Author: Beth Taylor

Beth Taylor has a background in theater arts, education and psychology. She started writing the Undercover Waitress blog in 2011 to help educate and empower non-union women in the labor force. She originally joined the PayScale blogging team in 2013. Since earning her master's degree in clinical psychology in 2015, she works full-time as a clinician performing psychological evaluations and offering therapy services. She continues to write about psychology and behavior at work.

bullying

bullying

How to Deal With Workplace Bullies, According to Science

We all pay a cost for unchecked bullying in the workplace. Research shows that bullying at work can harm an employee’s well-being and job performance. Rudeness can feel like a threat and rob us of our cognitive and personal resources that would otherwise be put into doing our jobs. However, the costs...

impulsivity

impulsivity

Science Says: Embrace Your Impulsivity for Success at Work

We hear a lot today about controlling and treating impulsivity not just in students but also in adults in the workforce. But while there are obvious benefits to being able to control your behavior in a professional setting, being impulsive can also contribute to your success — if you do it at...

job interview psychology

job interview psychology

Job Interview Psychology: 5 Tips to Get Hired

Most job seekers have to get through the interview process in order to land a job. But interviews themselves are a source of anxiety and confusion for many. Many job candidates go into interviews with misconceptions. “Sometimes interviewees have extreme views of the job interview,” explained organizational psychologist Nicolas Roulin at Psychology Today....

project managers

project managers

5 Things Project Managers Do That Will Help You Succeed at Work

Project managers have to be “renaissance people.” They develop timelines and schedules, manage budgets and coordinate the efforts of multiple people and teams to get the job done. While the job description for project managers includes a long list of responsibilities, at the very core, project management is about the all-important management...

social anxiety at work

social anxiety at work

SCIENCE! Here’s How to Beat Social Anxiety at Work

At the National Institute of Mental Health, experts explain that people with social anxiety “have a marked fear of social or performance situations in which they expect to feel embarrassed, judged, rejected, or fearful of offending others.” As you can imagine, that’s bad news for sufferers when they’re on the job. Social...

Vacation

Vacation

You Can Be More Productive at Work by Taking a Vacation?

Science says that if you want to be productive at work, you need to you take a vacation once in a while. The title of this article sounds counter-intuitive; if you’re not at work, how can you be productive at work? Science, however, teaches us that if you want to be productive...

Happy Worker

Happy Worker

3 Pillars of Mental Health in the Workplace

Workplace cultures that afford employees solid work-life boundaries, equity in the workplace, recognition for their efforts, and reward for a job well done engender good mental health among employees and managers alike. The Mental Health Commission of Canada defines “mental health” as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his...

Argument

Argument

How to Solve Problems at Work Like a Psychologist

What do you do when you have a problem at work? Take a page from a professional’s playbook, and follow these steps, which are endorsed by psychologists. Problem solving refers to the mental process that people go through to discover or recognize, analyze, and solve problems. This includes understanding the problem, deciding...

perfectionism

perfectionism

3 Ways to Turn Perfectionism Into Healthy Striving

People who strive for perfectionism in the workplace are sometimes plagued by procrastination, due to a fear that they will produce an imperfect product. This can lead to potentially debilitating anxiety. Healthy striving, on the other hand, is a more realistic attempt to achieve high standards. Remember these three rules about healthy...

new year's resolutions

new year's resolutions

Broken Your New Year’s Resolutions Already? Here’s How to Get Back on Track

People make New Year’s resolutions with the best of intentions, but many give up before the end of January. How many, exactly? Well, that depends on which research you consult. One study from 2002 showed that 46 percent of people keep resolutions for at least six months, and 8 percent for the...

psychopath

psychopath

Is Your Boss a Psychopath? Look for These 3 Red Flags

Is your boss a psychopath? Well, probably not, as some researchers estimate that only one percent of the general population qualify for the label. However, not all psychopaths are the serial killers portrayed in the movies. And, depending upon your chosen profession, your boss is more or less likely to share character...

stress

stress

Is Your Job the Real Reason Behind Your Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, according to statistics from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. These disorders can certainly affect sufferers’ careers, making it hard to cope with workplace stress. But not every anxious person is suffering from a disorder. Some are just dealing...

phone anxiety

phone anxiety

Phone Anxiety Is a Real Thing. Here’s How to Beat It.

If you feel anxious before using the phone, you are not alone. Phone anxiety is real. It’s similar in some ways to social anxiety, but sufferers of phone anxiety may be confident and comfortable in all other social situations. The thought of having to converse over the phone, however, takes their breath...

negotiating techniques

negotiating techniques

Why You Should Bring Donuts to a Salary Negotiation (and 3 Other Negotiating Techniques That Work)

A big part of a successful salary negotiation is rapport building. Some rapport-building techniques may seem manipulative … because they are. They also work. People are more likely to negotiate in a less aggressive fashion and give you a better deal when you encourage them, in subtle ways, to like you. Try...

confidence

confidence

3 Ways to Fake Confidence (and Why It Will Help You at Work)

Building self-confidence and self-esteem are life-long, daily activities that will benefit you and improve your life. Simple things like getting enough sleep and wearing comfortable clothing that you like can make a world of difference in how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with the world around us. However, we...

stress

stress

How to Not Stress About Work When You’re Not at Work

So many modern productivity tools promised to help us finish work faster and increase our free time. But it seems that the opposite happened, and employees are now expected to work the same hours but produce more — or take their work home with them to finish up later. Email, computers and...

office kitchen

office kitchen

5 Clues That Your Office Is a Psychologically Unhealthy Workplace

Do you hate your job? Your toxic work environment might be to blame. A psychologically unhealthy workplace increases stress, anxiety, and depression in employees. In a 2012 report for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, reported by Psychology Today, Martin Shain argued that even people without mental illness could experience issues as...

social anxiety

social anxiety

5 Tips to Keep Social Anxiety From Derailing Your Career

For the 15 million people in the U.S. who suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, the fear of embarrassment in social situations can be paralyzing. Afraid of being judged or seen in a negative light by others, sufferers sometimes drop out of school and have difficulty working. However, milder forms of social anxiety...

work stress

work stress

Don’t Let Anxiety Derail Your Career

Stress is a part of life, and anxiety is a normal, healthy reaction to stress. For example, let’s say that you are driving down the road, and out of nowhere something or someone runs out in front of you. Your adrenaline spikes. You catch your breath, and slam on the brakes to...

Want a STEM Job? Write Your Resume Like a Man

Women continue to chip away at the glass ceiling, slowly but surely, but gender bias can hold them back in lucrative fields like STEM. Some analyses of men’s and women’s resumes offer clues for women to help themselves break into that science-based dream job. Consider writing your resume “like a man.” (Photo...

Who Are the Shrinking Middle Class?

The PEW Charitable Trusts defines middle class households as “those making between 67 percent and 200 percent of the state’s median income.” There is a lot riding on that definition, however. If the state’s median income is low and the cost of living is high, many families who fit the definition of...

Good News for College Grads: More Real Jobs

Wondering about whether to go back to school to finish (or start) your bachelor’s degree? You might not have to worry quite as much about whether you’ll have a job after graduation, at least compared to grads from the past few years. The latest research shows that full-time, permanent jobs for college...

3 Ways to Stay Productive and Happy While Working From Home

The opportunity to work from home can be a dream come true: no time spent commuting, no sitting in traffic, and the flexibility to work wherever and maybe even whenever you want. However, some people find it difficult to maintain a high level of productivity while working at home, and others find...

Does Teamwork Make Us More Effective as Individuals?

Prefer to work alone? The modern workplace is probably pretty hard on you. Most companies emphasize teamwork these days, as requiring employees to work together is believed to encourage collaboration and increase efficiency and creativity. The good news is that you don’t have to a natural team player to see some benefits...

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in the Workplace

What makes a person successful? A variety of factors help, including a good academic record, solid work experience, and networking connections who are willing to help open doors. But when it comes to really making your mark in your chosen field, you’ll need more than that. Emotional intelligence can make all the...

NYU Student Starts Petition to Combat Rising Tuition

Nia Mirza is a future college student who should be happy, proud, and excited to be accepted into New York University’s (NYU) freshman class in the fall. Instead, she is reeling from the most recent tuition hike that will cost Mirza and her family $71,000 for just her first year. In exasperation,...

Rich Kids Graduate From College, Poor Kids Don’t

Getting a college education increases a person’s income earning potential. In 2013, Americans whose households made over $108,650 in 2012 were more than eight times more likely to have graduated from a bachelor’s-degree program than Americans whose households made less than $34,160. Go back to 1970, and the higher-income group was five...

How to Handle Your Intra-Office Crush

That new person in the office is cute, has a great sense of humor and is just all-around somebody you’d like to get to know better. And that may be the key about crushes — we can develop crushes on people we don’t know very well, and true romantic relationships require a...

Why You Should Socialize With Your Colleagues

Sometimes, workplace social events feel like a chore. Management may not want to “waste” time sponsoring fun during the workday, and not all employees are thrilled about spending their free time on the weekend at the company picnic. However, that social time among staff can boost productivity and increase morale and quality...

Relax! Alleviate Your Anxiety Before a Job Interview

You polished your resume and got a job interview. You researched the company. You practiced answering questions about your experiences in front of a mirror. You really want this job, and you do possess the qualifications necessary to do it. But you still can’t shake that feeling of nervousness or get rid...

Why Psychologists Like the Term ‘Mansplaining,’ and You Should, Too

If you’ve spent any time at all in the blogosphere lately, you’ve probably heard the term “mansplaining.” Even if portmanteaus make you cringe, this one is worth dealing with. Psychologists and sociologists believe that by embracing incendiary language we can, over time, successfully combat pervasive, sexist attitudes in the workplace and everywhere...

Too Much Work Is Making Us Sick

A recent report found that increasing workloads for employees puts their health at risk in a variety of ways. While the report examined workers in Germany, the results are relevant to workers in both Europe and North America, because we are seeing the same trends in so many of the world’s developed...

How the Hazards of ‘Clopening’ Affect You

“Clopening” is the newest trend in the service industry. In order to shave costs by relying on fewer employees, many employers are scheduling the same person to close up a restaurant at midnight, only to return in seven hours to open. Clopening exists in more industries than just hospitality: retail, security, construction,...

Warning to Job Seekers: The Commuter You Just Flipped Off Might Be the Hiring Manager

It’s every job seeker’s worst nightmare. A man is running late on the way to a job interview, nervous, and he bumps into some guy boarding a crowded commuter train. He blows up, uses an incredibly rude expletive, and spends the rest of the time on the commute trying to calm down....

Teeny-Tiny Is the New Trend in Office Space

It seems that if you want some room to stretch while you work, you may be better off in a prison cell than a modern workspace. Mother Jones reports that, soon enough, supermax prisoners will have more leg room that office workers. (Photo Credit: linus_art/Flickr) Shrinking Personal Space In the year 2010, the...

5 Things Recruiters Won’t Tell You (But Should)

It’s a tough job market out there, and trying to get noticed and remembered may seem a daunting task. Recruiters and job interviewers seldom give feedback to those who don’t make the grade. Here’s what you need to know. (Photo Credit: Gustavo Minas/Flickr) 1. Pushy Behavior Is Annoying After an interview, a...

3 Things You Can Negotiate Besides Money

Deserve more money? The first step is negotiating a higher salary, either after receiving a new job offer or during the annual review. However, sometimes employers can’t pay more. This does not mean that they can’t afford to help by offering a better benefits package. Benefits packages are more than healthcare and...

Who Is Late to Work and Why?

In a recent self-reported survey, 19 percent of Americans admitted to being late for work at least once per week, if not more often — that is almost one in five working people. Forty-eight percent, or just under half, claimed to never be late for work. The question is, who are the...

Why Women Don’t Negotiate Salary, and What to Do About It

We’ve all heard about the gender wage gap, and experts love to wax eloquent on the reasons why women make less money. Some say that women tend to choose occupations that pay less, others blame women for taking time out to raise children. There is plenty of evidence pointing to another reason,...

What Your Colleague With Autism Wants You to Know

People with autism have a different way of communicating than typicals, but their ideas and contributions are just as valuable. Learn how to network with people on the spectrum for an inclusive and productive work environment. (Photo Credit: jurvetson/Flickr) “One in 68 people in the U.S. has ASD, or autism spectrum...

Deflate Your Bullying Boss With Passive-Aggression

Bullying: it’s not just for schoolyards anymore. Bullying is simply the act of humiliating and causing harm, sometimes physical, to other people. Unfortunately, bullying behavior is highly durable because bullies often get what they want. In other words, bullying works for the bully. Passive-aggressive behavior may deflate your bully’s bubble. (Photo Credit: kevin...

