Let's face the fact that life in most offices is a drab, miserable existence. No one likes working in cubicles and, if the internet is any guide, there seems to be no end to the complaints employees have about their bosses.

If that's the case in your office, it might be time to inject a little humor into the situation and see if that helps improve morale.

In this article, a former executive who now teaches managers how to use humor at work, Clyde Fahlman, advocates the use of something he calls CHIP when it comes to office humor.

• Connection – make the connection with what's funny around you including e-mails and bulletin boards.
• Health – remember that laughter shows signs of improving the health of those who do it more often.
• Inspiration – look toward others to help inspire your sense of humor and find those who use humor effectively.
• Perspective – help workers, including managers, keep their jobs in perspective by using humor. This can help deflate egos.

Of course, managers also have to use humor safely and without offending anyone. This takes practice, but if it's mastered, morale and the general health of the people who work for you can improve dramatically.

It can also save you money by cutting down the turnover rate within your office and keep those workers you value working for you instead of the competition.

The company McDaniel Partners studies businesses and how employees relate to their management. According to this article on their website, many senior managers miss a very simple and key trick. They forget to acknowledge their employees and show that they even care.

The litany of thoughtlessness and stories about a lack of caring that McDaniel Partners have collected is pretty depressing

• The CEO who didn't send a condolence card or flowers to his secretary when her mother died.
• Two senior executives walked by an employee who had a flat tire in the parking lot and didn't offer to help.
• Senior executives often ride up in the elevator or walk the hall and don't acknowledge us, their employees, with a warm hello or even a nod.
• The executive didn't thank me for my efforts or recognize me for my work. Doesn't he know how much effort I put into making this project a success?

Mangers, according to the company, need to realize that their movements are being monitored by employees all the time. If you ignore that employee in trouble, others will notice as well.

SO get to know your employees and find out their likes and dislikes. Make sure you don't hide in your office and make yourself visible to the people who report to you. Don't lose touch with the rank and file.

Finally, always remember that your company's greatest assets are the people who come in and do the work every day.

Far too many senior managers seem to feel that they have made it to the top and they don't need to deal with the "little" people anymore. That is a crucial mistake that can make your company a very sorry and sad place to work.

There's nothing quite like an on-the-job horror story to make you feel better about your own job. Things cannot possibly be as bad where you work if your boss or your company is not doing the crazy things people like to rant about online.

So here's a top-10 complied from across the web by JobMob.com.

From Workrant.com comes the story of the "concerned employer." This employer fired both a husband and wife just after the couple bought a house and announced they were expecting their first child. The reason the company fired the husband is because they thought he would be mad because they had fired his wife.

Then there was the job applicant who visited a very old and very leaky office the night after a heavy rain. After dodging numerous buckets to catch the drips from the roof and sitting in a conference room to complete a written test she had the added indignity of the ceiling giving way and dumping buckets of water all over her and her interview suit. She promptly informed the employer she was not interested in the job.

Finally, there was the company who told the IT manager that a consultant had been brought in to see how he did things and offer suggestions for improvement. So, the IT manager sat next to the man for weeks, showing him everything he did and being on his best behavior. Then, weeks later he was fired. It turned out the company had lied to him and the man had spent weeks actually training his own replacement.

That and many other stories are available at JobMob.com. Of course, the list of horror stories is endless on the web, but it's at least nice to know things can't be nearly that bad where you work, can it?

As the price of gas increases, at least here in the United States, more and more employees are looking for opportunities to work from home. Telecommuting is a trend that has been growing steadily for some time now and seems unlikely to stop.

But sadly, there are plenty of operations that are trying to scam people instead of providing them with real work-from-home opportunities.

Some of these are discussed by John Rossheim over at Monster.comin an article called "Avoid Work-at-Home Job Scams."

The first thing to keep in mind is that you should probably explore any work-from –home opportunities within the company you are already working for. You may want to ask your manager, for example, if there are opportunities for that.

If that's not an option, you should explore telecommuting jobs within existing, legit companies instead of answering e-mails that show up in your inbox promising you great work-from-home chances.

