Yet — as annoying and superficial as butt-kissing may seem — there may be a thing or two to be learned from the office politico. For instance, it never hurts to get to know the people in your office who can help you advance your career. And we’re not talking about the CEO. There are a lot of people at work — outside the small group of people you interact with on a daily basis — who can make your job a lot easier if you’re on their good side.

Now, just so we’re clear, we don’t mean that you should spend your day throwing around empty compliments and hobnobbing your way around the office. We just mean that it’s important to develop relationships with people at work outside of those in your department. You may be surprised by how much smoother your day goes once you start making the effort to remember the name of the receptionist, or striking up conversations with colleagues you don’t know in the elevator.

Specifically, you might want to try cozying up to these five colleagues:

1. The guy who has been there the longest

You know the one. He’s like the unofficial mayor of your company. He remembers when the CEO was an intern. Whether he takes out the trash or is the vice president of human resources, chances are he knows the company inside and out; making him the go-to guy for information about whether your proposed re-branding will violate the company’s core values, how long it takes to get a raise, and whether the company is more likely to promote from within or fill open spots with outsiders.

2. The receptionist

The receptionist is the company gatekeeper. She knows who habitually strolls in late, who burns the midnight oil and who has the most client appointments coming in. Need someone to cover for you when you sneak out of the office for a coffee break? She’s your girl.

Additionally, receptionists often have job responsibilities like ordering catering services for business lunches and managing conference room schedules. Just scheduled a last-minute meeting? The receptionist will be more likely to rearrange conference room schedules or tell you whose office you can borrow in a pinch if you’re on her good side.

3. The mail room guy

Don’t ignore the mail room guy. He’s another person who holds the key to making your day run smoother. For example: When you order 10 boxes of new sales brochures, having an in with the mail clerk may mean who he’ll deliver those boxes up to your desk, instead of making you walk back and forth between the mail room and your desk 10 times to bring them up there yourself.

Besides being the office postmaster, the mail room guy often manages the ordering and distribution of office supplies. So if your computer monitor is from 1998 or you’re using an abacus instead of a calculator, he’s probably the guy who can get you an upgrade.

4. Your boss’s boss

While it’s great to establish a connection with your boss, it’s even better to have one with her boss.

Why? Networking with the higher-ups is a great way to learn about your potential career path and gain valuable insight and guidance. In ten years, you could have the job that your grand-boss (get it? Your boss’s boss?) has. Learning more about it can help you develop the skills you need to one day reach that role — or it may make you re-evaluate your long-term career goals. Look at your boss’s boss as a mentor of sorts — someone to pay attention to and learn from.

5. The intern

As someone who had multiple internships in college, trust me on this one. I once had an internship where I reported to nine different people, and they all happily passed along their grunt work. If there was no clear priority as to whose work had to be done first, I chose by who I liked the most. I’d go out of my way to help the sales rep who took all the interns to lunch on their birthdays, while I’d push requests from the event coordinator with a short temper to the bottom of the pile.  Treat the interns well, and you may see a vast improvement in the quality and timeliness of the work they produce.

For more info on getting ahead at work, check out these posts:

Can You Disagree With Your Boss and Not Lose Your Job?

How You Can Become a Better Negotiator

Putting Your Foot in Your Mouth at Work

Related posts:

1. If the thermostat’s too high, productivity might be low (I’m going to avoid temperature puns…even though I really, really...
2. The boss doesn’t care anymore … so now what? Talk of workplace productivity, motivation and passion (or lack thereof)...
3. “Can We Have Bikini Fridays?” And Other Strange Requests… Thankfully, for everyone in my office, one of my co-workers...

Yet, not all co-workers who get on your nerves are bad people. These colleagues are often nice and the kind of people you wouldn’t mind hanging out with during happy hour now and then. You wouldn’t mind if it weren’t for that one really annoying habit of theirs that makes you want to lock them in the supply closet and throw away the key. You know, that one thing that they always do that causes you to take a deep breath and go for a walk just to get away from them now and again.

As we learned about co-workers who need to tone down the cologne or perfume, many people don’t realize that their behavior is annoying. They’re not trying to get on your nerves … but they do. In order to let you vent, we’ve put together a list of some annoying behavior you’re likely to witness while on the clock, whether in an office, in a retail store or construction site. Where two or more co-workers gather, annoying behavior follows.