Deflate Your Bullying Boss With Passive-Aggression

Bullying: it's not just for schoolyards anymore. Bullying is simply the act of humiliating and causing harm, sometimes physical, to other people. Unfortunately, bullying behavior is highly durable because bullies often get what they want. In other words, bullying works for the bully. Passive-aggressive behavior may deflate your bully's bubble.

Neuroscience Tells Us How to Be Productive

The science of the brain has much to tell us about how to be productive and how to lead others. Optimize your behavior at work, and increase your productivity, your team’s productivity, and your memory skills. (Photo Credit: TZA/Flickr) Create Positive Feedback Loops The stories we hear and tell about each other...

Reading on a Computer Screen Before Bed Is Killing Your Productivity

Technology has changed the way we work — you already knew that. Executives and business owners used to be the only people who took work home; now lots of people either take work home or work from home exclusively. The problem is not working in the evening from the comfort of your...

Your Job Is Encouraging Absenteeism (But Here’s How to Fix It)

Absenteeism is obviously a problem for businesses; productivity suffers when people don’t come to work and temporary fill-ins can be expensive. But having co-workers call in sick too often also has a detrimental effect on those of you who are left behind to shoulder the burden. Spot the warning signs that your...

State Legislators Attempt to Shut Down Paid Sick Leave for Pennsylvania Workers

In December of 2014, a task force in Philadelphia that was formed to study the issue of the benefits and pitfalls of paid sick leave came to its conclusion: Paid sick leave is necessary. Now, two Pennsylvania state senators are announcing their intent to propose legislation to preemptively prohibit mandatory paid sick...

Man Gets Fired for Not Coming to Work for 24 Years

Do you ever feel like nobody at work is paying attention to what you do, to the extent that you could stop showing up for work, and maybe no one would notice? A. K. Verma, a civil servant in India, did not show up for work for 24 years. Then, he got...

The Rise of the ‘Uni-Moon’ and the Decline of Work-Life Balance

When married couples cannot even take their honeymoon together because they are unable to coordinate time off from work, something needs to change. This rather disturbing new trend is called a “uni-moon,” and it is not helpful to work-life balance. (Photo Credit: CWA Union/Flickr) Melissa and Bill Powers were unable to sync...

It’s Not Just About STEM: The Case for a Well-Rounded Education

With the high cost of post-secondary education, you could be forgiven for wondering whether it’s worth it to take classes unrelated to job training. Specifically, many students feel pressure to concentrate on STEM degrees, which yield the highest dollar-for-dollar return on investment. While the desire to be employable is good, foregoing a...

Positive Self-Talk Is Self-Defeating

Who wouldn’t want to believe that wishing hard enough makes good things happen? Unfortunately, the reality is quite different, no matter how hard self-help authors might try to convince us otherwise. Instead of visualizing what you want, you must plan ahead and do the hard work required to meet your goals. As...

Choice Blindness: You Really Don’t Know What You Are Doing

When we make decisions at work, we are often asked to explain or defend our choices before and even after they have been put into effect. Studies show that people often are not aware of their choices after they have made them, and this “choice blindness” may have serious effects upon their...

Use These 3 Communication Techniques to Get Ahead

You need to communicate in order to get what you want, whether it’s a raise, a promotion, or inclusion on a team or project. Psychology offers proven communication and persuasion techniques that can increase your chances of achieving your career goals. Here’s how. (Photo Credit: stockmonkeys/Flickr) 1. Reciprocity The Rule of Reciprocity...

5 Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Your resume gets your foot in the door — or it gets thrown in the trash. The good news is that careful crafting of an effective resume is easier than you think. Remember these three things: relevant, recent, and honest. At the same time, avoid the five biggest resume mistakes listed beneath...

8 Rules for Office Kitchen Etiquette

The room in the workplace that is rife with the most conflict and emotional turmoil is not the boardroom, or your boss’s office, or that conference room that’s most often used for annual reviews. It is the office kitchen. (Photo Credit: ultramegakungfu/Flickr) Every office has a sandwich thief, and about 30 victims who...

How to Fight Bias in the Workplace From the Inside

Leadership roles no longer automatically go to white men — at least, not overtly. While many companies have made strides in opening up management positions to women and people of color, we have a long way to go before the corporate ladder allows everyone to ascend based solely on merit. Recent research...

Smiling May Cost You the Job

Just when you thought you had job interview body language down — look squarely in the hiring manager’s eyes, give a firm handshake, and smile, smile, smile! — the latest research indicates that showing your pearly whites might actually work against you. (Photo Credit: zen/Flickr) A recent study by Northeastern University shows...

How to Make Useful Decisions About Everyday Work Problems

We all have to make tough decisions sometimes. Depending upon your role and level in your organization, you may be faced with difficult choices regarding hiring and firing other people, or setting budgets, or crafting policies that affect everyone’s experience at work. Often enough, somebody affected by your decisions won’t like them....

Put 2 Narcissists Together to Boost Group Creativity

It may seem counterintuitive to build teams that include multiple people with narcissistic personality traits; these folks tend to want to be the center of attention and in charge. However, if you want to spur creative thinking and problem-solving in the workplace, this is exactly what you should do. (Photo Credit: Paolo...

Get the Most Out of Overqualified Workers

Many managers fear that overqualified workers will be unproductive, due to boredom or a sense that the job is beneath them. There is also concern that they might find something better and quit. For these reasons, we often don’t even consider hiring employees who look like they’d be better suited to a...

Independent Contractors: Are You Secretly an Employee?

There are rules governing whether employers may classify workers as employees or independent contractors. Sometimes people are hired (or contracted) as one type of worker, when their work fits the definition of the other. Here is how you can tell if your legal status matches the work you do. (Photo Credit: 4nitsirk/Flickr) The...

The Pros and Cons of Unions Today

The labor movement has given the American worker benefits that today are often taken for granted, such as overtime laws, child labor laws, and minimum wages. The right to bargain collectively gives employees the power to demand reasonable treatment without the threat of being replaced by somebody less noisy. However, unions are...

How to Get the Job When You Are Overqualified

Sometimes, the job interview process feels like damned if you do, damned if you don’t. You make a point of educating yourself, developing skills, and applying for jobs that in your area of expertise. Then you hear it: “you’re overqualified.” Understand why employers think this is a bad thing, and be ready...

Choose Your Company Culture Wisely

Corporate culture affects employee behavior. This goes far beyond working hard to get something turned in because your boss wants it yesterday. People’s ethical and personal decisions are based in part upon the values of the organization that employs them. Therefore, consider the culture of a company before you accept a job....

When It Comes to Paid Maternity Leave, the US Is Not a Developed Nation

The arguments over whether companies can afford to offer paid maternity leave go on, but the evidence that what is good for working families is also good for business continues to stack up. In addition to the experience of businesses who do offer paid leave, we must consider that the U.S. is...

How to Rebound From Setbacks at Work

Life is not linear, and as we work toward goals, we seldom move forward in a straight line. Sometimes, we end up making a choice or taking a path we did not expect, and sometimes, we make mistakes. Here’s how to learn from those mistakes and rebound at work. (Photo Credit: Omar_Gurnah/Flickr) Don’t...

Ask These 3 Questions About Company Culture Before You Take the Job

During an interview, your potential future employer is checking out your education and skills to see if you are fit for the job. He is also thinking about how well you may fit in with the company culture. You, too, should learn about company culture before you accept. You can’t work where...

Is a Career in Sales Right for You?

Our personalities to some extent determine which jobs we might enjoy and excel in. People who are good at sales can do quite well for themselves, but it is not a career for everybody. Some of the necessary traits include the ability to learn from mistakes, a thick skin, and a dose...

boss hates you

boss hates you

3 Warning Signs That Your Boss Hates You

Feel like the boss doesn't like you? It might not be paranoia. It's possible that the boss really doesn't care for you. Worse, he might even want you to quit. If that is the case, staying in your current position may not be the best way to advance your career. Sometimes, however,...

Learn How to Manage Your Anger, and Get Ahead at Work

We all experience anger, which is a normal and healthy response to perceived problems. If we never felt anger, something would be terribly wrong with our psyches. However, employees may find themselves in a situation where they can’t win: if they express anger, they may be reprimanded or worse, and if they...

3 Worst Traits of Bad Bosses, and How to Protect Yourself

The boss is in charge, and when he points the finger at you, you could get burned. We all make mistakes, so admit your own — but don’t get pushed into accepting the blame for the mistakes of others. Learn to spot bad bosses and protect yourself from their dysfunctional behavior. (Photo...

Even Red States Recognize That the Minimum Wage Is Too Low

America’s federal minimum wage is $7.25 — not enough to pay rent in many states. The debate over whether to raise the minimum rages on, but voters in some states — and not just blue ones — are taking matters into their own hands. (Photo Credit: Fibonacci Blue/Flickr) Labor Secretary Thomas Perez made...

How to Answer, ‘Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?’ When You Left on Bad Terms

Sometimes, the reason you left your last job is because it was terrible. Your boss or company really was evil, or your co-workers were impossible, or the situation was otherwise untenable. Whether you were fired or force to quit, you will someday have to explain why you left your job — probably...

3 Ways to Spot a Work-From-Home Scam

Who wouldn’t want to work from home, possibly in their pajamas, rather than deal with the stress of a commute and the inflexibility of a normal corporate schedule? Unfortunately, scammers know this, and create opportunities that are anything but. If you’re interested in telecommuting full-time, but aren’t lucky enough to have an...

Avoid These 3 Body Language Mistakes and Get the Job

There is no guarantee that your body language alone will get you a job — you have to have the right educational background and skill set, too. However, when you are competing for a position with other candidates who look as good as you on paper, subtle interactions during your interview can...

Know Your Rights as a Pregnant Employee

The laws protecting pregnant women at work are getting stronger, but some workers are still being discriminated against. Know your rights so you can stand up for yourself before you are taken advantage of or subjected to illegal treatment. (Photo Credit: Mike Klein/Flickr) The recent case of Angelica Valencia shows that when...

Best and Worst States for Women’s Equality

Many things go into measuring women’s equality at work, including the all-important gender pay gap, and the percentage of women filling executive positions in different companies and geographic areas. The following data will show you how your state ranks in issues regarding women’s equality in the workplace. (Photo Credit: pfarrell95/Flickr) The United States...

The Simple Theory of Motivation That Helps Workers Succeed

Want to motivate your team to do their best work? One of the easiest ways to do it is with Hertzberg’s two-tiered theory of motivation, which focuses on motivator and hygiene factors to improve job satisfaction and commitment. (Photo Credit: JefferyTurner/Flickr) A basic tenet in human psychology is that we all...

Beyond Good Luck: A Sense of Control Increases Motivation, Productivity, and Achievement

As long as workers can attribute their wins to luck, they don’t have to feel bad about their losses. Of course, the downside to that is that they also don’t get to take credit for their success. If you want to motivate your team to take responsibility, learn from their mistakes, and...

Waitresses Are the Most Sexually Harassed Occupation

The restaurant industry has a unique business model. Rather than business owners budgeting to pay employees, restaurant owners depend upon customers “voluntarily” giving waitresses and waiters tips in return for “good service.” That pay structure can lead to a dangerously imbalanced power dynamic between customer and waiter. No wonder, then, that a...

Work Friendships Are Not Necessarily Real Friendships

Work friendships are good to have, but they are different from and do not take the place of real friendships. Recognize the difference between the two and enjoy the benefits of each, but avoid making the mistake of relying on work friends for real, personal companionship and confidence. (Photo Credit: djonesphoto/Flickr) Human beings...

Managers: Increase Productivity By Giving Your Reports What They Want

Looking for ways to motivate employees? Look no further; the tenets of Expectancy Theory will guide you to pay attention to what your workers want and reward them in ways they appreciate. Different workers may want different things, but all workers will become more productive when they know the reward will be...

The Power of Introverts and the Benefits and Pitfalls of Group Work

You’ve likely heard these adages before: “Many hands make light work.” “Two heads are better than one.” “The more, the merrier.” There is truth in all of these sayings, but there are other, paradoxical truths as well. Extroverts may look forward to group meetings and talking about their progress on the group’s...

Use This Psych Experiment to Motivate Your Team

Want to motivate your workers? Let them know they’re being watched. This is less creepy than it sounds on the surface: social psychologists have observed that people work harder when they know that their colleagues are paying attention. It’s less about being Big Brother, and more about being part of a community....

How to Motivate Your Team With Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

The science of psychology is full of theories about motivation and productivity that are relevant in the workforce today. You can use this knowledge to motivate your team, to increase their productivity, and to have a happy, energetic, and dedicated workforce. Incorporating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one great way to increase...

