Businesses possess their own unique alchemy that results in a plethora of phenomena for researchers to explore. The employees and employers with whom they work also greatly benefit from the discoveries, as an enhanced understanding of the environment means an enhanced understanding of what needs to be done to smooth out any common issues. As one can probably assume, far, far more than 15 helpful studies exist shedding light on strategies both helping and hindering the health, safety, and efficiency of the office. But the following sure do make for an interesting, insightful start.


1. Forty percent of workers find their jobs “very or extremely stressful”:

A 1992 Northwestern National Life Insurance study still garnering attention today noted that 40% of American employees labeled their positions “very or extremely stressful.” It also revealed that one out of every four of these workers considered their careers the No. 1 source of stress in their lives. Suffice it to say, this makes job-related anxiety something of a public health issue.

2.Even nutritious diets can’t offset sedentary office lifestyles:

Meanwhile, back in the dark ages of 2010, a University of Rochester publication discovered that the ravages of workplace stress won’t dissipate in spite of a healthy diet. Of the 2,782 employees surveyed, between 72% and 75% qualified as overweight or obese regardless of whether or not they practiced proper nutrition. Researchers blame the largely sedentary lifestyle of the modern office drone, meaning exercise stands as pretty much the only viable solution to combating this less-than-healthy corporate lifestyle.

3. Sexual harassment hinders job performance:

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The anti-PC will just love hearing the results of a study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, which — to nobody with one functioning neuron’s surprise — studied the correlation between workplace sexual harassment and compromised performance. No matter the gender of the victim or perpetrator, the dehumanizing practice creates a hostile work environment and its many anxieties deplete productivity and quality alike; it isn’t exactly “fun” or “cute” to constantly contend with objectification. Age, however, did play a role in how roughly sexual harassment hurt employees. Younger workers were more likely to suffer than their older contemporaries.

4. General bullying is actually more detrimental than sexual harassment:

The reason is probably because it’s more widespread, according to experts at University of Manitoba and Queen’s University. Their study pored over 110 reports published over the span of two decades in order to assess the damage’s true scope. Because legislation now protects against sexual harassment in the workplace, bullying through legal means such as intimidation, harsh and unwarranted criticism, denying information and resource access, and more continues unaddressed. Eighty-six out of 128 samples claimed some form of bullying occurs in their workplace, compared to 46 for sexual harassment and six for both dehumanizing behaviors.

5. Even workers passionate about their jobs suffer from severe burnout:

Université du Quebec à Montreal recognizes two different types of passion, identified by psychologist Robert J. Vallerand as “obsessive” and “harmonious.” Their studies focused on nurses in two different cultures (French and Quebecois) and identified that those harboring the former, more chaotic mindset were more at risk of burning out on the job than their counterparts enjoying the latter. In fact, nurses possessing harmonious passion actually reported higher rates of job satisfaction and fewer conflicts.

6.Telecommuting workers are happy workers:

Away from the confines of office politics, spontaneous scrutiny, interruptions, and work-life balance issues, telecommuters thrive. Professors Kathryn L. Fonner (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and Michael E. Roloff (Northwestern University) peered into the differences between telecommuting employees and their office-based counterparts, noting some fascinating findings. Specifically, stepping out of a workplace setting and nestling into something more personal improves performance and overall job satisfaction. Many companies still express reticence over allowing remote employees, but technological improvements make it easier and easier for them to accept, which will hopefully result in a healthier, more productive work force.

7.Engineering still fails at engaging women:

Only 11% of the engineering industry is of the female persuasion, although they make up 20% of graduates, discovered Nadya Fouad and Dr. Romila Singh. Around 1/3 of women who never enter their respective fields say they do so because of their perceptions painting engineering as a complete boy’s club. Of those who worked and eventually left, around half cited “working conditions,” “too much travel,” “lack of advancement,” and “low salary” as their primary motivation. Most disconcertingly, one out of every three felt either their boss, office, or the engineering industry as a whole proved unsuitable to their career needs.

