| How to Detect Bad Air Quality Posted: 30 Jan 2019 12:00 AM PST Poor air quality can force you to stay inside, give you allergy attacks, and even hurt your health, but it can be hard to tell just when the quality goes from OK to unhealthy. By checking frequently and knowing how to keep yourself safe at dangerous levels, you can wait out the bad air safely and get back outside in good health. EditAssessing Air Quality Indoors - Use an air quality monitor to test for test for indoor pollutants. Indoor air quality is judged by the amount of particle matter, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds, such as chemical pollutants), temperature, and humidity (which can lead to mold) in the air. Look online and in home hardware stores for air quality monitors that check all of these pollutants.[1]
- Monitors typically cost between $150-250, and 1 device should work well for a medium-sized home.
- The monitor will inform you when it detects a risky level of pollutants and what you should do about it. It can come paired with an app that provides even more information, and can send you alerts about changes in the air quality even when you aren't in your home.
- Look for signs of mold. Check your home for a musty, unpleasant odor that persists even when you clean, and look for visible signs like black spots, water spots, or damp areas. You might also start experiencing health symptoms, such as watering eyes, congestion, or listlessness.[2]
- You can verify with a professional mold inspection, then get rid of the mold with a removal service.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout the building. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, but can be deadly if it's inhaled. Installing carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home or workplace can alert you if dangerous levels of the chemical are ever present.[3]
- Place the detectors close to areas that you frequent, such as a bedroom or a busy office, so you're more likely to hear them.
- Change the batteries every 6 months or so.
- Carbon monoxide can be released by household appliances like stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, grills, and hot water heaters. Place detectors in the same room as these appliances, or as close as possible.
- Do an at-home test to check for radon. To check for radon, a radioactive gas that can be found in soil, well water, and in homes, you can purchase an at-home test from a home improvement store. You'll likely need to leave the sensor material in your home, then collect it after a certain amount of time. Then, you'll mail the material to a lab for analysis. Check twice a year to make sure your building stays safe.[4]
- Radon is the top cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and about 1 in 15 homes in the US have elevated levels of it.[5]
- You can also hire a professional to test.
EditChecking Outdoor Air Conditions - Check verified Air Quality Index reports online. You can easily check your area's Air Quality Index (AQI) by logging onto a verified website. From there, you'll enter in a city or postal code, or allow the site to look at your GPS information to tell you the AQI in your area. Scores are color-coded and typically separated by pollutant. They're available throughout the US and globally as well. Use websites such as:[6]
- Look out for AQI scores of 100 or higher, which mean the air is unhealthy. The Air Quality Index (AQI) provides daily reports on air quality all over the world. It consists of a numerical value paired with a verbal level and a color. You can read the AQI with the following key:
- Good air quality: AQI within 0-50; green color. Air quality at this level is satisfactory and doesn't pose any health risks.
- Moderate: AQI within 51-100; yellow color. The air quality is acceptable, but could be a moderate health risk for people sensitive to ozone or particle pollution.
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: AQI within 101-150; orange color. Most of the population shouldn't be affected, but people with heart or lung disease, children, and older adults are at risk.
- Unhealthy: AQI within 151-200; red color. Everyone might start to experience adverse health effects, with sensitive groups experiencing them more strongly.
- Very unhealthy: AQI between 201-300; purple color. This is a health alert, which means that everyone might start to experience strong health effects.
- Hazardous: AQI above 300; maroon color. This is considered an emergency condition, where the whole population is even more likely to be affected.
- Learn how the Air Quality Index is measured to read it more easily. The AQI tests for 4 different pollutants. Most AQI scores are given in terms of pollutant—1 score per pollutant—so knowing what they are and how they can affect you is helpful in learning how to keep yourself safe.[7]
- Ground level ozone: Ozone pollution often occurs during the summer, when hot weather heats up pollutants from cars and power plants. Health effects can include coughing and throat soreness, difficulty breathing, aggravation of asthma, and inflamed lung cells.
- Particle pollution or matter: When inhaled, fine and coarse particles can aggravate your lungs. This is particularly dangerous during fires and for people with heart and lung diseases, as their diseases can be aggravated to life-threatening levels.