Some co-workers don’t realize that they’re annoying, but they are. Why? Because they’re:

Always saying the wrong things.
The unknowingly offensive co-worker isn’t necessarily performing an action directly to you. Often the words coming from their mouths are natural to them but grating to you.

• Lingo fanatics: Please avoid relying on business lingo to get your message across. Every industry has jargon, but some words should be used sparingly if at all: value add, circle back, synergy, ping, think outside the box and manage up. (Feel free to add others in the comments.)

• Uhm, like, you know, like, uhm: Verbal fillers (uhm, like) are not often heard on radio or news broadcasts because they don’t add any substance to what’s being said. They are just placeholders until the speaker can get the right words out. A few “uhms” or an occasional “like” are acceptable, but if they comprise the bulk of your spoken words, try to weed them out. You don’t sound knowledgeable to your co-workers and they are more focused on how you’re speaking than on what you’re saying.

Financial impositions
Annoying co-workers often mean well, but they don’t realize that they’re do-gooding is a nuisance on you and your checkbook.

• Always celebrating something: The resident party planner is always looking for a reason to buy a card, buy a cake, get a gift or throw a party. If you’re the one responsible for these activities, make sure everyone is on board and that you’re not overdoing it. People don’t like being pressured into contributing if they didn’t have a say in the event, and they certainly don’t want to be doling out cash to their co-workers several times a month.

• Peddling cookies and magazines: When children are raising money, the funds are probably going to a worthy cause that people don’t mind donating to, if funds permit. However, don’t be known as the person who has a new product to push every semester — especially if you’re sending around your adorable child to do the selling.

Noisy
Some etiquette you learned as a child can come across as overly formal, such as never putting your elbows on the table or wearing a baseball cap indoors. While certain rules can be discarded, others should be observed for the sake of co-workers.

• Gum popping and chewing loudly: If you are chewing gum, have the decency to keep your mouth closed and not make a loud popping noise. That startling, incessant pop is breaking your co-workers’ concentration. If you’re chewing any food, remember to keep your mouth closed. No one needs to see the contents of your mouth.

• Cracking knuckles: Although cracking your knuckles can be therapeutic, it’s as jarring as popping your gum. The strange noise and inevitable sighs of relief after  should be done away from your colleagues.

These are just a few of the annoying habits your co-workers are oblivious to. You can probably list a dozen more. Let us know what annoying habits make you silently scream throughout the day and how you’ve handled them. Feel free to print this out and tape it up at work. Or maybe just leave it casually on someone’s desk so they get the hint.

Related posts:

1. Are co-workers important to your ideal job? I’ve written my fair share of articles about annoying co-workers....
2. Talk to The Work Buzz Contest! winning question: Salary offers On Monday we asked you to submit your questions about...
3. Co-workers are strange. Very, very strange. Co-workers can really make or break a workplace. A bad...

Over the last two-and-a-half years, we’ve written a lot on recession-proof jobs and the future’s most-wanted workers, but boy were we missing some. Some of today’s thriving industries include interactive technology, wellness and family entertainment.

Check out these 10 surprisingly recession-proof industries on the Huffington Post. The article points out that Americans are spending less on “essentials” like education and funerals and more on things like checking that marathon off their bucket list, pampering their pooch and getting some fresh ink. “Perhaps mounting frustrations and anxieties about the economy have shown a new side of human nature,” mused the writer.  

Inc. magazine also points to industries ripe for would-be entrepreneurs, including environmental consulting, vintage clothing and even cupcakes. As more long-term unemployed consider self-employment and starting their own businesses, this piece provides some fresh ideas.

If you’re looking for that next great opportunity, try searching some of these growth areas as keywords on CareerBuilder.com, or check out OpportunityBuilder.com for advice especially for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Have you thought about starting your own business or pursuing a career in a new industry? Tell us your experience.

Related posts:

1. January job numbers redux The BLS released January’s jobs report this morning, and while...
2. Tips for the long-term unemployed Although there are signs the economy is healing, there are...

Although I personally think this is a great idea, since I love dogs, I can see how take your dog to work day might raise some office controversy for the canine-aversive. As someone with a serious cat allergy, if there was such thing as annual Take Your Cat to Work Day, I would call in sick on that day every year. Yet despite any potential employee opposition, an increasing number of companies are making it policy to allow animals in the workplace — and not just once-a-year.

