Some people may think that working remotely can easily be abused, that you may not start work till lunch time or could be watching television instead of writing those reports.

It is important that you work the same office hours of everyone else in your workplace. If you’re travelling you need to let your office know when and where you can be reached, taking into account time zone differences if applicable.

Having set targets and goals will ensure that both you and your boss know that everything is getting done as it should, along with regular communication and team meetings. With instant messaging and the new generation of mobile phones with email capabilities this makes keeping in touch even easier.

Our opinions and interests are what make us unique and in the office environment, or in everyday life for that matter, this can lead to conflicts.

When it comes to office politics it’s important to remain objective and focus on what is best for the business. Taking sides between two people who are at odds with each other can lead to further complications, you need to try to get them to communicate positively and constructively.

You will earn respect within your company if you are seen to be fair, listen to others and consider both sides of the story. Sucking up to people, gossiping, backstabbing or dirt slinging will always come back on you in the end. You will end up with a bad reputation within your company and could hamper your career prospects.

Nurturing strong business relationships will help you to broaden your prospects, and this includes coworkers both equal to your position and below as well as senior staff.

Offer favors if you can, and not just for what you can get it return, fostering good working relationships take time and effort.  By being seen as someone who is trustworthy, a good listener and someone who has expertise they are happy to share you will reap the dividends professionally.

Your resume has already impressed them; however you have to remember you could be on a long list of applicants with similar work experience, skills and qualifications.

You need to stand out to the interviewers as the best candidate, so polishing up your interview technique is a good idea. A nice smile and firm handshake is not going to do the trick.

Interview questions:

Why do you want a new job? Was there a problem with your old one?

Don’t say:  I hated my boss and was expected to be nice to customers even if they we’re idiots.

Do say:      I enjoyed my job and went as far as I could, I’m looking for new challenges and to expand on what I’ve already learned.

Can you tell us what your strengths are?

Don’t say:  I’m good at drinking games and can really improve your after work social life.

Do say:      I work well in a team and am can also head up projects alone. I have a good eye for details which has helped me in the past such as when…

Can you tell us your biggest weakness?

Don’t say:  I find it hard to get up for work in time, other people annoy me and deadlines stress me out.

Do say:      Occasionally I find it difficult when people on my team can’t keep up with me, however I have done a team working course and learnt a lot.

Can you give us a good reason to hire you?

Don’t say:  I’m broke and I’m getting evicted so could really use the cash.

Do say:      This job is exactly what I’m looking for and I feel with my experience and skills I am the right candidate. I am up to the challenge and look forward to working for your company.

Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan has been transformed by extensive investment and development into a thriving 24/7 neighborhood and is a prime location for businesses looking for inexpensive commercial space.

Harlem
Harlem’s diverse cultural heritage is creating excellent opportunities for cultural and economic growth.

Long Island City
Long Island City’s close proximity to midtown and a wide array of affordable and spacious leasing options makes it an ideal location for business.

Downtown Brooklyn
An established business community, Downtown Brooklyn offers rich cultural traditions, a mix of historic and modern residential options along with affordable commercial space.

Downtown Jamaica
Downtown Jamaica is a vibrant transportation center in Queens with numerous opportunities for affordable commercial space.

Hudson Yards
Frequently cited as “the final frontier of real estate development in Manhattan”, 360 acres of underutilized land the Hudson Yards initiative is currently being transformed under the Hudson Yards initiative.

The season of good will is upon us once again and along with it the annual office Christmas party. Even in this recession ridden time, we can still celebrate together and look back on the past years accomplishments. You could organize some drinks or a meal, depending on your company’s budget, or perhaps if you really feel like pushing the boat out, hiring a venue and entertainment. Organizing a Secret Santa with your colleagues means everyone feels part of the festivities, and adds a little fun to the office party. You could book a nearby restaurant, use a party planning service or even just have everyone bring something into the office, a Christmas potluck. Whatever your budget, there are many ways to celebrate at this time of year. So don’t be a Scrooge, get Christmassy!

While the occasional use or checking in for perhaps ten minutes a day seems harmless, some people spend up to two hours a day while at work accessing these sites. The amount of work hours lost is becoming an increasing problem.

According to a report from Robert Talf Technology, 54% of U.S. companies completely prohibit employees accessing social networking sites for any reason whilst on company time. Nearly 20% allow access to these sites for business purposes only and another 16% permit limited personal use.

Many companies are now rolling out policies on what is acceptable in regards to using personal electronic communication whilst at work,whether it be on your lunch break or not. There are blocking packages that can be purchased that stop Facebook, YouTube and Myspace from being accessed from work computers.

Relocation Plans

When choosing new location for your office, consider access to local airports, sea port, public transport, mass transit, railway stations, etc.