- Carbon monoxide: An odorless, colorless gas, carbon monoxide is let out in car exhaust. In high levels, it can reduce the amount of oxygen in your body. This type of pollution is most dangerous for people with cardiovascular diseases or difficulties.
- Sulfur dioxide: Also a colorless gas, sulfur dioxide is produced by burning fuels like coal and oil in power plants.
- Track wildfires that can affect air quality. Wildfires let off fumes that create dangerous levels of ozone and particulate matter. Healthy adults usually aren't at major risk from short-term exposure, but you should still avoid breathing in smoke if you can help it. Track nearby wildfires online and keep up to date on your local air quality, since winds can push smoke towards you even from miles away.[8]
- Check pollen and spore levels online. Pollutants aren't the only air problem to be aware of. If you're allergic or even just sensitive to pollen and spores, you can track their levels in your area using allergen-specific websites. Sites will usually provide information on what kind of allergens are in the air and at what levels; anything over a low to medium-low range can affect your allergy symptoms, depending on your sensitivity. Sites to use include:[9]
- Sign up for EnviroFlash to get email alerts about poor air quality. If you want to stay up to date on air quality without having to search for it, subscribe to EnviroFlash. You can sign up for daily updates, forecasts, and alerts for when AQI levels hit a level of concern (known as "action days").[10]
- To subscribe, go to http://www.enviroflash.info/. Enter your email address, name, and zip code, then search for the nearest EnviroFlash city to you.
- Download an air pollution detection app for convenience. For a convenient way to check air quality right on your phone, search your app store for an app that offers AQI and pollen information based on your location. Make sure it can access your current location for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
- Try apps like Air Matters, or Air Quality, both of which are free and work globally.
- Listen to and read weather reports from local media. Your area's AQI is almost always reported during weather updates on TV or in the newspaper, so you can track it daily if you want. It typically gets the most attention when it hits moderate or unhealthy levels, so even a casual news-watcher should be able to get notified when conditions are bad.[11]
EditProtecting Yourself from Poor Air Quality - Use an air purifier for indoor spaces. To remove dust particles and other allergens from your home, place an electronic purifier in your bedroom. This gives you the longest exposure to the purified air.
- Look for air purifiers online or in home improvement stores.
- Avoid heavy or prolonged exertion during periods of high AQI. No matter what pollutant is registering in high levels, the best thing is to avoid heavy outdoor exercise and long periods of time outside. If you do need to go outside, slow down (such as by walking, instead of running) and try to take frequent breaks indoors.[12]
- For ozone and particle matter, avoid outdoor exertion at Moderate levels.
- For carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, avoid outdoor exertion at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" levels.
- Try to exercise indoors on days when you're at risk. If you can't, cut back on the intensity of your exercise and avoid areas with heavy traffic, such as busy streets.[13]
- Stay inside if you're a child, older adult, or have a lung disease or asthma. The most susceptible people to poor air quality are children, older adults, and people with lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and asthma. If you or your loved ones fall into one or more of these categories, keep track of AQI closely and stay inside when levels register as Moderate.[14]
- Stay alert for adverse health effects to different pollutants. Health effects for each type of pollutant vary slightly, so try to learn them and watch out for them during at-risk periods, especially if you're at-risk or spending a lot of time outside. Symptoms can appear or worsen over a few days after exposure as well. If you develop serious symptoms, such as an inability to breathe or aggravation of a current condition, go to the emergency room. Look for symptoms like:[15]
- Ozone: coughing, throat soreness, chest tightness or pain, aggravation of asthma
- Particle pollution: chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, aggravation of asthma and chronic bronchitis
- Carbon monoxide: chest pain, lowered mental awareness and vision
- Sulfur dioxide: wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness, especially for people with asthma.
- Wear a face mask if you have to be outside during bad conditions. If you have to spend a long amount of time outside or exerting yourself during dangerous air conditions, buy a face mask to protect yourself. Look online or in home improvement stores for a mask like the N95, which will protect you from most particulates.[16]
- If you're exposed to other pollutants, consider getting a mask with a filtration system.