According to a 2008 survey by The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 17 percent of businesses in the United States allow pets in the workplace. Indeed, large companies like Google, The Jim Henson Company, Dell, Clif Bar, Athleta Clothing, Smith & Hawken, DraftFCB and Amazon.com are all dog-friendly.

TheWorkBuzz wanted to see what employees thought about pets in the workplace, so we talked to a bunch of workers at companies with animal friendly policies — whether those policies exist just for today, or all year round. Here’s what they had to say: 

“We got a puppy in December and bring him to work every day. It’s really improved morale and socialization in our office. The dog reminds us to have fun and take a break to play ball or give a treat. One of my staffers told me that he’s one of her favorite things about the office. We call him our chief puppy officer!” — Michelle Madhok, CEO, SheFinds.com

“Allowing employees to bring their dogs to work is great for morale, retention, and is a reminder of our start-up roots.” — Collin Bass, public relations associate, UShip

“We welcome dogs and cats and, although we have had our share of chewed computer speaker wires and unplanned carpet cleanings, it is very positive for the employees who bring in their pets and those who are interacting with our pets. We employ 20 disabled adults through a local non-profit group who work at our facility packaging healthy dog treats. The office dogs give our diverse workforce unconditional love and delight them with their tricks and shameless begging.” –Rebecca Rose, CEO, InClover Pet Supplements

“For my company, every day is Take Your Dog to Work Day. It just wouldn’t be the same without Sandy, my golden retriever, at my feet. Sandy is so well-behaved that I’m not concerned about doing conference calls with her here–she seems to consider it rude to bark indoors. For me, Take Your Dog to Work Day is a good idea every day.” — Mellanie True Hills, CEO, StopAFib.org

“We work really hard during the week and each Friday many of our producers, developers and other staff members bring their dogs to work. Allowing dogs in the office one day a week has been a great program for the company – and it’s a nice to have some furry friends around our very busy, hard working, deadline driven environment once a week!” — Carrie Peters, Smashing Ideas Digital Media 

“I love the concept of taking your dog to work and know it is fraught with challenges. I once worked for a PR firm with offices in Emeryville, California (near Berkeley) that had a dog-friendly office. It was a great idea, and having dogs in the office did a lot for creating a family and friendly atmosphere. The real challenge is that you have to interview the dogs who come to work as well as their masters. The concept of bringing your dog to work is great, assuming the dog is well behaved and the master is willing to take responsibility.” –Tom Woolfe, Woolfe Media

“OtterBox is participating in take your dog to work day with “Otter Barks” day! We are celebrating with our furry friends while giving back to a great local organization, the Animal House Dog Shelter in Fort Collins, Colo. Each person bringing a dog will make a $10 donation and all proceeds will be given to the Animal House Dog Shelter.” — Kristin Golliher, public relations manager, OtterBox

“We’re a graphic design firm and [our office dog] is a full member of our company. Every member of our staff loves her. She’s even listed on our ‘Meet Our Staff’  page.” — Brian Law, president, Prime Design Solutions

Based on the responses we received, it seems like the overall reaction to animals at work is positive, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments section.

Related posts:

1. Before you fill out that March Madness bracket… Few things unite co-workers like a good, old-fashioned office pool....
2. Ask The Work Buzz! Bringing a past performance review to an interview Dawn has a question for us: Is it a good...

As we’ve mentioned before, co-workers play important roles on your workplace experience. They, at the very least, can

According to Linnda Durré, Ph.D., co-workers can also be toxic. She doesn’t mean they get on your  nerves, but they actually cause you harm on some level. As the author of “Surviving the Toxic Workplace: Protect Yourself Against the Co-workers, Bosses and Work Environments That Poison Your Day,” she knows a thing or two about identifying harmful associates. Luckily, she has advice that doesn’t just help you identify problems but that also teaches you how to address the issues. Today’s guest blogging duties come from Durré herself.

Here are 10 toxic co-workers and how to deal with them, according to Durré.

1. VIC THE VIOLENT ONE
Vic the Violent One is a genuine threat. Do not approach Vic directly. Document every transgression with date, time and place. Some people use their cell phone cameras, video cams and/or audio tape recorders to record his outrages. Report Vic to HR. Security may have to be called. Some people carry Mace or a taser for protect against Vic. If HR doesn’t take action, ask for a transfer to a different department, see if you can work from home and/or go to EEOC, the media, or the union or get an attorney and sue. Protect yourself. You and others can file a law suit and allege a hostile work environment.

