What I’m Hearing…Going Topless

This morning the radio announcer shared an interesting story out of Silicon Valley. Apparently, 40% of firms in the Silicon Valley area have gone “topless.”

It’s not as risqué as it sounds. The policy bans using mobile communication devices, such as laptops, Blackberries, cell phones, and the like, in meeting rooms.

Kudos to the firms that have instituted such a policy. When individuals use their high tech devices during a meeting, they are distracting to their colleagues, disrespectful of others’ time, and rude to the meeting facilitator. These individuals also send a message, consciously or not, that they and their business are more important than the meeting. Checking voicemails during a meeting break is one thing. Text messaging someone during a meeting is another.

Imagine how much more productive and faster meetings would be if all organizations had a policy of going topless. Hopefully more organizations will move in this direction in the coming months.

Getting Back to the Swing of Things

Sorry for being away from a while, but we're back here at the Astron Blog and we're dipping into the Vault for some depressing news on jobs...

First, from the New York Times, word that Silicon Valley is losing middle wage jobs: click here

The Christian Science Monitor says that the best U.S. factory jobs are increasingly in jeopardy: click here

Next, from the Wall Street Journal, an article that says that for some, suburban jobs prove subpar: click here

From USA Today, news that the housing slowdown puts day laborers in limbo: click here

Hopefully your job news is a little more optimistic than this...