- Particulate masks are particularly important if your air quality is affected by wildfires.
- Make sure to change your home air filters every 60-90 days, or more frequently if you or anyone else in your home suffers from allergies.
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Bake Ombre Cake Posted: 29 Jan 2019 04:00 PM PST An ombre cake is made up of several layers of cake that are all of varying shades of one color, creating a beautiful look when the cake is sliced. To make an ombre cake, you'll need to separate the cake mix into separate bowls so that you can mix in different amounts of food coloring. Bake the cakes until they're done, and then stack them on top of one another to create the gradient of color before icing the final cake. EditIngredients - White cake mix
- Food coloring
- Butter or cooking spray
- Frosting
EditPreparing the Cake Batter - Preheat the oven to before preparing white cake mix. Purchase a white cake mix from a grocery store or big box store and follow the directions to prepare the batter. Stir the batter well in a large bowl so that there aren't any big lumps.[1]
- If you'd rather make your white cake mix from scratch, find a recipe online or in a cookbook.
- Your cake mix will likely require ingredients such as eggs, water, and oil.
- Decide how many layers your ombre cake will have. Your cake should have at least 3 layers so that the color change is evident in each layer, but you can choose however many you'd like. How many layers you bake may depend on how many matching cake pans you have, as you'll want each layer to be the same size.[2]
- If you have three cake pans that are all the same size, decide on a three-layered ombre cake.
- If you want 5 layers but only have 2 or 3 cake pans, you can always cook the cakes in separate batches in the oven.
- Divide the cake batter into the needed number of bowls. Once you've chosen how many layers you want, pick out the same number of bowls to separate the batter. Pour the cake batter into each bowl, separating it into equal amounts.[3]
- For example, for a cake with 4 layers, separate cake batter into 4 separate bowls.
- To help you distribute the batter evenly, put scoops of batter in each bowl one at a time.
EditTinting the Batter - Set one bowl of cake batter aside that will stay white. This bowl will be the lightest, top layer of the cake. Make sure no food coloring goes in this bowl by setting it to the side so it's ready to go straight into the baking pan.[4]
- Add 1 drop of food coloring to the next bowl of cake batter. Pour a drop of your desired color of food coloring into a new bowl of batter. Use a very small amount, as this will be the second lightest batter color. Mix the food coloring in with the batter using a spoon.[5]
- For example, if you're making a blue ombre cake, pour a small drop of blue food coloring into the bowl and mix it in.
- Continue adding larger amounts of food coloring to the remaining bowls. In each remaining bowl, add a larger amount of food coloring to create a gradient of color with the batter. The last bowl of batter should be the brightest and darkest color, while the other bowls should each be slightly lighter.[6]
- If you're making a pink ombre cake, the last bowl of batter would be a dark pink, then a regular pink, a light pink, and finally the last bowl would be white.
- Mix each bowl of batter thoroughly with the food coloring so that the color is seamless.
EditBaking the Cakes - Grease or add parchment paper to your cake pans. You can either rub butter in the pans, spray them with baking spray, or cut pieces of parchment paper to fit in each pan so that the cake doesn't stick to the bottom. Do this with each pan that you'll be using.[7]
- If you're reusing the same pan multiple times, make sure you grease it each time you use it.
- Pour each bowl of batter into a separate cake pan. Pour the first bowl of batter (the one without food coloring) into the first cake pan. Continue doing this with the rest of the bowls of batter, spreading each color into its own pan so that the batter is evenly distributed throughout the pan.[8]
- Bake the cakes for the recommended amount of time. The specific baking time will depend on how thick the cake is and the size of the pan, but refer to the instructions on the box or in the recipe for more specific times. When you think the cake is close to done, stick a toothpick in it. If the toothpick comes out without any batter on it, the cake is done.[9]
- It's a good idea to start checking on the cake after it's been baking for 10 minutes.
- Make sure you check each cake to see if each one is done cooking.
