Wellbeing

A U.S. Dept. of Labor Blog post

Healthy employees are happy employees

October 4, 2016

When Amanda came home to find her partner Jake clutching his chest in pain, she rushed him to the hospital, where he collapsed outside the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed an aortic aneurysm: Jake’s aortic valve had burst, and he needed immediate surgery. There was a 50 percent chance he would not survive.

Having a happy spouse could be good for your health

September 29, 2016

Having a happy spouse may be related to better health, at least among middle-aged and older adults, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Balance and flexibility can lead to a more productive workforce

Barbara Ruland

August 30, 2016

Two high-profile leaders have recently garnered media attention for their drastically different attitudes toward work-life balance. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer became the topic of conversation this month regarding her remarks in a Bloomberg interview in which she discussed working 130-hour weeks during Google’s early days and stated that she can “tell you which startups will succeed, without even knowing what they do” based on whether or not employees were working on the weekend.

Public Safety

APHA: We CAN build violence-free communities

July 13, 2016

“This week’s tragedies that have taken the lives of Americans in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Dallas bring to light a significant danger to our well-being: the presence of hate, often fueled by fear, resentment, displaced anger and/or racism.”

Six organizations honored for healthy workplace practices

February 26, 2016

The American Psychological Association (APA) will recognize six employers for their efforts to promote employee well-being and organizational performance at its 11th annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Backs, art and best practices

Chip Dawson

February 12, 2016

When it comes to art, I have a big advantage. My wife of 53 years is an artist, retired art gallery owner and art critic. The other day, she sent me a link to an article in the Guardian titled Art works: how art in the office boosts staff productivity with a subtitle of A bright creative workspace can make employees more productive, lower stress and increase wellbeing.

Tackling the taboo: creating a positive culture around mental health

February 11, 2016

We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. With stress and mental health problems hugely prevalent in workplaces, creating mentally healthy workplaces and dealing with the causes of poor mental health has never been more important.

Four factors that contribute to back pain and back injuries on the job

September 24, 2015

After the summer months, many of us become less physically active. Cold temperatures tempt us to hunker down and “hibernate.” But that’s not healthy for our bodies. Let’s focus on proper ergonomics to support your back.

Program to reduce work-family conflict pays for itself

Workplace intervention shows return on investment for employers

September 14, 2015

An effective program to reduce work-family conflict (WFC) leads to reduced turnover and other cost savings for employers, reports a study in the September Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Could you stand at work all day?

Sit-stand workstations studied

Dave Johnson

May 21, 2013

L Casey Chooswood, MD, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NIOSH, is this morning’s keynote speaker at the AIHce. Dr. Chooswood is in the midst of an interesting experiment. Recently, NIOSH launched an internal NIOSH pilot program to explore the use of sit and stand work stations as part of a workplace health and wellbeing initiative to reduce sedentary work in U.S. workplaces.