NOVEMBER 2012 ALSO INSIDE: New job syndrome | Colourful coats | Win a year’s supply of Millie’s Cookies
M A N D AT O R Y OVERTIME Does working late these days simply come with the territory?
CONTENTS NOTICE BOARD
NOV2012
UPDATE Standing more at work could improve efficiency SAY WHAT?! Navigating that career change
ON THE JOB There seems to be a lot of people airing their views on what makes the perfect office environment at the moment: Should we be allowed to take a siesta like our Mediterranean counterparts? Are our offices sending us to sleep? Could standing up more at work give us an energy boost? Who knows! All I know is that a good cup of tea goes a long way in any office, as Francesca Weeks, our reader columnist this week, asserts (And one more thing, page 20). And if you’re looking for a tasty treat to dunk into your cuppa, Millie’s Cookies are giving away a year’s supply of cookies to one lucky reader, turn to page 16 to find out more.
JOBNEWS Experts say napping at work isn’t as daft as it sounds OVERTIME Should PAs and other executive support accept overtime as the norm? NOVELTY WORN OFF ALREADY? Serial new-jobber syndrome DAY IN THE DIARY We follow an organic children’s garment guru
LUNCH BREAK BREAKTIME Win a year’s supply of cookies OLE LOVES Win a set of Martha Stewart stationary OFFICE CAT WALK Colourful coats and cosy Clodhoppers
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IS BYOD THE FUTURE?
ON YOUR FEET
Opinion divided on bringing your own device to work Lots of us have access to laptops and tablets at home, so could companies save money by getting employees to bring their own into work? A recent survey by Insight uk suggests that the jury is still out on the matter, with many top managers saying it could create more problems than it solves. Yet, despite this, the majority believe executives will continue to bring their own laptops and tablets into work, according to the poll of 232 IT managers based in the UK. While 79% said they had not yet implemented BYOD, for the 21% that had, the vast majority (82%) said they had seen visible improvements in staff morale as a result.
Stand up to sluggishness
Standing more at work could improve efficiency, according to Monica Parker, behaviourist and head of workplace consultancy at Morgan Lovell: “When you’re sedentary for hours you become dumb and overwhelmed. One strategy companies are starting to employ is having fewer desks than people. This promotes activitybased working, where employees choose their working environment based on the task at hand, and increases ‘the bump factor’, where they get chatting to colleagues and collaborate. Others – like Autodesk and Microsoft – have standing meeting rooms, with no chairs and just a bar you can lean against. As a result meetings are shorter, punchier, more focused, accomplish more in less time, and are a measurably improved experience,” she told Stylist magazine.
C H A R I T Y W AT C H
Alzheimer Scotland organised two Firewalk events on Saturday 27 October, Falcon Square, Inverness and Sunday 4 November, Govan Road, Glasgow. After an in-depth training seminar, volunteers trekked 20 feet across embers that were burning up to 1, 200°F in support of the charity.
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IN BRIEF PA GOES GAGA
vipflash / Shutterstock.com
Lady Gaga sued by her former PA for unpaid overtime hours Gaga’s ex PA, Jennifer O’Neill, claims she is owed £250k in overtime pay for “constantly” being at the singer’s side. O’Neill has requested permission to use photographs of herself and the star as evidence to support her case, however, Lady Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, has refused, saying the photographs are “private and personal”. O’Neill argues that the star has forfeited her right to privacy due to her exhibitionism. The personal assistant claims that her role required her to be on duty 24 hours a day: “I was frequently at Ms Germanotta’s side, often ready with coffee and/or water, from dusk to dawn. I was glued to Ms Germanotta to such an extent that at one point I was asked to step back so that I would not be in the way during photoshoots.” The case is due to be heard later this year.
Yorkshire housewife claims raised by monkeys A Yorkshire housewife claims she spent five years of her childhood living with a colony of capuchin monkeys in Colombia. Marina Chapman, who is now married with two daughters, says she learnt to catch birds and rabbits with her bare hands after being abandoned in the jungle by kidnappers.
Brazilain man attends his own funeral A 41-year-old car washer from northeastern Brazil shocked his family by turning up at his own wake after a murdered local man was incorrectly identified as himself. Family and friends in the town of Alagoinhas in Bahia state were gathered around the body of another car washer resembling Gilberto Araujo when he arrived.
We give you our pick of the top comedy viral videos this month. Click on the text below and enjoy. Tweet us your top videos @olemagazine
GONE VIRAL
Bad lip reading: Twilight
Eton Gangnam style
Bad lip reading: The hunger games
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T A H W S AY
?
