A German IT company has come up with a solution to whiny workers: Make having a happy face while you're in the shop a contractual obligation.

The Beeb has a video version on its website, but the snarky Register wrote about this back in November:

All well and good, but if the powers that be tried that at Vulture Central, the office would resemble a Texas ghost town with the ocassional bit of tumbleweed blowing through as obstreperous Reg hacks ranted and raved around their kitchen tables.

Nutwerk reckons it's a runner, though, and says the plan was prompted by a female employee who banged on so much about just about everything that other staff began to complain about her complaining. Herr Kuwatsch explained: "We made the ban on moaning and grumpiness at work official after one female employee refused to subscribe to the company's philosophy of always smiling. Mood is an important factor in productivity and everyone here works hard and is happy."