You cannot help to notice how smileys appear at the end of each sentence when you follow a conversation on any social media. Text messages, instant messages and emails are also full of smileys. Why? Is it more difficult for people to understand the feelings and intentions between the lines nowadays, if everything has to be underlined by a separate image? 

There is no problem with using smileys as such, but you should be able to convey your thoughts without them as well. For example, smileys in emails sent at the workplace may be inappropriate. 

Have you ever come across someone who got offended when you used the wrong smiley or forgot to add a smiley to the end of your message? Has anyone misunderstood your message because you wrote a message in a hurry and it did not contain a yellow smiling face?

Small things are of great importance at the workplace. Small things of great importance:  

We welcome cooperation 

• We share information on mutual issues at the workplace
• We help others if needed
• Friendships may also be formed in working life, but they do not have to be formed – the most important thing is that all members of the work community are accepted and that everyone gets along. The actions of each employee, that is, your actions as well, have an impact on the team spirit of the workplace and well-being at work. 

Most workplaces organize “recreation days” and “work well-being days” for the work community or work team. The purpose of these is to do things that contribute to team spirit and well-being at work. Recreation days bring variation to work and allow the employees to spend time with each other outside the workplace.

The internet enables for information and people to be closer to each other than before. In addition to being sources of information that increase knowledge, the things found on the internet can affect our attitudes and understanding of others. Social media brings people closer to each other and makes it easier to form relationships, for example. 

You should learn to understand and criticize the information provided by the internet. Not all things should be published on the internet or social media. For example, it is difficult to delete images afterwards, especially if they have been shared publicly. It is also sensible to think about it from the working life perspective: what kind of things about yourself you want to be found on the internet. The internet and social media are also utilized in many ways for criminal activity as well.

The internet has many good features and it allows you to learn loads of new things, meet new people and build social networks. However, it also has its drawbacks: it allows people to appear anonymous and not all the information is always reliable. It is also easy to enter nasty comments on the internet and bullying and discrimination is easy behind nicknames. 

Reflecting on and following the netiquette helps you to understand your and others’ behaviour online. You can also reflect on the consequences of your actions and words on others. For example, not everyone has the same sense of humour as you and you should think twice before you upload or write anything online. 

Workplaces take care of the well-being at work of the employees by so-called work capacity promotion. It is an activity offered by the workplace, whereby the employer promotes and supports the employee’s functional ability and work capacity together with the employee and occupational health care. In addition to regulating the stress caused by work, it can mean recreation days, work capacity promotion days, various exercise and well-being services, or other activities that promote well-being at work and work capacity. Work capacity promotion develops the work capacity and health of the staff, as well as the functionality of the workplace, working atmosphere and work motivation. 

It also plays a role in supporting the employee’s ability to cope and the ability to maintain work capacity. It is the employer’s obligation to ensure the safety and health of the employee at work. 

You may come across difficult interaction situations at work, where your feelings surface or where it is difficult to know how to react or comment. You should learn to express yourself in a way that minimizes the possibility of misunderstanding. 

Learning the I-message helps you to express your thoughts so that they do not cause a defence reaction, offense or misunderstanding in the opposing party. I-message means that the listener is spoken to in the first person. Such sentence does not immediately debunk the proposal of the other, but at the same time, you express your opinion.  

Examples of I-messages: 

“I was really happy when…”
“It was really nice…”
“I unfortunately have to cancel, because I am going to…”
“I would love to come, but…”
“Good idea, but I think…”

You work together with your colleagues, supervisor, and customers in the work community. You need daily cooperation skills in your work: