How to Ask for Flextime

Check out this ABC News article to get yourself optimally prepared to approach your boss and sell that flextime schedule you've been dreaming of.

BIG Screw-Ups at Work: Can You Recover?

Yes, sometimes, we screw up at work. How could we not? First of all, we're human. But secondly, with so many companies downsizing, a lot of us are doing the work of three other people.

When you really make a giant ass of yourself, is it possible to recover? How do you go on? Does a giant mistake always have to mean "You're fired!"?

Read more on this subject at ABC!

Incentives to Spend Labor Day Weekend in NYC

NYC & Company, New York City's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today urged residents to make the most of the extended Labor Day weekend and to "Go Local" by discovering the City's five boroughs and taking advantage of the last chance to enjoy many summer activities ending this weekend.

Read about some of the fun giveaways happening and attractions you might have forgotten today at The Wall Street Journal.

Taking Leave with FMLA? Your Employer Might Spy On You.

A growing number of employers are hiring private investigators to spy on employees suspected of taking leave dishonestly under the Family Medical Leave Act.

Yep. Believe it.

Read more at Law.com.

WTC Transit Hub May Be Redesigned

The original fancy-schmantzy design for the World Trade Center transportation hub may have to be scaled down. Seems it exceeds its budget by several million dollars.

Read about the potential changes in the New York Times.

How Do You Choose Your Friends at Work?

The friends you choose go beyond your immediate gratification and happiness. They are a reflection of you.

Choose bad friends and you’ll come off as a poor judge of character.

Stick up for a flawed friend and you can end up in the same ditch with your friend having to defend yourself.

Find a good friend and down the road you may have a business partner or safety net when things change.

One writer at Newly Corporate breaks workplace personalities into three categories, and from there combinations can make any friend you desire. The key is to find what you value in a friend and choose a friend who exhibits those characteristics the most. Read through some pros/cons of the different characters here.

Dress Code: Are We Turning into Slobs?

Somewhere between His Girl Friday and casual Friday, between black-tie and BlackBerrys, our workforce morphed from Mad Men into marathon men (and women) -- and the race is not to the sartorial top, but to the bottom of the laundry pile.

Read more in Wired about what's happening to the American office dress code, and why.

Is an Enviromaniac on the Loose in Your Office? - AUDIO

While studies show that most workers want their firms to do more for the environment, some individual employees are going above and beyond the call of the carbon footprint. Listen to the story now.

The Strand on Fulton St. is Closing -- Big Book Sale

Lower Manhattan book lovers...sniff, sniff...yeah, we know. It's killing us too. Seems the Fulton Street location of the Strand lost its lease and is moving out.

If there's any good news here, it's this: they're having a 50% off sale through the end of September.

They're located at 95 Fulton Street (3 blocks east of Broadway). For more info, give them a call at 212-732-6070.

Talking Heads' David Byrne Designs Bike Racks for YOU!

David Byrne of pop/rock/New Wave legends Talking Heads is helping New Yorkers bike around the Big Apple. He designed nine funky bicycle racks which have been installed around Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Commuting by bike just got even more hip. Find out more at HipHossip.

City Councilman Creates New Website to Fight MTA Fare Increase

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., City Councilman for the 32nd District, has started a new website designed to expose the MTA’s inefficiencies and fight the need for either fare increases or additional subsidies.

Learn more here.

How to Report Lost or Stolen E-Z Pass

If your E-Z Pass gets lost or stolen, do you know how to go about reporting it?

You might want to print out this valuable article and keep it for future reference.

7 E-Mail Myths that Plague the Workplace

Dealing with e-mail can really eat up your time. There are all sorts of guidelines and unofficial rules of etiquette out there, but what are they doing for you?

Read here to debunk some common myths about e-mail and learn some alternative approaches to dealing with it that will win you back a lot of precious time!

NYC Resident Discount Card -- Helping You Afford Your Own City.

Brooklyn and other city residents deserve a break from the city’s high and ever-rising cost of living, said Assemblyman Bill Colton, who proposed a “New York City resident discount card” for transit and shopping to help ease the burden. Tourists and non-residents would pay more; good ol' home turf New Yorkers would pay less.