At Work, It’s Better to be a Father Than a Mother

While working mothers struggle with decreased pay and lack of status in a workplace that sees them as unreliable, working fathers enjoy improved status, pay, and benefits that help a growing family survive. (Photo Credit: Lars Plougmann/Flickr) Kudos to Alexandra Petri at the The Washington Post for calling out The Telegraph for its...

How to Deal When You Don’t Like Your Co-Workers

In a perfect world, we would want to be friends with all our co-workers. The world, however, is not perfect, and many employees are stuck negotiating relationships with colleagues they’d never choose to have in their lives, if it were up to them. Knowing how to assert your boundaries without alienating everybody...

You Don’t Have to Be an Entrepreneur

If you watch Shark Tank, the reality show in which would-be moguls pitch their ideas to celebrity businesspeople, you’ve probably heard Mark Cuban say the following to at least one business owner: “You are not an entrepreneur, you’re a wantrepreneur.” That might sound bad –“wantrepreneur” sounds a lot like “wannabe” — but...

Is Your Workplace Psychologically Healthy? These 5 Questions Help Clarify

Psychologically healthy workplaces don’t need to be perfect — just functional. You may enjoy a great supervisor but put up with toxic co-workers, or you may have a great place to work but a boring job. The following questions will help you clarify what works and what needs improvement in your work...

When to Quit a Job You Love

Last week, we talked about how to tell when your body is telling you you need to quit your job. Sometimes, however, you might feel great about your job — or at least, like it just fine — but still need to quit for various reasons. It’s not always obvious; learn to...

When Your Gut Says, ‘It’s Time to Quit’

Quitting a job isn’t something we do on a lark. Financial considerations, career concerns, and a dearth of available alternatives keep many people at their current place of work even when they might prefer to be elsewhere. However, paying attention to sometimes subtle signs that you are done here may help you...

A Brief History of Women’s Fight for Equal Pay

As long ago as 1776, Abigail Adams implored her husband to “remember the ladies” while drafting the Constitution. John Adams was not easily swayed, asserting that men “know better than to repeal our masculine systems.” Women have been fighting for the right to be treated as equals ever since, including the right...

How to be a Happy and Successful Entrepreneur

Starting your own company can be one of the most terrifying things you will ever do. The buck will always stop with you, and with that freedom comes incredible stress. The strain may cause havoc with your health. A vital part of being a successful entrepreneur is to have the right mindset....

How to Develop a Good Leadership Mindset

A huge part of being an effective leader is having the right mindset. Good leaders don’t think they are better than everybody else; rather, they recognize that each and every one of us has our own skills and weaknesses. A good leader wants to encourage workers to use their skills and to...

Protect Yourself From Bullies at Work

Bullies aren’t just a grade-school phenomenon; you’ll find bullies and bullying behavior in offices and workplaces, long after you’ve reached adulthood. If you are stuck working with a bully, there are ways to mitigate the damage and protect yourself. (Photo Credit: rycheme/Flickr) Laurie Meyers points out in the American Psychological Association (APA)...

What to Look for in an Internship (and 3 Red Flags)

One argument in the growing debate about whether interns should be paid is that too many companies benefit from the free labor of interns. This goes against the grain of what an internship experience was originally designed to be: an important part of the intern’s education. One way to address this is...

3 Signs That You’re Getting Fired

Sometimes, you can just feel the tension in the air. Something is wrong, you don’t know what, but it is making everybody uncomfortable. Then you get fired, and feel blindsided. Often, the signs that you were about to be let go were there all along. (Photo Credit: WalkingGeek/Flickr) “At-will” employees may be let...

5 Things That Make a Psychologically Healthy Workplace

If you have ever torn your hair out wondering if you are going crazy at work, it is just possible that you’re OK, and the workplace is to blame. The American Psychological Association recognizes that psychologically healthy workplaces are most likely to increase your motivation, your confidence, and your job performance. There...

How to Bring Positivity to the Workplace

Positive psychology is the study of types of behavior that seem to create a positive atmosphere. When you create a positive atmosphere at work, you feel better and are more productive. Here is how and why. (Photo Credit: JD Hancock/Flickr) The Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania defines positive psychology...

How to Survive an Overly Critical Boss

Lots of criticism and no compliments can knock the wind out of your sails. When criticism feels unfair, it is even more demoralizing. Knowing how to discuss your boss’s criticisms may be the difference between an angry blow-out and an improved working relationship. (Photo Credit: University of Salford/Flickr) Consider the Criticism The first...

Kindness Gets You Far in the Workplace

Ellen DeGeneres appeals to a simple truth when she says, “Always be kind to one another.” She doesn’t say “at home,” she doesn’t say, “just when you are at school,” and she doesn’t say “except when you are at work.” It turns out that science is in agreement with Ms. DeGeneres. (Photo...

How to Become a Leader at Work

Successful workplace leadership comes from strong and steady transformation of the group as a whole. View your job not as one cog in the wheel, but as part of a holistic department or company. This shift in perception might help you battle the single biggest thing standing between you and becoming a...

Are Unpaid Internships Slave Labor?

The rising tide of lawsuits filed by unpaid interns for violations of labor laws are evidence that some businesses consider interns to be exploitable, free labor. There are reasons that interns are traditionally unpaid, but it may be time for this to change. (Photo Credit: Travis Isaacs/Flickr) Definition of Unpaid Intern The...

Harness the Power of Color in Your Workspace

The colors we choose in our workspaces affect our productivity, creativity, energy, even our appetites and moods. Use this knowledge of color to create the perfect workspace, cubicle, or office for you. (Photo Credit: Hey Paul Studios/Flickr) Color is everywhere; from your company’s logo, the office walls, the decorations in your cubicle and...

Franchise Owners Upset About Seattle’s Minimum Wage Laws

Seattle’s new minimum wage of $15 per hour is more than twice the current federal minimum wage of $7.25. Some say businesses will suffer and employers will be unable to hire workers. Franchise owners in Seattle have an additional gripe: many are claiming that franchises are unfairly grouped under the umbrella of...

Where Wal-Mart Is Paying More Than Twice Minimum Wage

If you need a job making $15 to $20 per hour, would you apply at Wal-Mart? If you live in Williston, North Dakota, you just might. The very fact that a company known for underpaying its workers is offering such wages has started some interesting conversations about minimum wage. (Photo Credit: 401(K)...

Is a Jobless Future a Good Thing?

As technology advances and takes over menial jobs, will we lose jobs or create new ones? Some experts paint a rosy picture of the future in which society does not need as many jobs as we do today. (Photo Credit: Sky Noir/Flickr) From feudal times to Tudor England to France in the 1700s,...

The Rise of the Permanent Temporary Worker

For many job seekers, “temporary work” is a bit of an oxymoron. People looking for permanent positions end up taking whatever they can get, which is often a temporary job for an hourly wage, no benefits, and no job security. (Photo Credit: Boston Public Library/Flickr) A few decades ago, if you had a...

How to Manage Your Social Anxiety at Work

Social anxiety is more than just a disinclination to pack each weekend with parties. For sufferers, the average day at work can be a nightmare of stressful situations and reduced productivity. However, there are ways to manage and overcome this form of stress. (Photo Credit: bark/Flickr) Psychologist Dr. Lynn Bufka recently gave stress-reduction...

Should the US Abolish Tipping?

The tipping debate rages on. The restaurant industry in the United States relies upon customers tipping for good service in order to pay waiters and waitresses their wages. Servers try to give fast and friendly service in order to be rewarded with additional monies. But does it work? (Photo Credit: Manny Hernandez/Flickr) As...

How to Take a Great Selfie for Work

Think the art of taking the perfect selfie is frivolous? Think again. In today’s work world, we “meet” clients, co-workers, and even our bosses online before we meet them in person. Learning how to take a professional-looking and flattering photo of yourself is more important than ever before. The latest research in...

Video Games and TV Can Be Good for You (as Long as You Don’t Feel Guilty)

People need to have fun during their time off, in order to feel refreshed and go back to work with a clear mind. When guilt rears its ugly head, it destroys the benefits of indulging in our preferred leisure activities, and makes us less productive in the long run. (Photo Credit: JD Hancock/Flickr)...

How Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Choices Affect First Impressions at Work

Fairly or not, people make assumptions about others based upon mannerisms, clothing, and personal appearance. Research on first impressions gives us insight into how to control and direct the first impressions we make on others. (Photo Credit: BrandiBruce/Flickr) The trouble with first impressions is that they are, by definition, made with very little...

How to Successfully Collaborate With Co-workers

In theory, a team should be more than the sum of its parts, with the individual strengths of the teammates contributing positively to the bottom line. In reality, well, a collaboration is only useful if it works. Many factors affect success or failure, including too much time spent in meetings and leaning...

Want to Make a Good First Impression? Choose Your Clothing Carefully

Our choice of clothing causes others to make assumptions — sometimes correct, sometimes incorrect — about who we are. If you want to make the best first impression on a job interview or at work, let your clothing help, not hinder you. (Photo Credit: Queenie & the Dew/Flickr) It’s All About Your Shoes...

Want to Make a Good First Impression? Here’s What to Do

Going on a job interview or meeting with a new client, you want to put your best foot forward and make this person want to work with you. Understand how different behaviors affect first impressions, and use them to your advantage. (Photo Credit: Nicola Corboy/Flickr) The British Psychological Society (BPS) has amassed a plethora...

Workplace Fun Increases Productivity

There’s evidence that people who have fun at work are happier, healthier, motivated, and more productive than their stressed-out counterparts. Who’da thunk it? (Photo Credit: signalstation/Flickr) The Bradenton Herald uses examples from large companies such as Google, LinkedIn, and Zappos to make the argument that fun at work increases employee productivity. One of...

Do Abusive Bosses Cause Cheating Workers?

Whatever you do for a living, whether it’s crunch numbers or play ball, working under an abusive leader derails morale. There is some evidence that when it gets bad enough, workers cheat and even break the law. (Photo Credit: Public Domain Archive) While it would be morally irresponsible for an adult to...

Should Women Wear Red to Work?

Colors have subtle and often subconscious effects on our perceptions and behaviors. Red is sometimes associated with anger, and is a bold, bright color to which men and women often respond differently. Should you see red in your work clothing? (Photo Credit: LiteWriting aka Loreen72/Flickr) Color Psychology Color psychology has garnered much...

Higher Minimum Wage Correlates With Job Growth

One of the biggest arguments against raising the minimum wage has been a pay hike’s potential impact on job growth. Many business groups argue that employers won’t be able to hire more people if they can’t offer low wages. However, recent data from the Department of Labor shows that this might not...

When the Passive-Aggressive Co-worker Is You

Many of us are not comfortable with confrontation. That’s a problem in the workplace, where communication is key. Fail to deal with conflict honestly, and you might wind up sabotaging a project … or even your whole career. Here’s how to recognize these tendencies in yourself and deal with them. (Photo Credit: Okko...

Imposter Syndrome: When You Feel Like a Fake

Competent, capable people who have worked hard to get where they are sometimes suffer from “imposter syndrome.” This normal phenomena can have disastrous results if you don’t recognize it for what it is, and learn how to deal with it. Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back. (Photo Credit: Michael of Scott/Flickr) Nancy...

When Your Boss Won’t Stop Questioning Your Every Move

Some bosses can’t stop asking questions. “Why are you doing that? Will this really work? Are you sure? Why do you think so?” A barrage of this type of questioning makes many people feel that their bosses do not trust them. It’s like taking care of a curious toddler, but it’s not...

U.S. Schools Are Failing Students in the Global Economy

The good news is that the worldwide workforce is gaining in vital skill sets and abilities. The bad news is that United States workers are lagging behind the rest of the world. And the gap is growing, which is a dangerous trend for the U.S.A. (Photo Credit: www.audio-luci-store.it/Flickr) National Center for Education Statistics...

Sexy Social Media Photos Make You Look Incompetent

By now, you probably know that posting the wrong material on social media can have severe consequences for your career. But recent research indicates that posting revealing photos can backfire in one unexpected way: Your peers may see you as less competent. (Photo Credit: The Pie Shops Collection/Flickr) The internet has done...

Switching Companies May Earn You More Money

Loyalty to one employer is no longer the best strategy for most workers, at least in terms of earnings. People who “job hop” and switch companies end up earning higher salaries than those who stick around. (Photo Credit: CarbonNYC/Flickr) Forbes contributor Cameron Keng did some digging around and concluded that, in general, employees...

Obama Wants Paid Maternity Leave for Working Families

At the White House Summit on Working Families last month, President Barack Obama said that working families in this country should have paid maternity leave. (Photo Credit: jurvetson/Flickr) “Many women can’t even get a paid day off to give birth — now that’s a pretty low bar,” Obama said. “That, we should...

