We’ve all heard tales of high-profile bosses being difficult to agree with. The late Steve Jobs, for instance, had a reputation for being a bit of a jerk to his employees. So why is it that people with a disagreeable personality always seem to land on top? It’s easy to assume that famous names such […]

Most people look forward to the company Christmas party as an opportunity to unwind and get to know their colleagues better. But for some, the holiday season brings dread and it’s hard to get into the spirit at work. Business expert Christine Comaford says there’s still a way to make the most of the celebrations. […]

Following today’s Resolution Foundation report on productivity as the key to higher wages in the UK, the below statistics from Group Risk Development (GRiD) research demonstrate how employers are feeling the effects of lost productivity and how they are working to combat its effects.   A quarter of employers (23%) believe productivity is an issue for […]

Work-life balance and colleagues taking holiday piles on the pressure, MetLife research shows – and nearly two out of five won’t attend their employer’s Christmas party.    Few see Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year. In fact 42% say December is one of the most stressful months of the year. Balancing work and […]

A former Delta Air Lines executive assistant is facing federal wire fraud charges. Emily McElwaney is accused of embezzling more than $250,000 (£165,188) from the company by abusing a corporate credit card. McElwaney was employed as the EA to two senior vice presidents at Delta. According to federal documents, she allegedly used her corporate credit […]

PAs the world over need to be on top of everything. As the role becomes more in line with middle management, they’re expected to be able to prioritise their work to meet tight deadlines. Here, lifestyle website MyDomain gives its top time management tips for busy people. Study yourself Take a week to track your […]

Trust is important in any professional relationship, especially in that between an executive and his or her PA. But talent management specialist Meghan M Biro says the nature of how trust functions has changed. These are her tips for defining the term in the modern workplace. 1 Accept innovationBiro gives the example of Uber, which […]

Aegon has unveiled its new Workplace Target funds – a range of default fund options for workplace pension schemes – available from February 2016. The new range responds to pension freedoms and changing investor behaviour, providing options for how investment risk is managed in the run-up to retirement. At the heart of the range are […]

Research shows that we have seconds to create a first impression. Actor and communication skills coach Sarah Perugia has been training corporates how to use body language to their advantage for the last 15 years. In a recent article for The Guardian, Sarah outlined some top tips for projecting confidence and making a positive connection […]

Email notifications pop up. Your mother calls… again. Co-workers around you won’t stop talking. And the desire to check Instagram to see if you’ve hit 100 likes on your picture of lunch grows stronger as the day goes on. Workplace distractions are everywhere. But you might be surprised by which distractions a study by US-based […]

To be balanced and engage in a long-term, satisfying career, ridding yourself of unproductive habits is an important investment. Your productivity may be suffering and you may not even know it. These 10 habits are killing your productivity, courtesy of Thomas Oppong, founder at Alltopstartups. 1. Multi-tasking Of all the bad habits, multitasking is among […]

Sofitel London Gatwick, the airport’s premium hotel, has been awarded a silver medal by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) for its commitment to green policy and CSR.  The Green Tourism Award offers independent guidance to tourism businesses wishing to operate sustainably and acts as a stamp of reassurance to guests and visitors of the […]

According to the UK’s Million Women Study, being miserable or stressed will not increase your risk of dying. A series of studies had shown that how happy people are, strongly predicts how long they are going to live. Ideas included detrimental changes in stress hormones or the immune system resulting in a higher risk of […]

The lead up to Christmas is always exciting but instead of winding down it’s easy to get caught up in the chaotic rush. With your phone abuzz with festive well wishers, a constant stream of work emails and the pressure of Christmas shopping, it can be overwhelming. To ensure you switch off and find time […]

Christmas is a time of giving. In fact, it may feel to some that the giving never stops from late November until the New Year. But should you get your boss a gift? Should he or she buy you one? How do you handle the office Secret Santa? Ask a Manager blogger Alison Green has […]

Listening is more important in sales than having ‘gift of the gab’ say business leaders   Business decision makers think listening skills are essential for a good salesperson but surprisingly do not rate asking questions as a very important trait, according to new research from sales and negotiation experts Huthwaite International. While 73 per cent […]

Handsome men may be rejected for competitive jobs, but are preferred for roles that require cooperation, research from UCL School of Management proves. Assistant Professor Sun Young Lee found that handsome men are seen as more competent, so managers in collaborative workplaces such as R&D departments hire good-looking male candidates over less good-looking ones. Similarly, […]

Business leaders would never be expected to give staff the gifts in the 12 Days of Christmas song, (maids-a-milking and lords-a-leaping are wholly impractical) so Sketch Studios, a commercial furniture specialist, has come up with 12 practical tokens of appreciation employers could give instead. Day One: Better tea/coffee/refreshments; fundamental to the wellbeing of every worker […]