"A growing groups needs to continually invest in new ways to figure out what it is collectively thinking so anyone anywhere can answer the question: “What the hell is going on?” This is the first question The Rands Test answers. As I’ll explain shortly, the second question The Rands Test helps you answer is selfish. The second asks: “Where am I?”"

Focusing on "Employer conduct that would be viewed as interfering with protected concerted activity" and "Where an employer acts “to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees” in the exercise of their Section 7 rights, which include the right to self-organize, form, join, or assist unions." You have the right to talk about your employer, to talk to your co-workers, and to generally be yourself online.

"According to a new study, Web browsing can actually refresh tired workers and enhance their productivity, compared to other activities such as making personal calls, texts or emails, let alone working straight through with no rest at all." And given the examples, possibly even more important for people doing routine work. (Which are those most often blocked from browsing!)

"union-busting has a lot to do with the past, present, and future of the labor movement in America"

want to print this out & post at desk or on fridge.

bias continues apace, alas.

no comment.

These guys have some good stuff, and they have good podcast voices.

Good tips from an admitted non-master. Follow the link to the vid, it's quite good.

embarrassing but true: I finally figured out how to adjust the height of my monitors from stuck at the lowest position.

"Any attempt to be positive or cheerful will be shot down and optimists will be accused of being Pollyanna, naive and unrealistic." no comment.

a nice description of employee orientation as a process rather than an event.

I hate to say it, but this actually looks useful.

"Open Source Programming Certificate Series" -- kinda tempting to ask for as a professional development thing.

Meri also left a comment to that effect here a while ago. There's some good notes in the LH comments. Also, I should write up my current DND strategies, and how it's going.

I can't decide if this one is sketchy or not.

I wish I'd seen this *before* I started my new job.....

not my current one (obviously!) but some things to think about in re: the past.

nothing earth-shattering (I need to find a way to notify people when I don't want to be disturbed) but good reminders

"living as though success were infinite, behaving with generosity and consideration, leads to more security and long-term prominence than the reverse" -- wonderful!

Rands has the right advice at just the right moment!

as usual, good stuff.

a new year + a new job makes this a good time for me to do this. plus I'm going all GTD this year.

shhhh, don't tell anybody. ;)

I kinda want to do this, although right now my (new!) office is ultra-bare.

"meetings in which the living envied the dead" -- heh. Dean Dad is probably the one higher ed blog to which I will remain subscribed, because he cracks me. Good suggestions, also.

Yes!

I love the olives, cheese, crackers, juice suggestion!

need to do something like this.

more on this later.

makes me nostalgic for a particular moment in my life....

true story: when I worked at the Children's Museum, we all took a paycut at one point. everybody but me went to the boss and negotiated part or all of their cut back. I didn't find out until years later, when L made an offhand comment about it. ::sigh:

no comment.

I have, on occasion, been the "honorary guy"...this makes me think more about that. (otoh, I'm not always a huge fan of most women's work culture either.....)

"the significant majority of immediately post-graduate employment experiences are going to suck" (sorry, kiddo, although I hope this gives you some thoughts for the future.)

"Generation X, it would seem, is in danger of turning into the Prince Charles of the American workforce: perpetual heirs apparent awaiting the keys to the kingdom." ::sigh::

INTROVERTS and BIG BUSINESS

"These data confirm that people essentially cannot close the wage gap by working their way up the company hierarchy."

"My philosophy has always been it is bad business to give something away for free. The company you work for sure doesn't do it and neither should the employees."

ask "why?" instead. it's worked for me.

control-freak-ism. I like it!

I totally empathize with this POV.

hm.

interesting tips.

get for "dumbquote" feature, which I often need for posting press releases

which might help explain some of my mid-afternoon blahs

proof I was there...what the hell was that hand thing about?