- Let the cakes cool for 5 minutes before removing them from the pans. This will make it easier to remove them without them falling apart. Use a knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the pan before flipping the pan over onto a plate or cutting board. Do this with each cake, being careful not to let the cakes fall apart.[10]
- If you want the cakes to cool even faster once they're removed from the pan, wrap them in plastic wrap and put them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
EditIcing the Cake - Make the tops of the cakes level using a bread knife. Use the bread knife to carefully cut off the top of the cake that puffs out and forms a dome. By removing the top of the cakes, you'll create a level surface and it'll be much easier to stack them evenly.[11]
- While you don't have to do this to the top layer of cake, it will make your cake look more professional.
- Place the first layer of cake on a plate topped with icing. The first layer to go on a plate should be the darkest-colored cake. Use a knife or offset spatula to add icing on top of this cake, which will serve as an icing layer in between the stacked cakes. Spread the layer of icing thinly and evenly so your cakes stack well.[12]
- Use a white icing in between each layer.
- Stack the rest of the cakes with similar layers of icing in between. Once your darkest-colored cake is placed and has icing on top, add the next lightest cake color to the stack. Add a thin layer of icing onto this cake as well, just as you did with the first layer. Continue doing this will the remaining cakes, making sure the cakes are in the right order so that they create a gradient of dark to light as the cake grows taller.[13]
- If you're making a green ombre cake, the darkest green cake would go on the bottom and each cake that goes on top would be a tiny bit lighter, with the lightest cake going on top.
- Add a thin layer of icing over the entire cake to catch the crumbs. While you don't have to do this, it will help you create a smooth final layer of icing. Use an offset spatula to spread a thin layer of your desired icing over the entire cake, going around the cake to create an even circle.[14]
- This thin layer doesn't need to be perfect, as it won't be seen under the final layer of icing.
- Place the cake in the fridge after you do this for 15 minutes to help set the icing faster, if desired.
- Frost the cake with a single color of icing for a quick covering. Cover the cake in vanilla frosting using an offset spatula to create a smooth layer around the whole cake. If you'd like the icing to match the color of the cake, use the same food coloring to dye the icing one color before spreading it on the cake.[15]
- For example, if you created a purple ombre cake, use purple food coloring to dye the icing purple before spreading it evenly over the cake.
- Create ombre frosting by using several different gradients of frosting. If you want your icing to match the gradient on the inside of the cake, separate the icing into separate bowls just as you did the batter before adding food coloring drops to the icing. Spread the darkest shade of icing around the bottom of the cake, working your way up with lighter shades until the whitest icing is at the top.[16]
- You can use the same number of bowls as you did layers of cake, or you can choose a different number of bowls, if desired.
- Try filling piping bags with each different gradient of icing to easily spread the icing around the cake.
- Use an offset spatula to blend the icing gradients, if desired.
- Slice the cake to begin serving it. Once your cake is finished and you're ready to eat it, use a knife or cake server to cut a slice and place it on a plate. If you have leftover cake, put plastic wrap over it and place it in the fridge.
- You can also put the cake in plastic containers that are sealed to keep it fresh.
- Your cake should last roughly a week in the fridge.
EditThings You'll Need - Cake pans
- Bowls
- Spoons
- Parchment paper (optional)
- Toothpicks
- Bread knife
- Offset spatula
- Piping bags (optional)
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Boil a Weave Posted: 29 Jan 2019 08:00 AM PST Boiling your weave is a quick and easy way to revitalize it. Boil the weave in a saucepan with some olive oil and leave-in conditioner, and allow it to dry. Apply extra conditioner while the weave is drying to give the weave extra shine and moisture. EditBoiling the Weave - Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Place a large saucepan on the cooktop and half fill it with water. Turn the cooktop element on high and wait for the pot to boil. Once the water is boiling, turn the element down to a medium heat so that the water simmers rather than bubbling vigorously.
- Put a lid over the saucepan to speed up the boiling process.[1]
- Make sure that the pot is clean before pouring in the water.