Read more about the proposed plan in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

What NOT To Do with Voicemail

The Virginian-Pilot posted a 3-star article about how voicemail can come back to bite you in the butt, with real-life examples that are prit-tee darn funny. Let's hope the victims can laugh now, too. Read more.

Wrist Wallets: Lighten Your Load at Lunchtime!

A Just-A-Sec Exclusive!

We carry a lot with us to and from work every day. But when lunchtime comes, who wants to drag a heavy bag on a quick trip to the salad bar, or on a Wonder Woman errand-run?

Get yourself one of these stylish wrist wallets, and get in the habit of bringing only the 60-minute essentials along on your lunch hour. You might like the convenience so much, you'll wear your wrist wallet all day to keep your ID and cash always close at hand.


The Bodi Band Wrist Wallet
Our Fave Feature: See-Through Exterior Pocket



Bodi Band makes two sporty versions of its handy neoprene wrist wallet.

Both styles -- the Single Pocket and the Double Pocket with Display Window -- slip onto your wrist in one piece and adjust to a customized fit by tugging on a "pull-tab" with a Velcro-type closure.

Both have a secure interior pocket with a secure flap with with Velcro-type closure.



Both Bodi Band wrist wallets are made of a stretchy, watertight neoprene fabric, which makes their pockets flexible and roomy enough to hold a cell phone, as well as cash, debit cards, and other small necessities.



Both come with a small waterproof, tightly-sealing removeable pouch for tucking small items like bills and keeping them dry.

However, the Double Pocket with Display Window style includes an additional pocket on the outside of the wallet that is transparent. It's perfect for holding photo IDs and scanner-cards you may need to get into subway stations or office buildings.



Bodi Band wrist wallets come in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes and cost about $15-$20 each. Buy yours at www.bodiband.com.


A Rockin' Leather Wrist Wallet by Tamera Lyndsay
for Wilma Accessories Limited
Our Fave Feature: Overall way-cool look.



Rocker chicks, here's the wrist wallet for you. Designed by Tamera Lyndsay for Wilma Accessories Limited, this sumptuous leather wallet is high on style and purpose. When unwrapped, it provides a generous pocket for bills, cards, your apartment key, etc.



It wraps easily and securely around your wrist with a casual leather braid. You can even use it on your ankle, even the handle bars on your Harley!

No-nonsense fashionistas, buy your wrist wallet for $88 plus shipping and handling at www.wilmaworld.com.


Reversible Sprigs Wrist Wallet -- Works With Your Wardrobe!
Our Fave Feature: It's a toss-up between the versatility of being two-sided, and the lightweight, breathable fabric.



The Sprigs reversible wrist wallet is lightweight, cool, comfortable, and reversible! Each wallet features a fun print on one side and a sold hue on the other. Just turn it inside-out to change your look!



The design is simple: a small zipper along the edge of the band opens to a generous pocket. The stretchy fabric not only makes this a truly one-size-fits-all wallet, but it lets you really load up that pocket -- even fitting a cell phone.

Check out the colors and patterns available from As We Change, then choose your favorite for just $15.00.


The Inspiring Loveliness of The RIS Wallet
Our Fave Feature: It's a toss-up between the pretty design and the inspirational text hidden inside!



We just love the RIS Wallet. (RIS stands for "Ready in Seconds".) These classy leather wrist wallets are perfect for holding money, debit cards, business cards and keys. They stay closed by virtue of hidden magnets -- they practically shut themselves.

The wallet body is held to your wrist by a stretchy velveteen ribbon. Visual directions for how to correctly and securely wrap the ribbon around your wrist and the wallet are enclosed with each wallet.



RIS Wallets can also be worn as wristlets, as shown here:



We already loved the RIS Wallet for being pretty and practical, but we were completely head-over-heels when we saw the inspirational messages hidden inside the flap. What a beautiful touch. See photos below!




The RIS Wallet is an unbelievable bargain at $13.99. It comes in pink or black, and you can even buy extra wrist straps in various colors. Visit www.RISWallet.com today!

Workplace Politics Shouldn't Sway Your Vote

With a presidential election forthcoming, no doubt talk of politics is sprouting up in the workplace. You may already have seen signs and stickers in cubicles supporting either McCain or Obama. There are plenty of companies that won't make an issue out of its employees openly debating the merits of their favorite candidates. Nevertheless, politics is a sticky issue, and in some workplaces, things could get messy.

