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Tag Archives: work behaviour

Less power impairs the mind

By Ricki Sharpe | Published: May 28, 2008

If it seems your neurons aren’t firing as they should, you may be working in a position of low power. According to new research published in the May issue of Psychological Science, being placed in a position of low-power may impair your basic cognitive functioning.

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Payback time following lay-offs

By Ricki Sharpe | Published: April 29, 2008

Employees made redundant often fight back – either bad mouthing their former employer, or taking legal action if they feel their dismissal was unfair. According to Daniel Skarlicki at the University of British Columbia and colleagues, companies wishing to avoid this kind of retaliation need to provide as much information as possible to the staff they’re laying off, but more than that, they need to realise that this openness will only be effective if their staff perceive them to be of high integrity.

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Boosting self-esteem can backfire

By Ricki Sharpe | Published: April 3, 2008

Smart business leaders understand that confidence and self-esteem affects decision-making and ultimately a company’s earnings. But giving employees positive feedback in the hopes of promoting better decisions sometimes can backfire, suggests new research from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the London Business School.

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Bullying worse than sexual harassment

By Ricki Sharpe | Published: April 1, 2008

Workplace bullying, such as belittling comments, persistent criticism of work and withholding resources, appears to inflict more harm on employees than sexual harassment, say researchers who presented their findings at the Seventh International Conference on Work, Stress and Health (2008).

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Sleeping on the job improves memory

By Ricki Sharpe | Published: March 28, 2008

We all know people who sleep on the job. Now they can say it actually improves their mental performance, if they get caught. According to a new study, taking a mere six minute power nap is enough to replenish a person’s memory abilities. In fact, this brief nap can have the same effect as night time sleep on memory.

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