For example, anything promising that if you stuff envelopes you will make a lot of money is probably a scam. It is a business model that makes little sense as most real companies could afford to have people in-house stuff envelopes. At the same time, any assemble-products-at-home jobs are likely not legit either.

You can check places like the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission for information about companies offering you work-at-home opportunities to ensure their legitimate nature. It also pays to ask potential employers lots of questions before accepting any kind of position. If you do things right and carefully, you could end up saving lots of money on gas and renew your energy for your job.

It can be a tall order trying to keep your employees interested and engaged in their work. According to the business consulting organization SCORE, there are 10 things you can do that will help. Keeping these things in mind can help you manage better and keep your office productive.

1. Throw out any pre-conceived notions you may have about employees in general.
2. Try to approach your people with fresh eyes and take into account their unique perspective.
3. Make sure all of your people are equipped with what they need to do their job.
4. When you manage your employees make sure they understand exactly what is expected of them in their respective jobs.
5. Take time to get to know your employees and what their career goals are.
6. Pay the money needed and take the time to make sure your workers are properly trained.
7. Ask your direct-reports to evaluate you. Find out how they perceive you and your work and adjust accordingly.
8. Pay attention to the office rituals and what's going on around you.
9. Recognize and reward employees who have done their job well and do a good job of this so others will want to do the same.
10. Be consistent. Don't start programs and then drop them after a few weeks. So stick with it.

    Whatever you do, taking the old adage of the manager who hides in his office is exactly the wrong way to go. Talk to your people, get to know them, and treat them like human beings and you'll get a response in return.

Just about every company has some kind of dress code. But while many of these might seem pretty relaxed, it might just be that your boss notices how you dress and bases his or her decision on promoting you on that very thing.

So argues this piece on CNN.com, adding that there is a seemingly endless battle at companies with dress codes:

Battle No. 1: Employees misinterpret the dress code or they don't abide by it. Battle No. 2: Companies have a code in place but don't enforce it. Battle No. 3: Companies don't have a dress code but they still reprimand employees for wearing certain attire. Or, Battle No. 4: There's constant objection from certain industries along the lines of, 'Why do I have to look nice at work if I don't see anybody?'

Of course, the article also mentions that how you dress may be more important depending on what industry you work in. For example, the financial industries industry is one that requires a more formal way of dressing.

In summer months, when the clothing seems to become less and the dress codes become less enforced, don't use that as an excuse not to dress professionally.

Take the time to adhere to your dress code, in short. Dress for success and your managers will notice. If you look the part, they may perceive you in the part of management yourself and that could help you move up the ladder more quickly than you realize.

Before you say "yes" to a new job offer, have a read of this piece by Rachel Zupek, on Careerbuildr.com. It could save you no end of problems down the road.

Technically speaking, the article is meant for those considering their first job in the "real" world. However, the tips certainly apply to anyone considering a change in their career. For example:

• Consider realistic expectations for your salary. If you have decided to change careers entirely, you may end up making less than you were previously. Don't assume that you will be making millions immediately.
• Carefully weigh the benefits package offered. Remember that your salary is just one component of an overall package. What other benefits are offered? Are they better than at your current job.
• Remember that job satisfaction is more important than how much you make. This is something far too many people who have been in the working world forget. No matter how much money you make, if you hate your job, you're going to be miserable.
• Make a decision based on "real life" scenarios and not "what-ifs." Don't worry about what might happen if you happen to succeed at your new job. What will you be doing now? What is truly realistic at the new job considering your future?
• Remember that finding a job is a job all by itself. If you are looking to make a change, you need to approach it just like you would a project at work. Plan things ahead of time and devote time working at it.

There are more tips and suggestions within the article. While all of them also apply to those who are only starting out in the working world, if you've decided you need to make a change in your current career-path you may want to think about them as well.

A job interview can be an intimidating experience from beginning to end. While most of the questions you're likely to be asked are relatively straightforward, one that seems deceptively simple can be the hardest to answer. That question is "Why should I hire you?".

