Striking the best balance: companies receive top award for implementing popular work-life practices

Balancing a job and a home life often can be a struggle that many wish they didn't have. But several companies in the U.S. are doing what they can to decrease employees' stress by implementing work-life policies.

Several of the companies recognized within these pages have successfully implemented quality work-life policies, including:* Company gatherings. Getting together for some fun every once in a while shows employees that they and their families are important to the company. Whether it's a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the office one Friday or a picnic for employees and their families, company morale is improved when employees know that they matter.Every year, Fortune magazine features its "100 Best Companies to Work For." In 2008, it chose Google[TM] as its number one company. Google's work-life policies help to create a relaxed atmosphere at its Mountain View, Ca. headquarters, which feature gym equipment and foosball tables along with healthy lunches prepared on site, among other things. As an international corporation, Google seems to have more work-life enticements than most.* Telecommuting. Allowing employees to work from home via computers, telephones or video conferences is another popular practice. Employees benefit by having more time at home, while employers benefit by having decreased energy costs and increased employee motivation.* Health and wellness programs. Several of this year's award-winning companies have exercise and dietary programs available for their employees. Not only do healthy employees yield increased productivity and less absenteeism, they also help mitigate companies' health-care costs.But businesses don't have to go over the top with their work-life policies like Google does to attract and retain top-notch employees. By adding a few practices that benefit not only the employees but also the employer, smaller businesses and lesser-known corporations can prove that their work-life policies are worth more than just a cursory glance.Increases in employee productivity and employee loyalty are ways that a company can benefit from allowing flexible schedules.Trends in Work-Life Balance PolicyA flexible schedule. Another trend is the flexible schedule--perhaps a four-day work week or maybe just a certain amount of hours allotted annually for personal errands.

* Company gatherings. Getting together for some fun every once in a while shows employees that they and their families are important to the company. Whether it's a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the office one Friday or a picnic for employees and their families, company morale is improved when employees know that they matter.

Gain sanity and satisfaction with a quick declutter

A while back, I ventured down to our storage basement, which we affectionately call "The Abyss." I was met by a sea of strewn Legos, toys, scattered children's books, an unused weight set, and foosball and hockey tables blocked by piles of food storage.

This week, enjoy decluttering a spot that is driving you mad. And then savor the joy of a job well done.e-mail: lifechange@rfburst.comAnyway, I stomped upstairs and announced to the family it was time to DECLUTTER.To make the cleanup go even faster, consider setting a time limit. Even better, set a timer.Each younger child was handed a big garbage bag or a tub and told pick up and sort for 15 minutes. If we were indecisive about a toy it went to charity or the garbage, and the rest went IMMEDIATELY into the children's bookcases.These steps will help lighten the load. Of course, hiring the neighborhood teenagers isn't a bad idea either.When did this happen? I am surely without fault as Clutter Fairies make this mess while I sleep.Last, the vital sustain. This is where you point to the room and have the people who will use it describe how it looks and where things belong. It also helps if you offer them a reward, like, "Whoever keeps this room the cleanest gets first dibs on PlayStation."Next, a quick clean. Some children vacuumed, others wiped down the weight set, and others snuck upstairs for a Popsicle.If you have a room or a closet that needs to be decluttered but you'd rather avoid it, try using the VEERS formula -- Visualize and Evaluate, Eliminate and Replace, Savor and Sustain -- to get in and get it done!A few weeks later, we tried the pull the old, "If we do it fast, we can all go bowling" ploy. A miracle occurred and the basement was transformed.Almost done, it was time for an extended savor. We took a minute and viewed the fabulous, sparkling clean room, and then raced to the air hockey and foosball tables that could now actually be used.I visualized the basement with just the weight set and play tables -- the food storage tucked in a storage closet and all children's toys in their rooms.And then I forgot.Next, quickly eliminate. The food storage was in the way of everything, so we assigned the older children to form a line and pass it through to the closet. (I acted as the organizer so we can later find said storage).First, quickly visualize the room. Take five minutes, using a pen and pad if necessary, and imagine the room without clutter. What does it look like? What activities happen there?

e-mail: lifechange@rfburst.com

Retailer of Shuffleboard Tables Hires Internet Marketing Company to Boost Sales

A game room equipment supplier announced its partnership with SEO 1 Services, a Dallas-based internet marketing company . The supplier hopes to increase awareness of their product lines, including air hockey tables, coin-operated pool tables and combination game tables. A spokesperson for the Keller, Texas-based company expressed excitement regarding the potential exposure the partnership could bring for the business.

The company prides itself on offering the highest quality gaming equipment available in the United States and offers a wide selection of options to assist customers in putting together their ideal game room or arcade. For example, the company offers five brands of outdoor ping pong tables, including Killerspin, Joola and Kettler.Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to NewsvineAccording to the company's spokesperson, SEO 1 Services' background in search engine marketing consulting and high Google rankings made them a good choice to assist American Super Sport in their goal to increase traffic to their site long-term. While a pay-per-click strategy appears to be the choice of many of the company's competitors, American Super Support wanted an option with long-term effectiveness.American Super Sports is a supplier of game equipment to both individual and commercial buyers. The company focuses on game room items, such as Foosball or shuffleboard tables , but also supplies coin-operated games, portable hoops , licensed team merchandise and concession equipment.In response, SEO 1 also expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. A marketing executive from the company said, "We are confident that our efforts combined with the high quality associated with the American Super Sports name will equal positive results that exceed the expectations for both parties."About SEO 1 Services: SEO 1 Services is a search engine marketing company specializing in online visibility solutions by increasing its clients' ranking and positioning in popular search engines. Leveraging over three decades of combined internet marketing know-how, SEO 1 Services' integrated approach creates highly targeted optimization campaigns that deliver online visibility, web traffic and Internet business objectives. SEO 1 Services' certified consultants drive the innovation, the proprietary technology and optimization methodologies that have delivered our clients' success. http://www.seo1services.comAbout American Super Sports: American Super Sports is a Texas-based supplier of gaming and sporting equipment, including portable basketball hoops, coin-operated machines and more. http://www.americansupersports.com

Contact: Rodney Brooke Tel: 888-751-1114

RightNow Announces Customer Service Week Video Contest; Share How Your Organization is Celebrating Customer Service Week

RightNow Clients Can Enter for a Chance to Win a Flat Screen TV and Wii, Shootout Basketball Game or Foosball Table for Their Contact Center!

About RightNow Technologies[Table Omitted]BOZEMAN, Mont. -- RightNow® (NASDAQ:RNOW) is hosting a video contest to celebrate Customer Service Week. Enter the RightNow Customer Service Week Video Contest for a chance to win a flat screen TV and Wii, shootout basketball game or foosball table for your contact center!RightNow is helping rid the world of bad experiences one consumer interaction at a time, eight million times a day. RightNow CX, the customer experience suite, helps organizations deliver exceptional customer experiences across the web, social networks and contact centers, all delivered via the cloud. With more than ten billion customer interactions delivered, RightNow is the customer experience fabric for nearly 2000 organizations around the globe. To learn more about RightNow, go to www.rightnow.com.

RightNow is a registered trademark of RightNow Technologies, Inc. NASDAQ is a registered trademark of the NASDAQ Stock Market.