It’s not that we’re getting older, it’s just that bosses are getting younger. Really.

Forbes pointed out a few ways to deal with a younger boss and as such, they also mentioned human resources and career consultants indicated this is not atypical. A 2012 survey by CareerBuilder indicated that 34 percent of employees currently work for a younger boss.

Although one or two years isn’t really a big deal, what happens when you’re a decade apart or more? Generationally, this has implications for a disconnect. There are a few strategies to implement so you can effectively deal with your younger boss. Read more

Want to stay svelte on the job? Then stay in media and don’t become a scientist, engineer or teacher. Half kidding.

Okay, we’re taking this a bit to the extreme but as per a survey published by CareerBuilder, professions that involved a high stress level (not saying that we aren’t stressed out from time to time here in media) resulted in packing on some pounds.  People who worked in a job where they sat at a desk all day also gained weight. Read more

It’s a sad day for photographers at the Chicago Sun-Times and journalism in general as a sign of the times.

As per The Huffington Post, sources told Chicago Tribune media reporter Robert Channick about 20 full-time staffers received their pink slips. He tweeted, “Chicago Sun-Times lays off its full photography staff; plans to use freelancers going forward.”

The actual number of employees impacted could be closer to 30, as per Crain’s Chicago Business. The Sun-Times includes publications such as The Chicago Reader.

As for the reason? An increased demand for video and “other multimedia.” Jim Romenesko posted a statement on his site which was issued by the newspaper:

“The Sun-Times business is changing rapidly and our audiences are consistently seeking more video content with their news. We have made great progress in meeting this demand and are focused on bolstering our reporting capabilities with video and other multimedia elements. The Chicago Sun-Times continues to evolve with our digitally savvy customers, and as a result, we have had to restructure the way we manage multimedia, including photography, across the network.”

Apparently the 10th largest circulating newspaper in the country plans to rely on freelancers and reporters using their smart phones.

As pointed out by Forbes, the Sun-Times won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. The story entailed a package about the continuous level of violence.  John J. Kim, staff photographer, was among the winners.

We all know the importance of a hearty handshake and making eye contact during a job interview but what happens when you’re at a meeting? You’re giving a presentation and then, bam! You’re trying to connect with your eyes to the audience but your boss looks away, your colleagues check their smart phones and just like that, you’ve lost eye contact.

As highlighted in a Wall Street Journal piece, Quantified Impressions indicated adults make eye contact between 30 and 60 percent of the time during a typical conversation.

The communications-analytical company added a footnote: People should actually make eye contact between 60 to 70 percent of the time. The numbers aren’t just declining at the office; they’re falling in social situations as well and negatively impacting emotional connections with others. Read more

Think things are bleak? Think again! There’s always a sunny way of looking at things and hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere…consider this: Bloomberg ranked average annual wages for OECD countries and we came out on top.

Data taken from 2011 reflected full-time employees (FTE) as well as employees on a part-time basis converted to a FTE basis. Salaries were adjusted so they compared applies to applies in terms of purchasing power equity. This gave researchers the opportunity to compare costs from one country to another.

Drumroll please…The average wage for America was $54,450. Read more

Whether you’re online all day or hop onto Facebook on your work computer just to quickly peruse your newsfeed, lawmakers are cracking down, as per a piece on U.S. News & World Report,

Social media privacy laws have been introduced or they’re pending in 35 states, says the National Conference of State Legistlators. That’s not all — since this past January, five states (Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Washington), implemented legislation that makes it prohibitive for employers to access employees’ social media passwords.

That said, there are some loopholes. For instance, per the piece there’s a new law in Utah that allows employers to request employees’ passwords for Facebook or Twitter when the tech device has been supplied by or paid for by the company. Whether it was paid by the employer in whole or in part, the law still applies. Read more

According to Science Daily, a new study coming from Florida State University provides insight as to how managers can keep their workaholic employees healthy and engaged on the job.

More than 400 employees in professional and administrative occupations participated in the study and apparently 60 percent of them were self-identified as workaholics who felt “guilty when taking time off.” While they experienced more tension, they also reported pouring more effort into their work than their colleagues.

“We found that there is an optimal level of workaholism for job effectiveness and positive health,” Wayne Hochwarter said.

The Jim Moran Professor of Business Administration in Florida State’s College of Business continued, “However, when in excessively low or high ranges, both the company and the employee are likely to suffer. Read more

Some people leverage a role as a receptionist, administrative assistant, intern, mailroom clerk — you name it – to get their foot in the door, make connections and work impeccably to climb the corporate ladder.

Well, not every position is a launching pad. What happens if you’re an administrative assistant at a magazine for 10 years and suddenly you decide to lean on your current job as a stepping stone? According to a piece in today’s New York Post, one of the first action plans encompasses pursuing a college degree.

1. Get schooled. In the piece, Gregory Giangrande, executive human resources director in the media industry writes, “The unemployment rate is three times higher for non-degree job-seekers than those with college degrees. Beyond that, your next step in education is directly related to what your interests are and where your skills lie.” Read more

It’s a funny thing about bosses. You may not appreciate a good one until they’re gone. Then when you have a new, overly critical one you’re immediately searching for the nearest exit door and longing for that former boss.

Well, there are a few ways to handle these types of hyper-critical bosses. For starters, as pointed out by Annie Fisher, “Ask Annie” columnist for Fortune, it’s important to not take it personally.

1. Don’t take anything personally. It’s not you, it’s him or her. Seriously.

Keep your stress levels at a minimum by reminding yourself other people who have worked for the same boss probably experienced the same criticism. Fisher writes, “You’ll be much less stressed if you can keep some emotional distance. Practice reminding yourself that this is just the way he is.” Read more

As we gear up for Memorial Day weekend and get that out-of-office reply ready, we simply had to share this all-encompassing truth, courtesy of PhD Comics.