The Official Secretary's Guide to Sanity and Survival

Are you working for a tyrant boss? Do you have a nasty co-worker to contend with? And does your job have you wearing more hats than a model in a fashion show? If you find that your work environment has become a living purgatory, then take a long lunch break, sit back, and get ready for some laughs. You might even find something humorous about your own bad job experiences. Flavored with lots of offbeat humor, this book is a candid look at the eight-hour workday through the eyes of a burned-out, brain-fried secretary. Hide it in your desk drawer and read it when you need a good chuckle or just a moment of inspiration.

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I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work

Neanderthals at Work: How People and Politics Can Drive You Crazy ... And What You Can Do About Them

Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel

Let's face it, your performance at work is important. You could say it's a lot like being in school, except your livelihood depends on it. Substitute promotions and pay raises for good grades. Instead of taking home an F to your parents, imagine showing your wife that pink slip. You've got to admit, not a whole lot's changed since 7th grade.

The work environment is a heavily studied aspect of human life. It's even taught at Harvard. If you're not happy at work, your job will suffer. Think of your work as an environment that needs attention. Work conditions can be detrimental to the quality of work that gets done. Being comfortable at work will yield big results.

Ergonomics
Does your office remind you of a medieval torture device? Creating a comfortable and efficient work atmosphere need not be difficult. A few simple modifications to your work setting could help you get more work done. A mouse pad or cushy chair could do the trick. Anything you can do to reduce stress is worth doing, but being ergonomic doesn't stop with office supplies. A business casual atmosphere can create a more relaxed, yet professional workplace.

Co-Workers
It's important to build a trusting relationship with your co-workers because they're part of your team. If you do have a spat with one of your co-workers, see if you can work it out cordially. Of course, harassment can't be tolerated at work. There are ways to deal with difficult co-workers, but honesty is the best medicine. Confront them yourself instead of running to the boss every time adversity arises.

Bosses
The one that delivers your paycheck is the one that rules the roost. The boss-worker relationship can be the trickiest in the working world. Practice friendly assertiveness. Your boss won't give a promotion to someone who's doesn't seem like he's aspiring to move up. You have to get in the thick of things by asking for more work or going that extra mile on a project.

Computers
Not only are they now officially part of our work environment, but computers impact our lives as well. They can create huge burdens when not operating properly, and human interaction with one is just asking for complications. Some people seriously dislike working with computers because they just don't understand the current technologies. But to get ahead, instead of griping, you'll need to befriend your computer and learn everything you can about it.

Of course, computers do give us the opportunity to work at home, which is always a nice alternative to that medieval torture device.

Written by Jeremy M. Rottgen

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