Plan your move plenty of time in advance, especially since the move involves relocating employees, files, and office equipment. On average, if the office space area that you are planning to occupy exceeds 50,000 sq ft, it might take up to one year to plan and arrange the move.

When prioritizing the location criteria focus on two major factors. Is the new location in the area of possible tornadoes, tsunamis, floods, mudslides and other nature disasters? What are the crime levels in the area and is it going to be a secure location?

When setting the date for the big move, take into consideration the dates of large community events, such as festivals, parades, carnivals, sporting events. Just like massive road construction works, those can interfere badly with your moving plans.

Preparations for the Move

Split your relocation project intro three large stages: pre-move, the actual move, and post move. Each one will require a plan, a checklist and set deadlines. Prepare a detailed plan of duties to be completed for both the previous and new office premises.

If your business is of a larger scale, you will need to select and appoint several employees as move coordinators. Select pro-active and well-organized members of the team who are willing to accept the additional responsibility. After the move, it may be a nice idea to take your move management team out for a meal as a Thank-you.

Keep your staff fully informed about the move. The employees should get full information regarding the new premises, its facilities, driving directions and what their packing/preparation duties would be.

Involve your staff in sorting out and getting rid of items that won’t be needed at the new location. Provide your staff with plenty of wastebaskets so your employees can purge files and items that are not essential but would add to the cost of moving.

Ensure that a full inventory of furniture and equipment is compiled, so that you have a precise record of all contents to be moved.

Be considerate when vacating your previous site. Remember, you may find yourself leasing office space from the same landlord a few years down the line, so being gracious and leaving on courteous terms is important.

Finding a Mover

Carefully choose a moving company for your office relocation. Not all moving companies offer the same services. Ensure the company you are getting a moving proposal from is asking enough specific questions to be able to prepare for unpredicted emergencies.

Get the pre-move survey from the moving adviser. Provide as much information as possible, including the volumes, vehicle access, schedules, routes, packing and so on. Your commercial mover should submit a detailed and thorough proposal.

When discussing the details of the move with your moving company, include factors such as insurance, furniture location plans, move color codes, equipment delivery dates and building accessibility.

If possible, arrange for your moving company advisor to clarify the best ways of packing and labelling boxes, handling computer hardware and sensitive/valuable IT equipment, as well as give general instructions.

If you are moving office furniture as well as files and equipment, ask your moving advisor if they provide disassembling and reassembling services. Some moving specialist companies also offer a service of reconfiguring your old workstations to suit the new location.

Address your relocation inquiries to New York’s leading moving professionals:

All Inclusive Movers – provide New York local and long distance moving solutions.

Please note that the above-mentioned links are for your general information only. NY Offices are not responsible for any of the content on the external sites.

Stress in the workplace becomes a bigger problem every year, with depression, just one type of stress related reaction, being the leading occupational disease this century resulting in more work days lost than to any other single factor. With 25% to 40% off job burnout in the US being directly blamed on work pressures and stress this cannot be taken lightly.

There are several reasons for the increased stress levels in the workplace including job insecurity, growing demands and working longer hours, higher expectation of productivity and the need for a work/family balance as more women have entered the workforce. Worldwide a global stress research study found that women who have children under the age of thirteen and work full time experience the highest levels of stress.

A poll by The American Psychological Association found that one third of the people in America are experiencing high levels of stress, with one in five suffering these extreme levels of stress fifteen days a month. They APA have put together a Stress Tip Sheet to help those in need of help managing their stress levels.

We have put together some helpful tips on riding the Subway and ways to minimise risks.

• Position yourself on the platform where the doors of the Subway car open.

• Let passengers disembark before trying to get into the Subway car. Not only is this polite it makes room for more people to get on. It’s not rocket science.

• Remove your backpack if you are wearing one and carry it.

• If there is one seat empty, check to see if there is a good reason why! This also goes for an empty Subway car, especially during the rush hour.

• Carry an anti-bacterial hand cleanser with you.

• Ensure that you get on the correct service, for instance don’t get on the express train if you actually need the local train.

• Make sure you have the right fare, currently $2.25 (as of 2009)

• Keep your wallet in your front pocket or at the bottom of your bag.

A major factor is what you eat at lunch, you need to avoid sugars and simple carbohydrates as these get absorbed into your bloodstream immediately which causes a rise in your blood sugar. Your body then secretes insulin to bring your blood sugar levels back down an hour or two after you have eaten. Candy bars and white bread are major culprits, so a meal that includes foods that give a steady and slow release of sugar into the blood stream are the best idea. Protein rich foods like meat, egg and fish are good with salad or vegetables along with a small portion of starch.

Drinking plenty of water during the day is also beneficial to your general well being. Other ways to prevent this slump is to take a walk after lunch to get your blood circulating around your body, to breathe and stretch and get more fresh air into your system.