How you ought to approach this question is discussed in this article by Joe Turner on Careerbuilder.com.

According to Turner, this question often leads to comedic answers or answers that the interviewee thinks is clever. Nothing could be worse than trying to respond in either of those methods. The person doing the interview is taking this very seriously and if you don't, they will immediately dismiss you.

Turner suggests that there are only five things that the interviewer is interested in when asking this question:

1. Your skills
2. Your knowledge about the company
3. Your manageability
4. Your affordability
5. Whether you can go above and beyond your job description.

Use this question to brag about yourself and don't be shy about it. If you worked long hours and set yourself apart at your previous job, now is the time to mention that. Don't suddenly be modest. You need to set yourself apart from the other candidates and this is the questions where you can really do that.

By keeping that in mind, and understanding the points they are interested in, you can achieve success in that interview. Therefore, that dream job you're applying for need not be as far out of reach as you think it might be.

You may, right this moment, be sitting in your cubicle wondering if your job is really worth the time and effort. What are the signs that it may be time to start looking elsewhere?

This article on Wisebread.com has a few signposts you may want to consider before you start prepping that resume.

The very first sign is probably one of the best. If you wake up every morning and would rather be going to the dentist for root canal work, or spend your Sunday evenings weeping, it may be a sign that you are not very happy. If you are waking up and feeling sick only on the days you work, it might be time to start considering other options.

If you are spending extra hours at work and the payoff you're hoping for isn't happening, maybe the job isn't right for you. Could you have spent those extra hours on other things?

When you show up for work, are you actually putting forth any effort? If not, your brain may be telling you that it doesn't think your job is worth it anymore.

At every break and every lunch hour do you spend the entire time complaining about your job to your colleagues? Not only is this annoying to your co-workers, it's the kind of thing that can get around to your boss.

If you are making the exact same amount of money as when you started, or you keep moving laterally all over the company without making a single move upwards, that should be a very serious warning sign. The company may be trying to send you a signal there.

Whatever signs you ultimately deduce are the ones that you want to listen to, remember to be prepared. Don't just take the next job that comes along with a higher salary. Just because you get paid more, doesn't mean you'll be any happier.

Find the job that you want to do and a lot of those illnesses and worries will vanish overnight.

Sometimes your boss just has a dumb idea. Of course, if you are like so many modern workers, you probably believe this happens more often than not. But how do you explain to someone who has control over your job and career that they're just wrong?

Maureen Salamon, writing for CNN.com, explores this tricky issue.

According to PhD., Susan Lawley who is a career life coach, and cited in the story, "I think the synonym for no is 'Yes, but...' Such a response creates goodwill and sets boundaries on terms that work for both sides. It's a beautiful middle ground that safeguards what you promise to deliver, but you don't have to say 'no.'"

One of the tips is to get to know your boss. There may actually be managers out there who want to hear the word "no." Others may respond better to a different approach where that word isn't used. What kind of boss do you have?

Another suggestion is that when the answer just has to be "no" you should take the time to prepare your argument with your manager. Why is the answer "no?" You need to be able to explain and defend your position and be prepared to do so in a way that doesn't offend anyone.

Finally, learn to be bold. Those who are bold are those that stand out and that can lead to career advancement. By learning to do it tactfully, you can become a rising star rather than a troublemaker with a target on your back.

There are a lot of commonly held beliefs in life, and that extends into the working world. While some beliefs have a kernel of truth in them, many of them are nothing more than myths.

A couple of years back, David Sirota, Louis A. Mischkind and Irwin Meltzer wrote a book called The Enthusiastic Employee which examined what really motivates individuals in the workplace.

Also explored in the book were thirty-three myths about employee motivation which, the authors argued, have no basis in truth.