America Still Lags Behind the World in Maternity Leave

According to the World Policy Forum, the United States of America, Suriname, and Papua New Guinea have something in common: they are the only nations that do not require employers to provide paid maternity leave. (Photo Credit: World Policy Forum) In compiling their data, the World Policy Forum included paid parental leave,...

The Best and Worst States to Be a Working Mother

Some states offer new parents and families additional protections in the workplace, on top of federal protections. Many, however, do not. How does your state stack up? (Photo Credit: National Partnership for Women and Families) The National Partnership for Women and Families published a report, Expecting Better, comparing and contrasting state laws...

How You Can Create an Awesome Company Culture

Company culture often comes from the top and trickles down. However, employees also contribute to the feel of the work environment. If your company culture could use some improvement, here are a few ways you may help effect change. (Photo Credit: THX0477/Flickr) Inc recently published Suzanne Lucas’ advice to managers, How to...

BLS Jobs Report: 288,000 Jobs Added

Any way you look at it, June was a great month for job growth and employment in various industries. Economists are hopeful that this trend will continue. (Photo Credit: photologue_np/Flickr) The Bureau of Labor Statistics report, The Employment Situation — June, 2014, indicates the U.S. added 288,000 jobs last month and unemployment has...

Parents Value Education But Won’t Pay for College

More parents are requiring their children to either take out loans or pay for their college educations out of pocket. (Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com/Flickr) The Value of Education CNN reports that a resounding 96 percent of parents feel that a college degree is a valuable investment. Unfortunately, a growing percentage of them will not...

How to Be an Effective Leader: Praise vs. Feedback

Many of us have the opportunity to lead in our work lives. We may have an assistant who works with us, or be part of a team. Teams may have appointed leaders or operate collaboratively, but effective leadership and communication skills are always useful. Learn the difference between praise and feedback to...

3 Massive Companies That Are Incredibly Good To Their Employees

We may think of large companies as being less personal to work for. When corporate headquarters are in another state, or you never meet the people in charge of making policy, you may feel like just another gear in the machine. These three giant companies, however, have not forgotten how vital the...

Coffee Makes You Honest

It’s common knowledge that your morning cup of coffee, with that dose of caffeine, helps you wake up. Therefore, it is not a big stretch to think that coffee also helps us think through decisions, because we are more awake to do so. However, that cup of coffee does so much more...

Music Affects Worker Productivity

If we all cranked up our music at work, everyone’s productivity would suffer. But in small doses and at reasonable volumes, music can be extremely beneficial in the workplace. Different types of music have different influences on our behavior and productivity. (Photo Credit: feverblue/Flickr) Gregory Ciotti at Sparring Mind compiled interesting research...

These 3 Types of Jobs Won’t Make You Rich, But They Might Make You Happy

Money is only one of the many reasons we work. Some people find incredible satisfaction in their careers, even when the pay is average is or low. The following are some of the most meaningful jobs that will not make you a millionaire, but might prove that money doesn’t buy happiness. (Photo...

The Office Curmudgeon Is Better at His Job

We have so much advice to sift through, when it comes to achieving work-life balance. One expert says to get a hobby. Another advises us to stay positive, or to cultivate friendships. While the rest of us are focusing on these things, it seems the office grump is better at his job...

Another Benefit of a Shorter Work Day: A Better Commute

The Swedish city of Gothenberg recently rolled out a 6.5-hour work day to some of its municipal workers, in a year-long study aimed at boosting worker productivity and job satisfaction. Over at LinkedIn, Rick Johnson argues that a shorter work day would offer another perk to stressed-out workers: less time on the...

Obama May Sign Executive Order Protecting Gay People in the Workplace

Currently, there is no federal law protecting gays and lesbians against discrimination. Twenty-one states have enacted such protections, but in the remaining 29 states, employers may, for example, fire an employee for being gay. (Photo Credit: CarbonNYC/Flickr) Christi Parsons and Michael A. Memoli, reporting for the Los Angeles Times, have good news...

3 Tips to Successfully Work From Home

Occupational psychologist Professor Cary Cooper has a lot to say about the benefits of working from home. He cites some laws that may protect workers, and discusses the psychology behind why remote workers are not always trusted to use their time well. Here are a few snippets of advice to people who...

How to Deal With Negative People in the Workplace

Negative people obstruct productivity in the workplace in a handful of ways. Their pessimism serves as a buzzkill when, every time you suggest an idea or improvement, they say, “No, that will never work.” Complaining and gossiping at the office undermines morale, which also undermines productivity. If you can’t get away from...

4 Educational Psychology Techniques to Boost Memory and Work Performance

Educational psychology is the study of how people learn, but the field’s potential to help improve cognitive abilities isn’t limited to students. Workers can use these techniques to improve memory and do better in their jobs. (Photo Credit: philip.bitnar/Flickr) Take Care of Your Brain Recently, educational psychologist and educator Linda Sasser,...

How Sports Psychology Helps Workers

Sports psychologists — psychologists trained specifically to help athletes perform their best — have become in demand in recent years, according to the British Psychological Society. But even if you’re not an elite athlete, sports psychology can help you perform better at your job. (Photo Credit: terren in Virginia/Flickr) Rebecca Voelker, writing for...

Right Brain, Left Brain: Which Side Do Leaders Need Most?

The left brain is analytical, the right brain is creative, or so say many psychologists. In the past, good leaders used left brain skills more. Today, however, there is more need for right brain qualities in business. Perhaps we need a “whole brain” approach. (Photo Credit: JD Hancock/Flickr) In general, the left side...

The 13 Best Jobs for Cat People

If there is one thing some people will never agree upon, it is which pet is superior: dogs or cats. These strong opinions are the result of innate personality differences in cat lovers vs. dog lovers. And, of course, our personalities inform our best career choices. (Photo Credit: elkit/Flickr) Cat People Personalities CBS...

The 9 Best Jobs for Dog People

The dog person vs. cat person war is all in fun, but your choice of pet may say more about your personality than which pictures you upload to the internet. It might even give you (some) insight into which jobs you will enjoy and perform best. (Photo Credit: KB35/Flickr) Dog People Personalities...

5 Tips to Handle Manipulative Bosses

It’s easier if you can just avoid dealing with manipulative people, but when the person in question is your boss, that’s not really possible. If you don’t recognize his pathology and learn to appropriately assert your own boundaries, you’ll lose yourself while attempting to please him. These five tips will help you...

3 Leadership Myths Debunked

Are some people born leaders, and the rest of us are fated to simply follow them in awe of their natural skills? Or is leadership something we all can achieve? Dr. Ronald E. Riggio, an expert in organizational psychology, discusses the truth and the myth of leadership in Psychology Today. (Photo Credit:...

Is Work-Life Balance Possible?

Today’s busy working families need about 28 hours in the day to get everything done. Work hours have crept into our home lives as more people take care of job responsibilities in the evenings and on weekends. In this environment, is it even possible to balance our careers and our personal lives?...

How to Get Through the Hump Day Afternoon Slump

Do you ever want to take a nap after lunch, or feel like your brain has turned to mush, and it takes every ounce of strength you have to accomplish the simplest of tasks? You are not alone. These quick fixes help temporarily boost brainpower. (Photo Credit: Iwan Gabovitch/Flickr) Marty Nemko explains in...

Are You Old Enough to Be Protected From Age Discrimination?

There are a handful of laws on the books protecting workers from being discriminated against due to their age. However, not everyone is protected. Are you? (Photo Credit: tec_estromberg/Flickr) A recent campaign to outlaw age discrimination in the Philippines brings up relevant questions about age discrimination laws here in the states. In the...

This Is Your Brain on Productivity

The real science behind how to be more productive may surprise you. It’s easier and feels better than berating yourself for not having enough willpower. It’s all about working with your brain, not against it. (Photo Credit: jetheriot/Flickr) Gregory Ciotti of Sparring Mind and Mitchell Moffit of ASAPScience made a video explaining the...

How to Use Self Talk to Increase Productivity

Remember that character from Seinfeld who spoke of himself in the third person? “Jimmy likes Elaine.” “Jimmy thinks the opera is great.” And so on. It turns out that Jimmy was on to something we can all use to reduce stress and improve motivation and, therefore, productivity. (Photo Credit: Alan Light/Flickr) There...

Go Big AND Go Home: Epic Quitting Stories

We all have days we want to quit our jobs. Sometimes the answer is to survive a bad day, other times it’s to get out while you are still breathing. The following true tales of woe are from people in the latter camp, and when they went out, they did it with...

At Some Companies, Too Many Chances to Fix Bad Behavior

Do you work with the employee from hell? Some company policies enable bad behavior by putting off consequences. Understand what is going on with management and learn to survive working with your toxic co-worker. (Photo Credit: University of Salford/Flickr) We are all adults here. One would think that we’d only need to be...

3 Tips for Millennials to Find Meaning in Today’s Work Environment

Gen Y workers often seem to regard the workplace as a series of revolving doors, each opening onto a new opportunity. But just because they’re more likely to be comfortable job hopping than their older peers doesn’t mean that they can create meaningful careers amid all this change — at least, not...

The End of Looking Busy: 3 Tips to Be More Productive

If you want to be more productive at work, you must learn to master your time. Some people just look busy and don’t get anything done; others get their work accomplished and have time to spend with family or friends in the evening. Which type do you want to be? (Photo Credit:...

4 Ways to Handle Your Passive-Aggressive Boss

Passive-aggression is difficult to deal with under any circumstances, but at work, it’s a potential career killer — especially if the passive-aggressive person in question is your boss. The worst part is, it’s not always easy to tell when your manager is guilty of this destructive behavior; on the outside, he might...

3 Questions to Sniff Out Toxic Work Environment Before You Accept the Job

You really want the job and it seems like a good move for your career. But how can you tell if you’ll like the job, once you take it? There are a few questions you can ask during your interview that will help you spot a toxic work environment, before you get...

Call to Slash Salary of the CEO of McDonald’s

Activist investment group Change to Win (CtW) is calling for the salary of McDonalds’ CEO Donald Thompson to be slashed, due to the chain’s poor performance as well as the gross inequity between CEO and worker pay. This is a good opportunity to discuss intra-company pay gaps as it affects all of...

4 Ways to Handle Your Narcissistic Boss

Some bosses seem to think they are the center of the universe. They can be extremely difficult people to work with or for, but before you run screaming from the office, consider these four ways to cope. (Photo Credit: jndollars/Flickr) Writing for the High Conflict Institute, Bill Eddy, LCSW reminds us that...

4 Rules for Summer Office Dress Code Etiquette

With the welcome approach of summer and warm weather, many of us excitedly stash our wool sweaters and winter clothing away and stock our closets with lightweight attire. As much as we want to be comfortable at the office, tank tops and flip-flops are career-limiting moves. Follow these four rules to be...

5 Ways to Thrive Under Pressure

Resilience is the ability to bounce back after traumatic experiences. It is also the ability to thrive under pressure and in stressful situations. Increase your resilience, and you’ll be able to achieve more and enjoy career success. (Photo Credit: wwarby/Flickr) At USA Today, Julia Savacool looks at a recent study on high-achieving...

Did Harvard Punish Student Entrepreneurs or Teach Them How Business Really Works?

Two savvy freshmen at Harvard University are making headlines. They started a potentially successful business on campus, but the real media attention focused on the reaction of the university. (Photo Credit: InSapphoWeTrust/Flickr) Freshmen Entrepreneurs Harvard freshmen Akshar Bonu and Fanele Mashwama may have learned more about business in a few months than...

3 Recipes for Career Contentment

When we’re choosing a career, we generally think about the skills we’d need, the responsibilities we’d have, and the salary we’d earn. Psychology Today reminds us to consider details relevant to our personal style. Different people have different personal needs that matter at work, and to succeed, one must feel content. What...

Why Obama’s Executive Order Against Pay Secrecy Matters

On April 8, 2014, President Obama signed the Non-Retaliation for Disclosure of Compensation Information into law. This executive order prohibits federal contractors from retaliating against workers who discuss their wages and salaries, but even if you don’t work for the government, it’s part of a trend that could affect your working life....

Walking Boosts Productivity and Creative Thinking

We know that walking improves your circulatory health and can help you lose weight. It also seems boosts your creative thinking and productivity during the work day. But is working all day on a treadmill desk the answer to improving our job performance? (Photo Credit: Bev Goodwin/Flickr) Treadmills Forbes discusses a new...

How to Strike a Balance Between Hierarchy and Creativity

Do you like clear expectations and a known chain of command, or do you prefer a more free environment at work? While hierarchy can seem to stifle creativity, we cannot simply throw all order out the window. At the same time, we don’t want to miss out on the creativity of workers....

