This Is the Break Room

This is the break room. If the coffee pot is empty, make another.

This is the mail room. No personal mail allowed.

This is the lunch room. Lunch is from 11–1.

This is the color printer. Please don’t use it unless authorized.

This is a conference room. Please leave it the way you found it.

This is the supplies room. Don’t take more pens than you need.

This is your office. Please keep it tidy.

This — this is where we network, share best practices, congratulate co-workers on work anniversaries and find out about new job opportunities. This is LinkedIn. Please don’t use it at work.

Companies spend a lot of time and money recruiting the best and brightest from other companies just so they can bring them in day one and show them the way things have always been done to be successful.

Retaining employees by challenging them, recognizing them and encouraging them to find better ways of doing things will ensure people and their ideas feel more appreciated at work than online.

Note: this story was first published on my LinkedIn page