All of them are worth re-examining, notably:

• Employees only care about their salary and what benefits they get.
• Most workers will never be happy with their pay, no matter what that pay is.
• When one of your direct-reports complains about their salary, they are really upset about something else.
• A profit sharing program is a significant motivator for employees.
• In order for a company to survive in today's economy, they have to keep salaries low.
• If you tell someone that they are doing well in their job, they will become complacent.
• Most people just hate working, no matter what kind they are asked to do.
• If you don't micro-manage an employee, they will do whatever they can to goof off and get away with things.
• A company who is loyal to their employees will be less successful than a company that is not in the modern economy.
• Your employees will always resist change, no matter what that change may be.

And so the list goes on, with Sirota et al exploding each one and explaining how such beliefs can hurt your business.

It's also worth revisiting what they say employees do want from their jobs:

Equity: To be treated justly in relation to the basic conditions of employment (especially pay, benefits, job security, and respectful treatment) Achievement: To take pride in one's accomplishments by doing things that matter and doing them well; to receive recognition for one's accomplishments; to take pride in the organization's accomplishments.

Camaraderie: To have warm, interesting, and cooperative relations with others in the workplace.

It is therefore not true that workers just want one thing, such as money. Psychologically healthy people have a variety of needs.

Not exactly rocket science, is it?

Some companies are just on the cutting edge of everything. One of those companies, routinely cited in articles and lists of best places to work, is shoe manufacturer Zappos.

The company, located in Henderson Nevada, has achieved tremendous success along with a reputation for treating their employees well. They also have a unique policy for new hires discussed in this article. They pay them to quit.

The things that have made Zappos such a success are blueprints for others in any retail business (although many seem to ignore them).

Zappos offer a huge selection of product (at last count 4 million pairs of shoes, plus handbags and other accessories). They offer free deliveries and free returns. If you don't like what you've bought, they will take it back from you. And they've also become renowned for their customer service, thanks in large part to the people who man their phones.

The secret to this is that the people manning those phones are very happy with their jobs. It is an intense job, with high standards, rigid review processes and high call volume. As such, the two weeks of training that each new hire goes through is intense. This is where the paying comes in.

Once the two weeks are over, the new hire is sat in an office and a manager makes them an offer. They offer to pay the potential new hire for all of the hours they have worked, plus a $1,000 bonus if they will get up and walk out of the building and quit right then and there.

Those who take the offer, are not Zappos material. Those who want to stick around, they determine, are.

This method ensures Zappos hires people who fit in perfectly to their corporate culture - which means a call center of generally happy, dedicated employees.

So, if you're looking for that right company atmosphere, you may need to avoid hiring anyone who comes in the door, but finding a way to find just the right people to fit in with your company.

Things can get crazy at work from time to time. For most of the working world, the craziness tends to center around a co-worker or cranky clients, but from time to time things can become downright bizarre, as this piece on CNN demonstrates.

The number one story is one that really should not be followed by anyone who values their health. A juvenile probation officer, for charity, ate one of every item in a vending machine in one day. This brought her over 7,000 calories and over 300 grams of fat for her troubles.

A woman from Domino's Pizza was robbed at gunpoint by two men. As she stood on the side of the road trying to recover she was surprised when her phone rang and it was one of the robbers apologizing for the robbery – and then asking her out on a date.

A carpenter was found not guilty after being arrested for indecent exposure for plying his trade in the nude. The carpenter argued that doing his work nude allowed him greater freedom of movement and kept his clothes clean. He may want to be careful operating the nailgun, however.

An employee from a factor that made screws built specially hidden compartments in his clothes and brought home as many as 7,000 screws with him on a daily basis. He then sold them online at discounted prices. He was caught and arrested after having brought home an estimated 1.1 million screws at a value of over $155,000.

Then owner of a car dealership had two of his employees killed after they asked for raises. Keep that in mind before you ask your boss for one.

There are many more stories available at the link and website. It is likely 2008 will have its own list at this same time next year.

Perhaps it's time for you to find a new job or, given the state of the economy, maybe you've been laid off and you need to find something fast. If so, this piece over at Careerbuilder.com is just what you need.

Marty Nemko's One Week Job Search is just as its name suggests. Start on Monday by writing your resume. After writing it, get feedback from people whose opinions you respect. And work on your elevator pitches - short explanations of why you are perfect for the job you want.

