The point of Secret Santa is that it's low-key. It's not a formal gift exchange, but rather a fun way to exchange (usually small) gifts and add a little bit of mystery to it. I used to do one with my high school friend group, and we'd usually give each other gag gifts, just so we could all have a laugh together when we exchanged them. But things can get a little trickier when it comes to gift-giving in the workplace. You have to be extra sure not to offend anyone, or else you might face profess…

All I want for Christmas is a 4-day workweek

Music is personal

Commuting to work is a necessary evil that most of the working world has to deal with. Aside from those lucky remote workers, most of us have to figure out a way to get our behinds to the office and back every single day. If you're especially blessed, you might live within walking distance from your job. But most of us either have to drive or use public transportation to get where we need to go. It might not be a fun part of having a job, but it is a necessary one. And the thing with jobs is th…

There is no perfect way to fire someone, but this isn't it

Is it holiday break yet?

If there's one thing I can't stand , it's a litterer. I can't think of a single justification for littering, I believe. Just wait until there is an available trashcan, I promise everything will be okay. Littering makes our communities worse and highlights selfish behavior. Sure, nobody might call you out for it at the moment, but if you're around someone like me who despises it, then you will get your due. I believe all it takes is one meaningful interaction from a trusted source to get littere…

It seems like in this day and age, you're never quite sure where you stand with your company . Getting let go is always a bit of a shock to the system, no matter who you are or what kind of work you're doing. That's what happened in this situation, when an employee who by all accounts was doing a commendable job, was suddenly relieved of their position after their big money-saving project was complete. It seems as though sometimes they just want you for a specific project but don't want you aft…

Giving gifts in a corporate setting is a tricky business . You may want to show your appreciation for the people you work with, but gifts mean money, and money is a delicate subject at work. So as a rule, and as these commenters pointed out, gifts should flow down, not up. It's a nice thing for a boss to give a little something to their employees (though a fair, competitive wage is the best gift of all). But it shouldn't be expected for those lower on the totem pole, and thus those making less…

Not feeling so merry? It's almost the weekend—hang in there.

Everyone wants to feel like they're being fairly compensated for the work they do. It's part of what makes a job sustainable. Not only do you need enough money to live, you need enough money to feel appreciated, or else your sense of purpose will dwindle over time. The best employers know this and do their best to pay their employees not only a living wage but a wage that matches their commitment to the company. Loyalty doesn't come for free when it comes to business. What certainly isn't appre…

Sharing one's location is a technological development that comes with a lot of moral and ethical quandaries. Folks 50 years ago didn't have to wonder if it was normal or not to ask for their boyfriend's location. They just had to believe him if he said he was going to pick up a case of beer from the next town over. But now that we have the ability to track each other's phones, and it has become a common custom to do so, it begs the question of where we draw the line. Having someone's location c…

Getting someone's name right is one of the basic building blocks of being someone's coworker

Cashing in all of your PTO before the year ends

It's difficult to be festive when you have a 9-5

Going on a work trip can create a weird space between working and your personal life. Sure, you're there to work, and you have work obligations while you're there, but you also have to be a human while on company time. You need a place to stay, food to eat, and transportation to and from your home. Usually, this is covered by the company-- after all, you wouldn't be traveling if they hadn't asked you to. But what happens when you quit while you're away? That's the situation this worker found hi…