It really depends how formal the letter is, and how well I know the person it's going to.

I still like "Yours truly" and "Sincerely", but for less formal letters I use "Regards" or "Best Regards".  

As long as everything is typed and formatted correctly, I make my own style.  

Still a bit of a rebel,

Elaine

Just blab what you know around work, and you'll be fired quick enough.

Seriously, the poster who suggested you bring it up with your boss in a round-about way and volunteer to be let go had the best idea.

Elaine

In fact, that was exactly word-for-word what I was going to suggest to you.  (Great minds think alike, they say!)  You let him know this was unacceptable, but you didn't make too big a deal of it.  Of course, if something "off" happens again, you should make a bigger deal of it.

Any kind of harassment in the workplace sets me off.  There's always a risk of some kind when people stand up for themselves, but there's no other way to end that type of behavior.

I hope your "creep" sees the light and leaves you alone.

Elaine

In order to honor all administrative professionals, the name was changed a few years back to Administrative Professionals Week/Day, April 21-27.  

We need do to everything we can to publicize our profession, and this is our biggest opportunity of the year.   Most of us don't view our jobs as stepping stones to something else, but are committed to being superior support persons.  By being proud of what we do, we influence others to see us in that way.

Proud to be an admin,

Elaine

We had someone come in and clean the typewriters, but they are still not working well.  I'd buy a cleaning/maint kit, if one exists.

And who decided that typewriters are not necessary in the office anymore, any way?  (Obviously, not an admin).

Elaine

Even before I read the replies posted, I'll tell you that I would stay BECAUSE of the way they act.  I wouldn't let them drive me from a good job just because I won't gossip with them.

I suggest you not share any "tidbits" at all.  These women are going to try pushing you around and "punishing" you for as long as you let them.  Hopefully, you have friends and a life outside of the office, so you DON'T need these office people as friends.  Do your job (which includes keeping confidential matters confidential!), be polite always, and go on your merry way.  If you let their nattering bother you, they'll never stop.

Toughen up!  When you hear any whispering or unkind remarks, consider the source and let it go in one ear and out the other.

Elaine

I have nothing buy sympathy for Andrea.  From what I've read, it sounds like she was the scapegoat of her entire family.  Not only did she have her own problems, they expected her to help out taking care of their father, who has Alzheimer's Disease.  They just dumped, dumped, dumped on that poor girl; it's no wonder she cracked.

And the thing is, men don't understand this kind of thing.  They just want her blood.  I have a feeling she's going to end up on death row.  I don't think she even cares what happens to herself.

No easy answers here.

Elaine

Start your job hunt today.  All you're going get from these people is one lie after another.  Looking is not a commitment, it's just the smart thing to do.  

You need medical insurance and all the other standard bennies.  These "temp-to-perm" scams hurt people every single day.  The jobs that really do turn perm are scarcer than hen's teeth; it's just a carrot they dangle in front of your face.

NEVER stop looking for a permanent job, until you actually report for work and fill out your paperwork.

Elaine

Why should the Olympics be any less corrupt than anything else?  For as long as there have been games, there has been vote trading, scandals, and politics.   The entire Olympic Planning Committee has been under fire the last couple of years, for all the corruption that goes on in selecting cities, paybacks, bribes, etc.

Glad the skaters got the gold, but as the commentators were saying on TV this morning, they received much more publicity NOT getting the gold.  

Cynical, but happy to see justice finally prevail,

Elaine

Don't worry too much about passing the exams; you probably have enough knowledge in your head from college to do well.

Do read the questions carefully, and take your time answering the questions.  Look for the key words or phrases in the questions, then in the answers.  Remember, one answer is always wrong.  That leaves three; one is almost wrong, one is almost the best, and one is the best (but not always "THE" definitively correct answer, just the closest).  They're not trying to trick you, but you do need to be careful.

Answer the questions you know, then go back to the questions you skipped.  You're probably better off not changing any answers; second-guessing yourself can make you crazy.

Don't cram the day before or the day of the exam.  You either know the material, or you don't.  Stay as calm as you can, and just do your best.  You can always take over any section you don't pass (and many people do, including me).

Best of luck to you (and to me - I'll be taking the CAP exam).

Elaine

Good old Patty has more faces than a clock factory.  She'll use whatever will get her the most sympathy.

Like GE, I'm glad too, that I "escaped" from the 70's without doing anything that reckless and stupid.  I guess having to work for a living can actually be a good thing.

Elaine (proud to be a working class person)

Not only does my company NOT offer flex time, we (office workers) have to punch a time clock when we come in, when we go to lunch, when we return from lunch, and when we leave at night.  

However, I do have an agreement with my boss about my work hours, and she's very flexible about things that creep up and need to be handled.  

Elaine

Start documenting, and the next time she wacks you, go to HR!  Quit fooling around and take action.  Bullies only pick on people who LET them get away with it.

Talking didn't get you anywhere; since you can't hit her back, do the next best thing and let HR "hit" her.

Elaine

As an allergy sufferer, I hope they don't do this.  There are already lots of stores I can't enter that I would like to.

Sniffles

And the funny thing is, they don't understand when you don't believe them anymore.

I learned a long time ago to tune out when the corporate bigwigs start injecting the latest buzzwords into their communiques.  Am I cynical?  Maybe, but I actually think I'm just being a realist.

At my present company, the new president is actually putting his money where his mouth is.  The changes he's been implementing are having a positive impact on the company.  I may have to change my outlook!

Elaine