I’ve had the absolute pleasure of writing about office life extensively here at Bored Panda. In fact, it sometimes feels like there isn’t an office-related topic that I haven’t touched on (maybe with the exception of outdoor offices, but we’ll get there!). One of the things that can get office employees riled up is the temperature in shared spaces.
For instance, did you know that research has shown that men and women perform math and verbal tasks differently depending on how cold or hot it is? In general, if you make it warmer, women have been shown to perform these tasks better, though men’s performance drops slightly. So if you want to increase the general productivity at a gender-equal office, it’s best to err on the side of too warm rather than too cold. (As someone who’s constantly cold, I wholeheartedly support this research.)
#5
However, far from everything is all about having fun, gossiping, and dealing with drama. Working at the office can be a real challenge because of inequality and sexism.
Elizabeth Arif-Fear, writer and founder of ‘Voice of Salam,’ is a human rights advocate and explained to Bored Panda that real gender equality at the workplace can only be achieved if “men in positions of leadership are willing to recognize their privilege and ensure open positions for people based on merit and if wider society continues to tackle gender-based stereotypes based on certain professions being ‘male’ or ‘female.’”
According to Arif-Fear, Western society is beginning to have healthier conversations about inappropriate behavior at the office, too. However, she believes that there’s still a long way to go, as some men are, in her opinion, reacting uncomfortably to the changes.
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“Things vary between sectors/professions and location, I think we're making progress regarding gender-based stereotypes, but with the continuing gender pay gap, there's a long way to go and I don't imagine major changes over the next five years. Changes, yes, but there'll still be some work to be done,” the expert said.
Arif-Fear also pointed out that, for instance in the UK, 1 in 2 women have experienced inappropriate behavior in the workplace, ranging from sexual advances to inappropriate jokes. She also revealed that she and her female colleagues were subjected to sexist comments at a conference not too long ago.
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Getting along with your coworkers, managers, and bosses requires a willingness to find compromises. In short, it's about balancing between the needs of the company and your own goals, finances, and workload. So a level head and a penchant for negotiations are always valuable.
Of course, disagreements and miscommunication are something that happens all the time. It's not something that can ever magically go away. And while some arguments are friendly and can be shrugged with a good laugh and a cup of coffee, others can get a bit too personal because they affect employees in very direct ways.
#19