8. Jargon makes audiences suspicious:

Corporate types employing highly specialized (often meaningless) language sow despair more than they inspire. A general communications psychology study by University of Basel and New York University revealed that obscure, jargon-y words and passive voice arouse suspicion above all else. Effective workplace leaders know how to convey goals and instructions clearly to earn their employees’ loyalty and ensure success.
9. Once the economy improves, 1/3 of American workers will be seeking employment elsewhere:

According to the 2010 Deloitte LLP Ethics & Workplace Survey, 65% of Fortune 1000 executives believe trust to be the motivating factor in employees quitting en masse once the American economy stops slumping. They’re not far off the mark. One-third of workers hope to switch jobs after economic stabilization, and a staggering 48% state losing faith and trust in their employers exists as their primary reason. A further 46% say they plan to bolt because of opaque communication between higher-ups and the lower echelons of the hierarchy.

10. Smokers generally suffer from lessened productivity than non-smokers:

Exceptions exist, of course, because exceptions always exist. But a Free University of Amsterdam survey of more than 14,000 Swedish employees discovered that smokers, on average, end up taking 11 more sick days than their abstaining contemporaries and suffer from poorer health. In addition, their performance suffers from taking frequent smoke breaks, which aren’t usually supposed to last more than 15 minutes but still stretch out sometimes. Gallup conducted a poll in 2000 revealing that 95% of American workers supported either an across-the-board smoking-at-work ban or severely limited breaks confined to specially ventilated areas.

11. Social media is definitely a thing that happens a lot:

Not to the point companies need to ban it outright, though, says Adrian Ott’s analysis of People-OnTheGo founder and CEO Pierre Khawand’s findings. He realized that an average of four hours of the workday goes toward juggling “multiple inboxes” for both professional and personal reasons, although only 6.8% say they keep up with social media purely because of work obligations. Although 80% of Gen-Y American employees admit they Facebook it up while on the clock, LinkedIn reigns supreme among management (63.8%), marketing (73.9%), and sales (74.2%) types.

12. American workplaces are getting more and more hostile:

Eighty percent of Americans believe they experienced rudeness radiating from their coworkers, and their offices only seem to be getting worse and worse, according to a Florida International University and Indiana Wesleyan University joint study. Even more disconcerting is the fact that 90% of respondents admit they themselves perpetuated the hostility! The culprit shouldn’t exactly surprise anyone. Increased job-related stress and anxiety owing to the spectacularly terrible economy spill over into work relationships and allow the problem to continue festering.

13. “White collar” workers are most at risk of information overload:

A worldwide productivity survey conducted by LexisNexis in 2010 put numbers to the increasing issue of information overload and overstimulation. Chinese workers suffer the worst, with 62% saying they’re close to hitting “the breaking point,” compared to 56% of South Africans, 51% of Australians, and 56% of both Americans and British participants. On average, about 51% find the amount of data crammed into their brains daily overwhelming to the point of near-burnout and exhaustion.

14. Dogs enable a happier, healthier and more productive workplace:

Man’s oft-touted best friend apparently delights owners in the workplace just as much as it does back at home. Research conducted at Central Michigan University and presented at the International Society for Human Ethology hooked some office groups of four with a canine companion and recorded their reactions, tested against those without. The ones enjoying a doggie running around reported easier coordination with their peers when working on a group assignment than those sans canidae. When it came time for them to assess their peers’ performances, they scored one another far more positively “on measures of trust, team cohesion, and intimacy” as well.

15.Employees in happier workplaces live longer lives:

The results of a two-decade study conducted by Tel Aviv University peered into the lives of 820 employees between the ages of 25 and 65 who worked an average of 8.8 hours a day. Out of the 53 who died during the research’s course, the vast majority suffered from an inability to socially gel with their contemporaries or a hostile work environment. Correlation doesn’t always equal causation, of course, but the connection does make medical sense. It’s pretty common knowledge by this point that individuals capable of forging healthy, mutually beneficial, and supportive relationships with others typically enjoy an extended lifespan.

