Jenny

Its the holiday season again, and guess what, you have the office holiday party to look forward to.  Yes, it is that time of the year when the boss and the company springs for that year-end get together and bash.  A word of caution, remember, even though you are at the holiday party, and everyone is in high spirits and a jolly good mood, this is not the time to forget your P’s and Q’s. So, to help you graciously navigate and avoid a possible holiday party disaster we have put together a few tips for you.

1. Remember the cardinal rule, even though you are at the company holiday party, you are still at a business function.  So you must be aware that the bosses are also at the party and may be watching you and how you interact with everyone else.
2. Eat and drink in moderation.  Remember you are at the party to network with your colleagues as well as with the higher up’s.  So don’t go off the deep end at the open bar.
3. Dress code.  Find out before hand what is expected with regards to holiday party dress code, whether it is business causal or dressy, this will save you some awkward moments.  Also inquire as to whether you are allowed to bring a date or your spouse along to the party.
4. If the company allows for an employee to bring a spouse or date to the party, update your date or spouse as to who is your boss and a few of the other important persons in your organization. If possible, educate them as to what should and should not be mentioned in conversation with those executives that they may happen to meet at the party.
5. We recommend attending your office holiday party even if it means only staying for a short time.  Your absence could be a point of contention with your boss or upper management.

If you have other suggestions and recommendations, please feel free to leave your comment below.

Jenny

With the unemployment rate still at an all time high, I decided to review a few of our earlier posts on general tips with regards to job interviews.  These posts contain some good tips and relevant information which should be helpful to anyone out there that is currently looking for a new job or preparing for an interview.  It is our hope that you find the links to these posts useful.

1. You Got The Interview Now What?
2. Questions To Ask In Your Interview.
3. Mistakes To Avoid In Your First Interview.
4. The Elevator Pitch.

Donna

Java Casa released a list of actual Church Bulletin Bloopers made by the Church’s secretary.  To help you avoid making the same mistakes, please proof read what you write and make sure it makes sense.  Here is a list of some of the bloopers for your enjoyment: 

“Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church in Racine.  Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.”
GS: Are you sure they will be hearing her all the way from Africa???

“Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale.  It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.  Don’t forget your husbands.”
GS:  Okay, this is really not a mistake.  I will have to agree: husbands are not worth to be kept around the house!

“Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.“ 
GS: Weird.  How can I place the deceased in the envelope?

“Don’t let worry kill you. Let the Church help.”
GS:  Can you repeat that again? Is the Church going to help killing me?

“For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.”
GS: Ok.  I can understand that some guys may not know if they have children or not.  But, I think women will know that as a matter for a fact (and as a matter of pain, vomiting, growing, and pushing).

“Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.”
GS: Okay, I know I am fat, that’s why I am attending a Weight Watchers meeting, but do you have to throw it at my face? Don’t you think I can fit through a door that is not large and double?

To read other bloopers, visit see Java Casa’s Actual Church Bulletin Bloopers.

Jenny

Let’s face it.  If you work someplace long enough, you will develop friendships with some of the people who are also your work colleagues.  In some instances, we end up developing very close friendships with one or two people that we have met through work.  The question is, even though you have this really great friendship at work, should you take that friendship out of the work realm and bring it closer to your private world?

Of course, in situations like this, I think it would come down trust.  Do you trust that friend who is both a colleague at work and a personal friend will be able to keep the two situations separate if needed.  For example, if you both work in the same department, and you are both up for promotion, you get the promotion but not your friend.  Can you trust that your friend will not allow your success to affect both your work and personal friendship?  Another thing to consider in situations where a work friend has crossed over to being a personal friend, is whether that friend/colleague will be able to keep personal things that you share with them about your life, out of the office.  You certainly don’t want personal issues becoming fodder for office gossip. 

If you do have one of these rare and unique friendships develop, one way to ensure that you sustain a lasting friendship is to always have mutual respect for those work/personal life boundaries.  Knowing and respecting those boundaries will provide both of you with the security and comfort you need to perform as colleagues at work, while keeping your personal relationship outside of work intact.  Having a friend and ally at work could enrich your work experience.  A good work ally can keep you sane, and help turn difficult days into manageable ones. 

If you have one of these unique friendships, we would like to hear from you.  Feel free to leave a comment below.

Donna

Punctuation does matter.  As a misuser of commas, semicolons and the likes, I spend a lot of time reading books to improve my writing and proof reading skills.  But, we have to be honest; we live in a country where most people have no clue about writing.  How many times have you seen an advertisement that reads “3 DVD’s for $20.00” when it should read “3 DVDs for $20.00”?

The main problem with a bad punctuation is that it can change the whole meaning of a sentence.  Case on point:

An English professor wrote the words, “Woman without her man is nothing” on the blackboard and directed his students to punctuate it correctly. 
The men wrote: “Woman, without her man, is nothing.” 
The women wrote: “Woman: Without her, man is nothing.”

Do you see what I see? Same words, different punctuation, different meaning!

A bad punctuation that changes the meaning of a sentence not only can get you fired, but it can cost you or your company millions of dollars. 

That was the issue surrounding the 2006 case of the “million dollar comma.”  The argument over whether Bell Aliant, a telephone company, can cancel a contract it had with Rogers Communications, the large cable television provider.  The dispute turned on a single comma in the 14-page contract. The dispute was worth 1 million Canadian dollars.

The dispute was over this sentence: ‘This agreement shall be effective from the date it is made and shall continue in force for a period of five (5) years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five (5) year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party.’

Bell Aliant argued that it could end its five-year agreement with Rogers at any time with a one year notice.  However, Rogers argued that the contract was for a minimum of five years and automatically renew for another five years, unless a telephone company cancels the agreement before the start of the final 12 months.

Citing the ‘rules of punctuation,’ a regulator of Canada’s telecommunications ruled that the meaning of the clause was clear and unambiguous and that the comma “[the comma before ‘unless and until terminated’] meant that the part of the sentence describing the one-year notice for cancellation applied to both the five-year term as well as its renewal. Therefore, the regulator found, the phone company could end the contract after as little as one year.

Well, not so clear and unambiguous after all. 

On August 20, 2007, the 2006 interpretation of the comma was reversed. In the 2007 decision, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission issued a decision concluding that the French-Language version of the Bell Aliant-Rogers contract clearly indicated that Bell Aliant could terminate the contract only “upon notice one year prior to the end of the initial term or one year prior to the end of a renewed term.”

To have some fun while learning, check out Lynne Truss’ Eats, Shoots & Leaves (my favorite punctuation book) or check out “Clear Writing with Mr. Clarity,“ a wonderful blog about writing maintained by Mr. Clarity, Joe Roy.