Some NFL Cheerleaders Earn Less Than Minimum Wage

Most of us don’t work in exchange for perks. Instead, we agree to pay that equals at least the minimum wage and expect to be paid for hours worked. Unless, of course, you are a cheerleader. Recent lawsuits brought against several NFL teams are shedding light on the alleged exploitation of women...

Big Surprise: Raising the Minimum Wage Is Good for the Economy

Opponents of raising the minimum wage continue to scream that paying working class people higher wages will destroy the economy and the American way of capitalistic freedom will end. We have hard evidence that this is simply not true. (Photo Credit: Fibonacci Blue/Flickr) Thirteen states raised the minimum wage at the beginning of...

STEM Classes Equal Better Pay, But Students Don’t Care

Students who choose STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors usually make more money after graduation than those who choose non-science fields. Even taking a few STEM classes can boost job security and earnings. However, high school students couldn’t care less. This is a problem for us all. (Photo Credit: Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr)...

Fulfill These 3 Needs, and Make Your Job More Compelling Than Goofing Off

Ever notice that you can easily spend hours paying close attention to an activity, as long as it isn’t what you’re paid to do? One solution is to try to make work as compelling as play. Addressing these three factors can help. (Photo Credit: zzkt/Flickr) Psychology Today author Jim Stone, Ph.D. asks,...

Doctors Are Miserable, and Here’s Why

It used to be prestigious to go to medical school. Doctors were almost guaranteed a good income and community respect. Today, it’s a different story. (Photo Credit: Truthout.org/Flickr) The Daily Beast tells us that about 300 physicians commit suicide every year. Although we have no way of knowing the circumstances in any...

Tell Me Your Salary, I’ll Tell You Mine

If you were absolutely sure your boss couldn’t retaliate against you for revealing your salary to your co-workers, would you tell? Thanks to improved worker protections, we might soon find out. (Photo Credit: Caza_No_7/Flickr) The Washington Post reports that President Obama recently signed an executive order banning federal contractors from retaliating against...

Family Medical Leave Act and Veterans

A recent National Law Review headline alerted employers to update their Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policies. The federal government revised theses guidelines in 2013 to expand military leaves of absences. If you or a family member is a veteran or in the military, know which benefits apply to you. (Photo Credit:...

How to Build Resilience for Career Success

Resilience is a person’s ability to adapt. Resilience is not just about “bouncing back” from trauma and tragedy, but also from difficult experiences at work or financial stressors. And those who are able to bounce back after stress-producing life events, large and small, are much more likely to succeed. (Photo Credit: Ahmed...

Learn the Science of Success

What’s stopping you from achieving your dreams? In a recent Psychology Today article, clinical psychologist Melanie Greenberg writes about research-based strategies people use to succeed at work and in life. These empirically proven techniques can help you succeed, too. (Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com/Flickr) Priorities and Boundaries There are only so many hours in...

Older Job Seekers May Have Advantages

It seems that workers 55 and older are not planning on retiring the way they used to. Some continue to work to make ends meet, some to fund their leisure pursuits, and still others simply because they have energy and want to do something productive with their time. If you are an...

Top College Admissions Rates Have Fallen

The news about top colleges and universities accepting fewer and fewer applicants each year may be alarming, but it is also complicated. Instead of giving up, take critical look at how and why this is happening. (Photo Credit: JohnRH4/Flickr) The New York Times reports that the top colleges and universities are turning...

The Rise of the Permanent, Unpaid Intern

Unpaid internships were designed for students to get valuable training outside of the classroom. Some professions require supervised internship hours toward graduation and licensure. Unfortunately, the internship seems to have evolved into a default position that job seekers take to avoid not having anything at all. This is a problem, and it...

3 Productivity Tips From the Experts

If you want to know how to change your behavior, ask a psychologist! In Psychology Today, 15 psychologists shared their views on how to become more productive. The following are the highlights of their many pearls of wisdom. (Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver/Flickr) 1. Be Strict About Ending Distraction Distraction is a number one...

Conservatives Want YOU to Go Without Healthcare

The Affordable Care Act is now law, and in spite of the various technical glitches, Americans have been signing up, so that they may enjoy access to healthcare when they get sick. For some people, this may be the first time they have ever had health insurance. Now, there is a push...

Write Things Down to Avoid Ambiguity and Conflict at Work

Lack of good communication results in misunderstandings, differing expectations, and anxiety. If you reduce ambiguity in your communications, you reduce conflict and increase productivity. Yes, it really is that simple. Here’s how. (Photo Credit: Keith Williamson/Flickr) Write It Down When discussing, negotiating, or planning projects at work, take notes. Write down who is...

Meditation Improves Productivity

When we think of meditation, we may think of relaxation, breathing, and emptying the mind of stressful thoughts. It may be surprising to learn that the act of quiet meditation increases mental acuity and makes us more productive at work. Instead of meditation emptying our minds, it actually helps fill them with...

Severance Payments Are Taxable

Most people don’t want to think about losing their jobs. However, it is best to know the law and to plan ahead just in case you get surprised by bad news. It may come as a shock to hear that severance payments are taxable. (Photo Credit: LendingMemo/Flickr) Employer Linc is a publication...

How Will Wal-Mart React to New Overtime Laws?

A Wal-Mart manager recently gave Salon an exclusive view into the darkest side of Wal-Mart: how they treat their employees. With anticipated changes in overtime laws, some have wondered if Wal-Mart will be forced to hire more people. This insider has other ideas about how Wal-Mart will react to stricter fair pay...

The Gender Pay Gap: Do We Need More Laws or More Enforcement?

Women deserve equal pay for equal work. There are laws on the books dating back to 1963 that are designed to protect women from being paid less than men for doing the same work. However, we continue to see complaints, such as the one against the owners of Kay Jewelers and Jared,...

Maybe He Shouldn’t Go to Jared: Female Workers File Complaint Against Jewelry Chain

A typical ad for Jared’s jewelery stores shows women melting with gratitude after being presented the one thing that every woman, wants, in the world of advertising, if nowhere else — a mined rock. According to some female employees of the chain, however, working for the company is less than a dream...

San Francisco Demonstrates What Happens When We Raise The Minimum Wage

Over the past 15 years, the city of San Francisco has given us evidence of what happens when we raise the pay and benefits of low-wage workers. Is it doom and destruction or the city of Oz? (Photo Credit: jeffgunn/Flickr) In the 1990s, San Francisco enacted numerous laws to raise pay, improve benefits,...

Which States Tip the Best and Worst?

For tipped employees, the generosity of the public may mean the difference between buying a steak or asking the landlord for an extension on the rent. And some tipped employees rely on tips more than others, because in some states it is legal to pay tipped employees a couple of bucks an...

4 New Rules for a New Era of Job Searching

The job market for 2014 continues to become more competitive. The right education and skills are not enough to land a good job, because all the other applicants also have the right education and skills. So what can you do to increase your chances of not just getting an interview, but getting...

Why Do Graduates Leave Their State?

Public colleges and universities rely heavily on state funding in order to offer affordable classes to their student body. However, in some states, that same student body leaves after graduation, essentially causing the public system of higher education to invest in the workforce for other states. The reasons for this are complex...

When Are Creative Job Applications Too Creative?

You may have heard by now about Leah the Lego figurine. Leah is the perfect Account Service Intern, complete with a blue suit and sensible shoes. She made her debut applying for positions at advertising agencies. It’s an attention-getting idea; and the first step in getting a job is getting noticed. But...

Wealthier Schools Admit Fewer Students With Pell Grants

Payscale’s latest college ROI report uncovers a disturbing trend in higher education for low income students. Wealthier schools with the highest ROI may not be serving those who are eligible for federal monies to help pay their way. (Photo Credit: TaxCredits/Flickr) Pell Grants Pell Grants are awarded by the federal government to...

Union Leaders Are Exempt From the Law in Pennsylvania — For Now

The benefits of union membership are numerous, but unions were never conceived to give members or leaders the right to break criminal laws. Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives just recently passed a bill that is as necessary as it is surprising. (Photo Credit: John Dawson/Flickr) Our story begins with ten members of Ironworkers...

The Department of Labor Has Your Back

The federal Department of Labor (DOL) budget for fiscal year 2015 is official, and it includes new programs and additional protections for workers and employees. This is exciting news for millions of Americans, including the long-term unemployed, students who want to work when they graduate, and current employees whose employers may not...

Thank Women for 2 Great Improvements for Working Folks

March is Women’s History Month. For all of the incredible accomplishments and contributions that women have made, often under terrible circumstances, to the betterment of society, working folks take this month to remember the women behind two of the most important laws put in place during the 20th century. These laws protect...

Woman Denied Lactation Room and Fired Is Not Getting Trial

“I think it’s best you go home and be with your babies” is not what an employee expects to hear upon returning to work after maternity leave. Unfortunately, it is exactly what Angela Ames heard when she requested access to a lactation room to express breast milk. Ms. Ames filed to sue...

How to Manage Your Micromanager and Survive

Micromanagers have to be in control of everything all the time, even the tiniest mundane details — not exactly a great quality in a boss. While it is not pleasant for you, the worker, to feel that you have no autonomy, micromanagers are usually pretty stressed out themselves, either because they are...

4 Tips for Women Working in a Man’s World

It’s hard to be one of the guys when, well, you are not a guy. If you are a woman working in a male-dominated field or office, you likely want to be seen as an equal who is capable of doing her job. These four tips will help you succeed at your...

3 Money Rules for New Entrepreneurs

Starting a business is as frightening as it is exciting. For some, it is the dream of a lifetime and bolsters them into financial independence. If you want to start (or already have started!) your own business, take heed of these three financial pearls of wisdom, and remind yourself of them every...

Low Wages Are Poverty Wages

How would you like to put in full-time hours at your job, work hard to perform your job well, manage your household, and yet still spend time waiting in lines for general assistance and charity to pay for your basic expenses, including food and heat? If you are a member of the...

Should Your Internship Be Paid?

Getting that coveted internship is an exciting time for any graduate student on her way toward graduation and professional employment. Sometimes an internship is a valuable training experience that readies the student for real-world challenges in her field; other times, it is the equivalent of feudal serfdom. Internships can be unpaid, and...

3 Memory Tricks to Become Smarter and More Productive

Improving our memory skills increases productivity at work and, in general, makes our lives a little easier. From remembering where we stashed our keys to remembering the boss’s detailed instructions, the following tips and tricks will make us work smarter and be more productive. How many of these are you familiar with?...

Tweetenfreude: How Following People We Love to Hate Can Help Our Careers

Can hate-following be good for your career? It can, if you do it the right way. “Tweetenfreude,” coined by Saya Weissman at Digiday, refers to the charge we get out of following people we dislike. While it might seem like a waste of time and productivity, there are some surprising ways to...

President Obama Wants YOU to Receive Overtime Pay

Good news coming down the pike for the millions of American workers who have been exempted from overtime pay. The New York Times reports that tomorrow, Thursday, March 13, President Obama will direct the federal Department of Labor to stop classifying a series of jobs as “professional” or “executive.” How will this...

Those Unpaid Security Screenings Might Not Be Legal

Does your employer require you to go through a security screening before you go on the clock? If so, they might be breaking the law — but if they are, they’re not alone. Employees who work for companies that require security screenings often are not compensated for time spent being screened. Just...

Is a Career in Positive Psychology Right for You?

Positive psychology, the study of what makes life worth living, is one of the newest branches of the social sciences. According to positive psychology, we have the ability to create and determine happiness, which is a thing in itself, and not just the absence of depression. Sound empowering? Positive psychology is making...

Employer Access to Social Media Accounts: What Does Your State Say?

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCLS) keeps tabs on what’s new in each of the 50 states. Beginning in 2012, some state lawmakers introduced legislation protecting employees from being required to give up their social media account passwords in order to get or keep a job. And some states included laws...

How to Avoid (Unintentionally) Insulting Your Colleagues

Passive-aggression at work is bad for everyone involved. It’s not very different from yelling or bullying. But what about when you insult co-workers, with no intention of doing so? An objective examination of behavior, not intent, sheds light on how this happens, and how you can prevent being misunderstood. (Photo Credit: jseliger2/Flickr)...

Too Much Vulnerability Is Counterproductive

How much vulnerability is too much? A recent article in Psychology Today discusses how our interpersonal dynamics in the workplace have changed over the years. The pendulum swings back and forth on the issue of vulnerability. (Photo Credit: Monica Arellano-Ongpin/Flickr) When Workers Have Too Little Vulnerability Being strong is a good thing,...

3 Ways to Show You Are Not a Victim

Working on a team sometimes gets frustrating. People don’t always see eye to eye, and stronger personalities may be more likely to get their way. People who are able to speak up, be heard, and make compelling and appropriate arguments will send less-bold types scurrying for cover. If you work with strong...

