For new research has shown that having a laugh with your work colleagues is likely to make you more productive rather than distracting you from your toils.
Helensburgh-based business mentoring consultancy Aspire Management Services has claimed tha
t laughter makes people more creative as well as boosting their physical immune system so they take less days off sick and achieve more professionally.
Gordon Mowat, managing director of the company, says: "There are a lot of things that can be done to help alleviate stress in the workplace of which the appropriate use of humour to create an atmosphere of fun is only one. People experiencing positive emotion are more productive, creative and happier."
Gazetteer has at least one colleague who could benefit from this advice.
FACT OF THE DAY
431,000THE number of cars sold last year by Seat, the Spanish arm of the Volkswagen motor group.
While the firm suffered from an industry-wide decline in Spain and Germany, it rode an expansion in emerging eastern European markets to post the 0.4 per cent rise in total sales. Seat said yesterday that it expected to increase its sales and profits by a faster rate this year as it improves production efficiency.
BAD DAY
Smurfit Kappa THE Irish packaging firm – one of the world's largest makers of paper-based packaging – is to close its mill in northern Spain and cut output of recycled container-board at other plants in order to reduce costs and tackle high inventory levels. Some 130 jobs will be affected.
GOOD DAY
Australia's financial systemTHE system is under the most strain it has had to face since the early 1990s, but compared to other countries is performing strongly, the country's central bank said in a report. Aussie banks' exposure to the US housing sector downturn is minor, it added.
KILLER QUOTEJEAN-CLAUDE Trichet's line has not changed. But I (would] also say to him that, at its current level, the euro is asphyxiating a good part of European export margins. If that continues, export industries will flee Europe."
Louis Gallois, of Airbus parent EADS, on the inflation worries of the European Central Bank head.
The full article contains 405 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
