So, take this for what it's worth but, a survey conducted by theragtrader.com, based on 3,000 workers, finds that, according to the New York Post, "one in four women think the secret of success is how they dress and are willing to show a little more skin to get ahead," while one in 20 women admitted to dressing in a deliberately provocative way on a regular basis.

This is depressing and lame enough to hardly require further analysis, but it also strains credulity. In my own experience, at one of my jobs someone had to take one woman aside to ask her to dress less provocatively, which was humiliating for everyone and seriously uncomfortable. Or, take Katie on Stylista: her cleavage hardly served to advance her career. Sure, these were women-heavy industries, but in what world does showing skin equal "getting ahead?" I'm not questioning that it gets some male attention, maybe some admiration, but executive material? These seem like some seriously misguided dames.

The rest of the findings were less than revelatory: 78 per cent of women believe the way they dress affects their day at work, feel and perform better when they look "smart," and, presumably, feel at a disadvantage when they're ill-kempt and shleppy. "Even when working from home, it's incredible how clothing can influence your productivity." (Anyone who's had to strategically position cardigans to conceal stains can vouch for this.) In terms of industries, marketing and advertising were found to be the most sartorially competitive, followed, allegedly, by "media workers," presumably of the Devil Wears Prada varietal.

Oh, then there were the humiliations, like the more than a quarter of women who, says the Telegraph, "had to face the embarrassment of someone else in the office wearing the same outfit as them," plus the 63% of workers who deal with "wardrobe malfunctions" like runs in tights and open flies - horrors that make massive worlwide unemployment a palliative indeed! "Fourteen per cent have even split their trousers while in the office."

Women Prepared To Dress Provocatively To Climb Career Ladder [Telegraph]
Third Of Women Happy To Wear Skimpy Clothing At Work To Win Bonuses And Promotion [Daily Mail]
Poll: Skimpy Dress Gets You Ahead At Work [New York Post]

One of the women, Lynda Cuddy, who was a target of girl-on-girl workplace bullying said, "You tend to expect women to have more empathy and compassion, but she didn't have it. And when she seemed to, it wasn't genuine." And the evil female boss used this perception to her advantage: "the 'compassion' was likely nothing more than her fishing for personal information to identify Ms. Cuddy's vulnerabilities," the Financial Post notes.

Be very, very wary of anyone at a new job who wants to me your omg bff within five seconds of your joining a company. They're generally not to be trusted. Which is not to say that you shouldn't be friends with people at work, just be cautious, as many of us have been burned by allegedly friendly co-workers. The Financial Post also suggests that if you think you're getting bullied at work, get absolutely everything in writing. "Document and log everything — gather facts. - Get it in writing. E-mails are better than voice mail. Avoid communicating with the bully when there is no witness. - For behind the closed-door bullying — do some detective work," the Post advises. "Try to gather as many specifics as possible as to what's been said. - Be professional and calm in all communication with the bully, human resources or management. Stick to the facts, present a business case of the cost of the bullying to the employer."

The sad thing is, 77% of the time bullies go on to bully, and the targets lose their jobs, the Post notes. Quebec and Saskatchewan have already put anti-bullying laws on the books and Ontario is considering such a law. In the meantime, if you think you're being bullied, follow the advice above and be professional, but make sure to have a paper trail.

No Sisterhood At Work [Financial Post]

Earlier: Bullies Are As Common In The Cubicle As The Classroom

Related:
If The Boss Is Young And Male, Watch Out [NYT]