For Release Upon Release [sic]
Workers Keep It Light Around The Watercooler PARIS TOPS HILLARY IN OFFICE BANTER
Which issues have captured the attention of the nation's workers in the past few weeks?
Clinton vs. Obama?
The war in Iraq?
Immigration?
Hardly!
The most heated conversations around the watercooler these days involve Paris Hilton, the iPhone and the Sopranos finale. At least that is what human resource executives said in a July survey conducted by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
When asked which recent news stories generated the most watercooler chatter, 27 percent of respondents thought the gossip magazine triad of Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears was the leading source of break-time banter. The trio was followed closely by the much-hyped Apple iPhone, which was chosen by 23 percent as the hottest topic.
Despite the fact that the survey was conducted several weeks following the series finale of The Sopranos, this topic was still identified by 18 percent of human resource executives as being the most talked about around the watercooler.
Meanwhile, no one seems to want to talk about the war in Iraq. Less than ten percent thought the growing feud between democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton was fueling any watercooler debates. Only nine percent thought the release of the Harry Potter book was a top watercooler topic.
"It is probably wise to avoid hot button issues around the watercooler. The workday is already stressful enough with deadlines, performance reviews and typical office politics. It is best to keep things light during break time. The policy of not discussing politics or religion certainly applies to the workplace," said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of the Challenger firm.
"This, of course, is not to say that workers are not interested in politics and the situation in Iraq. However, when it comes to sharing their views with co-workers, most people tend to stay reserved."
The Challenger survey was conducted among 100 human resource executives in a wide range of industries nationwide between July 17 and July 30, 2007.