Creating an Extraordinary Work PLace

How would you design your work place?

2007-07-24T22:55:00.001-04:00

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

2007-07-24T21:37:00.000-04:00

YouTube - Working with Wisdom

Spirituality in the Work Place

2007-07-24T21:04:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-21T09:31:00.001-04:00

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

2007-07-14T23:49:00.001-04:00

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

2007-07-14T23:04:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-14T22:45:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-08T14:39:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-07T20:05:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-07T19:30:00.000-04:00

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

Eating Healthy at Work

2007-07-07T18:35:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-04T22:00:00.000-04:00

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?

2007-07-04T21:42:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-04T21:17:00.000-04:00

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

The Four Hour Work Week

2007-06-30T11:37:00.000-04:00

While getting ready to go to Catherine's class this morning, a television clip came on by the author of the "Four Hour Work Week". How can some people accomplish so much in so little time? I began to think about all the hours spent preparing for work, the actual commute, and time management while at work. How can we eliminate extraneous tasks that allow us to spend more time enjoying what we really want to do? After all, "life is short".
http://lifedev.net/2007/04/review-the-4-hour-workweek/

Hiring Immigrant Workers

2007-06-29T22:25:00.000-04:00

There has been much media press of late regarding immigration reform. The immigrant worker has much to offer in the work place while benefiting the economy.
http://immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=175

Benefits of Hiring Older Workers

2007-06-29T21:44:00.000-04:00

Many people are working well in to their seventh decade these days providing life experiences and maturity to the work place. The aging population (and we are all aging) has much to offer all generations.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/humanresources/hiring/article167500.html

Career success for Newbies

2007-06-29T21:25:00.000-04:00

How can having a positive attitude direct your career path? " If you think you can do a thing, or if you think you cannot do a thing, you are right" Henry Ford
http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com/index.html

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Telecommuting

2007-06-29T20:39:00.000-04:00

Work schedules are not simply a 9 to 5 job anymore. Why spend needless hours stuck in traffic, incurring additional expenses during a lengthy commute when other options are available? Many businesses are exploring flexible work schedules and telecommuting, benefiting both the employee and company.
http://www.todaysengineer.org/careerfocus/Aug01te/aug01features/telecommuting.html

A Canadian Study on Work Place Satisfaction in the Private and Public Sector

2007-06-29T20:15:00.000-04:00

A quality workplace employs satisfied employees and satisfied employees are the best people to define the characteristics of a good quality job. This research has revealed, yet again, that the smaller the establishment at which Canadians work, the more satisfied they tend to be, reflecting the high quality of workplace practices and opportunities found at smaller businesses. Smaller business employers are also better able to openly communicate with their employees and are more effective at building trust at the workplace.

Wages and non-wage benefits (i.e. amount of time off, health insurance) have relatively little influence on a worker's overall level of satisfaction with their workplace. It is really the more abstract features, such as interpersonal relations, work ethic and personal growth opportunities, that are much more influential in determining one's level of job satisfaction. It is precisely these more intangible workplace aspects that tend to be the most satisfying among small business employees, employers and the self-employed, but are among the least satisfying workplace aspects for larger business and public sector employees.

Finally, the research revealed that it is really a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors that shapes an individual employee's level of job satisfaction. Understanding that job satisfaction is an individual opinion, and therefore dynamically evolving, is key when motivating employees. What may be important at a certain stage of life, maybe different at another. Constantly trying to improve interpersonal relations and attempting to build a work environment of mutual respect is a much more difficult but effective means of enhancing job quality than simply providing moderate annual wage increases or a few extra days off. http://www.cfib.ca/research/reports/aspects_e.asp

"Can Gossiping on the Job Really Hurt You?