In today’s marketplace, having a college degree can make one more competitive for jobs and serve as a key to upward mobility. The value of a college education goes beyond dollars and cents and building competency in a chosen discipline: there is an intrinsic value as well.

Perhaps this partially explains why millions of Americans forego common sense when picking college.

New Study Says Cost of College Is Not a Factor

According to a recent study by Sallie Mae, the country’s leading education lender, cost is often not a factor when picking college. “40 percent of families do not limit their search based on total expense.” Now, this would be fine if 40% of families were financially solvent enough to truly bear the costs of any school their students chose. However, students are increasingly being burdened with record levels of debts.

In fact, two-thirds of students graduate with some debt, with the average debt being $19,237. One-fourth of students will graduate with nearly $25,000, and 10% will graduate with greater than 35,000.

The primary reason attending school has become so much more expensive over the last decade is that school-related expenses (including tuition and fees) rise at rates that far outpace inflation.

According to the College Board, tuition and fees have risen in 2007 at more than double the rate of inflation for both public and private schools. Notwithstanding the fact that the inflation estimate is based on the consumer price index, which historically underestimates inflation by excluding gas and energy (too volatile), the cost of going to school can still be staggering.

While the annual costs for a public school (including tuition, room, and board) averages $13,589, the costs for a private school averages $32,307.
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An Emotional Decision With Financial Implications

Although it is true that selecting a college is at least partly an emotional decision, to not do a cost-benefit analysis for one of life’s biggest expenses is not only careless, it can have tremendous financial implications for the family and the student. Because of student loan debt, graduates sometimes delay starting families, have depression, fail to adequately contribute to investments, and unfortunately go bankrupt, etc. Young adults account for the second fastest growing group filing for bankruptcy.

Moreover, the debt makes setting a good financial foundation all the more difficult for graduates in careers with low incomes, such as teachers and social workers.

To “cope” with the higher costs of schools, more students placing tuition and school-related expenses onto credit cards. Currently, credit cards account for about 18% of tuition payments. Unfortunately, due the student loan crunch, this is only expected to increase as more private lenders get out of the market.

Do Your Own Cost-Benefit Analysis When Selecting A School

College can be a fabulous investment, but like any investment, one should make sure that he or she is getting a good deal. Just because a student can go to a private school that costs 3-4 times more than the local public university does not mean that it’s 3-4 times better than the public school nor does it mean that the career and income will be 3-4 times better for the privately- educated graduate.

Some schools, such as the University of Arizona, have designed programs teaching students about the costs and benefits of taking out student loans and the long-term impact borrowing has on life decisions. However, if one’s school does not and he or she is one of the two-thirds of students without enough money to cover school, help him or her make a wise choice. Carefully consider the financial impact of school selection. An excessive debt burden may change the course of one’s life just as much as the anticipated degree.

Roshawn Watson is creator of Watson Inc, a personal finance site dedicated to empowering its readers to become debt-free, increase their financial literacy, and aggressively build wealth. Now, an avid investor and debt-free, Roshawn is sharing his insights and his journey to build tremendous wealth.

College costs increase at about twice the inflation rate. Current increases have averaged 5% to 8%.

It is no secret that college tuition and expenses have been on a steady rise for many years. This has many families worried that they will not be able to afford to send their kids to college. Many even shy away from encouraging their children to dream of a college education. Trade skills are almost being forced on the younger generation. The daunting and staggering college costs are changing the way that we raise our kids.

Imagine if you were told not to dream. What if you told your parents that you wanted to be a doctor and they just had to turn you down? What does this do to the self esteem of a young child? Many families, college educated or not, struggle to keep up with housing costs and the cost of living in general. Saving for college simply is not in the cards for a lot more families than many would like to believe. What does this mean for the future of our country?

