How would you design your work place?

Does your work environment contribute to your mood and productivity? What changes would you make for an overall happy work place?
http://www.gensler.com/pdfs/DesignPerformanceIndex.pdf

YouTube - Working with Wisdom

YouTube - Working with Wisdom

Spirituality in the Work Place

I have always considered myself a spiritual person, but due to the recent loss of my dad, I am especially searching for a deeper meaning in life. Spirituality in the work place can enrich our lives and bring meaning to those around us. Thank you all for your heartfelt condolences and personal notes. You are mentioned in my gratitude journal.

http://www.awomansjourney.com/workplacespirituality.html

"My Father" Learning Log

Dear friends,

On July 15, 2007 @ 12:45 pm, my father passed away after a long illness. He died in the Emergency Room at the Melrose Wakefield Hospital surrounded by his family and had a peaceful parting from this world. We celebrated his 80th birthday, just 6 short weeks ago. He had a complicated medical history with two CABGs, had insulin dependent diabetes, end stage renal disease and received hemodialysis at least three times a week. He had multiple episodes of pneumonia, arthritis, gout and additional ailments. Although my father was not a general, he fought many battles. His strength and will to live far surpassed any of our expectations. Physicians were amazed at his endurance coping with multiple diseases and multiple system's failure. He kept rebounding after being so ill, especially the past four years. My only conclusion, in addition to modern medicine, was the power of love. Before leaving the funeral home on Wednesday night, the collage I had made of he and I, fell off the stand. This was witnessed by my daughter and her friend who were down the hallway. There was no one nearby, there was no explanation. I felt my father's presence. When we think of someone we love, they are with us, no matter where they are physically.

Over the past six days, I have incorporated, "Information, Research, and Technology " in to the planning and preparation of my father's funeral. My father wrote his own obituary 10 years ago and we tried to follow it the best we could. I had requested a slide show in memory of my father, but the funeral home did not have the technology. Instead, I created my own personal digital photo frame on Monday, including almost 1,000 photos. I sent an email with photo of my father to the funeral director to be incorporated in to the prayer card for guests who attended the wake. I followed up on this the next day, only to hear from the director, that his computer was down and he never received my request. I had to find someone else to print the prayer card after the fact. I created a program for the funeral Mass after spending many hours of research and compiled the information together myself. The obituary is in the process of being rewritten as the printing was done unprofessionally and inaccurately. On Thursday morning, I gave the Eulogy.

The "Information, Research, and Technology" course provided me with additional resources and skills to overcome many of the obstacles that my family had to endure during this difficult time. In retrospect, the funeral home (chosen by my father years ago for his final resting place) was purchased by a corporation not providing the service that he once knew. The lesson learned was the importance of research for any event or function prior to the actual event, but who knew? We relied on professionals to guide us through.

I hope to be on track with our final week of the class. I will enjoy reading everyone's Blogs in more detail once things settle down for me. I have been so fortunate to have met you all.

Mary Anne

Employer supported Child Care

Many employers are recognizing the need to provide child care in the work place, benefiting both the employee and the company. With more women working to support housholds and the need for dependable child care, this could be a win-win situation for both.
http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/pdfs/EWS_ESCC.pdf

Safety in the Work Place

Do you know how to protect yourself from threats and hazards in the work place? Many of us are exposed daily to chemical, biological, radiaoactive, construction, and electrical hazards every day placing employees at increased risk for morbidity and mortality in the work place . There has been recent media attention to the threat of terrorist attack in the US, Canada, and Eastern Europe. How can employees working in high risk professions better prepare for threats to personal safety? http://www.naspweb.com/

Corporate Dominatrix: Control your office

While watching the "Today Show" one Sunday morning, a segment about how role playing at work can help you get ahead peaked my interest. The title was catchy and added a different slant to getting what you want from the work place. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19226791/

Learning Log

Hi Catherine,
Our class during the summer of 2007 was a brief introduction in to the world of Blogging. There is so much information to be learned, explored, and shared and my only regret was the limited class time and not enough hours of the day to devote to this subject. I am so impressed by the talents of my course mates and how each of them have been able to create an extraordinary Blog linking valuable research and information. I look forward to visiting each Blog for daily updates and thoroughly enjoy reading my course mate's comments. Most of my time was devoted to visiting every one's Blog, intrigued by the information which they presented, rather than devoted to my own project. I was impressed and fascinated by the amount of work, detail, and incorporation of technology that went in to every Blog.
The personal connection that many course mates shared was evident by their comments of utmost support, kindness, caring, and friendships for one another. Personalities and individual interests were evident and I enjoyed getting to know everyone. I enjoyed visiting each Blog site viewing shared interest and over lapping themes, in addition to the exploration of topics including information on diamonds, wedding planning, and children's imagination which added a non medical dimension.
Many of us were personally touched by Chris and how she dealt with her husband's diagnosis. Chris is an amazing women and I am so inspired by her strength and directed energy which she used to educate others in the prevention and treatment of melanoma. Although the course was short, I feel that the Blogging exercise brought people closer together and I am grateful for the experience.
Catherine, it must be rewarding to witness tremendous student interest, productivity, and growth in the field of technology. Thank you for continually adding new sites for us to explore, develop, and to incorporate in to our Blogs. I hope to continue and share my blogging experiences beyond the summer of 2007. Thank you again for inviting me in to the world of Blogging.

YouTube - monster pillow fight

The woman in the video is my sister, Frannie, who is having a pillow fight with her children, nieces and nephews while on vacation in Dennis, Cape Cod last week. This was probably not the best idea right before bed time, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. My 14 year old niece filmed the video which was relevant to our class project.
YouTube - monster pillow fight

YouTube - Experience Food Round Table

Strategies for healthy eating in the work place.
YouTube - Experience Food Round Table

Eating Healthy at Work

As I explore ideas to create an "Extraordinary Work Place", food as a source of good health and social venue come to mind. It is difficult to concentrate on work activities when one is focused on their next meal. Hunger in the work place is a distraction from productivity and aimed at overall poor health. Additionally, sometimes we are too consumed with activities and dead lines, only to skip meals or make poor health choices.
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/healthyeating.html

Information, Research, and Technology

I would like to thank my coursemates (Chris, Eileen, Jen, Jo Ann, Joceyln, Lin, Linda, Mary Lou, Shannon, and Tahia) for an enjoyable and successful 2007 summer program at MEEI. Special thanks to our professor, Catherine Seo, for her intuitiveness, flexibility and adding a new technological dimension in to our lives. I hope to see you all again some time soon.
http://inforesearching.blogspot.com

What are you looking for in your job?

What is really important to you in the work place? Is it job satisfaction or job importance? Can you really have it all?
http://www.networkworld.com/you/2006/072406-you-onlinecharts.html

The Importance of Job Networking

More jobs are found by networking than from any other source. "It is not what you know, but who you know", better yet, "It is what you know about who you know.
Find out more details by visiting the site below.
http://www.esquiregroup.com/jobs_career_24.cfm