Comments on: Clear your desk of family photos?

By: Annie

Annie — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:56:40 +0000

DB, digital frames are a great idea! One suggestion: Turn it off or unplug it when you go home at the end of the day, and it will last longer. (I burned one out by leaving it on all the time.)

By: DB in VA

DB in VA — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:45:03 +0000

I found a great solution to the clutter issue at my desk–a digital photo frame. I have dozens of photos of my family and I never know what’s going to be on the screen when I glance that way.
Speaking of clutter, we have a coworker who has so much stuff in his cube that he can barely fit in it. It’s not personal items, either. He just can’t bring himself to throw anything away–paperwork from projects that have been finished or cancelled for years, old floppy disks, obsolete office supplies, etc. He thinks having a stack of in/out boxes 5 feet high makes him look important. Little does he know that it just makes him look like a dinosaur who refuses to go paperless.

By: xxx houston texas

xxx houston texas — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:36:41 +0000

Family pics at work is an American thing, employees display family photos just to show their employer how many bellies they have to feed… their kids.. etc…, we live in a brutal capitalist system, if you lose your job.. you lose your “benefits” healthcare ..etc.. then your car, your house… so you better display your pic to get sympathy from your employer touche’!!! need i say more? so much for “Labor Day” we need “May Day” and universal healthcare.

By: April, College Station TX

April, College Station TX — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:26:10 +0000

You cannot separate personal life and business life. YOU ARE A PERSON at work and at home. Working with no reminders of who you are is depressing.

Ever see those depressing futuristic movies where the world is in chaos? See what is missing? Pretty happy things like artwork and photos of smiling children.

Moderation is key but complete removal does lead to turnover from my experience.

By: Dan, Baltimore, MD

Dan, Baltimore, MD — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:10:15 +0000

I am confused as to how having pictures in the workplace can lead to violence, especially pictures of family. I think that looking at the pictures helps remind one of the reasons why they come to work each day and that is ultimately to take care of their family and their needs. There is sometimes too much, but keeping them to a minimum will not destroy report in the office.

Annie here — Violence? Nobody said anything about family photos leading to violence in the workplace. The point (according to the researchers) was that a seeming preoccupation with matters other than work can sometimes make a person look unprofessional…. or at least, that’s how some bosses view it…

By: Robert, Jacksonville, FL

Robert, Jacksonville, FL — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:53:47 +0000

This is a question that is answered based on the nature of the business and interation with client base. If you are in an office setting were you routinely interact with clients, then the office should be tastefully decorated with framed picture, but minimal in number. The most recent school photo of children, not every school photo, etc.

However, if you are in a flex office setting with hundreds of cubicles on the floor and have little to no client interaction, the a larger collection of photo’s is acceptable. The key here is how they are displayed, and do they clutter your desktop workspace.

I have worked in both environments, and have decorated my desk/workspace appropriate to the setting.

In general, I believe that it is acceptable to have family pictures in the workplace. These serve as a reminder of those we love and the reason for which we work. It does make us more approachable as people will view us as being complete, well rounded, and balanced. They also serve as a necessary distraction when the work tension mounts. A quick glance at a favorite picture of your children can allow you to refocus your energy and accomplish the task.

I have worked for a company once that did not allow any personal items on the desk at all. I only stayed about 10 months. The work atmosphere was much too tense and unmanagable. Tension was rampant and turnover was extremely high.

We spent more time at work than we do with our family in an average day. If we cannot have the personal touches in our workspace, then we will have a great disconnect which will lead to burnout and higher turnover, which damages the efficiency of the office.

I would be willing to bet that those promoting a “no personal photos” policy come from broken homes and are therefore offended by seeing others family happiness.

By: Sheila , Ohio

Sheila , Ohio — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:09:20 +0000

Hi Annie; I work in an institution that has dismal morale, low pay, and abusive management. My state (Ohio) never recovered from the last recession, so we have to hang on to any job no matter how horrible. Almost everyone where I work has pictures of family on the desk, to remind us of why we’re suffering. Doesn’t it seem that more and more individuals are being forced off the ‘island’ of work and security, while corporate America favors the most perfect robots it can create?

By: Karl, Minneapolis, MN

Karl, Minneapolis, MN — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:31:20 +0000

To all of those who have made comments to the effect of “feel out what your manager thinks” and “look at how your co-workers have decorated their cubicles” – there is a fine line separating determining proper decorum and simply being a sheep. I’d rather hire someone who has a mind of their own.

By: Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX

Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:52:16 +0000

I believe that personalization of the workplace makes the workplace inefficient.

We should never have pictures of our family or friends at our workstations. People start to talk about these pictures and then no one is working anymore.

Also, I feel that family pictures make workers less respectful of other workers. If I can look at pictures of my family all day, that means that I am not interacting with my office staff in a professional manner. This type of behavior leads to violent situations in the workplace.

By: Amsterdam. The Netherlands

Amsterdam. The Netherlands — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:03:10 +0000

I am a little late replying to this but I took a look at my desk and saw that I have lots of family photos. Coookie box,plants on my windowledge, photos from Ireland(my homeland) stuck on the wall. None of this will change as I am pretty at ease at what I do and confident enough to ensure that those around me know this. It has a lot to do with the person sitting behind the desk. If you are happy with your clutter then leave it. Jut make sure that you stand out more tha your it!!

