Author: Lara Mulawka
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How to celebrate Star Wars Day in the office
There is no time like the present to lock down your Star Wars Day plans. This is going to be the best Star Wars Day yet as May 4th is on a Friday this year. Here are a list of ideas to help celebrate Star Wars in the office and to help bring everyone together […]
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Beyond the 3 R’s: How to celebrate Earth Day in the office
Since we were kids in grade school, the message of the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle has been a part of the conversation whenever Earth Day, April 22, approaches. Now as adults, we are used to tossing an empty soda can into the blue bin. Caring for the environment at the office is easier […]
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Asked to donate at work: How to decide how to give
Every year, many of us are bombarded with fundraising pitches or donation campaigns from coworkers, friends and social media. While we all want to be a part of the greater good, the requests for support can be overwhelming. Here are some easy tips you can start using today to keep giving manageable, instead of stressful, […]
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How to politely refuse to do something that is way beyond your job description
It is a familiar line that lurks at the bottom of almost all job postings: “And other duties as assigned.” In most cases, the vague phrase encompasses tasks that arise infrequently and out of necessity. Such as, when a team member is on vacation, and you are asked to take on some of their responsibilities […]
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Why mindful spending is better than budgeting
Financial stress can follow us everywhere. As much as we try to avoid it, that stress can seep into our work-life and disrupt our productivity. In order to reduce financial stress, we must proactively fight it with efficient money management. Your immediate thought may be to create a budget. Budgets can be very useful. They […]
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How to overcome a three-month new job slump
Starting a new job is like being the new kid on the block. There are new faces to recognize, new names to learn, and new routines to become familiar with. It can be challenging learning the ropes but equally exciting and fun. However, as with most new things, your new job can lose its novelty […]
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I said something offensive. How can I get my foot out of my mouth gracefully?
So it happened. You said something insensitive and now your foot is lodged so deep in your mouth that you’re tasting toenail. Making an inappropriate comment at work can make you feel like you want to disappear and never see your coworkers again. Sometimes, you realize what you’re saying as it’s leaving your mouth and […]
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9 ways to boost workplace emergency preparedness
Emergency preparedness in the workplace allows us to take control of a situation. Some steps to take before a natural disaster or emergency occurs while you are at work are: Have an evacuation plan Know various ways out of your office building. Evacuation routes – Know where emergency evacuation routes and marked emergency exits are located […]
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How air quality affects your work performance and ways to improve it
Have you ever stopped to think about how much time you actually spend indoors? Or, what the number of hours you spend at work are in a lifetime? Getting up, going to work and coming home are just part of the daily routine, but the data regarding how much time we spend inside buildings and […]
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How to end the office fridge battle
The break room refrigerator can be the most inconvenient convenience in the office. Not only can it get smelly and sticky, but it can also be a source of contention when coworkers don’t always remember the golden rules of sharing in a communal space. Whether you’re the person who packs in leftovers and conveniently forgets […]
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How to create a voluntary benefits program for your company
Office managers who work at businesses that don’t provide many benefits (or none at all), can help their company and their coworkers by helping start a voluntary benefits plan. Voluntary benefits are those that aren’t offered directly by the employer, but allow employees to purchase a variety of benefits at a more affordable group price […]
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How and when to destroy digital data
In the past, privacy could be mostly ensured through paper shredding, but now data is almost universally digitized. It resides on hard drives, servers, disks, and, increasingly, in the cloud. The proper disposal of digital data can be a challenge for businesses. How can a business know when to destroy unnecessary digital data, and how […]