- Mix 1 tsp (5 mL) of olive oil or coconut oil into the water. Gently pour 1 tsp (5 mL) of extra-virgin olive oil into the saucepan. If you decide to use coconut oil, you will need to scoop out 1 tsp (5 g) using a spoon. The oil will sit on top of the water so you will need to use a spoon to mix the oil into the water. Stir the mixture using circular motions. Continue mixing until the large oil bubbles on the surface of the water have broken up.[2]
- Avoid substituting olive oil for a processed vegetable cooking oil. Natural and unprocessed oils penetrate the hair cuticles, deeply moisturizing the hair. Natural oils will work well on all weave types (natural and synthetic)[3] If your weave is synthetic, however, it won't benefit from boiling, and the heat could harm it. If it's very dirty or damaged, you may need to replace the synthetic weave.
- Stir the water and oil gently so you don't get burnt by any splashes.
- Stir in 2 tbsp (30 grams) of a creamy leave-in conditioner. Measure 2 tbsp (30 grams) of your favorite leave-in conditioner into the pot. A creamy conditioner will give the best results as it is more concentrated than liquid conditioners. Stir the leave-in conditioner into the water and oil using gentle circular motions. Keep stirring until the leave-in conditioner has dissolved into the mixture.
- If you are using a small pot with less water, use a smaller amount of leave-in conditioner.[4]
- Place the weave into the water. Gently drop your weave into the boiling water. Do this carefully so that the boiling water doesn't splash and burn you. If you have multiple weaves that haven't been dyed or are the same color, place them in the same saucepan.
- If the weave doesn't submerge by itself, use a spoon to push it down into the water.[5]
- If you are boiling weaves that have been dyed, it is best to boil them one at a time to avoid the dye leaking onto the other weaves. As an alternative, you could place each weave in it's own pot on a separate burner. This would allow you to boil them all at the same time.
- If your weave has been dyed and you want it to retain its color, you may want to reconsider boiling it, as this process will likely remove the color.
- Leave the hair to boil for 10 minutes. Make sure that the water is lightly boiling. If the water has stopped boiling, turn the heat up. Let the hair boil for 10 minutes before turning off the heat.
- The high temperature of the water will soften your weave, making it softer to touch and silkier.
- Remove the weave from the water using tongs. Carefully grip the weave with tongs and pull it out from the water. Be careful not to splash yourself as the water will burn you. Place the weave onto a clean, dry towel.[6]
- If you have placed multiple weaves into the saucepan, remove them one at a time.
- Don't use a light colored towel if you have boiled a dyed weave, as the color may drip onto your towel and stain it.
EditDrying the Weave - Blot your weave with a towel to remove excess water. Gently press the towel against the weave, but don't rub the towel against it. Choose a microfiber towel to minimize damage and frizz.
- You can also use a clean T-shirt in place of a towel. T-shirts are softer than towels, so they don't cause damage to hair.
- Don't use a hair dryer on sopping wet hair.
- Dry the weave using a blow-dryer for 3 minutes. Lay the hair out straight on the towel. Turn the blow-dryer onto a medium heat and direct the heat over the weave. Hold the blow-dryer about away from the weave. Move the hair dryer up and down the hair. This will help to prevent heat damage from occurring. Dry the hair for about 3 minutes, it should still be slightly damp when you finish.[7]
- If you have boiled multiple weaves, dry them individually.
- Comb 1 tsp (5 grams) of leave-in conditioner through the hair. Measure approximately 1 tsp (5 grams) of your favorite leave-in conditioner into the palm of your hands. Rub your hands together and then smooth the condition over the whole weave so that it is evenly distributed. Comb the weave from the ends up to the roots, detangling as you work your way up the shaft. Comb as gently as possible to avoid damaging the weave.
- A wide-tooth comb is a good option if your weave is tangled.[8]
- Hang the weave up to dry. Hang the weave over a drying rack. Avoid using pegs, as these can create kinks in the weave. The drying time will vary depending on how thick your weave is. It will generally take at least 1 day. Leave the weave to dry completely before attaching it to the hair.[9]
- A clothes rack or clean dish rack works well for drying weaves.
- You will notice the weave feeling much softer and less tangled.