Want some soun d advice? E-mail editor@ol emagazine.co.u k with the subject line ‘Gripes’. We won’t judge
CAREER CHANGE
APPY TO HELP
I am hoping to change careers but I’m in my mid-forties and I’m worried that I might have missed the boat. Is there anything I can do to give my CV a boost? Lynn, Wolverhampton
I’m an executive assistant and I’ve recently bought a new iPad in a hope of becoming more organised! Can you recommend any good apps for the office? Katie, Chester
Navigating a career change is a challenge at any age, especially in the current economic climate where jobs are like gold dust. Give your CV a complete overhaul, filtering out any waffle you may have added in order to get a previous role. Try and emphasise the more transferrable skills such as initiative and team work. Have a look into what CPD opportunities there are for you, taking a course and attending relevant events will not only boost your CV but could help you build up a list of contacts in the industry.
iPads can now do many of the things previously unique to a mac or PC. Apps like Pages, Numbers and Keynote are a great place to start and are a good alternative to Microsoft Office. If you can’t live without it, however, OnLive Desktop and CloudOn both allow you to create, edit and share Microsoft Office documents using only the touch screen. Cloud storage options like Dropbox, Google Drive and iCloud can store all of your documents online, so everything can be kept in sync, even if you’re working across several devices.
caption competition
This month’s picture
Last month’s winner: Brian Ritchie
“
If I wear this hat my career might take off.”
For a chance to win M&S vouchers! Email your captions to editor@olemagazine.co.uk
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on the job
JOB NEWS leave Job interviews s us lost for word
s in ave UK job hunter le s w ie rv te in b Jo ing to for words, accord st lo g in be of ar fe t. Hays recruitmen om fr ch ar se re w ne ver 400 Brits In a survey of o role, just under ew n a r fo g n ki o lo st ) said their bigge 4% (6 s d ir th o tw not b interview was fear before a jo ns swer to questio knowing the an b ked. Half said jo they might be as re e them even mo interviews mad 9%) or blic speaking (4 nervous than pu ng test (42%). taking their drivi t up d that 42% spen The survey foun g ching or practisin to an hour resear chniques with a their interview te ng % of women taki conscientious 63 % of mpared to just 50 over an hour, co aring me. Despite prep men doing the sa ose surveyed still for interviews, th ns swering questio struggled with an esses. about their weakn
Sleeping on the job boosts productivity Encouraging workers to take an afternoon nap could dramatically improve work performance, accord ing to leadership and business experts , Professors Nada and Andrew Kakaba dse. “Having assessed employee performance and health studies recently conducted across the UK , US and Western Europe, we believ e offering workers the opportunity for a brief nap provides significant ben efits in employee concentration, health and productivity, says Nada. “People are increasingly being asked to do more with less at work. Out-dated and uninspiring management practice is having an oppressing effect on workforces,” adds Andrew. So what’s to do? “Staff should be encouraged to take approved res ts, and be provided with a private pla ce where they can take a nap,” they say. Hmm, I can’t see that going dow n too well around here…
on the job
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Bosses don’t like holding the purse strings Bosses are “weakest” at financial management and marketing, a survey of 600 business leaders has revealed. Company owners were asked to ran k five leadership skills – strategy, managing people, sales, marketing and financial manag ement – in the order they felt they were stro ngest and weakest. Less than four per cent said they felt controlling the financial side of the business was their strongest point while alm ost 30% admitted it was their weakest skill. Likewise with marketing, less than nine per cent thought this was their bes t area, while 38% said it was the weakest par t of their business make-up. More than 40% ranked strategy as their strongest area with 34% opting for managing people. 13% of owners said they were best at sales, while 21% thought this was their weakest area.
