Unique, Affordable Last-Minute Gifts Whether you celebrate Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas or Festivus (and who doesn't love the Airing of Grievances?), holiday gift-giving is in full swing. To that end, we've put together a bunch of awesome gifts for the people on your list.And don't worry, we know even though there's talk of economic recovery, most of us are still a little light in the wallet. So we made sure most of these gifts fall securely under the $50 mark.Happy shopping."Where I've Been" Scratch Travel Map This lottery ticket inspired travel map is perfect for that loved... view article details

Q: Hi Heather,One form of passive aggressive behavior is a boss who looks displeased but does not speak to you for a day or several days. I am retired now but have been through a variety of good & bad managers. There is seemingly no recourse from moody nonspeaking bosses. If reported, one may be labeled as being over sensitive. What are your recommendations?A: Wouldn’t it be nice to just sit down and have a little chat when those situations arise? But that is exactly what the passive-aggressive personality seeks to avoid. Whether due to unresolved issues from childhood or problems with authori... view article details

1. You're Running on Empty Workers of the world, come clean: Who among us hasn't laid our head on the table, dozed off on a conference room couch, or curled up behind our desk in the middle of the day? Don't feel guilty. You're not alone. The Pew Research Center reported in 2009 that about 34 percent of adults surveyed had napped during the previous day. We are an exhausted crew. Most working Americans sleep six or less hours a night, instead of the recommended 7 to 9 hours.2. You're Working Longer, Getting Less Done Americans have the longest working... view article details

If you think Mike Rowe of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs is the only one who's exposed to filth on a daily basis, think again. Germs abound in the average workplace, and often in places you wouldn't expect. Find out what you can do to steer clear of parasites, microbes and bacteria lurking at your job.Fine dining First, a quiz: Where would you rather eat lunch? At your deskIn a stall in the office lavatoryToilet for two? If you chose B, well, you're a little strange, aren't you? But, seriously, studies have shown that work desks have way more ... view article details

It’s 8 A.M. on a Tuesday morning and adrenaline is coursing through your veins as you “sing” along with SZA to the chorus of the Grammy-nominated “All the Stars” in the bathroom mirror: “This may be the night that my dreams might let me know, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars closer…” No, you’re not working on your new LP with Kendrick Lamar, and you 're not the new Aaron Burr understudy in “Hamilton.” You’re getting ready for a job interview. You’ve probably read interview guides written by folks who expect you to go through all the robotic motions – “show up... view article details

Hi Heather, I read your advice regarding 'death in the workplace.' My mother went through a long bout with cancer that she lost. Before she was diagnosed, I started a new job and, needless to say, when I learned of her cancer, it affected me on the job. Because I'm an outside salesman I have to be out there constantly, but the honest truth is I wasn't performing at my best. My boss assured me he understood and one of his repeated comments was 'Steve, spend as much time with her as you can. If you don't, you'll regret it.' I didn't really take him up on it too much but felt somewhat at ease bel... view article details

In an economy where employees are often overworked and many businesses are pulling the plug on raises and extra benefits, some companies are shining stars when it comes to offering their employees cool perks. Most organizations say that they value their employees and offer generous benefits packages. But we’ve searched around and found employers that offer much more than standard benefits. Check out our round-up of 14 companies that offer their employees unusual and incredible perks. 1. Google Mountain View, CA-based Google doesn't just offer employees a stimulating environment to work and c... view article details

 “The most wonderful time of the year” can seem like anything but when you're worried about family get-togethers, endless gift lists and shrinking budgets. And if you do not celebrate any holidays during this time, you can end up feeling like an outsider.To top it off, there's often no respite at the office, which can be fraught with potential faux pas and pitfalls during the holiday season. Aside from planning your annual vacation for this particular week, what's an employee to do to avoid feeling like a holiday humbug?Here's our gift to you -- a checklist for maneuvering through the murky mi... view article details

There is always a temptation to over spend during the holidays. In light of the current economic situation it is more important than ever to avoid getting deeper in to debt in order to satisfy gift-giving obligations. Don't despair. Salary.com has put together a few ideas to help you shift your focus and have a happy holiday season.Develop a plan Decide ahead of time how much you can afford to spend and on whom you plan to spend it. By looking at your entire planned gift giving at once, you'll make better decisions once you get into the thick of holiday shopping. Once y... view article details

Annoying Coworkers Make Office Life Miserable You know who they are.Maybe it was something as huge as taking all the credit for a game-changing business idea, or something as small as chewing gum too loudly at their desks. But whatever the reason, we all have coworkers we absolutely hate. And some of us are that coworker -- whether we realize it or not.It's inevitable really. After all, you can't spend 40 hours a week with the same people day in and day out, trapped together in a confined area and forced to share space and resources, without developing a little bit of acrimony from ti... view article details