WATER COOLER CHATS CAN SPAWN VALUABLE IDEAS.

• Position: OfficeTeam poll suggests employee downtime can spawn worthwhile suggestions - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Employees huddled around the water cooler generally are not fueling the company rumor mill. In fact, according to a nationwide poll developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in skilled administrative professionals, nearly 40% of executives said these discussions focus on business-related matters, compared to 12% who believed sports, politics, and personal issues were the main topics, while office gossip comprised nine percent of the chats.

"Impromptu conversations that arise outside of a traditional workplace--in the lunchroom or at the water cooler, for example--often spawn valuable ideas," suggests Diane Domeyer...