W O R K S TAT Nearly three-quarters (73%) of employees report that their organisation offers them no form of financial support or advice to help them better understand and manage their finances. Source: CIPD
on the job
OVERTIME: IS THERE SUCH A THING? We recently posted a discussion topic on an online forum about overtime and whether it should be accepted as a prerequisite to an executive support role. CARRIE SERVICE takes a look at some of the response
on the job
A
PA’s job by nature involves unexpected extra work, picking up the slack when plans change at the last minute. But does that suggest that overtime should simply be accepted as the norm, without any recognition – or remuneration? A GREAT SUPPORT ACT “I think putting in the extra hours comes with the territory,” said one poster in a recent linkedin discussion on the topic. “We do the job we do because we are a great ‘support act’ and that’s exactly what we should do – support’. “What the clock says is totally irrelevant,” insisted another. “I leave when I’m at a stopping-off point that is comfortable for me, and most times when I’ve had a chance to check in with my manager. Working a flexible schedule to the needs of the department goes with the territory and frankly, I’ve always been suspicious of people who leave at the same time every single day.” So perhaps it depends on the culture within an individual office and the hours employees generally work. If there is a mass exodus at 5pm everyday on the dot, staying until 8pm to finish a report won’t to go unnoticed. But if your colleagues tend to leave in drifts and waves, or they work flexi-time, the likelihood of anyone noticing that you arrived at 7.30am and haven’t left before 8pm all week are slim. TRICKS OF THE TRADE The majority of posters seemed resigned to the fact that their job involved working late. Some, however, had managed to adapt a way around this: “I prefer to start early – I am in the office by 7.30am and leave at 5pm. I find that the extra hour and a half in a deserted office is a lot more productive than leaving at 6 or 7pm,” said one. Another poster worked as part of a team of four executive assistants, staggering their daily schedules so that the office
was always fully covered. “Some work 8am to 4.30pm, some 8.30pm to 5pm and I work 9.30am to 6pm which allows us to avoid working overtime hours. If there is a pressing project or a deadline to meet, then of course we all pitch in and stay as needed, but those occasions are very few and far between. I think it helps us to avoid burnout and resentment because we can all share the load and someone is always available no matter what the executives’ schedules are on any given day.” PRIORITISING One issue raised by quite a few people in the discussion was family life and the negative impact overtime can have on this – in particular, people with young children who are frequently in bed before they get home from work. “I know that times are hard,” said one poster, “but everyone should ensure that family life is a priority… It is a matter of being as efficient as you can be when you are at work.” It appears that some bosses are more understanding than others, making exceptions when it’s necessary to leave the office early. But at what cost? “My hours are 8:00am – 5:00pm. When my kids are not in school I get in at 7:30am and can always work through lunch,” wrote one working mother. “However, I always leave at 5pm to pick up my kids, never a problem with the boss.” She added: “I do take my laptop home.” With work pressures exacerbated by the current economic climate, it is inevitable that many office professionals are anxious to prove their worth to the company by working overtime – they are after all, like anybody, a disposable expense. Finding a balance isn’t easy, but it’s important to remember that the later you stay, the more it will become expected of you. Perhaps putting your foot down is the answer – or could this create more problems than it solves? Let us know your thoughts by emailing editor@olemagazine.co.uk
on the job
A R E YO U A SERIAL
N E W- J O B B E R ? Are you getting itchy feet? Is your job just not doing it for you anymore? Well, perhaps it’s time to move on to pastures new. But as you luxuriate in the thought of yourself in a flashy new office are you getting a sense of déja vu? If so, you could be a serial new-jobber. CARRIE SERVICE investigates
on the job
M
ost of us start a new job with gusto and enthusiasm at the prospect of gaining new skills and meeting new people. However, once the novelty has worn off, many of us are left questioning whether or not we should be moving on to pastures new. So, why is this? Jo Sullivan, consultant at Dragonfly Recruitment believes it’s due to a feeling of not being fully appreciated for our efforts. “The nature of some ‘generation Y’ candidates tends to be very achievementorientated and attention craving,” she explains. “If they feel they are not being given the accolades for their work or do not see potential for progression, they lose interest and a ‘grass is greener’ type scenario kicks in.” And this isn’t limited to younger or less-experienced candidates, but can equally affect seasoned professionals. If someone has been working hard in hope of receiving a pay rise or promotion and they don’t get the results they were after, they can often become disillusioned and feel they should move on to somewhere they’ll be more appreciated. THINK BEFORE YOU JUMP You may have an image in your mind of starting a new job and your problems simply disappearing into the abyss – but if you think back over the years, how many times has that actually happened to you? A common mistake many people make when they are unhappy in a job is to hastily take the first offer that comes along, just to get out – which can be a big mistake and doesn’t look great on your work record, says Sullivan: “The kick back of this can be that they are unhappy in their new role and will continue to seek new employment until finding something that they feel rewarded in. This creates the image of a serial ‘new-jobber’.” BE PROACTIVE If you genuinely are filled with dread at the sound of the alarm clock every morning and the thought of going back to work on a Monday makes your Sunday evening miserable, how can this be remedied without damaging your CV and your reputation? Well, it could all be down to communication and how your boss acknowledges your efforts. “If someone feels the rewards they receive are fairly representative of the work they have put in, they will be happier in the work place and will continue to achieve,” explains Sullivan. “Providing people with the opportunity to progress, whether this be by way of training or increased responsibilities, will keep employees interested and again feed into peoples’ self-esteem,” she adds. So if you’re unhappy with the way things are, do something about it – speak to your boss, tell them you’re unhappy and negotiate what can be done to change things. And if your efforts prove fruitless? Go looking for that new job – it’s their loss.
on the job
D AY I N T H E D I A R Y EARTH MOTHER We follow a day in the life of KATI MARTIN, working mum and director of online organic children’s clothes shop, Boys&Girls 6.30 am
Wake up. The kids are still a good alarm clock and we chat and then make our way downstairs for breakfast.
