Monday water cooler: Sweet talk; Office revenge; Chief executive dad
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Sweet talk
What companies do you gab about to your friends? A recent study from the Keller Fay Group reveals which brand is most talked about and which one receives the most positive word of mouth.
Ford Motor Co., which also ranks as the fifth largest U.S. company on the Fortune 500, is the most talked about brand, followed by Verizon Communications Inc., Dell Inc. and Cingular.
The automaker, however, doesn't make the top 10 list for the most positive word of mouth. Its competitor, Toyota Motor Corp., took the top spot on that list.
Despite much negative press, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, received the second most positive word of mouth.
Most brand discussions, 70 percent, take place face to face, whereas 20 percent occur over the telephone. Only 3 percent happen through e-mail or instant and text messages, while 1 percent take place in chat rooms or blogs.
Ed Keller, CEO of Keller Fay Group, pointed out that two-thirds of brand conversations were positive, and nearly half of the consumers surveyed were very likely to make a purchase based on word of mouth.
"Consumers want to help each other make smart decisions," he said.
The Keller Fay Group surveyed 700 consumers each week since April, and polled data from 11,000 conversations.
Office revenge
After spending years taking orders from the most incompetent, inconsiderate and perhaps idiotic boss, you may win a much-needed vacation for your endurance.
Working for America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, recently launched the My Bad Boss contest at www.workingamerica.org/badboss/.
Contestants can post descriptions of their worst bosses and the winner is determined by a popular vote. The grand prize is a one-week vacation to anywhere in the United States, Canada, Mexico and elsewhere around the world plus $1,000 round-trip airfare.
So far, Graphics Girl in Pennsylvania and Wounded Healer of Michigan lead the entries. The contest closes Aug. 9.
"When you read the newspaper, you hear that unemployment is down and the economy is good, but we wanted to get working America talking," said Karen Nussbaum, director of Working America. "We wanted to fill out the picture of what is going on the workplace."
Special guests author Barbara Ehrenreich, comedian Al Franken, columnist Julianne Malveaux and radio commentator Jim Hightower also will comment on the postings throughout the contest.
Chief executive dad
Today's executives are working on being better fathers while still handling the demands of a high-level position, according to one survey.
Two-thirds of executives who also are fathers said they spent more time with their children than their own fathers spent with them. Some are managing this by mixing work and family. For example, 31 percent of executives take their children along on business trips.
Executives also are staying in touch with their youngsters while at the office using today's technology. Three of four stay connected by cell phone, while 56 percent touch base with e-mail.
More than three-fourths of executives have mementos of their children in the office. Photos and artwork are the most popular reminders, while four of 10 executive dads have a family screen saver or wallpaper on their computers.
Even though 72 percent of executive fathers sacrifice some family time for work, almost eight of 10 believe that being a father makes them a better professional.
The survey was conducted by TheLadders.com during the first week of June.
First Published June 26, 2006 12:00 am