- Apply a hair serum if the weave is dry or frizzy. Use a serum to add shine to your weave. Squeeze a few drops of your favorite serum into your hand. Rub your hands together and glide them over the surface of the weave.[10]
- Use a natural hair serum to avoid residues building up in your weave.
- Curl your weave if it has lost its curl. It is likely that the hair will lose its curl when you boil and dry it. This is an easy fix, simply curl your weave as you normally would in order to restore the curls.[11]
- Make sure the hair is completely dry before you use any heat styling tools. Styling your weave while it is wet will damage the strands of hair.
EditThings You'll Need - Saucepan
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Leave-in conditioner
- Spoon
- Towel
- Tongs
- Towel or T-shirt
- Blow-dryer
- Comb
- Hair serum
- Boiling your hair can strip any hair dye from your weave. Proceed with caution if you want to keep the hair dye in your weave.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Be a Good Employee Posted: 29 Jan 2019 12:00 AM PST Whether you work in an office, a call center, or at a fast-food restaurant, it's important to work hard at your job and be a good employee. Dedicate yourself to the tasks you're assigned and participate in any training that's offered to you. Always treat your co-workers, clients, and supervisors with professional respect. Being a good employee demonstrates to your supervisor that you're dedicated to your work and will show your eligibility for a promotion or raise. EditSucceeding at Your Job - Model a strong work ethic and cover the basic requirements of your job. As soon as you start a new job, make it your business to learn the ropes as soon as possible. Many employees settle into a comfortable routine once they become proficient at a job. To set yourself apart and stand out as a good employee, always meet assignment deadlines and demonstrate a strong work ethic.[1]
- As a good employee, never make excuses for why you didn't do a task that was assigned to you.
- Show initiative by going above and beyond tasks that you're assigned. This will show your boss that you're able to work hard and serve as a model employee. Take the initiative to complete tasks on your own, so your supervisor doesn't have to micro-manage your work. If there's a way you can do more than complete the minimum requirement on a task, show that you're a good employee by putting in extra work.
- If you don't know how to do a certain task that your employer expects you to perform, ask your employer or co-workers.
- Learn new skills and take advantage of training opportunities. Many employers offer periodic on-site training or online training courses. In some instances, you may be expected to travel to a conference for company-side training. Take advantage of these valuable opportunities, as they'll allow you to pick up new skills and become a better employee. Picking up new skill sets and work-related education shows that you value improving your workplace performance.[2]
- Also, if the office has a budget crisis and lets people go, highly-trained employees stand a better chance of being retained than those who can only do one thing.
- Take criticism gracefully when it concerns your work performance. Constructive criticism from a supervisor, client, or co-worker can give some good ideas about what people expect from you. Criticism can also show you areas in which your performance has room to improve. This is a good thing! View criticism as an opportunity to improve as an employee.[3]
- For example, say that a client points out that you made numerous grammatical errors on advertising copy. Instead of becoming defensive or blaming someone else, take this as an opportunity to brush up on your writing skills.
- Ask your supervisor what their expectations are when you're in doubt. While the overall expectations should have been laid out clearly in the job posting and the interview, you may find that the nature of your work changes as months and years pass. Or, you may occasionally be asked to perform tasks around the workplace that you haven't been trained for. Clear up any confusion by asking your supervisor exactly what they expect of you.[4]
- For example, if you work in an advertising agency and you're assigned to a type of client you haven't worked with before, find out from your boss what you can do to succeed at the assigned task. You might say something like, "I've never represented a car company before; do you have any advice on what types of ad strategies work best?"
- Recognize and volunteer for opportunities around the office. Volunteering for not strictly required work around your workplace allows you to choose the part you will play in a workplace assignment. It also shows that you care about the company and are willing to go the extra mile to help out. This shows dedication and ambition, which are 2 qualities that bosses look for in good employees.[5]
- Cooperate well with others in group assignments to show initiative. Being a team player and cooperating with others on projects shows that you care about your job and the people you work with. On the other hand, if you pass on opportunities to work on projects, you'll seem like you're not interested in the job you were hired for.