By: Mil - Woodbridge, NJ

Mil - Woodbridge, NJ — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:59:47 +0000

We need to stop being so paranoid in this country. People work to support the ones and/or things they enjoy doing. A couple of pictures of loved ones, a favorite pet or hobby/sport related item is usually motivational -especially when our word days are so long. If it bends someone out of their tight shape, that’s their problem. As long as your good at what you do, they can learn to live with it. Keep who and what really matters to you in view. You’ll be better off for it at the end of the day.

By: L cleveland ohio

L cleveland ohio — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:41:05 +0000

I agree too much might be too much. One perosn at work has a sports team shrine and another worker has so mnay photos of kids -there’s no room to work, another has a collection of pez dispensers she has PERMANTENLY ADHERED TO THE TOP OF THE CUBICAL FRAME. YUCK I’d hate to be the one who gets that cubical after her. There’s probably more than 50 of those things. I have photos of my dog/cats and my niece becasue they are important to me.In addition, when I’m having a bad day its great to look up and see those smiling faces. Then I ahve my certification plaque and my pencil cup is a mug from college. The problem, as I read here is that co-workiers are so focued on belittleing other coworkers all the time-instead of focusing on thier jobs. I’ve had coworkers spend more time making fun of other co-workers of badmouthing co-workers or bosses and talking to thier Mom, husband, children friends than actually doing their work.. then what happens the work gets dumped on everybody else. If bosses knew what was really going on a few pictures ,who cares, maybe the cluttered desk is cluttered becasue they are doing the work of three people and need to be aprreciated. I worked at a place where this woman kept leaving work during the day for (this and that) her daughter forgot her csotume for school or she has to leave early for Halloween and you name it. She actually complained about my radio, which I needed to drown out her incessant talking and blabbering – which was never about work. She actually complained she was overworked. The focus is not about what’s on the desk but whose got the talent and is actually doing their work and wanting to work. The focus should who is doing the job and not spenign most of the day gossipping about others.
I think Europeans are happier at thier jobs becasue they get almost 6-8 weeks vacation a year while us Americans get only 2 weeks per calender year. Its really not enough. I think we would be happier and more productive with more vacation even Japan gives it employees more then 4weeks.

By: Pasadena, California

Pasadena, California — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:12:29 +0000

Being in an office for more than 8 hours a day. I considered a home away from home. Even though I do not have many family pictures (mostly of my 10 year old niece) I do have pictures of my pet.

I have noticed that when the Director comes to the office for a visit he usually say’s HELLO to the other ladies in the office; but he takes the time to have a small conversation regarding my dogs (Labradors).

I don’t know if he is a dog lover but either way it is nice to be treated different then the other ladies in my office.

By: Rose, Lancaster, PA

Rose, Lancaster, PA — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:22:30 +0000

I remember take your child to work day and all the knick knacks people had. The people who had the most stuff…family, pictures, toys, plants…were also the most friendly and impactful people I met. These people also seemed the hardest working, because they seldom played but worked hard so that could enjoy a well earned break.

Besides, think of a childhood classroom. The personal touches a teacher made had more of an impact and brighten your sprits more then anything else in the classroom. Typically, you’d be more productive and agreeable in those classrooms

By: Vincent, Houston Texas

Vincent, Houston Texas — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:14:32 +0000

…It depends on the type of job which usually requires a different type of personality…. (e.g. Marketing vs Accounting vs Sales, etc)

By: Elizabeth, Birmingham, AL

Elizabeth, Birmingham, AL — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:27:22 +0000

Most of these comments must be by managers or people with no outside life. I agree that some people go overboard, but as a rule in my business it’s a great conversation starter, and clients are more trusting when they see your kids growing up and looking happy. It makes you look more human like them. However, I know a few people in the same field as me who think work and home life should be separate. These are 99% singles or unhappily divorced ones, though. I like being reminded why I am at work in the first place, it makes me work harder to make my kids lives better. And as I said, I have clients who like me better now, as well.
A financial advisor, and a happy mom

By: Jennifer, Syracuse, NY

Jennifer, Syracuse, NY — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:51:49 +0000

I spend WAY too much time in my office NOT to have pictures of my kids! I love having their art from school on my wall. It makes me seem human to other clients and I am more approachable for it. If the company/boss that i worked for didnt like it—I would find a new job! I am a HAPPIER employee because i feel closer to my kids when i am away from home so much!

By: Theodoros, Thessaloniki, GREECE

Theodoros, Thessaloniki, GREECE — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:43:04 +0000

I think it doesn’t hurt to have some personal items at work, but there should be a limit. A couple of pics is fine, but you need to have in mind that your desk is a working space and should look like one. Especially those people who work with clients in their offices should be very cautious as to present a proffesional environment and the right image of their company. Personally, I keep a small announcements board on the wall behind me and I just keep a couple of poems and ecological messages.

By: Mark, Springfield, PA

Mark, Springfield, PA — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:00:22 +0000

I agree with the work is for work, home is home theory. I get sick and tired of going into someone’s cube to see pics of spouse, children, etc… I think it clutter up the cube and distracts what we are there to do, and that is to work.

By: Chris, Boulder, CO

Chris, Boulder, CO — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:07:07 +0000

Having seen more than my share of hi-tech management incompetence, some time ago I stopped keeping anything personal in my cube/office. The message is simple, I can be “gone” in a matter of minutes.