Time is money when it comes to being productive at the office. Brad Johnson wants to help companies keep track of their valuable time with his new device. Meetings can now be kept at a reasonable time limit when you see the money being lost each second.

Bring TIM!, which stands for "time is money," is an easy-to-use, meeting cost calculator and clock. This handheld device can help create more efficient meetings by calculating the cost of a discussion. Workers put in the number of attendees, the average hourly rate and then press start.

Johnson, president and founder of Bring TIM! LLC, came up with this idea while sitting in a four-hour business meeting. He thought it would be funny to see how much time and money is wasted during long staff discussions. Johnson said that his company started using his product; it has shorten some internal meetings, especially the ones with no specific agendas.

"Many people are frustrated by long, unproductive meetings," says Johnson. "These meetings are also expensive. Bring TIM! gives users the power to break the cycle and serves as a friendly reminder to stay on track."

The product was meant to be lighthearted with a humorous side, but it could "help everyone if we use our time more wisely," according to Johnson.

 "The device conveys that every second that ticks by is important," says Johnson. "Let's make the best use of our time."

The Bring TIM! calculator retails for $24.99. For more information, visit www.bringtim.com.

OFFICES FEEL THE LOVE

In this month of love, romance blossoms in the workplace. Co-workers have continued to find love at the office despite the sluggish economy. It makes sense, especially since employees watch each other tackle projects, issues and workplace challenges on a daily basis. You see their true sides and how they deal with conflict.

Thirty-seven percent of workers have dated a colleague at some point in their careers, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey that questioned at least 5,200 employees. And 40 percent of respondents had an office romance in the past two years.

When finding a relationship, some workers look up the company ladder. Women tend to date a colleague in a higher rank compared to men. Thirty percent of women admitted to starting a relationship with a higher up, while only 19 percent of men said the same.

"Workplace relationships are more accepted these days, with 67 percent of workers saying they aren't keeping their romance a secret," says Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder's vice president of human resources. "However, it is the responsibility of the individuals to understand company policy and make sure they adhere to it.

"Employees are working longer hours and under increased pressure, creating an environment that could cause relationships to bloom. Workers need to keep it professional under all circumstances, though, to ensure that the quality of their work is not negatively impacted."

The common places where co-workers witnessed sparks with a fellow colleague included: happy hour, lunch, working late at the office, company holiday party and a business trip.

Haefner provides suggestions before starting your office romance:

— Make sure to read the company policies regarding relationships. Look to see if there are specific policies on dating in the workplace.

— Watch what you put on your social networking account. You should probably tell your boss and co-workers before they see photos of your new relationship on your Facebook profile.

— Stay professional. If the relationship ends, try to not let the dating issues affect your working ability.

Although love may be in the air at the office, be careful and think before jumping into a relationship with your co-worker. Will it be worth the risk if the romance goes sour?

For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.

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o find out more about Amy Winter and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.