If you're an American working in an office in the United States, 'casual Friday,' efficient office lunches that allow you to chomp away while simultaneously negotiating deals, and canvassing cubicles to sell your child's Girl Scout cookies are all par for the course.Workers from other countries, on the other hand, might find these traditions rude, offbeat, or just plain weird. This article explores unique traditions, habits, and cultures from workplaces around the world.1. They're no slackers Tired at the end of a 40-hour workweek?South Koreans work 45+ hours per week -- on average se... view article details

The American Time Use Survey was developed by the Department of Labor and conducted by the Census Bureau. Established in 2003, this study collects information about the things Americans do each day, such as work, household activities, educational pursuits and leisure activities and how much time we spend doing them. While the study looks at American households, Salary.com decided to take a look at this data from a different perspective – men vs. women – and some of the findings are pretty interesting.At Work According to the survey, employed persons worked an... view article details

Where's the Beach? There’s a radio advertisement running on one of the stations I listen to regularly. It’s an ad for “the beaches of South Walton” and hopes to inspire listeners to vacation there. The problem is, the ad's writers assumed a lot about the audience when they created their piece. They barely mention the beaches are in Florida and allude to the 'white sands,' which requires some knowledge about Florida to conclude the beach must be on the Gulf coast -- because the Atlantic Ocean’s beaches don’t have white sand.Unless the goal was to specifically target people who already ... view article details

It's all negotiable. Every new job - every performance review, in fact - is an opportunity to negotiate base salary, various kinds of bonuses, benefits, stock options, and other incentives that add to job satisfaction and provide financial security. Taking control of your job search before your job offer and conducting a smart search that takes into account more than just financial considerations can also lead to that elusive condition called happiness. Are ... view article details

Dearest Readers,What was I doing in Billy's Boxer on Boxing Day? Zipping along the 10 on our way to the Ask Annette celebrity shareholders' retreat in Palm Springs, naturally, when suddenly my newest Hermès scarf blew away, and it got me thinking: It's the new year. Whatever will we wear?Moreover, what simple steps can today's office worker take to become even more fabulous in the coming months? Here are some of the shareholders' resolutions.CourtesyFinish and mail your holiday thank-you notes by January 15.When you restate someone else's idea in a meeting, give the person credit.Have your Peo... view article details

Not sure how much to contribute to your retirement plan every month? That's easy: Put in as much as you possibly can without leaving yourself stuck. Investment limitsEvery year the IRS puts a limit on how much pretax income you can contribute to your retirement plan. For the year 2005 the maximum is $14,000. This is quite a nice equalizer that prevents bigwig executives from feathering their nests much more than the mail clerk. If you want to contribute more, you can, but it'll have to come from income you've already paid tax on. Though once in there, the extra money can earn tax deferred unti... view article details

After establishing contact with the party you're trying to reach, you should be ready to use the time as effectively as if you were in a face-to-face meeting.The speakerphone – friend or foe?Speakerphones are a great tool for communication via the telephone, but they must be used wisely. Some people prefer to use a speakerphone even when no one else is listening in so that they can take notes during the conversation without having to juggle a phone receiver. If you're one of those people, make sure you inform the people on the line with you that you are using a speakerphone, and if they seem a... view article details

The Olympics as a Moneymaker We've watched American athletes win gold (and lose gold). We've watched world records fall. We've found ourselves assessing equestrians and rooting for archers, unexpectedly enthralled by largely obscure events enjoying their quadrennial moment in the spotlight. But there is another element, beyond athletic excellence and national pride, framing and shaping the Olympic Games: money. Preparing the Host City Hosting the Olympics is a pricey proposition. The British government originally pegged the cost of the London Olympics at about $14.5 billion, ... view article details

Used Correctly, Pinterest Can be a Valuable Tool to Aid in Your Job Search Pinterest: Time-Waster or Career-Starter? Pinterest, with more than 11.7 million users and a recent value of $1.5 billion, is the fastest growing social network since Facebook. First used by a mostly female demographic to create and share online "pinboards" devoted to topics like fashion, food, event planning, and interior design, Pinterest is rapidly finding favor with other groups of people, including job seekers. Pinterest allows users to create "pinboards" on specific topics. Users find images and videos that are... view article details

Check Out These High-Paying, Entry Level Careers Perfect for Recent College Graduates College is Over -- Get a Job! The month of May brings us Mother's Day, the Kentucky Derby and -- most importantly -- college graduations. After four long years of toiling and late-night study sessions, graduates have their caps, gowns, and that diploma is waiting for you across the stage. But the biggest question for all graduating college seniors is whether or not they have a job. In honor of society's newest entrants to the labor market, let’s take a look at some of the hottest jobs for this year's crop ... view article details