For a while now I have been hearing the term “GFC” at press events, conferences and even business meetings. Then I began seeing the same letters in news articles and press releases. At first, I was puzzled about what the word stood for. Until I saw the full unabbreviated version one day – GFC is really an acronym for global financial crisis.

Yes, you know we are finally over one of the worst recessions in recent years when we are comfortable enough to refer to it as an acronym. So, for the remainder of this article, last year’s economic trauma will now be known as GFC. An easier name in any case, since its original version is simply a mouthful.

To get over the GFC, I find myself watching too much cable TV – obviously researching for work. With the recession affecting us in one way or another, it helps when movies and TV programmes are doing their best to poke fun at the sobering GFC.

The truth is every workplace portrayed on TV could be a reflection of your office, albeit an overly dramatic one, such as the TV programme The Office (UK or US version) – a show about the daily lives of corporate employees stuck in dead-end jobs.

It’s hilarious because the many antics of the fictitious paper company’s regional manager David Brent (UK version) can be found in the people we encounter daily at work. Unconscious racism, sexism, poor motivational speeches, managerial insensitivity, awful training methods, the list goes on.

Plus, watching TV is a great way to spend your time after a long, and sometimes terrible day at work.

Speaking of which, here’s a recap of the mind-numbing programmes I watched over the weekend and how, because of my research, you can apply these best practices to your workplace.

Cougar Town: It’s a show about a recently divorced woman Jules, who is a successful real estate agent, dating a much younger man. She has a young fun-loving assistant Laurie, who wouldn’t win the best employee award, even if she was the only one left in the office. Jules keeps this Generation Y employee engaged by getting her to run personal errands such as keeping an eye on her neighbour for 10 minutes, and then giving her Friday off as an incentive. Both parties get what they want and are happier for it. Feel free to cite this example to your boss the next time you’re looking to knock off work early.

In an episode of the crime drama TV series Bones, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan was walking through a grey looking office with high-panelled cubicles and remarked how employees couldn’t see their colleagues when seated.

Her partner FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth thought she was sympathising with the workers stuck at their desks when Brennan said it was a good way to minimise contact with people and spend more time gazing at the computer screens working. Time for bosses to re-erect those cubicle walls and scrap the idea of an open-plan workforce.

At NCIS, the drama series about a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, forensics specialist Abby Sciuto shows us a better way to stop workplace theft. Deploying every available technology she has in the lab, Abby successfully catches the culprit who stole her cupcake after much eccentric persistence.

See how investing in the latest technology can improve employee productivity? Perhaps it’s time to revise the HR budgets after the latest financial report, eh fellows?

While not belonging to the TV genre, the opening scene of Pixar’s latest blockbuster Toy Story 3 tells us a similar tale of workplace issues. Having spent their entire lives as Andy’s toys, the thought of Andy leaving for college becomes a full-blown crisis when the soon-to-be grown up is no longer interested in them.

Woody has to gather the toys in a staff meeting to allay fears and reassure them about the impending change.

If even toys need constant communication to remain confident about their future, what about human beings who spend about three-quarters of their lives at work?

People management issues are everywhere and will be there weekly, whether on TV or in real life. The fact is people do need inspiration and a pat on the back at times, either from HR or bosses.

Anyway, it’s time for a commercial break because recapping these shows is such exhausting work.

I’m off to find the TV remote control for more gripping reel-life drama.