HealthyLife Articles

Tag: Work Life

  • Sick Days: When To Stay Home

    WORK LIFE

    Image of young women in bed sick.

    You’re feeling under the weather, but you don’t want to miss work. What should you do? In some cases, it may be okay to go to work when you’re not feeling 100 percent. But other times, you should make your wellness a priority. These guidelines can help you decide if you’re well enough to work:

    Fever:

    The CDC recommends you stay home for 24 hours after your fever is gone. This helps minimize the spread of illness to others. You should also skip social gatherings, shopping, and other outings.

    Sniffles and sneezing:

    Many people simply can’t miss work every time they have a minor cold. Let your symptoms be your guide. If you’re feeling well enough to work and don’t have other symptoms, such as a fever or body aches, you can go to work if necessary. But, if you have fatigue or feel that you won’t be able to safely do your job, consider using sick time.

    Vomiting or diarrhea:

    Stomach-related illnesses such as norovirus are highly contagious. Even after you stop vomiting, you could get other people sick. If you serve or prepare food as part of your job, the CDC says you should stay home for at least 48 hours after your symptoms stop.

    Remember that staying home from work may help you to recover more quickly, as your body needs rest to fight an illness. In addition, staying home will help avoid spreading illness to co-workers, customers, and others you encounter.

    Choosing to stay home may also depend on your employer’s sick day policies. Make sure you are familiar with these and abide by them.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Eap Is At Your Service

    WORK LIFE

    Image of 2 business women shaking hands.

    In an edition of Psychology Today, Steve Albrecht, doctor of business administration, encourages employees to find out about the many services available from their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and reach out for help if needed. Dr. Albrecht has written or co-written 15 books, including Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace, and Fear and Violence on the Job. He is also a former police officer and domestic violence investigator with the San Diego Police Department.

    Dr. Albrecht gave four reasons why employees do not use their EAP services:

    1. They do not think what they say or do will be held in confidence.

    2. They see reaching out for help as a weakness. This is especially true  for men.

    3. They think they need to get permission from their boss or Human Resources to seek services from their EAP.

    4. They do not know their EAP exists.

    First, according to Dr. Albrecht, services and discussions between employees and EAP providers are kept confidential. There is an exception-an EAP counselor has a duty to warn or intervene if the employee wants to harm himself or herself or others. The company gets no reports or records of employee use of EAP services.

    Second, employees need to be reassured that EAP offers help for many very common issues that affect most people. Examples are money worries, marital issues, raising children or step-children, blended families, sick kids, and dealing with parents with Alzheimer’s disease.

    Employees can also get help for financial problems, burnout, stress-related illnesses, cancer and mental health issues. These include substance abuse, workplace conflicts, depression and suicidal thoughts.

    Third, employees simply need to call the EAP phone number and make an appointment. They do not have to tell coworkers, their boss or Human Resources.

    Lastly, Dr. Albrecht is puzzled why employees do not know about their EAP. Companies with EAP programs list their services and contact numbers on posters and brochures in lunch rooms and break rooms. New employees receive EAP information.

    To find out if your company offers EAP services, check your benefits manual or website or ask your human resources manager. Help is just a phone call away.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Smartphone Break Aids Well-Being

    WELL-BEING

    Image of a smart phone.

    Want to be more productive and happier during the workday? Try taking a short break to text a friend, play Angry Birds, or check Facebook on your smartphone, according to Kansas State University research.

    Allowing employees to take smartphone microbreaks may be a benefit-rather than a disruption-for businesses. Microbreaks are nonworking-related behaviors during working hours.

    “A smartphone microbreak can be beneficial for both the employee and the organization,” said the lead researcher. “For example, if I would play a game for an hour during my working hours, it would definitely hurt my work performance. But if I take short breaks of one or two minutes throughout the day, it could provide me with refreshment to do my job.”

    Taking a break throughout the workday is important because it is difficult, and nearly impossible, for an employee to concentrate for 8 straight hours a day without a break, was the thinking. So the smartphone microbreaks were thought to be similar to other microbreaks throughout the workday: chatting with coworkers, walking around the hallway, or getting a cup of coffee. Such breaks are important because they can help employees cope with the demands of the workplace.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Get Out Of Your Seat

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of women standing and talking on the phone.

    There are lots of things you can do to keep your body healthy. Eat nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables, get exercise, and see your doctor as needed for checkups. But the American Cancer Society says there’s something else we need to do: don’t sit so much.

    A large study showed that women who sat for more than six hours per day had a higher risk of cancer than those who sat for three hours or less. In addition, studies have found links between sitting for long periods and dying younger, the ACS says.

    But what if you have to sit for your job? There are some ways you can reduce your sitting time:

    *  Stand during conference calls.

    *  Take a quick standing or walking break every hour if you can.

    *  Park farther away from the building.

    *  Walk during your lunch break.

    Remember, every little bit helps. A few minutes of walking here and there can add up to big health benefits.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Stretching Exercises To Do At Your Desk

    WORK LIFE

    Image of office with employees working on computers.

    Stretching has many health benefits, including better flexibility and posture. It can help relieve soreness from tense muscles and the effects of sitting for long periods. Stretching may also help you feel more energized and reduce stress. Take a few minutes every day to stretch at your desk. You may find that you feel better, physically and mentally.

    Illustration showing different desk stretches.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine