Business

Are filthy words like f-bombs spewing in your workplace? Here's what you need to know about cussing at the office: why we curse, the social side of swearing, and what a dirty mouth says about you.

Here are ten mistakes people make when dealing with a workplace bully.

Average employee office space has decreased dramatically since the cubicle was introduced, but at what cost to workers? Cubicle courtesy tips can help reduce stress, enhance productivity, and maintain harmony.

Loud people in the workplace can be distracting and annoying, especially if it's on a constant basis. This article will discuss how to handle that loud person to give you some peace of mind.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) may be good news for stockholders, but what do they mean for employees? Know what to anticipate. Here are 10 insights from an HR insider.

Business cards are one of the cheapest, easiest and most effective sales and networking tools. Get business cards tips for size, printing, photos, contact info and more!

Are you guilty of any of these common writing errors in your business communications? Find out how you could be annoying people with common mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and word choice.

As a supervisor handling a difficult employee can be one of the most stressful things on the job. This article instructs you on how you can manage those difficult employees effectively.

Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2012 came into operation on 1 July 2013 to protect users from online fraudsters. How will this change affect you as eCommerce operator?

My "Characteristics of the Ideal Employee" comes from 15 years' consensus of employers in a range of industries. These ideals can help you gain a job and earn promotions. See some added new tips!

This hub describes different decision-making models, steps to take them and their pros and cons. Some common decision traps are also briefly discussed.

This hub deals with quality standards, customer complaints, monitoring customer satisfaction, dealing with problems and continuous growth for internal customers

I am sharing with you my best tips on how to finish or close an email, and a list of over 200 sign-offs for professional and casual emails.

If you've been a target of bullying at work like I have, you may wonder: Why was I chosen? Contrary to popular belief, research shows bullying victims in the workplace are not doormats or outliers. They're typically top-notch employees: hard-working, honest, ethical, independent, and well-liked.

It's performance review time, and the boss has some less-than-glowing feedback about your work. Here's how to deal with negative or unfair job feedback like a real cowboy. Tips from an HR ranch hand.

Responding to changes in a business environment can be quite daunting. Understanding the causes and effects of change will help employees adapt to changes easily.

This unit helps a candidate understand how to plan and organise meetings, how to prepare for a meeting, how to support the running of a meeting, and how to follow up on a meeting.

Here are 7 tips that helped me prepare for and pass the 12 mini-scenarios portion of the NBCMI Oral Exam and obtain my national medical interpreter certification.

The third and final article in my series on culture and influence. Part III discusses achievement-oriented leadership versus nurturing oriented leadership.

This article discusses some issues involved in cross-cultural communication. One of the first steps to find a solution to a problem is recognizing what factors might be contributing to the problem.

Can you honor both your religion and job duties? Religion in the workplace presents an opportunity for both conflict and accommodation, as employees bring their faith to work.

Six Sigma Quality Management is often touted as a solution for operations management and cost problems. But, if your company is not ready, Six Sigma can make things worse. Learn why, and how to determine whether your company is ready for Six Sigma.

Trouble at work? How to respond to allegations of misbehavior in the workplace. Use these tips in dealing with an HR investigator if you are accused of rules violations on the job.

Employee retaliation claims are on the rise. Learn what constitutes unlawful retaliation and what employers can due to avoid liability.

An interpretation of Hofstede's six dimensions of national culture, this article discusses the differences between individualistic and collective societal and organizational cultures on the performance and behavior of employees.

When I landed my dream job in HR for a Fortune 500 company, there was one small catch, the Office Mean Girl (OMG). Despite backbiting, exclusion, and personal attacks, eventually I flourished.

Tough Managers, Bully Bosses and Illegal Harassers differ in their motivations and behaviors. Understand the differences.

It is common for the workplace bully to use mobbing to abuse an employee and force him or her out of his or her job. Find out what is mobbing and how to handle it.

Abuse in the workplace should not be tolerated. Bosses have to respect and appreciate all employees. Watch out for early signs that your boss is abusive.

Here is a typical Bread Line or Unemployment Line back in the 1930s, but we're having them today as well. Dishonesty, evasion, or lack of integrity on the job can be the culprit, as well as lack of training and misunderstandings. It is important to be honest, straightforward, and forthcoming on the job with your management...

Need to write a farewell speech for a great boss or manager who is leaving the company, and how best to go about it? Find a sample goodbye or retirement speech below.

Nearly 1 in 3 people is irritated by scented products that other people wear. Are coworkers, customers, and friends offended by your fragrances? Could you be making others sick? What you need to know.

Tips for getting your disability claim approved quickly—from someone who's done it. Lots of good feedback and advice from readers, too!

Beware of the waffling work friend -- that fickle, fair-weathered co-worker who can't decide whether she is friend or foe. Learn the 5 warning signs of workplace frenemies and how to deal with them.