7.00am
Go for a run. This 30-minute run helps me clear my head, energise myself and think about what I need to get done during the day. Working from home has its advantages in terms of childcare, but sometimes it is hard to switch hats from mum to company director. Going for a run in the morning helps me to do this mentally.
8.30am
Walk the kids to school then back to my office at home. I am lucky to only live a 15-minute walk away from the school.
9.15am
Answer any urgent emails, then have a meeting with the two other company directors on Skype to catch up. We can roughly be divided into finance, marketing and design & production, but we all overlap and so daily communication is essential.
11.00am
Trip to our photographers to pick up the images from our recent SS13 photo shoot. Very excited to see the new photos away from the chaos of the actual day!
12.00pm
Work on marketing strategy for the next few weeks including social media, e-shots and new home pages for the website. Process the images needed to go with the planned marketing activity.
3.00pm
Answer requests for information from existing and new stockists and some press enquiries.
4.30pm:
Collect the kids from school. I try not to look at anything to do with work for the next few hours and just concentrate on the kids otherwise things can get messy! So it’s tea-time, homework, piano-practice, maybe a game of cards in no particular order. Then we all watch The Simpsons before bath-time and then up to bed for a few chapters of whatever story we are currently reading.
8.30pm
Once the kids are in bed I do a couple more hours work. I find the evening is the best time to think strategically without the distractions or time constraints of the day.
11pm
Bed. I love reading a good book at the end of the day to unwind and completely clear my mind of all things work related before dropping soundly sleep.
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lunch break
BREAKTIME desktop dining LUNCHTIME G I V E A W AY A MONSTER OF A T R E AT MILLIE’S COOKIES Millie’s Cookies are offering one lucky (and hungry) reader a year’s supply of cookies – a box containing 12 vouchers for a bundle of cookies each month. They are the perfect treat in the lead-up to Christmas and you’ll be the most popular person in the office if you win! Email “cookie monster” and your details to editor@ olemagazine. co.uk to enter
RESERVE THIS GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN
HHHHH What is it? Gourmet Burger Kitchen uses the freshest ingredients to create classic and innovative taste combinations, claiming to make the ‘best burgers in town’. Choose from a selection of innovative toppings and combinations – our fave is the Kiwiburger, topped with beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheddar, salad, mayo and relish. Everything they serve is made to order, so you can build your own burger if you wish.
COCONUT CRÈME BRULEE T RY O U R S P I N O N A C L A S S I C F R E N C H FA V O U R I T E
INGREDIENTS 4 egg yolks, 2 whole eggs, 100g white sugar, plus a bit extra for the top, 1 cup full fat coconut milk 1 vanilla pod, scraped, 4 x 5oz ramekins, a glass or ceramic oven dish, a grill.
PREPARATION: 1. Preheat oven to 150°C. Boil a kettle of water 2. Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add the coconut milk and blend. 3. Pour into the ramekins 4. Place the ramekins in the oven dish and pour in the hot water until it reaches about halfway up the side of the ramekins. 5. Bake for approximately 40 minutes until almost set. 6. Allow to cool. Sprinkle with sugar and grill until brown and crisp.
Tip: for an extra-rich texture add some creamed coconut to the mixture.
lunch break
T R E AT Y O U R S E L F
POWER HOUR
THEATRE
Roller disco
Loserville
Want to get fit but can’t squeeze it into your hectic social schedule? Head down to your nearest roller disco and before you know it you’ll be burning off those coffee break biscuits without even realising. This old school favourite is making a big come back and is the perfect way to get fit without sacrificing your social life.
Loserville, set in a 1971 American high school, tells the story of computer nerd Michael Dork and his equally geeky friends Lucas, Marvin and Francis. A pretty new girl Holly arrives in town and seems to have her eyes set on Michael. Things seem too good to be true – and they are. Holly is hiding a deep secret… You’ll love it if you’re a fan of Grease and Glee. Where? Garrick Theatre in London’s West End
GADGETS Kindle envy
This oriental-print Kindle case will make all the ladies in your train carriage turn green with envy. Start dropping Christmas present hints now before they sell out. £15, Accessorize.
