What not to say when you’re late for work

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Corporate Policy, Employment, Keeping your Job, The Workplace | Leave a Comment

Some time ago, I published a list compiled by CareerBuilder detailing some of the most ridiculous excuses ever used be employees to get out of work, my favorite of which was “chicken attack.” Although, I fervently believe that Occam’s Razor—the simplest explanation, ceteris paribus, is the most likely—is a less than useful tool for judging the validity of employee excuses. In fact, I’ve found the opposite to be true: the more outlandish the excuse, the more likely. Call it anti-Occam.  Why would anyone concoct an unbelievable lie? Of course, this logic gets us into the same catch 22 the protagonist in Joseph Heller’s novel, which coined the term, finds himself. Logic aside, CareerBuilder recently compiled another list, this one detailing “10 weird excuses workers use when late to work.” I’ll let you be the judge. Just for fun, I’ve included the clipart attached to the original post published by TheWorkBuzz—an “I can haz cheezburger-esque” image of a cat in a tie exclaiming, “I no haz hiccups.” Read more

The office holiday party

Posted on January 12, 2012
Filed Under Corporate Policy, Employment, Keeping your Job, Special Occasions and Celebrations, The Workplace | Leave a Comment

A popular seventeenth century political theorist once surmised that social order derives its stability from the innate ability of individual citizens to effectively dissimulate. Dissimu-what? Dissimulation relates to our ability to hide how we truly feel about something beneath a veil of pretense. Although our propensity for dissimulation may not seem like a positive trait—dissimulation is, after all, nothing more than an ornate euphemism for ‘liar, liar, pants on fire’ (you are certainly welcome to disagree). So what does dissimulation have to do with the workplace? Three words: office holiday party. Read more

“Personal Internet use at work: a year-round problem on the rise?”

Posted on January 9, 2012
Filed Under Corporate Policy, Employment, Keeping your Job, Social Network, Technology in the Workplace, The Workplace | Leave a Comment

Have you ever surveyed the cubicle jungle around holiday time? Employees’ eyes are rigidly fixed on their computer monitors, mesmerized as they swiftly flash from screen to screen, each of which depicts a different, unique corporate logo: Zappos, NexTag, OverStock.com. While holiday shopping at work may not be pervasive, it is widespread. With one out of every two employees owning up to committing this workplace felony, I am supremely confident that the number of surreptitious shoppers, who appropriate company time to search the Web for holiday accoutrements, far exceeds what’s reported. Read more

Cultural Expression in The Work Place Blog Part 2

Posted on December 15, 2011
Filed Under Corporate Policy, Employment, The Workplace | Leave a Comment

By Shun McGhee, Guest Contributor

Even with the strides made concerning cultural expression in the work place, some still hesitate to address the subject.  A recent African American college graduate came to me for advice. She’d decided to stop using chemical relaxers to straighten her hair to culturally express herself. She’d recently accepted a new position with a company, and her parents were worried that it would hinder her rise up the corporate ladder. As she looked to me for advice, I remembered my aunt’s philosophy, get the job first; you can wear your hair the way you want later. Since she already had the job, I told her times were changing, and suggested that if she was uncomfortable straightening her hair for work, she should stop. Read more

Cultural expression in the workplace, Part I

Posted on December 12, 2011
Filed Under Attire, Corporate Policy, Employment, The Workplace | Leave a Comment

By Shun McGhee, Guest Contributor

In the early 90’s, fashion for me included sneakers, jean overalls, and an Africa medallion. Back then, I could still grow hair and wore a high-topped fade, also known as a box-Philly. My aunt told me not to go to job interviews wearing this hair style. Though she liked the hairstyle (she should have, as she was my barber), she feared that I wouldn’t be hired because they wouldn’t accept my appearance. This was based on what was happening at the time, especially since news publications were discussing the firing of an African American stewardess for wearing a braided hairstyle. I filed auntie’s advice away and decided to see for myself. Read more

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