Got a bad boss? Consider this: What you thought was managerial incompetence may be something else entirely. Here's how sneaky smart bosses push disliked or low performing employees to quit their jobs.

Red flags to watch for during the interview process. Seven types of bad bosses and how to deal with each one.

This article points out the challenges of being a temporary employee. It provides 11 tips advising people what they should and shouldn't do while working as a so-called temp.

How business people succeed, children learn and we make bonds.

Sample farewell speeches for a colleague and friend that announces their resignation, transfer, or retirement. Includes how to write your own goodbye message to an employee that's leaving.

In early 2013, I published a post titled, "Corporate Social Responsibility: Advantages to Your Business." While that dealt more with defining corporate social responsibility (CSR), this post discusses current challenges with the movement.

Here are sample thank you notes and appreciation messages for colleagues, bosses, and employees that you can write in a letter or blank card to express your heartfelt gratitude for their help and support.

A free and complete software development proposal template with budget, ROI and CAGR formulas and instructions. Detailed instructions to help you prepare a winning software development proposal.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the heart of all economic activities in Vietnam. Investing in Ho Chi Minh City is a smart move for your money, and this hub summarizes the reasons why.

What drives the workplace bully to harass his coworkers? How does he do it? Why does he get away with it? Here’s an inside look at what’s going on with this highly dysfunctional office scenario.

Read about famous, greatest and the best businessmen from India. These top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs will definitely inspire you to become a great businessman.

Sample thank-you notes and appreciation messages for a great manager or boss by employees. Show your thoughtful gratitude to your employer for his/her support, time and efforts shown to you.

Learn how to support an organisation’s overall mission and purpose while working as part of a team. Business and Administration Certificate (NVQ) Group B optional unit, level three, four credits.

The old advice about never burning a bridge ain't always so. Do not engage in relationship pyrotechnics lightly or too often. But sometimes it's necessary to blow up toxic relationships and be done.

The first few seconds of a phone call has the most influence on a client. It sets the tone. I'll discuss proper phone etiquette, how to answer, how to be prepared to take notes, and how to show professionalism.

In-depth descriptions of the various outcomes for the Business and Administration Level 3 NVQ module on communicating in a business environment.

A majority of workers experience chronic stress. If you are considering taking a "stress leave" from your job, learn what you need to know before you request a medical leave of absence for anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition.

Ever wonder how the other half lives? If you find yourself at the bottom of the corporate food chain, here are some things you can use to move up and stay, Postal-Service style.

So you want to be a Manager, the Boss, the Top Dog, the Big Kahuna at work? Management isn't for everyone. Here are 10 reasons why you may prefer the job you're in -- as an independent contributor.

This article explores the role of trust in workplace hierarchies. How to initiate, repair and maintain new and existing relationships and why it matters for current and prospective leaders.

Candidates will have a thorough understanding of how to plan and prioritise work, how they are accountable to others and how that affects the business, the importance of being supportive, be able to plan and prioritise work load and the importance of doing it and be accountable for their own work.

Profit margins needed for a business to survive (or thrive!) are primary metrics that both business owners and sales personnel must know. Methods of calculating profit margin are reviewed.

Sometimes idle chatter can ruin work relationships. Here are some pitfalls and tips to improve work conversations.

All employees complain - the good ones and the bad ones. It's up to supervisors to determine how to address the complaint. This article will cover how to effectively handle employee complaints.

The NF personality type, a natural nurturer, is gifted for management. They can become ‘spineless' bosses, however, because of their limited toughness with diverse team members.

From calling you the wrong name to pointing out imperfections in your appearance, find out how bitchy bosses make you feel inferior. Their calculated moves are used to make them feel more powerful and you feel weak and self-conscious. But, once you spot their maneuvers, you can counteract them!

Selling books on Amazon is not as easy as writing a book and uploading it to the platform. New authors, especially, find sales to be few and far between. There are ways to improve your book sales.

Mental illness affects 1 in 5 American adults at any point in time. Learn how to effectively manage your work relationships when someone you work with is mentally ill.

Tips from an HR professional about how the employee complaint investigation process works. What you need to know if you're being investigated or if you are filing a complaint of your own.

PERT, the Project Evaluation and Review Technique, is a way of knowing if your project is on time and on budget. If it is running behind or over budget, you'll know how much extra time or money it will take to deliver. Here's how to do it!

The second in a series on culture and influence, this article discusses tolerance to power distance, uncertainty, and risk avoidance amongst employees.

You've submitted your resignation, and now Human Resources requests an exit interview. Here's why you should say no and suggestions for how to decline. Don't get trapped in this no win situation.

Starting with preparation, then the meeting, the closing, and of course, the follow-up, here are the four stages of a meeting explained, whether you need help with your business class homework or you're just really in need of a better meeting strategy at work.