Show Kindness to Co-workers as a Networking Strategy

While it seems disingenuous to be nice to somebody only because you want something from them, the old adage “what goes around, comes around” remains true. If you are nice to people you work with, you may find yourself being rewarded in various ways, such as being chosen for a special project...

3 Reasons You Should Journal About Your Job

Keeping a journal can help you make note of important events, remember them, and learn from them, as well as organize your thoughts and deal with important issues. Journaling helps you work toward your goals. It’s a useful tool for those who are interested in professional growth. (Photo Credit: Walt Stoneburner/Flickr) Journaling...

Pentagon Food Service Workers Allege Illegal Retaliation for Strike Against Contractor Employer

Recently, The Huffington Post reported that food service workers in the Pentagon filed a complaint against their private-sector employer. They say that they were illegally retaliated against in response to asserting their right to protest for better working conditions. (Photo Credit: danxoneil/Flickr) Non-union food service workers walked off of their jobs to...

Are You a Supertasker?

The research is in on multitasking. Constantly switching back and forth from one task to another puts strain on the brain. This additional strain then decreases our ability to pay attention and to focus. It also places a heavy burden on memory. (Photo Credit: ryantron/Flickr) It has been said that driving while...

Maximize Teamwork and Get the Most Out of Your Team

Some group dynamics consistently help generate productivity among team members, while other dynamics consistently squash creativity and active participation among team members. Whether you are a leader or a member, you may use this knowledge to help your group be the best it can be. (Photo Credit: Fre Sonneveld via Unsplash)...

The Sometimes Surprising Truth About the Value of the Minimum Wage

The real value of the minimum wage is going down. Ten different charts on two different websites paint the same picture of how the relative value of the minimum wage has declined over time. In short, when you take inflation and cost of living data into account, minimum-wage workers can buy less...

Are Prevailing Wage Laws Discriminatory?

If you work as a contractor on projects with federal funding, prevailing wage laws may be pertinent to your rate of pay. An opinion piece published in the Albuqurque Journal makes the argument that “prevailing wage” laws are discriminatory. Understand what these laws say and how they affect you. (Photo Credit: daily...

What You Need to Know About Your Employer’s Social Media Policy and the Law

The National Law Review recently reported that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reached a settlement with Georgia-Pacific over their social media policy. This is big for just about anybody who works. As always, the law is trying to catch up with changes in technology and society. The details of this case...

3 Ways to Manage Your Difficult Boss

Americans who work full-time may spend more time interacting with co-workers and managers than with their own family and friends. Their relationships at work, however, are far different than with trusted friends. When bosses are difficult people, workers often do not have the freedom to confront them or to demand to be...

5 Signs Your Workplace Is Psychologically Unhealthy

Work is work, and most adults understand that they need not be best friends with their co-workers and managers. We go to work to utilize specific skills, do a good job, and receive compensation. We are not there to sing kumbaya and give each other warm fuzzies. However, there is such as...

3 Tips to Position Yourself for a Promotion

If you’re angling for a promotion, it’s not enough to work hard and do your job well. Here’s how to improve your chances. (Photo Credit: fdecomite/Flickr) 1. Observe Keep your eyes open and pay attention to what is happening around you. If you understand what other people have done before being promoted, you...

Worker’s Compensation Might Not Cover You

The devil is in the details. Many workers arrive at work ready to do a good job in return for compensation, plus their employer’s attention to their health and safety on the job. How a state frames worker’s compensation laws, however, may leave injured workers without benefits. (Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com/Flickr) Worker’s Compensation Law...

How to Survive in a Toxic Work Environment

While your job may meet your financial needs, not all workplaces meet people’s basic, psychological needs. Some workplaces are downright toxic. Since you probably can’t just leave, learn how to survive and keep your sanity until the day comes when you have a better offer. (Photo Credit: Simon Strandgaard/Flickr) Avoid Office Politics Better...

Women’s Dress Code for Getting a Promotion or Raise

We all have days when we look in the closet and wonder how we are going to survive until we can do laundry. Depending upon where you work, this may be more or less of a problem. Some office dress codes are casual enough that if you have nothing clean but a...

Paint Your Office Walls the Best Colors for Productivity

Color schemes in any office help set the mood or tone of the business. Forbes has a wonderful color wheel that indicates the different psychological moods that colors evoke. If you have the opportunity to paint your office walls or to change the color schemes where you work, consider how you wish...

3 Ways to Maximize Your Lunch Break

Instead of eating at your desk, taking a little break and getting some fresh air during the day may help relieve stress and reduce afternoon fatigue. Make the most of your lunch break. Following are just three ways you can maximize your time off in the middle of the day. (Photo Credit:...

3 Things Employers Won’t Tell You About Social Media

By now, we’ve all heard stories about people being fired for their social media use, either because they got caught tweeting on the company time, or because they said something outside of work, that tarnished their employer’s brand. But there’s more to the perils of social media than just saying the wrong...

Work at Home? Here’s How to Avoid an Audit

The Consumerist has a helpful list of tax tips to follow to avoid being audited by the IRS. Some of these sage pieces of advice are relevant to people who work at home, or who run home-based businesses. If you work at home, take heed of these three things when reporting your...

Wisconsin and the 7-Day Work Week

Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker has bragged that his state went from the 43rd best state in which to do business to the 17th during his tenure.That is a big improvement over the course of four short years. While business owners in Wisconsin may be enjoying an improved environment, we must ask...

Radical Idea in Education Might Save Students Money

The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) has implemented some radical ideas in higher education and, so far, it seems they are successful. They want to hire teachers who want to teach, and enroll students who want to learn. Sounds simple enough, although other colleges and universities sometimes fail to achieve this. The...

4 Ways to Cope if You Lose Your Job Tomorrow

We spend more time at our jobs than we do cultivating personal relationships, and similar to relationships, our jobs are important parts of our lives and often define a large part of who we are. Losing a job is similar to breaking up, and the coping mechanisms necessary to survive the transition...

Your Favorite Football Team Might Be Guilty of Wage Theft

Whether you’re a fan of the Raiders or some other football team, the abuses alleged in the recent class-action lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court may be more common than the football industry cares to admit. The suit alleges not only the usual wage theft violations such as no overtime pay,...

Executive Presence Leads to Executive Careers

You may have the necessary education and expertise to become an executive, but do you have executive presence? The way we present ourselves goes way beyond wearing a power tie or a navy blue skirt and blazer. Having or developing certain interpersonal skills and presence are necessary if you wish to become...

New Worker Co-ops Lead to Economic Prosperity

The newest incarnation of worker cooperatives are worker self-directed enterprises (WSDE). WSDEs combine aspects of capitalism and socialism, resulting in an improved version of a centuries-old idea. Not only do the workers decide together when and how much to produce, but they themselves choose, via a democratic process, how to use the...

Does Your State Want to Raise the Minimum Wage?

PayScale’s recent survey indicates which state populations are in favor of raising the minimum wage to a full $15 per hour. Do you live in a state that is fighting to raise the minimum wage? (Photo Credit: Marxchivist/Flickr) The federal minimum wage is part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which set...

Should Workplace Bullying Be Illegal?

A great quote from a practicing lawyer is, “It is not illegal to be an unlikeable jerk.” In Australia, newly crafted workplace bullying laws might just limit some jerkiness. The United State of America does not currently address workplace bullying, determine whether the behavior itself is illegal, or provide any sanctions or...

3 Little-Known Ways to Nail the Interview

When you get an in-person interview, the pressure is on to put your best foot forward. You want to impress your interviewer with your knowledge, background, and skills. Funny how little things we take for granted make a big difference. Consider these three little-known ways to make the right impression and be...

Does Your Employer Respect Your Rights as a Breastfeeding Mother?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) gives working mothers rights so they can pump milk and breastfeed their children. These rights went into effect in 2010. Unfortunately, many employers behave as if these rights do not exist. In addition, the law lacks teeth; there is not much in the way of enforcement at...

What You Need to Know Before Becoming a Whistleblower

Wouldn’t it be lovely if employers rewarded employees for helping to ensure that business is in compliance with the law? Unfortunately, too many employers would rather not spend the money to keep up with health and safety standards, or be caught when they are guilty of wage theft. In other words, your...

3 Steps to Change Bad Work Habits

We all have habits that we’d like to change, and some of those habits decrease our work productivity. Procrastination and messiness are big problems for some professionals, but there are also seemingly small habits such as nail-biting or hair twirling that, believe it or not, can have negative repercussions at work. They...

Why You Want to Nap at Work, and What to Do About It

Need a nap? If you’re at work, that’s probably not a good thing. The key is to figure out why you’re tired. Sometimes, we stay up too late, but fatigue can also be a chronic condition, or a response to stress. If we understand why we’re sleepy, we might be able to...

3 Reasons Why Working People Need a Welfare State

What would happen if the welfare state in America was eliminated? That’s the question that a Quora user recently asked. Many of the answers serve as reminders of the self-serving reasons why we should contribute to a social safety net. (Photo Credit: timetrax/Flickr) 1. Crime Rate Desperate people do desperate things. The...

Forget About Wages, It’s About Pay Ratios

Anyone who has ever had a boss plead poverty as an excuse for not giving raises, or even paying living wages, needs to read this article. The United States of America has no regulations regarding the difference between lowest and highest paid employees and CEOs of companies. That means people who pay...

5 Million Reasons to Raise the Minimum Wage

Should the minimum wage be higher? It’s a heated debate, and a new study from University of Massachusetts-Amherst economist Arindrajit Dube throws more fuel on the fire. In short, Dube’s study found that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour will lift nearly 5 million Americans out of poverty. Here’s how....

We Are Free to Exploit You

Those who would like to dismantle labor unions are on the attack. As more states consider enacting right to work laws, people on both sides of the argument are disseminating information and misinformation in an attempt to rally others to their cause. It’s too easy to lose sight of the forest for...

Employee, Independent Contractor, Exempt: You May Be Misclassified

Unfortunately, it is much too common for employers to misclassify their employees. This inaccurate and inappropriate reporting of job classes and responsibilities results in workers losing benefits and monies owed. Understand the difference between employees, independent contractors, exempt, and non-exempt workers to protect your rights. (Photo Credit: Darius/Flickr) Independent Contractor or Employee? Independent...

Your Employer Won’t Necessarily Tell You About Your Rights

As a worker, you do have rights. In spite of the efforts of the National Labor Relations Board, your employer does not have to inform your of your rights as an employee. And that makes it harder for you to know when your rights are being trampled, or find ways to better...

Protect Yourself From Predatory Workplace Loans

The newest thing in predatory lending is “workplace loans.” Cleverly crafted to look like a good deal, workplace loans are sentencing unsuspecting borrowers to a possible lifetime of debt slavery. Spot the signs and steer clear of this latest attempt by unscrupulous lenders to steal your money. (Photo Credit: Bob Haarmans/Flickr) Truthout...

Understand These 3 Things and Stop Procrastinating (Starting Tomorrow)

Procrastination is a huge killer of productivity. The more we worry about deadlines, the more we procrastinate. Understanding these three things about procrastination will help you overcome the habit and get more done. Starting tomorrow. (Photo Credit: Victor1558/Flickr) 1. Pride Comes Before the Fall Ironically, it is often the perfectionists who must...

3 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Success

Children’s book authors often have much wisdom to share. Psychology Today writer Juliana Breines, Ph.D., remembers the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book series. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle took everything literally. For example, when asked to dust the furniture, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle would add dust to the furniture. Her employers quickly learned to ask her...

3 Ways to Calm Work Anxieties

Anxiety is a drain on our energy and our productivity. It causes procrastination, poor job performance and decreases our quality of life. It is also common. Instead of letting anxiety destroy you, you may come to understand and overcome anxiety at work by using proven psychological techniques. Psychology Today offers useful tips...

You May Be Exempt from Overtime If…

There seem to be exceptions to every rule, including rules regarding whether or not an employer can give comp time instead of overtime pay to employees. County and state officials around the country sometimes have difficulty keeping up with federal standards and guidelines regarding who is eligible for or exempt from overtime...

3 Tips for Offering Effective Apologies

Some apologies are absolutely necessary. Others may feel like overkill, and sometimes it is unclear whether to apologize or instead refrain from calling attention to your foibles. When you mess up at work, learn how to offer an effective apology, and you may strengthen your position and gain respect. (Photo Credit:myguitarzz/Flickr) 1....

Just Say No to Being a Yes Man

There are plenty of reasons to “be yourself.” First thing that comes to mind is personal satisfaction. But is being yourself a good idea in the workplace? If you’d say no, consider this: harnessing your own idiosyncrasies might help you to stand out. You might succeed in business because you are unique,...