S O U P of M O N T H the
WILD SHOT BRITISH GAME SOUP Fancy a change from your boring can of minestrone or cream of tomato soup? Three varieties of Wild Shot British Game Soups are now available to savour as the air becomes cool and crisp. Choose from Pheasant Mulligatawny, Partridge Broth and Spiced Venison. Available at Waitrose.
Taste: Moreishness: Convenience: Health factor:
8 8 10 8
total
34/40
lunch break
LOVES WIN!
B E A U T I F U L LY ORGANISED
Attention stationery junkies, there is now a super-stylish way for you to get your cluttered desk in order. Martha Stewart has joined forces with Avery to create Martha Stewart Home Office, a gorgeous collection of office products in pretty pastel shades. To win a pack of accessories worth over £20, email “Martha” and your details to editor@ olemagazine.co.uk
C L O T H E S F O R K I D S, C R E AT E D W I T H C A R E
Olé loves this ‘Out To Play’ sweat crew from online children’s clothing company Boys&Girls. Their entire collection is made using 100% organic cotton and organic dying and printing methods so that there are no harmful chemicals involved. Olé readers can take advantage of an exclusive 20% discount off everything on the site when they enter OLE20 at the checkout. Visit www.boysandgirlsshop.com
S K I L L S F O R E V E RY W O M A N
Olé and Everywoman are teaming up to offer readers a special discounted everywomanNetwork membership. The everywomanNetwork is an online community for business women, providing learning resources for career development. For £39.99 (+ VAT) you can access the everywomanNetwork online for a year, allowing you to make use of a huge range of resources from workbooks and articles, to live webinars and networking. There is something useful for every working woman wanting to get ahead. Go to www.everywoman.com/network and enter the coupon code Ole1 when you join.
G I V E I T S O M E W E L LY
Want something to cheer you up when it’s dark and drizzly out? Snap up a pair of these cute ditsy print wellies and you’ll be splashing in puddles and kicking your heels together before you know it. £30 Fat Face. www.fatface.com
lunch break
O F F I C E C AT W A L K Brighten up those drab cold days with a colourful coat. Team with some super-cosy, neutral boots and you’re all set for the cold season
2 1 3
4 5
6 1 Cobalt blue oversized coat £235, Pied a Terre, Grey ‘Reve’ cable knit jumper £150 Twenty8Twelve, Grey ‘Kenora’ skirt £55, Label Lab. All available at House of Fraser
7
2 Check coat with fur collar, £109, La Redoute 3 Asymmetric button coat, £44.99, Bonprix 4 Green duffle coat, £59, Marisota 5 Orange polka dot ovid coat, £85, Yumi 6 Soft leather ‘Sunda’ boots, £398, Plumo 7 ‘Bailey Button’ Uggs, £139, Getthelabel.com
lunch break
AND ONE MORE THING ...
GOLDEN RULES OF THE OFFICE TEA ROUND
Francesca Weeks, from Footprint PR, tells us how to make the perfect cuppa at work Francesa Weeks PR consultant
Did you agree with the columnist? Think you can do better? Email us with your “And one more thing” of approx. 300 words to editor@olemagazine.co.uk
Tea drinking in the office has certainly evolved over time. Where once tea was brought on a silver tray and sipped from china cups, the majority of us now slurp from a favourite mug. Likewise teabags certainly tend to be favoured over traditional loose leaf tea, but does this have to mean all the etiquette surrounding tea should simply be forgotten? In my humble opinion, there are still a few golden rules to adhere to when it comes to the office tea round. Firstly, there’s absolutely no excuse for sneaky or selfish tea making! We’ve all been guilty of it a one time or another, but quite frankly it’s just not on. Rule number one is to always offer anyone else in the vicinity a cup of tea, whether that’s your boss, a visitor to the office or the photocopy repair man – no excuses! Following on from rule number one is to actually ask colleagues how take their tea. I don’t just mean whether or not they take milk and sugar, but how strong they like it too. Don’t just assume everyone enjoys tea the same way you do. Using freshly boiled water is an absolute must too. It can be tempting to rush the tea making process. But, if you don’t use fresh water and brew your tea for long enough it won’t taste so good. You’ve simply got to give tea its required brewing time, no amount of squeezing the bag will help! Lastly, make sure you actually take the time to enjoy your tea. Treat each sip as your entitlement to momentarily push the pause button on the day and reflect. After all, there’s no point in taking a tea break if you’re not going to take a minute to relax.
Go to olemagazine.co.uk for must-read office and career advice, along with ideas for your lunch, competitions and funny stuff to make your nine-to-five go by quicker.
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