Best Quotes of 2005

Have a problem with corporate blogging? Here's what our experts had to say about it. Want to start up your own philanthropic program? Here are some points to consider. Want to know how to act at an office party? Here are some definite dos and don'ts.

Last year, Your Workplace offered dozens of insights from experts from around the country on a range of workplace issues. Here are some of their best words of wisdom to help you meet the challenges of 2006.

Office Party Behavior

"Of course, you should enjoy yourself at an office party, but it's not the time to lose all one's inhibitions. Too often, people think they should try to prove what a fun person they are at an office party. They forget that the people they're with at the party are still the people they work with and whose respect they still want to have the next day."

-- Donna Pilato, New Jersey-based Editor and Guide at http://entertaining.about.com

Building a Creative Business Culture

"If I'm allowed as an employee to apply my creative juices in a new direction, you're going to get a whole lot out of me, including ways to save or generate more income. But if I'm only allowed to do the same thing in the same way day in and day out for years, then basically I've retired - I've just forgotten to leave."

-- Joan Lloyd, speaker, executive coach and syndicated columnist

Strategic Philanthropy

"We've seen a trend in corporate management running their philanthropic programs much more like the rest of their business units. They want to be responsible to their shareholders. They want to see a real return on their investment in terms of benefits to a charitable cause. At the same time, they often want to see some kind of return to the company."

-- Charles Moore, Executive Director of the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy.

Hiring Older Workers

"Older workers often know what needs to get done and are eager to roll up their sleeves whether it's on a part time, flex time or full time basis. Retaining them also allows a company to maintain their intellectual capital and their critical relationships with important vendors."

-- Peter G. Burki, CEO and co-founder of LifeCare® Inc.

On Blogging

"Companies that discover an offensive blog from an employee should take a step back and consider whether this is really worth panicking over. Blogs are a great opportunity for companies to talk to customers. Sure, there might be some criticism. But that's part of the dialogue. If you're willing to allow for some of that, it shows you're open and honest."

-- Kurt Opsahl, staff attorney with the Electric Frontier Foundation.

Investing in Interns

"Interns can bring a lot of value to the rest of a team. A group of people who've worked together for say three years can tend to look at things in the same way. But a fresh intern can change the dynamic of a work group. An intern can be a catalyst for new kinds of thinking."

-- Linda Gaebler, Vice President and Director of Marketing Communications

Flexible Work Arrangements

"Workers are struggling to handle child and elder care needs, further their education, and play a role in their communities, all of which are responsibilities that operate on unpredictable hours. At the same time, many CEOs are looking for more productivity and commitment and less absenteeism from a workforce. Flexible work arrangements hit on all of those needs."

-- Susan Seitel, President of Work & Family Connection Inc.