We are trending towards generation after generation of minimum wage and poverty level workers. What happens then? They can not afford college for their children and so the cycle continues. If you have been worried about affording college for your children, then there are some things that you should realize.

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So, you are wondering if college is really worth the cost. Consider college an investment. Not only is college an investment in your child’s self esteem and job satisfaction, but it is also an investment in your family and country. College graduates earn an average of sixty percent more than their peers. This makes an earning difference of almost one million dollars over a lifetime. With all of the college grants, financial aid, student and parent loans, there is almost no excuse for denying your child this investment in their future.

You may have to make short-term sacrifices to afford loan payments, but it should be well worth the effort. Students can defer payments until after they graduate. There are even payment plans that are income based, which means that your child will not have to pay more than they can afford as they get older. If you are worried about being responsible for hefty loan payments between times of employment, do not worry too much. Most student loans have deferment periods that can put your payments on hold until you are employed again. The government and loan companies have all sorts of special benefits and payment breaks for student loans.

The government does want our children to be able to afford college. We need professionals in our society to function. This does not mean that the rich are the only ones able to get educated and continue to be rich. Many loans are income based and your child can get just about as much help as they need. If they do not get as much as you need for actual college costs, then there are parent PLUS loans and private student loans to consider. These are available on top of Federal Student Loans, scholarships and financial aid. Do not stifle your child’s dreams. Encourage them to make a better life for themselves as well as their children and grandchildren. Choosing to go to college can affect many generations to come and, yes, our families’ futures are worth the cost.

For a long time the meaning of giftedness has been restricted to the rigid confines of achievement and accomplishment. Academic toppers are, and should be entitled to their share of glory, but in the process of lauding top scorers and scholarship winners we may be crowding out those who actually have advanced and complex patterns of development but just don’t fit the system’s definition of ‘top students’.

Characteristics of gifted individuals: If 75 per cent of the following 37 characteristics fit you, you are probably a gifted adult.
Are you a good problem solver?
Can you concentrate for long periods of time?
Are you a perfectionist?
Do you persevere with your interests?
Are you an avid reader?
Do you have a vivid imagination?
Do you enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles?
Often connect seemingly unrelated ideas?
Do you enjoy paradoxes?
Do you set high standards for yourself?
Do you have a good long-term memory?
Are you deeply compassionate?
Do you have persistent curiosity?
Do you have a good sense of humor?

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Are you a keen observer?
Do you love mathematics?
Do you need periods of contemplation?
Do you search for meaning in your life?
Are you aware of things that others are not?
Are you fascinated by words?
Are you highly sensitive?
Do you have strong moral convictions?
Do you often feel out-of-sync with others?
Are you perceptive or insightful?
Do you often question rules or authority?
Do you have organized collections?
Do you thrive on challenge?
Do you have extraordinary abilities and deficits?
Do you learn new things rapidly?
Feel overwhelmed by many interests/abilities?
Do you have a great deal of energy?
Often take a stand against injustice?
Do you feel driven by your creativity?
Love ideas and ardent discussion?
Did you have developmentally advanced childhood?
Have unusual ideas or perceptions?
Are you a complex person?
*Adapted from the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development.

One way to identify gifted individuals is their style of thinking. They usually employ divergent thinking. Their style is original and they tend to come up with crazy ideas, which other people find strange. But sometimes it is these crazy ideas that go on to become the most recognized ones of our time.

Gifted individuals face many challenges, with one of biggest being the inability to be correctly identified by the individuals who should be helping them realize their true potential.

As with any other student, it would be a shame if parents, teachers and peers did not recognize the strengths of gifted students and allow them to reach their true potential. But what must educators and parents do in order to make sure this does not happen?

However until more help is readily available, what are the gifted to do?

Sadly, not enough is known about giftedness. More time and energy need to be spent identifying traits among the gifted, especially since it is these students who go on to contribute much to improving the state of our world.

Acknowledge the possibilities, identify your capabilities and allow yourself to be different. You never know, you may be the next Einstein.

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