Greed Drives the Minimum Wage Debate

Some economists argue that raising the minimum wage gives more people the power to purchase goods and services, while others say that raising the minimum wage hurts the poor, because businesses aren’t able to hire as many low-wage workers. Both arguments are right and wrong at the same time. (Photo Credit: Mike_fleming/Flickr) The...

It’s the Hard Knock Life for Working Mothers

You arrive at work with peanut butter on your skirt and spit up on your shoulder. You duck into the bathroom to apply the lipstick you didn’t have time for this morning, and arrive at your desk just a few minutes late. The baby was up all night. Then, things get worse....

Combine Book Smarts and Street Smarts to Be a Success

After graduating from college, most people look for and expect to get a job. However, the skills you used to do well in school are not the same as the skills you need to do well on a new job. (Photo Credit: Victor1558/Flickr) Breadth of Knowledge What makes intelligence? Steve Jobs used...

Office Talk: When the Boss Talks About You

It may feel like you’re back in seventh grade. Two people in another room are talking about you. Instead of the popular girl and your best friend discussing your new haircut, your boss and your co-worker are discussing your job performance. And it’s legal. (Photo Credit: Victor1558/Flickr) Just Because It’s Legal, Does...

2 Ways Occupy Wall Street Affects You Today

Occupy Wall Street was evicted from Zucotti Park two years ago, but its effect on employees in the 50 states did not stop there. Numerous organizations sprung out of Occupy Wall Street, including Alternative Banking and Physicians for a National Health Program, which continue to benefit workers today. (Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com/Flickr) Alternative...

3 Awesome Changes Coming in 2014 to California’s Employment Laws

It’s a great time to live and work in and California. Three important new policy changes are going into effect in 2014 that give additional rights and benefits to employees in that state. (Photo Credit: Free Grunge Textures – www.freestock.ca/Flickr) Family Leave Rights Currently, workers in California enjoy the right to take up...

3 Ways to Use LinkedIn to Boost Your Career

LinkedIn is a social networking tool with many hidden gems. Some people don’t use it in an efficient manner, and some people simply don’t use it enough to enjoy the potential benefits. (Photo Credit: The Seafarer/Flickr) Read Mobile Feeds Stay updated with news from LinkedIn via mobile apps for your phone. LinkedIn...

3 Conference Tips for Shy People

Whether it’s to pick up continuing education credits or network with others in your field, attending conferences offers a unique way to expand your work beyond the scope of the office. But what if you’re shy? Even if you hate crowds, traveling, and conversations with strangers, these tips will help you get...

New Farm Bill Might Allow Agribusinesses to Stiff Workers

The House of Representatives is currently considering weakening the FLSA rights of agricultural workers. The FLSA was designed to protect all those who toil under the employ of others. If we start taking away one group of workers’ rights, whose rights will we take away next? (Photo Credit: Frank Heinz IV/Flickr) Fair...

Secrets About Men’s Income and Happiness, Revealed

Harvard University has released the results of the longest running longitudinal study of human development in history. They began following 268 male undergraduate students in 1938. Today, they have revealed much about the relationship between happiness and money. (Photo Credit: Neal/Flickr) It’s Not About IQ IQ isn’t everything, when it comes to money....

The Supreme Court Is Listening to a Lot of Employment-Related Cases Right Now

Workers and laborers continue to file employment-related lawsuits challenging discrimination and wage violations. Some make it all the way to the Supreme Court. (Photo Credit: USACE HQ/Flickr) Preparing for Work Laborers in the United States Steel Corporation bypassed their union and filed a suit against employer Sandifer over time spent preparing for...

Don’t Wait — Get Promoted Now

Waiting for the right moment may take forever. Instead of waiting, plan and create the perfect moment to show your employer why you should be promoted, then ask for a promotion. (Photo Credit: Thomas Tolkien/Flickr) Ask for a Review Don’t be shy; if you don’t have annual employee reviews in your company,...

Is It Fair to Pay Some Workers Less Than Minimum Wage?

There has been much discussion and debate recently about whether the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour should be raised. Some argue that this wage is so low it must be doubled to fairly compensate those who labor in the employ of others. It may come as a surprise that there...

Ditching the Humanities for STEM Is a Bad Idea

Science, technology, engineering, and math jobs are considered the wave of the future. The liberal arts and humanities are in danger of being dropped by some state universities in favor of STEM programs. However, the power of STEM majors to guarantee employment with high salaries may be a myth. (Photo Credit: Horia...

3 Business Lessons They Don’t Teach In School (But Should)

Learning from books is valuable but will only get you so far in life. The “school of hard knocks” is an effective teacher, and offers different lessons than in the halls of academia. Both sets of lessons are valuable and even necessary in the workplace. Here are some hard-knock lessons that universities...

5 Tips To Write Effective Work Emails

Work emails are vastly different from personal emails. Treating work emails like personal emails will render them ineffective because they will not be taken seriously nor understood. Here are some tips to help you write emails that actually accomplish something and reduce your workload. (Photo Credit: Victor1558/Flickr) 1. Focus Impart the information...

An Internship Is Not an Entry-Level Job

In the great debate about whether internships are really just a way for employers to take advantage of free labor, people forget that an internship is not, or should not be, an entry-level job. (Photo Credit: UNE Photos/Flickr) Eric Ortiz, a 41-year-old veteran, told NBC News that his internship for the 2012/2013 school...

To Persuade People, Tell Them a Story

Once upon a time Mr. Smith showed the CEO of Proctor & Gamble a PowerPoint presentation, but the CEO never looked at the pretty pictures on the big screen. That’s because the CEO was more interested in what Mr. Smith had to say. (Photo Credit: UNE Photos/Flickr) Technology Technology has given us...

The Value of a Well-Rounded Education

Critical thinking is a valuable life skill that we often develop during our school years. Many of the most successful among us earned well-rounded, higher educations and the ability to think critically. (Photo Credit: j.o.h.n. walker/Flickr) Preparation for a Job Many people choose their major by picking their favorite subject. When they graduate,...

3 Networking Strategies That Resemble Stalking

There is a fine line between networking or following up on a job lead, and stalking a potential employer. Don’t be the guy in the clown suit that appears outside the window at night. (Photo Credit: OakleyOriginals/Flickr) You interviewed for the job of your dreams, and as the manager shook your hand,...

4 Resiliency Lessons When Work Is Tough

Work isn’t always easy. Difficult bosses, difficult clients, and feeling trapped at work may lead to depression and other health problems. Building resiliency helps you maintain both physical and psychological health. (Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver/Flickr) Dr. Martin Seligman has recommended that students be taught the same positive psychology and resilience lessons that...

Don’t Just Get Rich, Stay That Way

Money seems to disappear almost as quickly as a paycheck gets deposited. Becoming rich is part about earning more money, and part about knowing what to do with it when you have it. (Photo Credit: Tax Credits/Flickr) Education PayScale’s College Salary Report confirms what we already knew, than getting a degree increases...

6 Public Speaking Tips for Shy People

If having to give a presentation at work makes you feel a bit queasy, you might not be sick. Instead, you might be a bit shy. You, too, can become an effective speaker. (Photo Credit: Victor1558 /Flickr) If you feel confident, you will come across as knowing what you are talking about....

Cruising the Internet Makes You Productive

When do you do most of online reading, shopping, and playing? If you’re like most workers, it’s probably while you’re on the job. (Photo Credit: MyTudut/Flickr) Get Back to Work The Harvard Business Review discusses a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, which concluded that most people who cruise...

The Rich Really Are Different From the Rest of Us

The differences between the rich and the poor go beyond their pocketbooks. The psychology of the rich is different than the psychology of the poor. The big question might be, are they born or made? (Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com/Flickr) Education Shapes Choice Education plays a major role in building wealth. It is also...

What’s Your Excuse? (For Calling in Sick)

Almost everyone has done it: called in sick when they just didn’t want to go to work. The less daring might simply use a gravelly voice and claim a sore throat. Others, however, are more creative. (Photo Credit: emmajanehw/Flickr) One must wonder if creative excuse-givers truly believe that their manager will fall...

The Apocalypse Is Now: Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

On September 1, 2012, the city of Seattle’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance went into effect. Over a year later, business is booming in Seattle. (Photo Credit: dherrera_96/Flickr) Not everyone expected mandatory sick leave to be a good thing. Opponents of the ordinance argued that requiring employers to compensate employees with sick time...

Over 50 and Looking for Work

Workers over the age of 50 have their own unique set of problems to overcome, but there are ways for older job seekers to find work that suits them. (Photo Credit: slightlyeverything/Flickr) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) protects people age 40 and over from discrimination. Employers may not treat employees or...

Is a Career as a Coroner Right for You?

It might not be for everybody, but coroners make good money and perform a much-needed service at a difficult time. If you have the emotional sensitivity and physical aptitude, consider a career as a coroner. (Photo Credit: ell brown/Flickr) Well-Rounded Education Coroners need a good education. They study both the physical sciences,...

How to Have a Successful Meeting

We’ve all been there: stuck in another endless meeting, pinching ourselves to stay awake, daydreaming about all the productive things we could be doing instead. It doesn’t have to be this way. (Photo Credit: Victor1558/Flickr) Psychologists are getting in on advising people how to have successful business meetings, and their input is...

5 Threats to Work-Life Balance

Want to keep work from eating your entire life? Keep an eye on your daily habits. Little things can add up to unhealthy patterns that make you less productive and less happy — both at work and at home. (Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com/Flickr) 1. Not Enough Noes You must have boundaries to maintain...

On-the-Job Mind Control Techniques

Want to become paranoid? Read this article. Never again will you assume that somebody said “thank you” because they’re nice or have good manners. From now on, you’ll have to wonder if they’re trying to control your behavior with positive reinforcement. (Photo Credit: Aurimas Adomavicius/Flickr) On-the-job mind control techniques are a...

When the Imposter in the Office Is You

Sometimes seemingly successful people suffer from imposter syndrome, which is the belief that one’s accomplishments are due to breaks or good luck, instead of natural talent and learned skill. (Photo Credit: JD Hancock/Flickr) It is not an uncommon experience: you have a new job; you may even be steering your career path in...

These States Protect Employees’ Right to Password Privacy

You go home, you remove your shoes, pour a glass of wine, and log on to social media sites to catch up with the latest news from your friends and to look at cat pictures. The next morning, your boss wants your social media passwords. (Photo Credit: marc falardeau/Flickr) Some employers argue...

3 Ways to Use Social Psychology to Get Ahead

The more you understand people, the easier it becomes to give them what they want, and set them up to give you what you want. Use social psychology to your advantage in the workplace. (Photo Credit: Hey Paul Studios/Flickr) 1. Reciprocation Reciprocity is a tenet of social psychology. Cross-culturally, people tend to...

What’s the Best Time to Ask for a Raise?

Timing is everything. Ask for a raise at the right time and for the right reasons, and you just might get it. (Photo Credit: Tax Credits/Flickr) It should go without saying that you don’t start a salary negotiation with the words “I need.” The way to get better pay is to prove...

Read This Now to Get What You Want

Every good salesperson knows how to talk in order to get customers to make a purchase. The same techniques are useful in any arena in life when you want something from someone else — for example, a new benefit or a raise at work. (Photo Credit: buddawiggi /Flickr) Be Direct and Specific...

California Has Your Back If You Work Overtime

Employers who pinch pennies by not paying workers for overtime hours may wish to rethink this clandestine form of keeping costs down. A recent lawsuit over unpaid overtime in California resulted in a $1.47 million settlement. (Photo Credit: Free Grunge Textures /Flickr) The lawsuit alleged that a software company, Agilysys, forced installation specialists...

Workplace Bullies Are More Successful Than You

Psychology Today has an interesting series on the benefits and, believe it or not, pitfalls of empathy. Contrary to what you might think, it turns out that being obnoxious is an effective way of being more productive and getting ahead. (Photo Credit: francisco.j.gonzalez/Flickr) For better or for worse, intimidation, bullying, and fear are...

The Gender Wars On Multitasking

This news isn’t really news. Recent research has concluded that women are better than men at multitasking. (Photo Credit: Donald Lee Pardue/Flickr) The UK study published in the journal BMC Psychology is not attempting to insult or put down men. The authors acknowledge that both men and women strive during the course...

Millennials Favor Small Companies

Members of Generation Y eschew big companies and the possibility of bigger salaries to work for startups and smaller companies. Ever wonder what is up with that? (Photo Credit: AFGE/Flickr) If you were born in 1982 or later, then you are part of Generation Y, also known as Millennials. You are also...