2. ANDY THE ALCOHOLIC/DRUG ADDICT
Andy the Alcoholic/Drug Addict is dangerous, and if he is a driver for the company, he can cause fatalities. His behavior is a cry for help, even though he is in denial. Report him to HR and your boss to take action, like ordering him to a 30-90 day de-tox/rehab, hopefully covered by insurance. If HR won’t do anything, bond with co-workers, Andy’s friends and family and hire a qualified interventionist for a group confrontation about his addiction (my website has a list of interventionists around the country). Talk with Andy privately, take him to an AA, CA and/or NA 12 Step Meeting because Andy has to “hit bottom” and/or have “a moment of clarity,” to recognize his addiction is killing him if he doesn’t stop. He’ll thank you for saving his life when he gets sober.

3. STAN THE STALKER
If Stan the Stalker is a spurned lover, he may stalk you. If his ex was your co-worker, he may hound you for information. Either way, be careful. He may seek revenge and he can possibly do you physical harm, kidnap, or even murder you. He may be delusional and suffer from erotomania – the “relationship” may be in his mind. He may need medication. Go to HR and your boss and tell them immediately. Set limits, tell him his behavior is inappropriate, and if he doesn’t stop, you may need a restraining order and police protection. Move to another department, take another job, work from home, or move to another state. Carry pepper spray or get a taser if he threatens you.

4. SID THE SEXUAL HARASSER
Sid the Sexual Harasser doesn’t understand “no.” Set limits, be firm, clear and yell if you must, making sure you have witnesses, proof and evidence when you report him to HR and/or your boss.  Tell him that what he is doing is illegal, unethical and immoral and it must stop now! If the company doesn’t take action, they can be sued for allowing a hostile work environment to be created. Be assertive – the law is on your side.

5. SAM THE SMILING COBRA
Sam the Smiling Cobra smiles while he sets you up and stabs you in the back. Cover yourself, document everything with e-mails, phone logs and letters, cc’ing them to your boss and the HR department. Keep a file locked with a complete copy in your bank’s safety deposit box. Ask for a transfer to another department, work from home, or go to a different company. San may be a psychopath/sociopath who wouldn’t think twice about ruining you or having someone – including you – killed if they got in his way. Read Snakes in Suits.

 6. GRETA THE GOSSIP
Greta the Gossip is a vicious rumor mill. Set boundaries and limits clearly and assertively. Inform her you know she spread the falseties. Go to HR and file a formal complaint. Confront her directly with them present. Insist they discipline her, require an apology letter, cc’ing it to the department. If HR refuses, send an e-mail to your co-workers refuting any malicious rumors, stating you confronted her and she has not apologized to you or anyone via an e-mail about her vicious rumors, as you requested when you went to HR, who did not handle the matter. Set the record straight and protect yourself.

7. PAUL THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT
Paul is either a deliberate bigot/ racist/sexist /homophobe or totally clueless like Michael Scott on “The Office.” He may be violating federal and state laws as well as company policy by creating a hostile work environment, so document everything and always cc it to your boss, the HR department and co-workers. Make a tape of your office and cell phone messages from him and print out his e-mails to you. Make copies and keep all evidence in a safety deposit in your bank in case of a law suit. Bring Paul to HR and tell Paul directly that his insensitive remarks interfere in your work, offend people and need to stop. Ask HR to order Paul to a refresher course in diversity training.

8. THOMAS THE THIEF
Thomas can steal your ideas, take credit for your work and/or take items from your desk, wallet and purse. Change your computer and cell phone passwords daily, close and lock your desk and carry your purse and valuables to the bathroom. Use your camera to document when you find your things in his possession. Call him out in a meeting that he took your idea. Whether you have proof or not, confront Thomas so he knows you’re onto his game. Be firm, clear and direct with him because he’s in denial and he has an addiction. Report him to HR, even if you have no proof. Ask co-workers to be witnesses for you.