Bring something creative from home and you won't be tempted to waste money on burgers or fast food at work.

Teamwork can increase efficiency, create a sense of ownership, and raise morale. Here is a list of 15 advantages that teamwork can bring to the workplace.

This unit summarises the purpose of using diaries, the types of diaries, what information are needed to input diary entries, how they are gathered, how tasks are prioritised and why. It also briefly explains how and why to communicate changes, how to solve problems relative to diary entries, and how to store them securely.

Age discrimination and forced retirement can be stressful to an older person who is still a good worker and doesn't want to retire. This article examines pros and cons of age discrimination.

Conducting an employee performance evaluation can be a stressful experience. This guide covers how to prepare, write, and give an employee performance review effectively and easily.

These tips will help you write better reports and presentations. Think of reports and presentations as a journey for both you and your audience.

This is a continuation of the topic "Communicate in a business environment", as requested by some audience!

Learn how to conduct an employee investigation and how to tell when someone is lying. These are the techniques skilled investigators use to make credibility determinations when conducting workplace investigations.

How reporting to work ill hurts coworkers, customers, employers, and the sick employee. Don't spread the love. Take to your sick bed.

This unit gives a thorough knowledge and hands on skills on the purpose of producing high quality documents, know what resources are available in the organisation / company and how to use them, follow all the policies and procedures to produce documents and use resources and stay by the specifications.

Employees facing Tough Managers, Bully Bosses and Illegal Harassers have three important action items. This is the second in a two-part series, "When the Boss is a Bully, or Worse."

Job burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion created by chronic stress. Learn its signs and symptoms, causes, and tips for dealing with it.

The NVQ Level 3 diploma in Business and Administration concerns Unit 303, working in a business environment.

Learning how to speak properly is all about developing great oratory and conversational skills that boost your personal and professional image. Let's take a look at how you can master the art of conversation and say goodbye to those Ummmms, Errrrrs and long pauses while you speak to your friends, family and work colleagues on the phone or face to face. You'll be surprised what a big difference improved speaking skills can make in your life!

You may be considering a job transfer and be able to benefit from the enclosed Transfer Request Letter. However, you may want to master current job tasks before moving to another job site.

Top 5 places to invest in Vietnam

Lucille Ball paved the way for women in the business world and in life. She was the first woman to own her own film company and the first to go on national television showing her pregnancy. Big steps for the Women's Movement of the 50's and 60's.

The internet is growing larger every day providing consumers more and more places to buy their goods. But, while online sales are booming, some traditional brick and mortar stores are taking a hit. In this article we'll address why this is happening and if traditional stores can really be saved.

This Hub provides a basic introduction to some of the primary factors that must go into the decision about what to charge for products/services. It will help anyone, seasoned marketers (by being a reminder), and new marketers, because it looks closely at pricing considerations that can help in development of sound pricing strategies.

Over the years, certain academic methods have dominated management training techniques. This does not necessarily mean they work in practice.

When is a worker properly classified as an employee or as an independent contractor? What happens when an employer gets it wrong? Here's an overview of employee misclassification issues.

Supervising a supervisor can be even more difficult than supervising a line staff employee. This article covers all you need to know to effectively manage supervisors and managers.

Post-Millennials or Generation Z (kids born in 2000 and later) are entering the workforce. Their world bears little resemblance to what came before. What should we expect from these young employees?

Factors that influence solutions to business problems, and how to evaluate approaches to solving business problems: an NVQ unit for the Diploma in Business and Administration.

Is your boss an evil, abusive jerk? How to identify a Bad Boss. Professional advice on what do to about toxic managers, and how to keep from going crazy.

Comparing the top two methods for helping an organization to change.

When you find a request for proposal (RFP) that you don't fully qualify for, consider hiring a subcontractor to fill in the missing expertise.

Keeping these basic pointers in mind can greatly boost the efficiency of your business trips and facilitate a smoother experience. Here are some tips, based on my travel experiences across the years, that I wish someone had offered me when I was on my maiden business voyage.

Right livelihood is earning a living in an ethical way. The goal is not just prosperity, but personal fulfillment and the benefit of all humanity. It is based on traditional Buddhist teaching.

A resource to help candidates working towards their NVQ in business and administration. This unit covers storage and retrieval of information in organisations.

Here we continue our series on articulation and explore the intricacies of complex ideas and opinions using similar structures to organise and localise our thought process.

Are you busting your butt at your job to no avail? Working hard is not enough. Add some new skills to finally get noticed: Artful Brown-Nosing, Strategic Advice Seeking, and Shameless Horn Tooting.

If you're unsure how to close a formal letter or simply tired of signing off letters and emails with "sincerely" or "regards," take one of these zingers for a spin!