Management Blog

Fasting keeps jetlag at bay: study

Avoiding meals or snacks during long haul flights may help travellers avoid the painful side effects of jetlag, according to a new study.

Harvard University researchers say not eating until arrival at a destination is the key to allowing the body to adjust to a new time zone, BBC reports.

It's claimed that when the body isn't given food its natural 'feeding clock' overrides the light-based 'time clock', as a result the body is tricked into avoiding jetlag altogether.

No holidays for Aussies

A new survey by online travel company Expedia has found Australian workers are the least likely in the world to use all their annual leave entitlements, Smart Company reports.

Expedia claims 32 per cent of Australians are refusing to use their leave due to the credit crunch while 34 per cent said they couldn't afford to take time off work.

Psychologists say the survey results are a worrying trend as continually delaying a holiday can negatively impact on an individual's health.

The long and short of healthy sleep

Sleep is an area of growing interest for scientists. And for good reason. Time reports that either too much or too little doesn't just affect personal productivity; it can also be a matter of life and death.

Recent studies indicate people who sleep between 6.5 hours and 7.5 hour live the longest; while those who sleep 8 hours or more, or less than 6.5 hours may have a reduced lifespan.

The article also claims very short or very long amounts of sleep are associated with a number of illnesses including depression, obesity and diabetes.

Scientists say it is important to publicise the revised healthy sleeping range as it may help people realise they are not insomniacs if they don't sleep for 8 hours – the traditional measure of a good night's sleep.

Priming up for the 'Big Leap' interview

Preparing for a job interview that could help you climb the corporate ladder can be a nerve-racking experience. And that's why it pays to be prepared, BusinessWeek argues.

To help you make the most of a 'Big Leap' opportunity the following tips are offered:

Do you homework - get to know both issues involved in the role you're applying for and senior management's key imperatives

Listen up - you want to appear confident but also need to show you can actively listen

Don't criticise - don't whine about former managers; instead provide examples of when you demonstrated people skills

Balancing act - offer an example of when you went out on a limb and it paid off; but also show you're capable of following orders

Poor air means poorly staff

Poor air quality is costing Australian businesses up to $2 billion a year in lost productivity, according to a CSIRO expert.

Dr Philip Paevere, of the CSIRO's Urban Systems program, says heating and cooling fresh air rather than recycled air can have a direct effect on staff well being.

Recent studies suggest workplaces with higher ventilation levels experience a reduction of 35 per cent in short-term absenteeism, The Age reports.

Researchers argue the extra energy costs required to heat and cool fresh air could easily be recouped by a reduction in sick days and lost productivity.

Bullying takes hold in cyber space

Cyber bullying is a serious workplace issue that many managers are not taking seriously, according to new research reported in Marketing magazine.

The LinkMe.com.au study of 1,782 workers indicates nearly half of cyber bullying victims feel they are not listened to when they seek support and assistance at work.

LinkMe claims around 50 per cent of cyber bullying is carried out by co-workers while 41 per cent of online harassment comes from the boss.

Survey respondents said cyber bullying is a growing problem because it is easier to intimidate colleagues in cyber space than it is in the real world.

Time to stretch

A joint UK/New Zealand study claims workers who sit at their desks for more than three hours at a time without stretching may double their risk of experiencing deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Researchers say the risks associated with DVT due to seated immobility at work are as high as those associated with long distance air travel, management-issues reports.

It's suggested anyone who sits at a computer for the majority of their working day should take the time to do the same leg and foot exercises that are recommended for long haul fights.

In addition, workers are advised to take regular breaks away from their desks to walk around.

Lie detectors set to identify sickies

Reports out of the UK suggest lie detectors could soon be used to catch out workers who take sickies.

According to The Daily Mail, a number of British firms have started using lie detector systems that analyse a person's voice when they call in sick.

During the call the system performs thousands of checks to identify changes in a caller's voice that suggest they are under pressure and therefore most probably lying.

News of the sickie lie detector comes at a time when sick leave is costing Australian businesses $2.56 billion a year, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Bonding is a Web 2.0 balancing act

When it comes to building relationships at work it helps to share personal stories, however offering too much information can be a career killer, Forbes advises in an article on workplace bonding.

Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are of particular concern in this area as they are becoming an increasingly common way for colleagues to communicate.

While New Rules at Work author Barbara Pachter says it's beneficial to connect with colleagues, she warns social website users to consider the consequences of their banter.

For example, the article asks: "Do you want your boss or a potential boss to see images of you making out with your significant other or reading that blog post about your credit card debt?"

When it's okay to bring the kids to work

Office spaces for freelancers and 'third place' workers that incorporate childcare facilities are an emerging trend in the US, Springwise reports.

Trendspotters say businesses like Silicon Valley's Cubes&Crayons provide fully equipped office spaces and childcare for free agent workers with children aged between 3 months and five years.

Cubes&Crayons members pay US$149 annually and pay US$13 per hour for childcare. To create a sense of community, members must volunteer at the centre for around four hours a month.