 9. GORDON THE GRINCH
Gordon the Grinch is negative, pessimistic and insulting. Set limits, confront him and say, “Gordon, I appreciate that you are a dependable worker here, and I know you don’t like your job, but I do. I’d prefer you keep your negative comments to yourself and let me work in peace. Perhaps the free counseling sessions at EAP – Employee Assistance Program – might lift your black cloud. ” Unless he has a near death experience and realizes how precious life is, Gordon won’t change. Ask HR to speak to him, move away from Gordon, transfer to another department, work from home, start your own business, or work for another company. If not, wear ear plugs, play music through ear buds. Protect yourself from Gordon’s negativity.

10. PAM THE PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE
Pam is passive-aggressive—she does nasty, aggressive acts in a passive manner. Pam “forgets” to tell about the urgent call or that your overnight delivery has been sitting on her desk for hours. Confront Pam that you’re onto her game because she thinks you don’t know.  Tell her to communicate honestly and openly rather than sabotage you. Allow her to be assertive, which may be scary for her, given her programming that “anger” isn’t “nice.” Pam needs assertiveness training workshops, to listen to self-help CD’s and read as many books about it as possible. If she takes your advice, she will be incredibly grateful to you for freeing her from her own emotional prison.

–
Linnda Durré, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist, business consultant, corporate trainer, national speaker and columnist. She has hosted and co-produced two live call-in TV shows, including “Ask The Family Therapist” on America’s Health Network, which was associated with Mayo Clinic. She is the author of “Surviving The Toxic Workplace: Protect Yourself Against Co-Workers, Bosses, and Work Environments That Poison Your Day” (2010 – McGraw-Hill). www.survivingthetoxicworkplace.com

Related posts:

1. How to wish your boss, “Happy Boss’s Day” I think “The Office’s” Michael Scott best described the role...
2. The 10 Worst Movie Jobs Lights! Camera! Fantasy! Movies are where we go to forget...
3. The boss doesn’t care anymore … so now what? Talk of workplace productivity, motivation and passion (or lack thereof)...

However, the video’s worth watching because Fried suggests that IM, e-mail and other virtual communication benefit workers more than traditional face-to-face conversations. You’ve undoubtedly heard people — employees, boss and workplace experts — criticize today’s technology-driven workplace for a lack of personal interaction. The problem, these critics explain, is that no one walks the ten feet to knock on someone’s office door or even rolls their chair across the aisle to chat with their cube neighbor. Not only are we supposedly lazy, but we don’t know how to interact with people anymore. We’re used to pressing buttons and typing texts, not making eye contact and holding conversations.

Fair points, and they express a viewpoint that many, many people agree with. However, Fried offers a counterpoint. In his opinion, relying on technology allows people to respond to messages when it is convenient for them. For example, if your colleague has a question but it’s not urgent, rather than interrupt you, she can send an e-mail that you can reply to at your convenience. No interrupting your current task or breaking your concentration. Seems logical to me.

So watch Fried’s clip and tell us whether or not you agree with him. Have you worked in environments where technology was the preferred and more effective form of communication? Did you work for a company where in-person conversation was the only acceptable way to get things done? Let us know.

Related posts:

1. The challenges of a May-December workplace The standard workplace looks very different than it did a...
2. Are co-workers important to your ideal job? I’ve written my fair share of articles about annoying co-workers....
3. Putting your foot in your mouth at work What happens when you make a verbal blunder at work?...

In Sunday’s New York Times, writer Michael Luo touched on a phenomenon that is occurring throughout the country: overqualified workers who are satisfied just being employed. As Luo points out, many job postings give the basic requirements for candidates, but many applicants have experience and education that theoretically qualifies them for much higher positions. When these job seekers find themselves in these positions, they experience some insecurity but have some satisfaction that at least they’re working.

Academic research on the subject confirms that workers who perceive themselves as overqualified do, in fact, report lower job satisfaction and higher rates of turnover. But the studies also indicate that those workers tend to perform better. Moreover, there is evidence that many of the negatives that come with overqualified hires can be mitigated if they are given autonomy and made to feel valued and respected.

The new variable in all of this is the continuing grim economic climate. Many workers’ ambitions have evolved, after all, from climbing the ladder to simply holding on to a job, any job. Turnover would also seem to be less of a concern amid predictions that it could be years before unemployment returns to pre-recession levels.

As a result, Luo points out, many overqualified workers are struggling to accept their current situation without letting insecurity appear.

For his part, Mr. Carroll admitted that he had caught himself often trying to drop his credentials into conversations at his new workplace.