For example, you should know that under election law, employees cannot be "coerced" into making a political contribution to a particular candidate or cause -- but that doesn't mean some bosses or companies don't make requests for political donations. These requests often make employees feel pressured.

Read more about this issue and get some valuable tips on dealing with politics at work in the Salt Lake Tribune.

NYC Transit System: Get Your Shit Together

Jeffrey M. Zupan is a senior fellow for transportation at the Regional Plan Association. He piped up in an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times about the many things that need to be done to improve mass transit in our area -- from small solutions that would make an immediate impact, to more major overhauls of the system. See what he has to say here.

Apartments YOU Can Afford? They're Getting Scarce.

Apartments in the New York City area that the average secretary can afford are getting harder and harder to find. What's the deal? Learn more in this New York Times article.

Office Coffee Makers: Ever Wish You Could Take One Home?

A JUST-A-SEC EXCLUSIVE!


Ever wish you could bring that fancy one-cup coffee maker home from the office – the Keurig machine with its handy little “K-cups”, the Flavia with its array of mix-and-match packets?

Turns out, you can!

We set out to review the home versions of two popular office coffee machines, as well as two cup-at-a-time coffee pod brewers, and here are the results.

The Flavia Fusion Drinks Station


We’ve worked in offices that had Flavia machines, and we loved the way you could combine different Flavia Filterpacks to create unique beverages. Like “Creamy Topping” or “Milky Way Swirl” added to your favorite Flavia coffee variety.

So we were really looking forward to reviewing the Flavia Fusion, the at-home version of the office brewing machines we’ve so enjoyed.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to give the Flavia Fusion a fair review. We had a defective unit that wouldn’t work properly and we had to send it back.

The Flavia Fusion retails for $99.95.


Keurig Platinum B70 Single-Cup Home-Brewing System


Wow. We love this machine.

Some of us have Keurig machines in our workplaces, so we were already familiar with how they work. The home version – specifically, the Platinum B70– was no disappointment.

Keurig brews beverages from what it calls “K-Cups” – little white cups that look like diner-style creamers. They hold coffee, tea and hot cocoa. You pop one into the Keurig machine, the machine punctures the cup and brews a perfect beverage quickly and easily.

The one big drawback to machines that only use their own beverages is, obviously, you can’t buy other brands of coffee and tea. However, Keurig makes something called “My K-Cup” (which we did not try); a reusable filter that you can fill with your favorite ground coffee, creating personalized K-Cups. Keurig also offers a huge variety of K-Cups – far too many to list them all here – that includes beverages from Newman’s Own, Timothy’s, Emeril’s, Celestial Seasonings, Twinings, Ghirardelli, Bigelow, and many, many more. We were genuinely impressed with the available variety – and taste quality – of the K-Cups.

The B70 home brewer is just as reliable and easy-to-use as the at-work machines. And it was loaded with features we fell in love with.

A backlit LCD screen on the unit displays the time, and allows for programmable options. You can tell the B70 what time you like your coffee in the morning and it will be ready to brew when you are. You can choose the temperature of your brew. It will tell you when it’s time to descale the machine. When the water tank is running low, a blue light from under the tank begins to flash.

We were thrilled with the beverage-size flexibility the B70 offers: choose from 5.25, 7.25, 9.25 and 11.25 ounces.

And there’s plenty of room for any size cup -- even tall mugs.

The water tank holds 60 ounces – great for when you have company.

The Keurig Platinum B70 worked flawlessly right out of the box. We couldn’t find anything to complain about.

It’s not for everyone, of course – it’s expensive, and if space is an issue, you’d probably do better with a more compact machine.

But if you really, truly love that Keurig at the office, and you’re due for a treat, the Platinum B70 is an indulgence that will serve you well.

The Keurig Platinum B70 retails for about $199.95.
K-Cups cost $13.95 for a pack of about 25 (or you can get 5-packs for $2.95).


The Senseo Deluxe Coffeemaker


We had high hopes for the Senseo Deluxe, but found it was all style and no substance.

