Domination and submission, survival of the fittest, constant adaption to change - the wilderness and the corporate world have many similarities. The more detailed the look into each world, its routines, rules and ways of communication, the more obvious it becomes how beneficial it would be if the corporate world could learn from nature. In some areas, such as product engineering it is already happening, but in the area of personal development of leadership and teamwork skills this opportunity is still sadly missed.

If you take a look at history and some of the greatest achievements ever made, you’ll find that the people who made those breakthroughs were a little off.

In the past few years I’ve heard more and more phrases like “work spouse,” “work bestie,” and “office neighbor.” In fact, it’s not uncommon for adults to meet at least one of their close friends through work. With work imitating life these days, “breakups,” no doubt, can affect us on the job, too.

The National Safety Council reports that about 1,000 people are electrocuted each year in the United States. In 2005, a biology professor at Cleveland State University died as the result of an electrical shock in the lab.

Using compressed gases in the laboratory can be dangerous if they are not handled properly. Many gases can be explosive, flammable, corrosive, and toxic. Because the gases are under high pressure in tanks and cylinders, any release of gas can spread quickly and endanger lab personnel—including the possibility of
death from explosion or asphyxiation. Less-deadly safety risks include physical injuries from mishandling tanks, especially to the hands, feet, and lower back.

Removing frost regularly is critical in laboratory freezer and fridge maintenance. 

When you go to bed and how long you sleep at a time might actually make it difficult for you to stop worrying, according to researchers at Binghamton University. The study, led by Binghamton Anxiety Clinic Director Meredith Coles and graduate student Jacob Nota, found that people who sleep for shorter periods of time and go to bed very late at night are often overwhelmed with more negative thoughts than those who keep more regular sleeping hours. The findings appear in Springer’s journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, being published this month.

"We will put our best team on this one,” is a common refrain in many circles and is regularly heard in laboratories as directors seek to reassure customers and other stakeholders about delivering accurate and reliable results by deadlines. 

What is the value of laboratory accreditation? Whom does it benefit? And what are those benefits? What is the standard of competence? What value does accreditation have from an internationally recognized body such as the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation?

No matter what the reason, whether because of an economic downturn or poor work performance, firing someone is never enjoyable. As a manager, even if the firing is deserved, it’s never fun to be responsible for terminating someone’s source of income. It can get emotional, and sometimes there are legal  consequences if the employee is not given enough of a chance to improve before he or she is let go.

It’s just a fact: In today’s modern laboratory you are going to spend some time using a computer. You used to feel good all day long, but now you hurt after just a few minutes at the computer.

Five of the rules of improv and how following those rules can help you as a leader.