“Obviously that stems from maybe some embarrassment at the level that I’m at,” he said. “I do want people to know that, to some extent, this isn’t who I am.”

Have you found yourself in this situation in the last couple of years? How have you dealt with being overqualified? Some job seekers have said that “overqualified” is a useless term because all that matters is whether or not a person wants the job and is qualified for it. Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts.

No related posts.

The people we work with are so many things to us. Heck, even our question of the week invites you to ask us your questions about co-workers! And just on this blog alone we’ve learned the following about colleagues:

• They keep us from feeling alienated.
• They gamble with us.
• They make for good dates (sometimes).
• They are odd birds.

They are also – how should we put  it? – aromatic. While we appreciate that these colleagues want to add a pleasant fragrance to the air, we don’t like that they do it with several ounces of cologne and perfume each day. They are proof that too much of a good thing is possible. On a recent “Early Show,” Bianca Solorzano covered a story about Susan McBride, a Detroit city employee who claimed a co-worker’s perfume and room deodorizer caused her to suffer from migraines and nausea. She sued the city, citing her inability to work properly under the pungent conditions.

McBride won a $100,000 settlement. Detroit city employees in the three buildings where McBride works are now being warned not to wear scented products, including colognes, aftershave, perfumes and deodorants, or even use candles and air fresheners.

Last week, a co-worker and I were in a cab where the driver’s cologne was stifling. A few minutes later, we were in an elevator and another passenger’s cologne was causing our eyes to tear. We couldn’t wait to get into the fresh air of the outdoors, where good, old-fashioned smog filled our lungs. Although I didn’t feel quite as traumatized by the incident as McBride did, I can understand her point. If I were forced to drown in someone’s perfume eight hours a day for five days a week, with no end in sight, I can imagine my productivity would suffer. And, as attorney Joelle Sharman points out:

A person doesn’t necessarily have a right to wear perfume, but the person does have a right to be able to breathe in the workplace. So if an employee comes into work and says to his or her boss, ‘I can’t breathe, this perfume is triggering a condition that is affecting my ability to breathe in the workplace,’ and reports to his or her boss, the boss has to reasonably accommodate that person.

You can read the whole story and see the accompanying video on the “Early Show” website to get the whole story.

Although I’ve never worked with such a colleague on a regular basis, I’ve had more friends, family members and readers mention the issue of overbearing fragrances than perhaps any other issue. (Much to my surprise I might add – maybe they’re giving me a hint.) Apparently this issue is much bigger than I realized.

So I ask you, is this an issue you’ve dealt with? How did you handle it? Do you side with McBride or with the room-deodorizing co-worker?  Let us know.

Bing: Does a co-worker have ‘hygiene issues?’

Related posts:

1. Are co-workers important to your ideal job? I’ve written my fair share of articles about annoying co-workers....
2. When your boss forgets to be the boss I fully admit that I’m not the reality TV junkie...

Few things unite co-workers like a good, old-fashioned office pool. Can you pick the date Ellen will have her baby? What about the baby’s sex and name? How many days in a row will Bob wear the same pants? How long can Fred go without checking his smart phone in a meeting? 

It seems workers will bet on everything and anything – even when a large pile of snow in the parking lot would melt and what co-workers’ cholesterol numbers would be.

Yet nothing causes quite the betting frenzy at work more than March Madness. Workers across the country are researching stats, crunching numbers and calling their ESPN-addicted cousins in order to fill out their March Madness brackets. Let’s look at the numbers.

A survey from Spherion found 45 percent of workers have participated in an office pool before, and 56 percent of those who have participated specifically took part in March Madness pools. And in 2009, a Microsoft estimated that 58 million people — many at work and on the clock — will fill out tournament brackets.

Consider the time used for watching the free streaming of all 64 games and the subsequent discussion of those games. During the 2009 NCAA Tournament, CBSsports.com reported that there were 7.52 million unique visitors to the NCAA March Madness on Demand video player, a 58 percent  increase over 2008 figures. Additionally, there were 8.6 million total hours of video and audio consumed, a 75 percent increase over 2008 figures. Experts predict the estimated cost of the lost productivity during March Madness is $1.8 billion.

