There are times when you may need to work remotely rather than in the office, for a variety of reasons. You may have a contract that allows you to work from home on certain days, you may have a job that involves a lot of time out of the office or you could be sent abroad on a business trip.

Some people may think that working remotely can easily be abused, that you may not start work till lunch time or could be watching television instead of writing those reports.

It is important that you work the same office hours of everyone else in your workplace. If you’re travelling you need to let your office know when and where you can be reached, taking into account time zone differences if applicable.

Our opinions and interests are what make us unique and in the office environment, or in everyday life for that matter, this can lead to conflicts.

When it comes to office politics it’s important to remain objective and focus on what is best for the business. Taking sides between two people who are at odds with each other can lead to further complications, you need to try to get them to communicate positively and constructively.

You will earn respect within your company if you are seen to be fair, listen to others and consider both sides of the story. Sucking up to people, gossiping, backstabbing or dirt slinging will always come back on you in the end. You will end up with a bad reputation within your company and could hamper your career prospects.

When you get a call back about a job interview the first thing you should feel is excitement, the company you have applied to obviously thinks your worth taking the time to talk to.

Your resume has already impressed them; however you have to remember you could be on a long list of applicants with similar work experience, skills and qualifications.

You need to stand out to the interviewers as the best candidate, so polishing up your interview technique is a good idea. A nice smile and firm handshake is not going to do the trick.

Interview questions:

Why do you want a new job? Was there a problem with your old one?

Don’t say:  I hated my boss and was expected to be nice to customers even if they we’re idiots.

Do say:      I enjoyed my job and went as far as I could, I’m looking for new challenges and to expand on what I’ve already learned.

Due to economic growth throughout NYC in many industry sectors, a number of new CBD’s or Central Business Districts have emerged.

Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan has been transformed by extensive investment and development into a thriving 24/7 neighborhood and is a prime location for businesses looking for inexpensive commercial space.

Harlem
Harlem’s diverse cultural heritage is creating excellent opportunities for cultural and economic growth.

Long Island City
Long Island City’s close proximity to midtown and a wide array of affordable and spacious leasing options makes it an ideal location for business.

The season of good will is upon us once again and along with it the annual office Christmas party. Even in this recession ridden time, we can still celebrate together and look back on the past years accomplishments. You could organize some drinks or a meal, depending on your company’s budget, or perhaps if you really feel like pushing the boat out, hiring a venue and entertainment. Organizing a Secret Santa with your colleagues means everyone feels part of the festivities, and adds a little fun to the office party.

With social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace and YouTube becoming increasingly popular, the amount of time people spending on them is going through the roof. Understandably many businesses are looking for ways to prohibit or crack down on personal use during working hours.

While the occasional use or checking in for perhaps ten minutes a day seems harmless, some people spend up to two hours a day while at work accessing these sites. The amount of work hours lost is becoming an increasing problem.

Thinking of relocating your business to new premises? Here’s a list of NY Offices tips designed to help you with your business move.

Relocation Plans

When choosing new location for your office, consider access to local airports, sea port, public transport, mass transit, railway stations, etc.

Plan your move plenty of time in advance, especially since the move involves relocating employees, files, and office equipment. On average, if the office space area that you are planning to occupy exceeds 50,000 sq ft, it might take up to one year to plan and arrange the move.

When prioritizing the location criteria focus on two major factors. Is the new location in the area of possible tornadoes, tsunamis, floods, mudslides and other nature disasters? What are the crime levels in the area and is it going to be a secure location?

When setting the date for the big move, take into consideration the dates of large community events, such as festivals, parades, carnivals, sporting events. Just like massive road construction works, those can interfere badly with your moving plans.

Stress in the workplace becomes a bigger problem every year, with depression, just one type of stress related reaction, being the leading occupational disease this century resulting in more work days lost than to any other single factor. With 25% to 40% off job burnout in the US being directly blamed on work pressures and stress this cannot be taken lightly.

There are several reasons for the increased stress levels in the workplace including job insecurity, growing demands and working longer hours, higher expectation of productivity and the need for a work/family balance as more women have entered the workforce. Worldwide a global stress research study found that women who have children under the age of thirteen and work full time experience the highest levels of stress.

We have all been there, come mid afternoon you feel like snoozing at your desk (not recommended if you want to keep your job!) and your focus starts to waver. You feel drained and exhausted and you find even stringing a sentence together difficult. This drop in energy is a physiological response but the good news is there are steps we can take to prevent it.

A major factor is what you eat at lunch, you need to avoid sugars and simple carbohydrates as these get absorbed into your bloodstream immediately which causes a rise in your blood sugar.

We have put together a list of some of the labor laws of New York State for you.

• The current minimum wage for covered employees in the State of New York is $7.15 per hour. There is a list of exceptions to this covered minimum wage law.
• If a covered employee is required to work overtime, they must be paid one and a half times their normal hourly rate.