Absenteeism: A no-nonsense approach to a chronic problem

By Tim Gould

 

It is rule No. 1 in the workplace: Employees need to show up to do their jobs. In today’s “do-more-with-less” culture, however, absenteeism is a growing concern for many companies.

It’s not uncommon for organizations to deal with absenteeism rates of 10% or more – putting extra pressure on other employees, slowing productivity and taking a day-by-day bite out of the bottom line.

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Tip Tuesday! 8 Secrets to Cure Hypothyroidism… and other hormone problems

by Dr. Josh Axe

Every week I get questions about hormone imbalance and a slow metabolism.  These are conditions that are chronically plaguing both men and women all across america.   What causes most of these issues?  Problems with the thyroid.

And here I am going to tell you the best natural remedies and natural cures for the thyroid.

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Tip Tuesday! Kindness: How it pays sweet returns

By Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.

You walked your friend's dog while she recuperated from surgery. And, it left you feeling warm and fuzzy. But, it wasn't just because of the exercise and wagging tail.

You made another person happy — and that felt great. But, did you know that practicing kindness can also be a plus for your health and well-being? 

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Coping With Stress

Stress is a part of life. From being stuck in traffic to falling behind on paying bills, too much stress can wreak havoc on our bodies. If you have a chronic illness, even small tasks, such as making dinner or picking up the children from school, can become overwhelming. Research on how stress causes medical illness is still in its early phases. We do know though that stress can cause physical symptoms, and may increase the rate of progression of a disease. Here are some ways to reduce your stress. 

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10 Ways Chronic Stress is Killing Your Quality of Life

BY DR. AXE

Stress. It’s an awful word and a worse feeling isn’t it? The thing is, stress isn’t all bad. Without it, we wouldn’t be motivated to protect ourselves or perform. A certain level of stress helps us to adapt to our environment and pushes us to excel. The stress that is worrisome is chronic stress and it can affect you negatively in multiple ways. 

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You and the clock: Can you ever be friends?

By Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.

If you're busy, you know this all too well: Stress and time are intertwined.

You get short on time — and before long, you're swimming in stress.
What's more, as the pressure you feel goes up, your productivity often goes down. And, you know where that leads: to more stress.


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Managing Unplanned Absences

HR/Employer Services | Time and Attendance

A 2010 study conducted by Mercer states that “incidental unplanned” absences result in a 19 percent net loss of productivity. That is on top of the increased costs, such as possible overtime, and the negative morale of the workers asked to pull double duty.

There are many reasons why an employee may call in to work for unplanned time off. Absenteeism can range from illnesses, family issues (e.g., daycare or taking care of a family member), personal issues or just feeling entitled to the time off. According to a CCH 2007 Unscheduled Absence Survey, 13 percent of people who called in to work cited being stressed out as main the reason for being absent. Slightly more than one in four absences falls into the “mental health day” category.

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Tip Tuesday! Employee Wellness: Tips for Healthy Living

Sandy Smith

With busy schedules and lifestyles, keeping the mind, body and soul healthy can be a major challenge. Moen, which manufactures kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, showerheads and stainless steel sinks for residential and commercial applications and offers employees a comprehensive health and wellness program, offers these tips to help you and your employees live a happy, healthy, safe and balanced life:

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Tip Tuesday! A sure-fire way to reduce employee stress

By: Rich Henson

Who’s likely to be more stressed: The CFO preparing to explain less-than-stellar quarterly earnings to his Board of Directors?  Or the clerk in accounting, trying to get the proper signature on a weekly travel expense form?

Believe it or not, it’s probably the clerk, according to a study out of Stanford and Harvard.

Researchers found that higher-level leaders had less stress than non-leaders or lower-level leaders, turning on its head the common notion that C-level execs experience the most anxiety.

In other words, climbing the corporate ladder is a good way to manage your stress.

The study measured levels of the stress-related hormone cortisol while asking participants a series of questions.

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Tip Tuesday! Speedy relief: 5-minute stress busters

By Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.

Maybe it's just your average day. You've got places to be, people to see and a to-do list a mile long. Really, who has time to relax? 

You're on the go, go, go. But, while you're at it, stress can be zapping your energy. And, over time that strain can take a greater toll. It can contribute to burnout and a host of health problems, including anxiety, depression and high blood pressure. 

So, when you feel the tension building, take a few minutes and slow it down. You'll feel better right away — and you'll be caring for your long-term peace of mind and health, too. 

Five quick fixes 
You can take yourself from keyed-up to calmer with any of these steps:

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Employees satisfied with benefits programs 9 times more likely to stay with their employer

By Marli D. Riggs

June 7, 2012

Almost half (49%) of U.S. workers are at least somewhat likely to look for a job this year, but there is undeniable evidence linking benefits offerings and employee loyalty, according to the 2012 Aflac WorkForces report.

Employees who are extremely or very satisfied with their benefits program are nine times more likely to stay with their employer, compared to those workers who are dissatisfied with their benefits program. Similarly, when asked what their current employer could do to keep them in their jobs, 49% responded, “improve my benefits package.”

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Wired and tired: 3 signs you’re over-connected

By Michael Rosen, M.D.

Reading this article on your laptop? You're connected.

Got four browser windows open simultaneously, your smartphone singing text alerts and your HDTV glowing in the background — all while you're in bed?

You might be over-connected.

Certainly, electronics and media can enhance our lives. They can inform and inspire us — and help us stay in touch with others.

But, sometimes, plugged-in time can take over our downtime. And, people may find that — as much as they enjoy technology — in excess, it makes them less fulfilled, productive and happy.  


Click Here to continue reading and view the three signs you may be depleting your own battery...

Critical question to ask wellness participants

September 26, 2011 by Christian Schappel

There’s one question many companies aren’t asking that could pinpoint who would benefit most from your wellness program.

The question: How stressed are you?

The Mayo Clinic asked 13,198 employees who participate in one of the clinic’s wellness centers to rate their stress levels on a scale of 0 (as bad as it can be) to 10 (as good as it can be), as well as answer questions about their quality of life, fatigue, exercise, diet, smoking and health problems.

More than 2,100 employees rated their stress level 3 or below. And when those highly-stressed employees were compared to the rest of the group they were found to have poorer health and more fatigue. 

The highly-stressed group was more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and obesity.

Those in the high stress group also had less confidence than their peers in their ability to improve their health.

Improve their state of mind

As the research shows, stress levels are something employer wellness programs will want to monitor.

Some suggestions from the studies’ lead researcher Matthew Clark, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the Mayo Clinic: Find out which employees are in this at-risk group and offer them yoga, tai chi, meditation courses, stress management classes or sessions with a wellness coach who can help them improve their health.

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Emotional well-being On the job: 6 steps to less deadline stress

By Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.
(Click for author bios in About us) 

Even if you love your job, the stress of deadlines may get the best of you some days. And, while a little pressure can keep you motivated, too much may derail and distract you. 

Stay on track — and ease deadline stress — with these work-smart tips: 

1. Keep a prioritized to-do list. Tallying your tasks and deadlines can clear your mind — and help you determine what's most pressing. Mark those with the highest priority. Your list may also make you less likely to forget something important. 

2. Break it down. If you have a project that seems overwhelming, outline the steps — and give each a separate deadline. You may find it helps to tackle your toughest task of the day first. 

3. If you can do it quickly, do so. Need a breather from a time-consuming job? Take care of a quick task or two. Checking off even small deadlines on your list may help relieve some pressure. 



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