Another month down, another week closer to Christmas. The PA Life team is getting glammed up for our company Christmas party tonight with our Forum Events colleagues. Before we go, here are our top 10 stories of the week.
1. 4 ways to make a career change without starting over
Many people hop from job to job in search of better pay or a promotion, but there are others who wake up one day and realise they’re on the wrong career path entirely. Whether it’s a change of industry or a completely different role you’re after, there’s no reason making a move means you have to take a pay cut. Erica Gellerman, who consults female business owners, recently gave Forbes four tips to help workers make a career change without starting from the bottom.
2. 9 signs you have a poor work-life balance
We write a lot of articles with tips for achieving a better work-life balance, but some people have a hard time recognising they have a problem. Millennial blogger Rachel Ritlop outlined nine signs you have a poor work-life balance in a recent article for Forbes. Take steps to rebalance yourself if you notice any of these.
3. 6 ways meditation can help with stress
Meditation is great for mindfulness and stress relief. You’ve probably heard this many times, but you might not know exactly how it works. Luckily the experts at Yoga Journal has outlined six ways meditation can make you feel happy at work with tips from meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg.
4. Average employee spends an hour a day on non work-related tasks
The typical worker now spends an hour a day carrying out non work-related tasks at their desk. Researchers found online banking, replying to personal emails, searching for holidays and even shopping or browsing for new clothes on the internet account for the majority of the 60 minutes spent on personal admin each day.
5. 5 ways to get into the festive spirit at work: Top tips from BMA House
Christmas is fast approaching, but with long days at work and the cold, dark nights, it can be hard to feel the festive cheer. Here are some top tips for getting into the festive mood in the office this year from our friends at BMA House.
6. 5 business lessons from Father Christmas
Given the time of year, there’s one person in particular that we can look to for inspiration, and that is Father Christmas. Virtual assistant service ava has taken a closer look at the work that Santa does, and chosen five of his best lessons that businesses everywhere should be following.
7. Bosses don’t think the flu is a good enough reason to call in sick
New research of UK SMEs from AXA PPP healthcare reveals a productivity dip when ill employees turn up for work, but bosses are dubious that the flu warrants time off.
8. The benefits of gratitude
It’s Thanksgiving Day for our counterparts across the pond. While they’re getting ready to sit down to a nice family dinner, it’s important to remember the event is all about be thankful for the things we have. But new research in the US shows the simple emotion of gratitude holds a wealth of health benefits for stressed-out workers.
9. App of the week: Peak
Mobile games aren’t always about giving you a welcome distraction from crowded trains during your commute; sometimes they go a bit deeper and can do wonders for your cognitive abilities. Peak (available from the Apple App Store or Google Play) is one such app, offering a set of games designed to challenge your brain and improve some key mental skills.
10. How clean is your office?
As winter sets in, maintaining a healthy workforce is key for employers across the UK. From colds and flu spread by coughs and sneezes to cases of norovirus (an extremely infectious stomach bug), businesses should prepare for an increase in ailments during the colder seasons. Employees on sick leave, even for one or two days, have the potential to infect others due to the spread of viruses, impacting dramatically on workplace productivity.
