As the Coronavirus takes a growing toll on people’s pocketbooks, there are reports that the government will soon be sending money by check or direct deposit to each of us. The details are still being worked out, but there are a few important things to know, no matter what this looks like.
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Posted March 17, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is on everyone’s minds, and it’s natural to go online for information. Unfortunately, with the enormous number of websites, navigating what’s accurate, unreliable or downright bogus isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s important to check certain details before trusting posted medical information.
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Posted March 19, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is on everyone’s minds, and it’s natural to go online for information. Unfortunately, with the enormous number of websites, navigating what’s accurate, unreliable or downright bogus isn’t always easy. That's why we created this post and other materials about this virus. Utilizing evidence-based information is extremely important right now as it could mean the difference between life and death.
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Posted September 20, 2018
You can probably easily identify your organization’s brand and its promise, but what about its employer brand?
Your employer brand is what you say you stand for as an employer, and its strength determines the company’s success in finding and holding onto employees, says Kristin Chapman, principal HR consultant at employee engagement platform DecisionWise.
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Posted September 13, 2018
Biking to work is the fastest-growing mode of commuting, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The bureau found that the number of people who bike to work increased about 60% from 2000 to the 2008-2012 period.
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Posted September 6, 2018
Thousands of Americans die each year as a result of medical errors. Common errors include medication mix-ups, unnecessary blood transfusions, health care facility-contracted infections, patients not reporting side effects, symptoms and complications, and inadequate patient preparation before and after surgery.
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Posted August 30, 2017
Feedback helps teams and employees improve their performance and get results. Employees expect it and managers are expected to give it — so why is it so hard to get it right? Few people enjoy confrontation, but muddling through feedback — whether constructive or reinforcing — makes it ineffective and can even confuse employees.
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Posted August 24, 2017
Technology may be making our lives easier, but it’s also making us more vulnerable to cybercrimes. The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics says more than 17.5 million people older than 16 were victims of identity theft in 2014, with an average loss of $1,343.
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Posted August 17, 2017
Researchers are exploring the effects of diet, exercise, age, psychological stress and other factors on the immune response. However, following practical healthy-living guidelines can help your entire body, including the immune system, function better. For example, regular exercise promotes good blood circulation. This helps immune system elements move freely through the body and do their job efficiently.
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Posted August 10, 2017
Medication errors are all too common. Prescription drug use is widespread and increasingly risky for those taking multiple medicines. In addition, fake online pharmacies are illegally selling prescription drugs that often contain the wrong substances or harmful dosages.
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Posted August 3, 2017
Can drinking coffee be part of a healthful lifestyle? Several recent studies support drinking coffee for health benefits. Coffee is now associated with a lower risk of developing several diseases, including: type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, colon cancer, liver cancer and cirrhosis, and a lower rate of depression in women. Note: Research hasn’t established that coffee causes reduced risk.
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Posted July 26, 2017
You know your salary off the top of your head, but do you know how much your benefits are worth? The U.S. Labor Department says benefits make up about a third of an employee’s total compensation package.
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Posted July 19, 2017
A strong company mission is effective only if people know what it is. Once the leadership team has set a mission, it’s time to get the word out about it so all employees understand it and can incorporate it into their work. Doing so boosts company culture and gets employees moving in the same direction.
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Posted July 12, 2017
People often abandon their workouts when the results — getting stronger or slimmer — begin to dwindle. In most cases, reaching a plateau simply means you’re progressing toward fitness and ready for a new level of workout.
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Posted July 5, 2017
Whether they tweet as part of their job or simply check in with friends and family on break, many people are using social media during the workday. Have you set reasonable ground rules for that behavior?
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Posted June 28, 2017
Health care insurance helps cover the cost of a lot of important needs — our primary provider services, specialist services, medications, preventive screenings, hospital care and special tests when we’re sick. Question is, how do we know which medical tests or treatments are truly appropriate?
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Posted June 14, 2017
For nearly 75 years, antibiotics have saved millions of lives from infectious bacteria. But now we’re using them when we don’t need them — and this poses serious health risks worldwide:
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Posted June 7, 2017
You probably got a copy of your employee handbook when you were hired. You may have had to sign a paper saying you received it and understood it, but did you page through the handbook at all? Your employer probably wishes you would: A recent survey from Gusto, an HR software developer, found that only half of companies with 50 employees or more think those employees understand their policies extremely well.
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Posted May 31, 2017
The Americans with Disabilities Act is meant to protect the needs of people living with disabilities. Employers have responsibilities under the law to not discriminate against people with disabilities in all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring and firing, promotions and assignments, leave and pay.
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Posted May 24, 2017
Studies link the Mediterranean Diet to a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity and dementia, so it makes sense to enjoy more Mediterranean-inspired meals every day. And you don’t need to travel to Greece, Italy or other Mediterranean countries to reap the benefits of these eating habits. Just head to your nearest grocery store and stock up on some staples.
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Posted May 17, 2017
U.S. employers are required by law to provide a workplace free of recognized health and safety hazards, but despite their efforts, about 2.8 million people were injured on the job in 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says. Safety training and awareness aren’t just for factories or mines; every workplace can benefit from greater attention to safety.
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Posted May 10, 2017
As the U.S. population continues to age, balancing work and unpaid eldercare is becoming a challenge for many employees. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says about 60% of eldercare providers in 2013 to 2014 were employed, and almost half were employed full-time.
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Posted May 3, 2017
The U.S. obesity epidemic is contributing to health problems that cause suffering and even premature death for millions of Americans. In addition to lowering the quality of life, obesity raises the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic pain, heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and several types of cancer, according to the CDC.