On Tuesday you should identify 25 companies you want to work for. Then contact (via phone or e-mail), 25 people who are likely to be of assistance to you in your search.

On Wednesday you should follow up on leads that are not part of the 25 companies you have identified. You should then visit the websites of the 25 employers you put on your list and learn about what the companies do.

For the remainder of the week you should apply for jobs at the companies you are interested in but, he also suggests sending e-mails to the CEOs of those that don't have any jobs posted.

According to Nemko, after your week of preparation and sending out the resumes, you should start hearing responses the following week. If not, he suggests following up and leaving voicemails if need be.

He also advises that you should be prepared to not hear back from most of the people you reach out to, but you will get a few nibbles of interest if you keep at it.

If you follow those steps, it may just be possible for you to find the job you've been dreaming about and at the company you've always wanted to work for.

What does it take to get ahead in the modern working world? Does it just take hard work or does it take kissing up to the right people?

Well, if you are going into a job that you hate and you are struggling to move up, maybe it's your relationship status outside of the office that's the problem. That's at least one of the reasons to love being single according to this piece, 5 Reasons you Should Embrace Singlehood.

According to the writer, there are actually several reasons that have nothing to do with your career that being single is something that should be celebrated. Such reasons are: Being able to do whatever you want, a chance to grow personally, building friendships and cultivating a sense of adventure because you don't have to worry about your significant other.

Number 5, however, is the one that seems the most intriguing. As the author writes:

"While we aren't advocating that you spend every waking minute of your life at the office, being single does give you the opportunity to focus on your career. Without commitments or distractions, you can put all of your energy toward getting that promotion you've been lusting after or taking classes so that you can switch jobs. It might not seem like much of a consolation at the time, but all of those late nights will pay off in the long run."

So, if you find yourself unable to focus on what you need to in order to further your career, it may be the relationship with your love interest that's holding you back.

Of course, breaking up can also cause stress that can leak into your work life, but maybe the freedom to fail at your career and not affect your significant other is what you need to climb to that next rung.

A new website has come into existence that should send many a CEO into fits. It's designed to allow employees to anonymously tell everyone everything about their job and the company they work for.

The website, Glassdoor.com, describes itself as, "career and workplace community where anyone can find and anonymously share real-time reviews, ratings and salary details about specific jobs for specific employers — all for free."

Participants start out by signing up and then submitting a salary review or an employer review. This information is saved anonymously and then they can go ahead and look around at what other employees have said about their bosses and their companies.

For example, one of the very first companies reviewed on the home pages is the computer giant Microsoft. The company has a very positive rating, with the reviewer listed as "satisfied."

More than half - 56% - of those reviewing CEO, Steve Ballmer, have given him a positive review. One of the comments about MS states, "The compensation is amazing. While it's true that there are many companies doing interesting projects, the pay and benefits at Microsoft simply blow away other company. Their offers are almost impossible to turn down."

Of course, that's just the positive. There are plenty of negatives ones as well, and the website is brand new. So, from the good to the bad this website has plenty that a manager can learn. Perhaps the positive things are programs that you can implement in your company, while the negative things are those that you probably want to avoid.

It seems that busy lives are making it tougher to get through the entire work day and still remain conscious. As this article at CNN.com explains sleeping on the job is a growing problem.

The article cites a survey from the "National Sleep Foundation" that shows one third of those who were surveyed had fallen asleep, or become excessively sleepy, while at work. The same survey also discovered that Americans work more and are attempting to get by on less sleep than ever before.

On average, an American sleeps about six hours and forty minutes a night while the average work day for the same person is nine hours and twenty-eight minutes.

The problem with this is that lack of sleep can profoundly affect a company's bottom line. Further studies have shown that lack of sleep causes workers to perform their jobs slower and less efficiently. Those who lack sleep also have reduced immune systems which means they are sick more often and more likely to lose days at work.

