Tips to Prepare for Flu Season in the Workplace

Posted by admin on January 17, 2012  |   No Comments »

Flu can be a big disruption for business. Employees who are sick may not be as productive when it comes to getting work done, and symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and fever can spread germs to healthy employees.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), flu activity in the U.S. most commonly peaks in January or February. Everyday preventive actions that can help prevent flu and the spread of germs in the workplace include:

Cover Your Mouth and Nose
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing, sneezing, or talking to someone with the flu.

Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose, or Mouth
Flu viruses also may spread when people touch something with flu virus on it and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose. Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, including doorknobs, keyboards, and phones, to help remove germs.

Clean Your Hands
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Make sure your workplace has an adequate supply of tissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs, and disposable wipes.

Stay Home When Sick
Employees should be encouraged to stay home from work when they are sick to help prevent others from getting ill. If there is only one employee who performs a particular task, consider training others so that coverage is available should that employee need to leave work early or stay home due to illness.

For more information and resources to help fight the flu in your workplace, visit the CDC’s web page on Seasonal Flu Information for Businesses & Employees.

Keeping Stress at Work in Check

Posted by admin on June 3, 2011  |   No Comments »

Stress in the workplace, whether triggered by significant workloads or pressing deadlines, can sidetrack employees and prevent them from doing their best. When workplace stress seems overwhelming, the following are some simple steps for reducing the pressure and increasing employee performance and productivity.

How Managers Can Help Reduce Stress
Consider these ideas to help lower the stress level among your team:

  • Step-Out Complicated Projects.Dividing a complex project into phases provides specific direction, helps maintain a calm environment, and motivates the team. Daily or weekly to-do lists can also help prioritize tasks.
  • Communicate Regularly. Recognizing employee achievements can increase confidence, as well as reduce stress related to workloads. Employees may also be able to help identify new ways that they can contribute.
  • Start Delegating. Allocating an important task to one or more employees, with solid planning and open communication, can reduce the overall stress for a manager.

Tips for Reducing Stress Everyone Can Use
The following are some simple tips everyone can use to reduce stress:

  • Make Time for Meetings and Completing Tasks. Blocking out the time necessary to complete a task on your calendar is just as important as scheduling time for meetings.
  • Avoid Setting Unrealistic Goals. Setting achievable goals with reasonable timelines helps your sense of accomplishment grow while your stress level declines.
  • Schedule Time for Exercise. A regular exercise routine can help lower stress and recharge your batteries for the challenges ahead.

Remember that laughter can be one of the best stress relievers of all. When things start to get too intense, it could be time for a little humor to lighten the load.

Wellness Programs – How Well Do They Work?

Posted by admin on February 25, 2011  |   No Comments »

Model Consulting Employee

If your Wellness program helps just one person to start living a healthier lifestyle it is worth its weight in gold. In October, 2010 when our Wellness Committee rolled out the American Trail Walking Contest along with the Biggest Loser contest I made the decision to participate and commit myself to finally trying to lose weight and try to begin living a healthier life. I started walking – a lot, and since I do not believe that prescribed diets work for everyone, I began to change my eating habits on my own. Simply by walking everyday and eating healthy meals the weight started to come off. When the cold weather got to be too much to bear I joined the gym. Rising at 4:30 AM to workout is now becoming a habit. Winning the Biggest Loser was fun and our team came in second on our walk across America (not too shabby.) As of this writing I am happy to report a weight loss of over 30 lbs, a gain in energy and self-confidence and ultimately it should help to reduce the dollars spent on healthcare issues that arise from being overweight. I can use some of those dollars to buy a new wardrobe! My personal experience is proof that promoting wellness in the workplace can be a real win-win!