absenteeism

A potential low-level sound hazard: whispering

January 16, 2018

Whispering in front of others is almost always inappropriate and generally makes others feel uncomfortable, according to an article in the Houston Chronicle. There are times, however, when whispering is necessary in the workplace, such as if you quickly need to tell a coworker two buttons just popped off his shirt.

It pays to create a culture of workplace safety

Mike Schmidt

June 13, 2017

Creating and maintaining a safe work environment should be a priority of great significance for all manufacturers, but ensuring the well-being of employees on the job is an incredibly tall task.

Mental health: Mindfulness in the workplace

Lauren Applebey

April 21, 2016

Colin Duff, Head of Business and Research at Breathworks (United Kingdom) talks about how mindfulness can help workplaces manage stress, increase employee attention, reduce absenteeism and create greater leadership.

Mental health: Mindfulness in the workplace

March 3, 2016

What is mindfulness? According to The Mental Health Foundation mindfulness is an integrative, mind-body based approach that helps people to manage their thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness skills are developed through systematic mindful attention training exercises, which can be based around awareness of body, breathing, movement, or everyday activities such as walking, eating or driving.

Pacific Northwest trucking co. retaliates against sick, tired drivers -- again

OSHA orders Oak Harbor Freight Lines to comply with federal safety rules

July 27, 2015

OSHA has again ordered Oak Harbor Freight Lines Inc. to stop retaliating against truck drivers who refuse to drive when they feel too ill or fatigued. The order comes after Oak Harbor suspended a 25-year commercial truck operator without pay at its Portland, Oregon, terminal after he did not feel well enough to drive.

What you can do about job burnout

June 18, 2015

Burnout is a serious problem that is brought on by the negative effects of chronic, work-related stress. Actual statistics are difficult to come by, but studies from the Nordic countries recently indicated that there, the prevalence of severe burnout is between 2-7 %. If these numbers are extrapolated Europe-wide, the problem and its effects on individuals, businesses and the European economy is sobering.

Rheumatoid arthritis carries high costs for employers

National costs for RA absenteeism exceed $250 million per year

June 16, 2015

Employees with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to have work absences, leading to high excess costs for employers, reports a study in the June Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

When health risks go down, worker productivity goes up

Study: Lasting health improvements lead to cumulative productivity gains

April 13, 2015

Changes in employee health risk factors have a significant impact on work productivity, reports a study in the April Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Europe wrangles with MSD legislation

April 18, 2012

In an argument that sounds familiar on this side of the Atlantic, a group of European employers say that a proposed work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) directive would impose an unbearable administrative and financial burden upon companies – especially small businesses.

Worksite health promotion program reduces absenteeism by 20 percent

April 10, 2012

Workers participating in a "comprehensive" workplace promotion program had a one-fifth reduction in absenteeism during the first year, reports a study in the April Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).