is job sharing something you’d ever consider?

Are You Guilty of Sharing TMI at Work?

SavvySugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:00 -0700

It's easy to get comfortable at work - logging long hours with your co-workers during company retreats and office happy hours can blur the lines between business hours and social hour. But when it comes to sharing personal anecdotes, too much can affect the way you're perceived at the office.

In some cases, sharing stories can bring you closer to your co-workers in a good way. Talking sports or local news around the watercooler makes you more social, and can even get you noticed with peers and superiors. But recounting the personal details of your bad dating history or your tendency to drink too much, could earn you a reputation as a co-worker to avoid. Even worse, oversharing at the office can make you a likely candidate for dismissal. In the midst of tough economic times, a company looking to cut back, may trim the fat by eliminating the person they think spends too much time discussing personal problems - and consequently, threatens company productivity.

Obviously office culture plays a big part in the kind of chatter deemed appropriate, but while I'm sure there's a co-worker you might call out for sharing too much with you - tell me, have you ever been guilty of sharing too much at the office?

I'm Asking: What Do You Do Right After Work?

SavvySugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:45:44 -0700

While our workdays all look similar - coffee run, emails, to-do items, lunch, meetings, calls, and planning - we all wind down in different ways. What is the first thing you do when you call it quits for the day?

15 Tips For a Better Work-Life Balance

SavvySugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:50 -0700

Staying on top of your A-game and maintaining a healthy work-life balance can feel like an oxymoron. Most of us experience an uneven pull between our social lives and work commitments, which isn't surprising considering the current economy and fact that employees everywhere are working overtime to show they're an indispensable part of the team. Nevertheless, it's important to establish a healthy harmony between your job and personal life. This doesn't just mean working overtime to please your boss and boyfriend, it means creating a balance of time spent working, playing, and pleasing yourself.

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I'm Asking: Do You Go Out on Weeknights?

SavvySugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:45:49 -0700

Planning a girls' night during the week with my closest pals is always a challenge. One is a go-getter whose assistant does all her scheduling so putting anything on her calendar involves at least six emails - and she never leaves the office before dark anyway. One is committed to picking up her stepchildren from after school care everyday at five and one has to take the ferry to the suburbs. Our family commitments and work seem to keep the four of us sequestered in our "school night" schedules so we rarely go out during the week (whether together or apart) unless it's to grab a quick bite to eat.

Are you able to finish up work early and sneak out with your lovers or friends on weeknights, or do you lay low during the week and reserve your revelry for the weekends when you have more free time?

Complete This Sentence: If I Had the Time I Would . . .

SavvySugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:30:13 -0700

When we spend most of our time working, talking about work, and thinking about what needs to get done tomorrow, it's easy for some of our interests to fall through the cracks. I've put learning a new language on the back burner for a while, but if I had the extra time, I'd spend it taking language classes. What would you do if you had the time?

The Best Places For US Women to Have a Career and Kids

SavvySugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:30:10 -0700

Some places are more welcoming to women with a juggle than others. According to ForbesWoman, New York is the best place for women who have a career and kids based on an assessment of earnings, unemployment rates, cost of living, crime, access to health and day care, per pupil spending and number of parks.

In the first annual list of the Best Cities for Working Mothers, Austin ranks as number two behind NYC. ForbesWoman points out that while the two cities offer something different for working moms, both cities offer good schools, lots of park space, and plentiful childcare options.

New York, NY
Austin, TX
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

See the rest of the list when you read more.

Milwaukee, WI
Portland, OR
Cincinnati, OH
San Jose, CA
Pittsburgh, PA
Seattle-Tacoma, WA
Denver, CO

Do You Stress More Before or After a Vacation?

SavvySugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:15:47 -0700

A vacation itself can be bliss, but the days or weeks surrounding it can be a nightmare. Between making arrangements, packing, and trying to get ahead at work before you leave, you may want to call off your vacation before it even starts. On the other hand, unpacking, dragging yourself back into work Monday morning, and catching up on what you missed when you return can be pretty anxiety-inducing as well.

Source: Flickr User Sara. Nel

How-To: Unwind After a Rough Workday

SavvySugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:30:30 -0700

Shaking off a rough day at work isn't always easy. Let go of the workday blues when you leave the office by taking time for yourself. There are plenty of ways to detach from the day's events and none of these ideas involve retail therapy - no need to make things worse by spending money you may not have. Check out these ways to unwind and then take a load off, working girl. Photo copyright 2009 ABC, Inc.

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