3 Tips For Effective Workplace Communication

Ever feel like you are talking to a brick wall at work? These three tips may help you effect change and save your breath. (Photo Credit: Joriel “Joz” Jimenez/Flickr) 1. Don’t Use Directives Directives put others on the defensive. Phrases such as, “you should,” “you are,” and “you need” break down communication,...

Color Me Productive: The Best Colors to Paint Your Office Walls

No more light gray or beige office spaces. Color experts have much to say about how the colors you choose for your office affects your work productivity, and they don’t recommend going for blah. (Photo Credit: Benno Hansen/Flickr) Saturation Whichever color you choose for your office walls, remember that whether we perceive color...

Stop Stressing Out at Work

Workers stress out, worry about whether they are good enough, and suffer anxiety over work-related issues. Funny how changing your outlook on life can make a huge difference. (Photo Credit: University of Salford/Flickr) Positive Psychology Many forms of talk therapy encourage us to focus on our problems. By talking about our issues,...

That Rebellious Teen Is an Entrepreneur in the Making

A new study has some surprising findings. That obnoxious, rebellious teen that gets on your nerves may have the perfect personality for entrepreneurship. (Photo Credit: twm1340/Flickr) Business Zone reports on new research performed jointly by scientists from both Germany and Sweden. They found that some of the same character traits in...

Cycle While You Work

We have all heard of one of the latest fads in work spaces, the standing desk. “Active workstations” are the next trend in moving while you work. (Photo Credit: humbert15/Flickr) Clemson University’s Cooper Library and Academic Success Center has implemented an experimental idea. They have set up active workstations for both students and...

How Your Cellphone Could Ruin Your Career

The habit of checking cellphones is compulsive for many — and it can get in the way of their careers. (Photo Credit: compujeramey/Flickr) Instead of being a convenience and a great way to communicate, cellphones often get in the way of everyday life. Psych Central published an eye-opening article about the real dangers...

Your Smartphone Is Hurting You

We often talk about the social consequences of being glued to our devices. The physical consequences, however, are just as damaging and sinister. (Photo Credit:kamshots/Flickr) Posture Mark’s Daily Apple makes the observation that when people are speaking on their phones or reading texts, they tend to jut their heads out and...

Please Don’t Come to Work Naked

How far is too far when it comes to a workplace dress code? Some say Newsweek has gone overboard; others applaud their effort. (Photo Credit: Robert Sheie/Flickr) There has been much discussion lately about Newsweek’s newest policy. Nothing about fair reporting or the quality of journalism; people seem to be most concerned...

Beyond the Red Power Tie

Business clothing must be professional, but it doesn’t have to be the same boring gray on every person, every day. Send messages and influence others by adding carefully chosen colors to your work clothing. (Photo Credit: smittenkittenorig/Flickr) We all know what the red power tie signifies. “I’m the man in charge!” Red...

Does Your After-Work Routine Affect Career Success?

The basic need for downtime with loved ones may be the secret to personal and professional success. (Photo Credit: dSeneste.dk/Flickr) Six top business thinkers answered BloombergBusinessweek’s question: What is your after-work routine? Maneesh Goyl admits to being quite fond vodka gimlets, high-end snacks, and schmoozing at cocktail parties. However, the things that these...

Small Costs Make Big Differences in College Applications

Small reductions in the cost of applying to college results in low-income students applying to, and sometimes attending, more selective schools. (Photo Credit: Tax Credits/Flickr) If you want to get ahead in a great career these days, you are best off getting an education. Tuition costs aside, it may be surprising how...

Your Lazy Co-Worker (Who Gets All The Credit) Does Not Matter

Focus on your own accomplishments and tell others what you do. Forget about the guy who seems not to work and to get all the credit. (Photo Credit: Sean MacEntee/Flickr) Don’t get caught up in watching what everybody else is doing, or not doing. Focus on your own accomplishments. We Overestimate Ourselves It...

3 Attitudes That May Get You Promoted

Managers notice how people respond to change and pressure. Having the right approach to problems at the office may get you noticed and promoted. (Photo Credit: ahisgett/Flickr) 1. Accept Change For a creative manager who is trying to improve things, hearing “but we’ve always done it this way” is like running into...

Why Your Memory Fails You at Work

Put down the phone and read a book to improve your memory. Constant multitasking causes our memories to fail at younger ages. (Photo Credit: oatsy40/Flickr) Technology, stress, and multitasking are having adverse effects on our memories. This is directly affecting work productivity and our ability to get a job done well. Gen Y...

Civil Rights and Small Businesses: What You Need to Know

Federal law fails to protect employees in smaller, privately owned businesses. Sometimes, state law picks up where federal law left off. (Photo Credit: Nina Matthews Photography/Flickr) Evil HR Lady at CBS Moneywatch received a question that reverberates in too many small offices today. A new, female employee is contantly questioned by management...

S.A.D. at Work: How the Changing Seasons Affect Your Productivity

Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) causes low energy and depression that affects our work productivity. There are things you can do to combat S.A.D. (Photo Credit: starpinker/Flickr) S.A.D. is a physical response to decreases in the amount of light during the fall and winter months. Therefore, people who live in northern climes may be...

Making Eye Contact With Your Boss May Backfire

National Public Radio (NPR) published a report about the effects of making eye contact, and it is not what you might expect. (Photo Credit: SamJUK/Flickr) Western cultures generally teach that making eye contact equates with good communication skills. Those who make eye contact while speaking are thought to be more connected to their...

401(k) Choices Smart People Make

Retirement plans such as employer-sponsored 401(k) plans are designed to help people save for retirement by offering tax benefits and employer matching contributions. Make the most of them. (Photo Credit: takeasmartstep.com/Flickr) 1. Get started right away. Sometimes employees do not enroll in the employer’s 401(k) plan at their first opportunity. They may...

Help! My Co-Worker Has Poor Boundaries

Boundaries are knowing where one person’s job ends and another person’s begins. A coworker with bad boundaries takes advantage of others — unless you know how to handle him. (Photo Credit: nathangibbs/Flickr) Occasionally, we all need a helping hand. It is nice to work in an environment in which coworkers are willing...

Poor Students are Encouraged to Aim Higher

The College Board, the group that administers the SATs, is reaching out to high-scoring, low-income students, to convince them to aim higher and apply to elite colleges and universities. (Photo Credit: j.o.h.n. walker/Flickr) Research indicates that high academic achievers from low-income backgrounds do not bother applying to the top-rated, but very expensive, institutions...

3 Ways to Personalize Your Workspace

We all like a comfortable, personalized workspace. Keep it appropriate so you are still taken seriously and seen as a professional. (Photo Credit: surrealmuse/Flickr) Open workspaces have their benefits, but they do lack privacy. Take this into account when you personalize your work area. How you keep your work area may affect your...

Smart People Plan Summer Vacation as Winter Encroaches

Don’t rely on credit cards to fund your vacations. Start thinking about next summer today, and you can save yourself a lot of money in years to come. (Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn/Flickr) A quick Google search of credit cards and vacations brings up pages and pages of offers for earning bonus airplane miles...

Coffee Good, Coffee Bad: Which Is It?

Picture the scene: you are late for work. The line at your favorite coffee shop is out the door and around the corner. You get in line and wait anyway. (Photo Credit: dyobmit/Flickr) Let’s face it, once you are addicted to coffee, it doesn’t matter what the latest newsbite has to say about...

Bet on a Vet: Get Veterans Back to Work

Bet on a Vet is a campaign to help disabled veterans utilize their skills and talents in the workplace here at home. (Photo Credit: Cristian_RH7/Flickr) ABC Newswire reports that “The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (CSAH), a 501(c)(3) organization, was created to help disabled veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as their...

Has Inflation Shrunk the Minimum Wage?

Economists argue over whether inflation has shrunk the minimum wage, and they never seem to resolve the issue. Here we have the argument over money and inflation simplified. (Photo Credit: Images_of_Money/Flickr) Inflation simply refers to the often gradual increase in prices for all goods and services that cause the value of any...

After the Interview

Often, the first thing you do after a job interview is come down off of an adrenaline high. Then, you freak out about all of the things you forgot to say, or think about whatever you think you did wrong. Pour yourself a calming cup of tea and try doing these three...

The Myth of the Lone Genius

Never feel intimidated by the Superman/woman in the office. A variety of skills and talents leads to the success of the team. (Photo Credit: Hey Paul Studios/Flickr) In “How I Hire: There Is No Lone Genius; Hire a Team With These Four Types” Beth Comstock faults people for attributing the success of General...

Confessions of College Admissions Officers

What really goes through the minds of college admissions officers, and what it means for students applying to college. (Photo Credit: Anna Gutermuth/Flickr) There are many prestigious colleges and universities to choose from, each offering promise for a bright future. The people on college admissions boards hold the potential for those...

3 Reasons Why You Want to Be Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban has a lot going for him, and we can learn valuable lessons for our own careers by examining who he is and how he got to be extremely successful. (Photo Credit: mil8/Flickr) He is not just lucky; he is smart. Mark Cuban started his own company, and sold it to...

Your Barista Is Also Your Underemployed Psychologist

The bad news is that psychology majors are on PayScale’s top ten list of underemployed college graduates. The good news is that if you qualify for membership in Psi Chi you may avoid counseling customers while you brew their grande lattes. (Photo Credit: p.Gordon/Flickr) Psi Chi Psi Chi is the international psychology...

Family Medical Leave Act: It’s Not Just Sick Pay

No one should have to choose between caring for family and having a job. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible workers the right to care for family members without suffering retaliation from employers. (Photo Credit: US Department of Labor/Flickr) It happens; people get sick. The FMLA is designed to ensure people...

Where Did All the Jobs Go?

One economic theory says that raising the minimum wage causes employers to hire fewer workers. (Photo Credit: m.john16/Flickr) Theories don’t always prove to be true when put to the test in the real world. In “Low Wages Do Not Cause Poverty,” Kimberly Amadeo cited a literature review published in 2006 by David...

The Myth of the Earned Income Tax Credit

Conservative economists argue that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) negates the need for a minimum wage. (Photo Credit: Images_of_Money/Flickr) Christopher Matthews, writer and reporter for Time, says that it is a myth that the benefit of the EITC makes minimum wages unnecessary. What Is the EITC? The IRS defines the EITC...

Touchy-Feely Jobs for Touchy-Feely People

Reach out and touch someone — for a living. (Photo Credit: David Robert Wright/Flickr) “Face feeler” is a real job. A face feeler is paid by the company to feel the faces of other people right after they have used specific skin products, such as soaps, lotions, or razors. One Professional Face...

Fast Food Jobs Are Fast Tracks to Dead Ends

The face of the fast food worker has changed drastically. No longer a pimply-faced teenager fumbling through his first experience with employment, your cashier is an adult. (Photo Credit: Robert Banh/Flickr) Fast food jobs used to be”entry level” positions for high school and college kids who needed work experience and, of course, money....

3 Things to Leave OFF of Your Resume

Too much information is a real thing. Feel free to leave these three things off of your resume for best chances of success in the business world. (Photo Credit: vuhung/Flickr) Not everything in your background must be part of your resume. 1. Short-Term Employment If you had a job for a...

What 5 Billionaires Have in Common With Each Other and Possibly With You

How five billionaires — Richard Branson, Mark Cuban, Sheldon Adelson, Erik Lefkovsky, and Elon Musk — are a lot alike in some ways, and what we can learn from this. (Photo Credit: D@LY3D/Flickr) They all started young. Each of the five billionaires started their first business when they were 12 years old. From...

The Most Dangerous Job in America

2012 was either a great or terrible year for loggers, depending upon how you look at it. (Photo Credit: The Nick Page/Flickr) There is a word for loose branches that get caught up near the tops of trees: “widow-makers.” These branches get shaken loose while the tree is being cut down, and...

Low Wages Do Not Cause Poverty

It seems to make sense that low minimum wages are the cause of poverty, but that is not necessarily the case. Low wages may not cause poverty as much as not having a job at all. (Photo Credit: krossbow/Flickr) The economy might offer the Devil’s choice: everyone has a low wage job,...

Investment in Education Is Best for the Economy

The best way to help the working class and create jobs is not to raise the minimum wage, but to invest government dollars in education. (Photo Credit: moyerphotos/Flickr) Many thanks to Kimberly Amadeo, the About.com U.S. Economy Guide, for taking the time to answer a few questions about the economy and the minimum...

Raising the Minimum Wage Hurts the Working Class

In the great debate about raising the minimum wage, people seldom discuss how doing so could actually hurt the workers that it’s intended to help. (Photo Credit: Tax Credits/Flickr) Many thanks to Kimberly Amadeo, the About.com U.S. Economy Guide, for taking the time to answer a few questions about the economy and the...