Certainly a cute-looking machine for your counter top, but the Senseo dispensed absurdly puny cups of coffee. We just had to show you. Look at this:



We even stuck a ruler into a freshly-brewed cup and discovered there was less than an inch of coffee in the cup! We brewed several cups and the result was consistent.

The Senseo offers less flexibility than the Melitta One:One (reviewed below) as far as beverage size. Two different buttons allow you to choose between a small or large cup of coffee. But even the larger size didn’t even give us half a mug of coffee.

Also, the Senseo does not adjust for different size cups. Look what happened when we tried to put our favorite tall mug under the spout:



There was something weird about the water tank. It didn’t feel secure when it was in the machine. It just kind of…sat there. It didn’t “snap in” or anything. Realistically, if a person elbowed the machine at just the right angle, the water tank would knock right over and spill water all over the counter. Also, there was a strange gap between the machine and the tank, right at the top, can you see it?:



In our opinion, this is just sloppy design. Why couldn’t the lip of the water tank come flush to the machine? And doesn’t this leave your water open to possible contamination, with dust, or anything else flying around the room – air freshener particles? Bug spray? The gap bothered us.

We did like one feature of the Senseo’s water tank that we wish the Melitta One:One would incorporate: raised “grip” bumps in the plastic that made it easier to carry to and from the sink.

The Senseo brews coffee from round pods, just like the Melitta One:One. Although Senseo makes its own brand of coffee pods (Senseo Douwe Egberts), we found that using other brands of round pods in the Senseo machine produced the same results as Senseo’s own pods: all very frothy, all very tiny cups of coffee.

The Senseo Deluxe retails for $99.99.
Coffee pod prices vary depending on brand; Senseo’s cost about $6.96 for a box of 16 pods.


The Melitta One:One Java Pod Brewing System


For an affordable machine that provides office-style, cup-at-a-time brewing, we loved the Melitta One:One Java Pod Brewing System!

This machine worked like a charm right out of the box, and offered several thoughtful features we really appreciated.

We liked that the One:One offered four beverage size options: 5, 8, 14 and 20 ounces, each dispensed with a single touch of a button. Unlike other machines that dispense ridiculously small cups of coffee, the Melitta brewed generous cups for real coffee drinkers. We weren’t disappointed.

The One:One also allows for brewing two cups at a time. The clever spout dispenses coffee from two holes spaced about an inch apart, so if you want a single cup of coffee, just center your cup directly under the spout and collect all the coffee into one mug. If you want to brew for two, place two cups under the spout, and each cup will collect coffee from one of the two dispensing holes. And Melitta makes it easy not to put your cup in the wrong place, because the drip tray is contoured for one or two cups, so your cup is actually guided into place by the circular ridges, right where it should sit under the spout.

Another thing we liked about this simple but ingenious spout was the fact that it adjusted for different size coffee cups. Just push or pull the spout to raise or lower it over your cup – so it allows for taller cups. Not every coffee machine does this. And we like our big mugs!

One of our secretary testers noted that she liked the compact shape and size of the removable water tank, because it allowed her to get the tank under her faucet even when her sink was full of dishes! Other coffee makers had clunkier tanks that required more sink space to fill. (And still, the Melitta One:One’s water tank holds a hefty 40 ounces.)

The Melitta One:One also has an automatic shut-off feature when the machine has been idle for 30 minutes.

It was also very easy to clean and had minimal parts, which we loved. Simplicity.

It brews coffee from round single-serve pods, which Melitta manufactures. (The One:One came with a nice sample variety of coffee pods in a charming wire basket.) But the good news is, you don’t have to buy Melitta’s pods. This is a limitation of some other machines; you can only brew their coffee. We tried other brands of coffee pods in the Melitta One:One and they worked just fine. This was especially good news for us because we did not like Melitta’s coffee. They make a wonderful machine, but their coffee leaves much room for improvement.

We highly recommend this machine, but do offer Melitta a couple of design suggestions for improving on the One:One.

We would’ve liked the water tank to have a carrying handle molded into it. While the tank was more maneuverable under the faucet than others, it felt a little insecure in our hands as we carried it.

Also, how ‘bout designing the pod holders so they attach to the side of the machine? The One:One comes with two pod holders of different sizes, for brewing one or two pods at a time. At any given time, there’s at least one pod holder on the loose. For those of us who lose things easily (or are just too lazy to go hunting in a drawer), why not create a pod holder-holder on the side of the machine? Even a simple molded plastic pocket would be helpful.