2007-06-25T21:36:00.000-04:00

Should gossiping be allowed in the work place? According to an article in Monster.com, May 2007, everyone gossips from time to time. There are seven rules to follow for "safe" gossiping. 1. Only gossip now and then, and be aware of who is listening. 2. Don't spend too much time with known office gossips, or you may be judged guilty by association. 3. Listen carefully, but say as little as possible. Don't appear to be the ambulance chaser or a tattletale so you can be the one with the scoop. 4. Work on the principle that whatever you say, will be repeated. Think of the implications of this before you speak. 5. Consider the source of gossip and the source's hidden motives. People sometimes plant information to manipulate a situation. 6. Do not badmouth people; your comments will often come back to haunt you as alliances shift in the workplace. 7. If something you say gets back to a friend or colleague in a way that you wish it hadn't, apologize and be honest. This is the only way of salvaging your reputation and limiting the damage. Do you think the Hookset 4 should loose their job? http://wbztv.com/newhampshire/local_story_141103639.html

The Future Growth of the Massachusetts Labor Force

2007-06-25T20:27:00.000-04:00

What generations will maintain the future work forces in Massachusetts? How will immigration contribute to the economy? To "Create an Extraordinary Work Place", existing and future employees in the Commonwealth must be considered.
http://www.commcorp.org/researchandevaluation/pdf/ResearchBrief3-02.pdf

Generational Differences at Work

2007-06-25T19:38:00.000-04:00

Individuality and uniqueness are gifts brought in to our world. Lately, I have taken time to become more observant and analytical of generational thinking and behavior in the work place. Understanding generational differences can contribute to a more harmonious and satisfying work environment. A psychologist reports ways to bridge the generational gap?
http://www.apa.org/monitor/jun05/generational.html

Tips on when to Quit your Job

2007-06-24T09:32:00.000-04:00

According to the book, Happy Hour is 9 to 5 by author Alexander Kjerulf, the "number- one reason why people are unhappy at work is bad management. Surveys show that up to 75% of employees who leave their jobs do so at least in part because of their manager."
http://www.abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=quit%20job&type=video

What some people will do to get out of work?

2007-06-23T18:50:00.000-04:00

While I was searching for a work video (I have to admit that this was my first time visiting youtube) I came across this video and have to say that I was LOL. Hope you will too.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YYgtUvgYi8U

Business Strategies provide Employee Satisfaction

2007-06-23T17:22:00.000-04:00

Can employees really balance a home life and career goals resulting in satisfaction and reward? With the aide of technology, many companies are offering flexible employee schedules and non traditional work environments to conduct business. How has this model impacted family life, work place productivity and the overall economy? http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA050607.1R.FlexibleWorkplaces.204726c.html

Even Boston area Hospital CEO has Blog

2007-06-23T15:57:00.000-04:00

On my commute home last night, the WBZ radio talk show hosted Paul Levy, CEO and President of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. According to Paul, he is the only hospital CEO in the Boston area who has a blog and is willing to comment on the pros and cons of "Running a Hospital". I thought this site would be worth sharing since many of us are involved in the health care field. http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/

Happy First Day of Summer !

2007-06-21T22:23:00.001-04:00

Since most of us have an innate curiosity in astronomy, I would like to recognize today as the "Summer Solstice", the first day of summer. Wishing you all many warm and sunny days ahead. Check out this web site for technical information http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/SummerSolstice.htm

"When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work"

2007-06-21T21:21:00.000-04:00

It is common place for managers to work from home these days providing support and communication via technology. Benefits to managers may be obvious including schedule flexibility and easy commute. In reality, are stay at home managers really managing and benefitting the corporation? "View the summary by The national bestseller that put "work/family balance" in the headlines and on the White House agenda, with a new introduction by the author.When The Time Bind was first published in 1997, it was hailed as the decade's most influential study of our work/family crisis. In the short time since, the crisis has only become more acute.Arlie Russell Hochschild, bestselling author of The Second Shift, spent three summers at a Fortune 500 company interviewing top executives, secretaries, factory hands, and others. What she found was startling: Though every mother and nearly every father said "family comes first," few of these working parents questioned their long hours or took the company up on chances for flextime, paternity leave, or other "family friendly" policies. Why not? It seems the roles of home and work had reversed: work was offering stimulation, guidance, and a sense of belonging, while home had become the place in which there was too much to do in too little time. Today Hochschild's findings are more relevant than ever. As she shows in her new introduction, the borders between family and work have become even more permeable. With the Internet extending working hours at home and offices offering domestic enticements -- free snacks, soft music -- to keep employees later at their jobs, The Time Bind stands as an increasingly important warning about the way we live and work. "When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work" has to say about this concept."

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9YCJVeSHodEC&oi=fnd&pg=RA1-PR14&ots=MjK42EKr34&sig=cxndn9WZY_8RLRwuhQXlb_Iu27o

2007-06-21T20:45:00.000-04:00

2007-06-20T20:14:00.000-04:00