Goodbye, Gift Giving
Although Christmas remains the season when we buy this year's gifts with next year's money, it seems many workers will have to worry about that less as employers continue to adopt policies limiting the acceptance of gifts.

To minimize potential conflicts of interest, employers have adopted policies on accepting gifts from clients, customers and other outside associates. According to BNA's year-end Holiday Practices Survey, a minority of organizations allow no gifts of any kind (15 percent). Most employers allow gifts of "nominal value" (52 percent), or set limits on the value of gifts (15 percent) — usually $25-$50. Only 16 percent of surveyed employers have no company policy on accepting gifts.

Goodbye, Holiday Bonus
It used to be as American as apple pie and obesity, but now holiday bonuses are fast becoming an endangered species, according to a Hewitt Associates survey earlier this month.

Hewitt's 2007 holiday study of more than 350 organizations revealed that more than half (53 percent) have never offered a holiday bonus, while 10 percent have discontinued their programs. Only 35 percent of companies have a holiday bonus program this year, down from 41 percent two years ago.

This probably hits too close to home for many workers:

(Complete "unedited" flip-out scene HERE.)

Apparently, companies are expressing their gratitude in other ways…

Hello, Jelly-of-the-Month Club
Of the companies that do have a bonus program, according to Hewitt's findings, only 41 percent give cash, while 42 percent will give gift cards and 25 percent give food (e.g., turkey or ham). Other ways of showing appreciation include more holiday parties and paid leave, while participation in charitable activities has dropped substantially from 2006 and 2005, reports BNA's Holiday Practices Survey.

According to BNA's results, which this year are based on the responses of human resources executives representing 210 United States employers, 86 percent of manufacturing firms will provide at least three paid holiday during the holiday season through New Year's — well above the figures in the nonmanufacturing sector (58 percent).

F-word in the Workplace: Good for Bonding
Research from the University of East Anglia in October showed that letting workers swear at will in the workplace can benefit employees and employers.

This is the kind of news that your HR department doesn't want to hear, but UEA researchers said swearing at work will boost team spirit among staff. The UK study found regular use of profanity to express and reinforce solidarity among staff, letting them express their feelings, such as frustration, and develop social relationships. Researchers said their aim was to challenge leadership styles and suggest ideas for best practices.

In another report, in which a U.S. research team explained the evolution of profanity, psychologist Dr. Timothy Jay (via UK Metro) said he also believes swearing is a form of social bonding.

Yehuda Baruch, a management professor at UAE, warned that attempts to prevent workers from swearing could have a negative impact, but stressed that swearing in front of customers is not a good idea.

So you heard it from scientists and management pros. The lesson here is this: Swearing at your boss as long as customers aren't around is actually very good for the professional relationship.

Enfer saint.

Watch Your Tongue!
Will your tongue really stick to a frozen flagpole?

The short answer is "yes."

Credit: Christmas-Almanac.com

"It's because of the high thermal conductivity of the pole," explains LiveScience, which offers up the scientific long answer HERE.

Just a Little Something for Christmas
A group of nanotech specialists in Germany has gotten into the Christmas spirit by making what may well be the world's smallest Advent calendar ever.

Credit: D Neumaier, J Biberger and F Goetz

The three members of the University of Regensburg's micro- and nanostructures group in Germany used an electron microscope and electron-beam etching to make the 8.4 by 12.4-micron calendar on a semi-conducting gallium arsenide wafer coated with plastic. The smallest features are the glass panes on the church windows at about 20 nanometers across.

It would take about five million of the miniature calendars to cover a postage stamp. Sadly, you can't open any of the closed windows.

Forbes' Fictional 15
Known within their fictional universe and by their audience, these 15 rich fictional character creations' net worth estimates are based on an analysis of the fictional character's source material, and are valued against known real-world commodity and share price movements:

15) Princess Peach
14) Lucius Malfoy
13) Willy Wonka
12) Gomez Addams
11) Fake Steve Jobs
10) Tony Stark
9) Thurston Howell III
8) Bruce Wayne
7) Carter Pewterschmidt
6) C. Montgomery Burns
(Image: Fox Broadcasting)
5) Jed Clampett
4) Mom
3) Richie Rich
2) Ming The Merciless
1) Scrooge McDuck

Science Behind the Star of Bethlehem
Last year, we passed on Machine Design's explanation of the science and engineering principles that could allow Santa Claus to pull off his epic journey to so many children in one night.

This year the magazine explains whether the Star of Bethlehem leading the three wise men to the stable where Jesus was born was from a scientific or astrological view.

Professor of physics and astronomy at Susquehanna University Fred Grosse believes that the Magi witnessed a planetary conjunction, which happens when two celestial objects appear to pass very close to each other and, from our perspective on Earth, look like one large object.

Check out the full article HERE.

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Well, that's about it for 2007. The Industrial Market Trends newsletter will be back on Jan. 8, and we'll return with regular daily updates on the blog immediately following the New Year.

Until then, we wish** our dear readers a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or Late-Winter-Solstice-in-the-Northern-Hemisphere Celebration — cheer for whichever holiday you plan to celebrate during your days away from work. Have a very happy and safe New Year's!

**Disclaimer: This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wish.


Cheers.