The Melitta One:One retails for $49.99 (in our opinion, a huge bargain)
Coffee pods vary depending on brand; Melitta’s cost $4.99 for a box of 18 pods.

Medieval Peasants Had More Vacation Time Than YOU

Are you surprised to know that medieval European peasants actually had more vacation time than modern American office workers? Yeah. About TWO WEEKS more.

This tidbit came to light when family rights advocate John De Graff (who is also the national coordinator of "Take Back Your Time Day",) started doing some historical research.

As the economy in the United States falters and fewer employers give raises, it might be a good time for some workers to negotiate more time off instead.

This article in The Canadian Press shares tips on how you might go about getting more vacation for yourself and your co-workers. Make it a project -- you just might fuel a revolution!

International Phone & Fax Numbers Driving You CRAZY?

Ugh. Those international phone and fax numbers with their 8,000,000 digits, multiple prefixes and zeroes stuck in at weird places. Half the time they never work. Sometimes the way the phone numbers are printed on the company's letterhead don't work -- you need to add digits when dialing from inside the United States. What do they think you are, some kind of psychic switchboard operator?

Listen -- save yourself a lot of aggravation. Use the handy Country Calling Codes widget at the bottom of the JAS blog site BEFORE you dial, every time.

Go ahead, scroll down and give it a try! It looks like this:




This fun widget is created by Country Calling Codes and it gives you EXACTLY the right prefixes you need to reach the country and city you're dialing. Select the country you're calling from, the country you're dialing, and see what happens.

Voila! Secretarial Bliss.

"Spiritual Counselors" in the Workplace, Huh?

City Furniture has hired a spiritual-counseling team comprised of "a Protestant minister, a Bible teacher, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi". No, this is not the start of a joke where they all "walk into a bar". It's a true story.

Hmmm, are they treading on dangerous ground? Or is this a truly visionary employee perk?

Read the full story here!

NYPD Plan to Track Every Car Entering Manhattan

Big Brother is hell on wheels. The New York Police Department wants to keep track of every vehicle that drives into Manhattan. They say the plan is necessary in the "age of terror". But one civil liberties group calls it an assault of privacy rights. Get yourself informed at Newsday.

More Women Ride City Buses Than Men - Why?

Did you know that nearly 100,000 more working women take the bus than their male counterparts, according to a 2006 American Community Survey data for New York.

Find out why there are so few dudes on the bus in today's Metro. Hmm, will the answer surprise you?

Your Office: More Germs than a Toilet Seat

The average office has hundreds of times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

The "Enter" button on your office fax machine is a rank stew of vile bacteria.

And here's a controversial bit — women spread more germs in the workplace than men.

Read more from our friends in Ohio.

Are You AFRAID to Work from Home?

In response to soaring gas prices, there's been a lot of talk lately about the push to allow more workers to work from home. Does the thought make you a little nervous? Even if the opportunity to work from home was offered to you, would you take it? Are you hesitant to work from home, because you fear your absence might make you look bad, and make your employer doubt how much of a contribution you're actually making?

Join the club -- you're not alone. Here's an article about your fears in U.S. News & World Report, with advice on how to successfully get past them and enjoy the benefits of working in your PJ's.

Just A Sec Says...Talk to Us!

Do you feel like being a secretary/administrative assistant at your company is a dead end? Are there opportunities for advancement, or is getting a promotion from secretary to ANYTHING else a total joke? Talk to us about it!

How do you afford to live in the metro New York area? These rents are CRAZY! Do you share with roommates? Do you commute from two hours away? Are you thinking of moving to a more affordable city? Talk to us about it!

Talk to us about the best places in Manhattan to get a pedicure. We want to know!

Talk to us about where to get a delish lunch at a fair price.

And feel free to Talk to us about the things that make your job wonderful or, well, sucky.

And tell us how we might be of better service to you right here at Just A Sec.

De-Toxing from a Toxic Boss -- VIDEO

On video, workplace pros Ben Dattner and Annie McKee provide tips on how bosses can become less toxic to employees and what employees can do to deal with a difficult boss. Watch it now at BusinessWeek.

