Want to give your boss a gift for Christmas? That’s great! It definitely shows that you appreciate your employer and you feel appreciated by them. If you don’t want to or don’t feel as though you should due to circumstances at work, it’s okay too. There is certainly no rule that says you have to give a gift to your boss. However, if you plan to give one, what do you get your boss for Christmas? How much money should you spend on their gift? And how should you give it?
I know, it probably shouldn’t be this complicated, and it isn’t. But there’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to give gifts, just like there are appropriate gifts and inappropriate gifts. Use this blog as a guide for what to get your boss for Christmas
It happens to all of us at one point or another. Whether it’s a work project, laundry, or Christmas shopping, there tends to be at least one thing that continuously gets pushed back until the last possible minute. There’s a procrastinator in all of us. I am big proponent of list making- crossing off a task once completed is a feeling that I love! However, I’ll admit that there is generally at least one task on my weekly to-do list that doesn’t get crossed off and then reappears on the next weeks list, and the next weeks and sometimes even the week after that.
Why is this? The easy answer is that some tasks are just less appealing than others (I don’t know anyone who gets excited about folding laundry). But what about the work projects that you just can’t seem to get a start on and keep pushing off? Assuming you’re not a lazy employee and are just a procrastinator, it likely has more to do with:
We all spend most of our time at work, so it is only natural that friendships are established in the workplace. Usually these relationships develop with co-workers, but when it happens between a boss and subordinate, things can get tricky! Being friends with your boss comes with a unique set of boundaries that should be observed.
The number 1 thing to remember is – He/She is your boss first, and your friend second!
If you keep this number 1 rule in mind, the rest of the below suggestions should be relatively easy to follow:
Do you ever just die from boredom at work? I’m writing this blog right now because the other task I was working on was frankly boring me to death. So I thought I’d write a blog about being bored at work! Great solution, right? Well, in my role it works, but if you’re in a different role, it might be more tempting to spend the next two solid hours trolling Facebook, shopping for Christmas gifts, or getting sucked down a Wikipedia black hole. I probably don’t have to tell you that, although tempting, that’s probably not the best way to spend your paid company time. So how do you combat boredom in the workplace?
Ask for Something to Do: This is a pretty obvious choice, but if you’re literally out of things to do, ask your manager or supervisor if there is anything they need help with or if there’s something that they can think of for you to do. You may be hesitating to do this, because you want to appear self-sufficient or don’t want to bother your boss, or even let them know that you are bored in the first place. Just know that it would probably bother them more to know that you’re playing Solitaire instead of getting something done, so simply ask nicely if you can help out with a task on their plate or if there is anything they have in mind for you to work on.
Kristi Sproul, AgCareers.com’s Education and Marketing Specialist, recently joined AgCareers.com this summer. She works from a home office in Western Oklahoma.
What do you do on a day-to-day basis in your role with AgCareers.com?
I really get to do a wide variety of projects which is exciting and keeps my days interesting. Within a day I may work with University Partners in promoting their online master’s programs, write content for blogs or newsletters, help promote AgCareers.com resources to targeted audiences or assist in building the framework for market research projects.
What do you enjoy about working with AgCareers.com?
My coworkers’ level of talent really makes the job enjoyable. I am fortunate to work with a team that is goal-oriented, solution-focused, and eager to deliver valuable resources to job seekers and employers.
Chris McLoughlin recently joined AgCareers.com as an Inside Sales Representative for Western Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He works from the Guelph, Ontario office.
What do you do on a day-to-day basis in your role with AgCareers.com?
I reach out to current and perspective customers by both phone and email to make sure that they understand the benefits and value they get when posting jobs with us and I drink a lot of coffee.
What do you enjoy about working with AgCareers.com?
The people I work with are amazing and make coming into work each day a breeze. Being a small part of helping people reach their potential in their chosen careers is a great feeling.
What advice would you give to job seekers using AgCareers.com for the first time?
Upload your resume!! It is great to use the Website to look for jobs but if your resume is on the system employers can search you out and you never know what great opportunities that can open for you.
Jennifer Klein began working with AgCareers.com in the spring of 2017 as an Inside Sales Associate. She works from the AgCareers.com Guelph, Ontario office.
What do you do on a day-to-day basis in your role with AgCareers.com?
I contact clients’ renewals and leads, assisting clients with purchasing and posting jobs, reviewing job post activity and new job posts for approval.
What do you enjoy about working with AgCareers.com?
Everything. It is such a wonderful environment with the best team a person could ask for to spend the working day with.
What advice would you give to job seekers using AgCareers.com for the first time?
Always submit a cover letter and customize your resume to the position your applying for.
In my last blog, I discussed the fine tunes of annoying your coworkers through their sense of hearing. In this blog, I turn from ears to nose. Offending a coworker with smells is another common workplace grievance.
Food, candles, cologne.
Whoa…what IS that smell? That reeks!
The stench of lunch seems to be a common complaint in the workplace. Realize that the fish tacos or garlic pasta may taste fantastic, but the lingering smell may drive your coworkers crazy. Likewise, that afternoon snack of microwave popcorn that got a bit burnt may be a bother to some. You should be able to eat what you want, but ensure you are disposing of waste properly (maybe even taking super stinky trash outside to the dumpster) and cleaning up any remaining dishes. Don’t forget to clear out leftovers from the refrigerator that have seen better days! It may be a cool science experiment, but no one enjoys watching leftover takeout food grow mold in the work fridge.
We’ve all been there…that office mate on their cell phone all the time, or the coworker that smacks their gum loudly. Some days these little annoyances are easier to handle than others. I’ve done my fair share to annoy people in the workplace (not intentionally); some people have told me straight out, I’ve overheard others complaining under their breath, heard it through the grapevine, etc. Supervisors may even be called in to address it with employees. I’m sure there are plenty of exasperating habits I possess that I don’t even realize.
This blog is NOT meant to be a manual on how to get back at your coworkers! More so, it’s a heads up on what you may want to avoid in the workplace, or at least be cognizant of, from someone who’s been there a few years.
Offending senses in the workplace can be a major annoyance. In Part 1, we’ll discuss how your ears can be friend or foe!
Voices, music, cell phones.
Some of us are just loud talkers (guilty). But it is important to note that a few so-called loud talkers might not even be aware of it! So, don’t be personally offended if someone asks you to turn it down a notch.
Having a job that requires working nights, weekends or holidays is a rite of passage for most 20 something’s. Ask around and those who have been in the workforce for several years will most likely have stories to tell about a previous job with less than ideal hours. Couple this with the reality that agriculture is not a Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. industry and it’s very likely you’ll take a job with difficult hours at some point in your career. So add “I Will Survive” to your music playlist, crank it up and utilize these tips to not only survive but thrive!
● Be aware that it will take your body time to adjust to the new schedule. However, with time it will become your new normal. Be patient and resilient in making the changes to your daily schedule.