This has resulted in companies providing things such as "nap rooms" or even allowing employees to sleep at their desks. Some companies are calling these "serenity rooms" which allow workers to take short, maybe twenty-minute, naps that allow them to return to work function closer to their fullest than without naps.

Studies at companies that allow this show it works better than coffee or other forms of staying awake the people are known to try.

So, if your workforce seems to be slowing down in the afternoons, it may not be all in your head. It may just be time to let them rest for a little while. Letting them get a few minutes of rest may actually improve their productivity rather than detract from your companies'.

Everyone has run into the situation where you are running late for work. Perhaps you just overslept or maybe you have a legitimate reason, but your boss has heard it all. What do you say? What can you say that will sound real and not set off alarm bells.

Well, despite the title of the article on CNN being 10 best excuses for coming to work late, the interesting part of the article is the list of ten excuses you should avoid.

According to the article's author, Rosemary Haefner, all of the following excuses were actually given as reasons why someone was late:

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.
2. Someone stole all my daffodils.
3. I had to go audition for American Idol.
4. My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn't drive to work.
5. My route to work was shut down by a Presidential motorcade.
6. I have transient amnesia and couldn't remember my job.
7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.
8. The line was too long at Starbucks.
9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police.
10. I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawn shops were closed.

So, if you find yourself running late, even if one of the reasons above is the actual reason you are late, you may want to consider coming up with something else. Haefner suggests that you try to judge the company you are working for and their tolerance for being late. Whatever that culture is, prompt or laid-back, you should try to change your behavior to match it.

Still, even if you do this, you might end up running late. If that's the case, take a deep breath, and then turn on your creative juices. The excuse you use may be the one that saves your job.

OK, so you're having a bad day at the office. Is there anything you can do to turn it around? According to this article, there most likely is.

The first thing you need to do is accept that you are having a bad day. Being in a bad mood doesn't mean you are not a good person. Trying to force yourself into a good mood rarely works and can probably make your mood even worse. So, learn to accept.

Don't try to keep your mood a secret. According to the author of the article, "Simply say, 'Listen, I'm in a really sour mood today. I'm not sure why, but it's nothing you've done. If I do bite your head off, I'm apologizing in advance."

When you have a moment, look inside yourself. Try to figure out if there are factors that could lead to your bad mood. Maybe you just slept badly. Are there factors in your life that could be contributing? Learn to manage your emotions.

Some of the other things you can do are: thinking about good things, letting the bad mood pass, and taking some time in quiet and by yourself. The article writer also suggests making a decision to "start your day over now."

Whether or not any of these things will really make you feel better is up to you, of course. If what makes you be in a bad mood is your job, there may be no help beyond finding a new one. Still, maybe taking a few moments of quiet and reflection can at least make things easier on those who have to work with you.

You have finally found that new job and you are excited about making a good first impression. You don't want to get off on the wrong foot and head down the wrong path. The article Eight Ways to Thrive at Your New Job for U.S. News and World Report has a few suggestions.

The first tip is that, as the writer Marty Nemko states, is to remember that when you arrive that first day "your feet are in wet cement." In short, you have to keep moving or else you will end up stuck right where you are. Look for opportunities and don't be afraid to move up.

Another suggestion is to make sure you get credit for the work you do. If you have a good idea, bring it up at a meeting rather than to just your boss. Start spreading the word around about ideas you have so that if one of them is implemented, the right person gets the acknowledgement.

From the first day, "train for your promotion." Where do you want to go next? Research what people who have that job need to do in order to get into that position. Then start positioning yourself to learn those skills and move into that place.

The final suggestion is to make sure to ask for the things you want. If you want to work on a specific project, then let it be known. If you want to start learning skills in a particular area, then let people know about it and start hanging around with the right co-workers.

If you have spent the time doing the research, polishing your resume, interviewing and then moving into the job of your dreams, make sure you make the most out of it. If you don't take advantage of opportunities from the first day, you could end up as miserable as you were in your old job.

So by following a few simple suggestions, you could end up at the top of the ladder, making the crucial decisions that affect the company.