Wednesday Night Booze Cruises -- Tourist-Free!!!

Sure, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises has been operating its famous boat tours around New York City for millions of tourists for more than 63 years. But now through August 27th, they're running Wednesday night booze cruises especially for locals -- and for a good cause, too.

“New Yorkers for New York” cruises opt for a happy hour setting, with two bars serving up cool summer cocktails. Enjoy your own city with your neighbors and get "spirited" right over Hump Day, and know that $5 of your ticket purchase goes directly to Food Bank For New York City.

Cruises board Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and sail from 6:45 – 8:15 p.m.

Each cruise will feature a bar and rollicking party music. The $27 ticket price includes one complimentary cocktail or other beverage choice.

Tickets for “New Yorkers for New York” cruises may be purchased at the Pier 83 box office, by visiting www.CircleLine42.com or by calling 212-563-3200.

Turn Office Politics Around to Your Advantage

Secret meetings. Going behind a co-worker's back to get something done. Taking credit for work others did.

Yes indeed, office politics are a nasty business. And in this unstable economy, they're in full swing.

Sylvia Lafair, a family therapist turned executive coach and author, says our behaviors in the workplace often stem from our childhood or family culture. Recognizing behavior patterns can help one navigate office politics and improve the way people work together.

Read the Marcia Heroux Pounds' article in Florida's Sun-Sentinel to learn more about the most common office personality types -- like "The Pleaser", "The Persecutor" and "The Superachiever", plus strategies for turning office politics around to work in your favor.

New Moms: Deciding to Go Back to Work

Once your baby is born, how do you decide between going back to work and staying at home? This article from WebMD may go a long way in helping you make up your mind.

Is Your Boss a Bully? Sue Him for "Desk Rage"!

We weren't aware of this 'til now, but this message board post gave us an overview of an intriguing new trend of employees suing their bosses for bullying and similar mistreatment in the office.

Avoiding Eye Fatigue in the Office

Some news from down under for eyes everywhere: The Optometrists Association of Australia warns that computer eye fatigue - vision problems and deterioration of eye health from computer use – is becoming more common as we continue to work longer hours and rely on computers in the office. Visit Australian Women Online to learn the symptoms of eye fatigue and learn how to prevent future vision problems.

"Mad Men" Office Etiquette -- Not So Different Today?

The AMC television series "Mad Men" portrays life at the fictitious early 1960s Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. By today's standards, typical office behavior at Sterling Cooper might seem politically incorrect to an extreme. But have these behaviors really disappeared -- or are we just more careful not to let them show?

In a Seattle Times article, three Human Resources professionals were asked to watch "Mad Men" and pick out the behaviors that would likely get the characters in trouble today -- from merely being let go to landing in a full-blown lawsuit.

Find out how much these HR folks felt office life has really changed in 40+ years here.

Etiquette at the Office Gym

Ah, the office. It's like a fishbowl, isn't it? Water-cooler gossip. Phone conversations heard over the cubicle wall. Corporate retreats. They help us see who our co-workers really are.

But seeing them at the office gym? That may be a little too real.

But just because your boss's chicken legs in a pair of gym shorts have you bewildered doesn't mean you should lose your corporate cool. Check out today's LoHud.com for a reminder of some fundamental good manners when working out at the office gym.

7 Ways Your E-mail Can Get You Fired

It was a couple of telling e-mails that helped bring down Bear Stearns with the subprime loan mess crashing all around. It was also another reminder that e-mail at work, including personal e-mail, can not only get you fired; it can get you prosecuted.

Find out 7 ways your e-mail can get you fired at U.S. News and World Report.

Splash! Our Fave Street Fair Soap Seller

Splash Organics pops up at New York City street fairs year-round -- and we're just bubbly about it!

The husband-and-wife team from Pennsylvania makes the freshest and most delicious-smelling variety of organic vegan soaps to ever touch our senses.

Check their web site every Thursday, when they post which NYC events they'll be attending that week, so you'll always know where to find them. Go to www.splashorganics.com.

Splash's soaps treat a range of skin types and some even address special needs, like acne.

Real stand-outs from their collection include Frangipani Jasmine, Sage Lemongrass and Moroccan Fig.

Seek them out and treat yourself. You'll be glad you did!