But with the American work force increasing its productivity year after year, the time spent viewing video online or filling out your brackets might not be necessarily frowned upon by management. CBSsports.com’s “Boss Button” received 2.77 million clicks in 2009 compared to 2.5 million in 2008 — not quite on par the with staggering increases in traffic and viewed video.

Office Team recently asked more than 1,000 managers whether March Madness activities, such as watching game highlights or engaging in friendly competitions, affect morale and productivity. Forty-one percent of those surveyed felt the college basketball playoffs have a positive effect on employee morale. The majority (56 percent) also said March Madness activities do not impact productivity and 22 percent of respondents believed the festivities actually boost workers’ output.

Unless the company has rules against gambling, your office pool is harmless. In the Spherion study, 49 percent of workers say their employer doesn’t have an office pool policy, and another 37 percent of workers don’t know if an office pool policy exists at their company.Yet, according to another recent survey from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 23 percent of employers have a written policy regarding gambling, and an additional 10 percent have an unwritten or understood policy, This figure might not sound significant, but in 2006 only 14 percent had a written policy and 7 percent had an unwritten policy, suggesting companies are watching workplace betting more than they used to.

Companies who do have policies regarding gambling (and yes, putting money on March Madness counts) say the following:

• 83 percent prohibit any form of gambling on company premises
• 72 percent will take disciplinary action (not including termination) for violating the  policy
• 70 percent prohibit gambling where money is exchanged
• 67 percent have provisions for termination if the gambling policy is violated

So go ahead and fill out your bracket if you want, but don’t let it affect your productivity and don’t give your employer a reason to institute a policy against pools if none exists. Before you let March Madness overtake you, keep the following tips in mind:

• Do your research and strategizing on your own time.
  Don’t waste hours of your company’s time putting player stats in a spreadsheet when you should be doing your job.
• Check the rules
  Even if you’re pretty sure no rules exist about betting, you should double check. Maybe you can bet but you can’t put money on it. Better to be informed than surprised by an angry boss or HR person.
• Remember, it’s all fun
  Don’t get so enthralled by the competition that you end up yelling at a co-worker or throwing your coffee mug against the wall. No one will like you, you could get fired and you’ve probably ruined office pools for everyone else, too.
• Don’t force people to play
  Office pools are fun. At least they should be. When an overzealous organizer is going up to each person and giving them a version of LBJ’s Treatment just to pressure them into participating, the fun is gone. Some people just don’t care about the pool, so let them sit it out.

That said, good luck!

Related posts:

1. Nearly 40 percent of workers have flirted with romance on the job When you think of TV’s most famous romantic duos —...
2. The flu season and you H1N1 is to 2009 what El Niño was to 1998....

A new study from the Pew Research Center looks at what makes Millennials different from the 30 and older crowd. The study looks at all aspects of this generation’s characteristics, from their politics to their views on family responsibility. Although no study can define every member of a group, these results show a generational consensus on many issues.

According to the study, Millennials are experiencing economic hardships due to the recession, but their attitudes don’t reflect it.

About two-thirds of Millennials (68 percent) say they are not earning enough money to live the kind of life they want. However, within that group the vast majority (88 percent) say they expect to earn enough in the future to live the good life. That is significantly higher than the percentage of Gen Xers (76 percent) or Baby Boomers (46 percent) who share this hopeful view.

You might think that this optimism is curious, especially considering what they’re up against. After all, the economy hasn’t been great for anyone, much less for young people who haven’t had time to accumulate a financial safety net. Yet, the survey points out, the optimism might not be entirely unfounded:

Time is on their side. When the jobs return, the survey results suggest these young people will be prepared. Millennials appear to be on track to becoming the most educated generation in America’s history. Millennials have not yet matched the educational attainment of Gen Xers. So far, 19% are college graduates compared with 35 percent of Gen Xers.”

The study goes on to talk about a lot of stuff — and it’s interesting to see not only what Millennials say but how they compare to past generations. It’s worth a thorough reading.

We’ve mentioned here before and in articles that this generation loves technology, embraces collaboration and expects to climb the professional ladder faster than past generations. We know this (and the study goes into more detail). We are dealing with a group of professionals who have an impressive amount of education but many obstacles in their way, so no rules exist on what they should expect.

Looking at this study, do you think Millennials have a reason to be optimistic or would you caution them to be less hopeful? Are you one of these Millennials?

Related posts:

1. The challenges of a May-December workplace The standard workplace looks very different than it did a...