- Use the last 15-20 minutes of your shift to be productive and prepare for the next day. While other employees may leave their shift 15 minutes early or browse the internet for the last 20 minutes, show that you're an excellent and hard-working employee by making productive use of this time.[6] One of the best uses of this time is to organize your work space for tomorrow.
- Take a moment to put away loose papers, clean up your work space, and locate things you'll need for the next day.
EditCultivating Workplace Relationships - Develop good relationships with the people in your office. An important aspect of being a good employee is working well with the people in your office or workplace. Having a positive attitude will help improve office morale overall and demonstrate to your co-workers that you're interested in working together as a team. Treat all co-workers with courtesy, respect, and kindness.[7]
- Even if you work from home and don't see your co-workers in person, you can still develop working relationships by being polite over email.
- Avoid participating in workplace gossip to show professionalism. Your employer is not paying you to gossip or to kill time talking with your workplace friends. Keep the majority of your workplace interactions focused on the task at hand. This will show that you're a good employee and that you're dedicated to remaining focused while at work. It will also keep you out of unnecessary office politics and cliques.[8]
- Of course, you want to establish a good rapport with your co-workers, and a little chatting is inevitable and can help the time pass. But, keep this chatting professional and positive, and avoid talking about other employees behind their backs.
- Offer junior employees guidance and encouragement to build morale. Serving as a workplace mentor, whether officially or unofficially, is a great way to excel at your own job. Offer to show new employees the ropes or offer training tips. If you are not sure someone understood something, be willing to ask if they need assistance. Don't do the work for them, teach them instead.[9]
- Be careful what you say to new employees, and always keep your conduct professional. Don't air your grievances, frustrations, or interpersonal conflicts.
- Have a positive attitude around the office to boost overall productivity. A positive attitude is a sure sign of a good employee and goes a long way with many supervisors. So, when you talk to your boss about a work-related problem, go with at least one suggestion in mind for a solution.[10] Even if your boss doesn't take your suggestion, you will look like a problem-solver, not a complainer.
- If you walk around the workplace with a negative attitude and spend your time griping or complaining, you'll lower the morale of the entire staff.
EditModeling Workplace Conduct - Behave professionally around the workplace. Good employees model professionalism by treating others around them with respect. When talking to your office-mates, avoid making any inappropriate or off-color remarks to coworkers or supervisors. Avoid wasting your time joking around, being frequently off-task, or standing around in the common areas instead of at work in your workspace.[11]
- If this is your first job out of high school or college, it may help to imagine that everyone you interact with is a teacher or professor.
- Maintain a clean job-performance record. Do your job well, stick to the allotted time for lunch breaks, and avoid having any disciplinary marks put on your workplace HR record. As much as it's within your power, avoid arguments or disagreements with other employees. If you do have an in-office conflict, sort it out by talking to your boss and HR department.[12]
- Frequent absences, missed deadlines, reprimands for unprofessional behavior, or too many complaints from customers may cause you to be dismissed from your job.
- Arrive at your job on time every day. Punctuality is an important part of being a good employee. It allows you to start your work day on time and will impress your boss and other co-workers who work the same shifts that you do. It's also a good way to show clients that you're a good employee. Coming to work late, on the other hand, shows a lack of interest or motivation, or may show that you're easily distracted from tasks.[13]
- If you struggle to be on time, try planning to get to work 15 minutes early. That way, even if you're running late for your intended arrival time, you'll still arrive at work on time.
- Dress appropriately for your job and office space. Every workplace is different; some supervisors expect you to wear a suit or skirt, while others don't mind jeans and t-shirts. Find out from your boss or the HR department what the company dress policy is. Dressing appropriately shows that you take the work seriously and are dedicated to the job, and it may boost your performance as well.[14]
- Examples of inappropriate attire for any workplace include: stained or torn clothing, unwashed clothes, and shirts with inappropriate words or images on them.
- Don't spend a lot of time on personal phone calls. Work is for work. If you need to make a personal call during the day, do it over your lunch break.
- Promotions are most commonly based on your ability to do your job, loyalty to the company, your aptitude, and your educational background.
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