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Posted April 26, 2017
Nasal allergy, or allergic rhinitis, is the 6th most common chronic disease in the U.S. It leads to millions of lost work and school days and billions of lost health care dollars each year.
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Posted December 28, 2016
Social media is a great tool for interacting with your customers, but it’s also valuable as an employee communication platform. Using social media for benefits communication provides a quick and easy way for employees to learn more about their benefits.
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Posted December 21, 2016
There are all sorts of issues that can slow you down and have little to do with your physical health. Grief, marital issues, depression and substance abuse are just a few things you might be facing that aren’t necessarily covered by your health insurance. And when you bring those issues with you to work, they can affect your productivity and work quality.
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Posted December 14, 2016
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) first began annual surveys of HR professionals back in l996 to find out what benefits organizations offer employees. To see how employee perks have evolved over time, the latest SHRM Employee Benefits Report, which queried almost 3,500 HR pros about 300 benefits, compared the 2016 findings with 1996 data and also to information collected in the past 5 years.
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Posted December 7, 2016
Based on a growing body of research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that type 2 diabetes can be prevented and prediabetes can be reversed with CDC-recognized diabetes prevention programs. This is important news for employers because incorporating proven diabetes prevention programs into company wellness initiatives could potentially be a cost-saving strategy, in addition to improving workers’ health.
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Posted September 28, 2016
Early in her career, Lisa Martin says, she was trying so hard to earn her keep and prove herself that she often gave up her allotted vacation, personal sick time and sometimes even lunch hours. One year, she ended up leaving an entire week and a half on the table, and only about 3 of those days rolled over into the next year.
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Posted September 21, 2016
Smartphones are an integral part of life for millions of us, but there can be a downside. It’s not unusual for some people to compulsively check their phones countless times at work, while on vacation and even if they wake up at night. In fact, a recent Gallup poll found that about half of U.S. smartphone owners check their devices multiple times every hour, and 11% said they need to check their phones every few minutes.
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Posted September 14, 2016
The term burnout which describes a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, is most often associated with a person’s job — but there may be another work-related trigger. A 2015 study from the University of Montreal found that workers who commute to their workplace every day, especially if the trip between home and the office is longer than 20 minutes, can have an increased risk for burnout.
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Posted September 7, 2016
At some point in their lives, about 80% of Americans suffer from back pain, most often in the lower back, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Rest and over-the-counter pain relievers help most people get over a bout of back strain and muscle aches. But for about 20%, the condition becomes chronic — which the NINDS defines as low back pain that persists for 12 weeks or longer after treatment.
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Posted August 31, 2016
We’ve all heard people talk about being stressed out and most of us acknowledge feeling that way from time to time. Up to a point, stress is a normal part of life. But when stress becomes chronic, it can contribute to and even cause a host of health problems. In some situations stress can be an appropriate and even lifesaving response to events, according to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH). For example, if you are faced with a car accident up ahead and have to quickly swerve to miss it, your body releases chemicals and hormones causing your pulse to quicken. You breathe faster, your muscles tense and your blood pressure goes up, too. Your brain uses more oxygen and increases activity so you react as fast as possible, with every part of your being aimed at survival.
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Posted August 24, 2016
You’ve heard about accidents that happened when ?a driver was distracted by texting or yakking away ?on a cell phone. But you may be convinced this could never happen to you because you are great at multitasking on your phone while watching the road.
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Posted August 17, 2016
Social media is now a part of daily life for the majority of Americans — and it’s becoming an important tool for human resource professionals searching for job candidates. New research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 84% of organizations are using social media for recruitment and another 9% plan to do so in the near future.
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Posted August 10, 2016
Depression, a complex condition marked by changes in thinking, mood or behavior, is 1 of the most common mental disorders in the U.S., affecting people of all ages and socioeconomic groups. It is known to reduce worker productivity but the symptoms of depression aren’t always recognized, much less treated.
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Posted August 3, 2016
Despite an abundance of evidence that regular exercise is important for good health, countless Americans are still too sedentary. In fact, about 50% of full-time employees in the U.S. don’t exercise through wellness programs at work — or anyplace else — according to a new survey of 617 full-time employees across the U.S., sponsored by Flex+Strategy Group & Work+Life Fit Inc.
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Posted July 27, 2016
As recovery from the Great Recession strengthened job markets, employers began turning their attention to factors that attract and retain employees. Thanks to a relatively stable economy during the past several years, many organizations have been able to offer or reintroduce perks and incentives for workers that had been cut or reduced during the economic downturn from 2007 to 2009.
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Posted July 20, 2016
When it comes to cookouts and other summer get-togethers, it’s hard to resist not-so-healthy food choices such as burgers, fries and milkshakes. But there’s a way to enjoy summer treats while eating food that is not only delicious but could help you lose or maintain weight and even boost your health.
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Posted July 13, 2016
In an age where technology provides a near-instant connection to all kinds of information, it’s still not easy for many people to quickly access their medical records. By 2013, almost 80% of office-based health care providers were using electronic health record (EHR) and electronic medical record (EMR) systems. But sharing these electronic records with patients in a convenient format has a long way to go, according to a March 2016 survey from HealthMine, a health care technology company.
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Posted July 6, 2016
Promoting smoking cessation, exercise and weight loss if needed are all well-known strategies that can improve employee health and, in turn, absenteeism, disability and health care costs. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report released earlier this year concludes it’s time to encourage people to consume less salt (sodium chloride).
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Posted March 23, 2016
Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million adults in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — and they can have a major impact on the workplace. Research from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) found employees suffering from anxiety can be less productive. They may turn down promotions, or avoid staff events or meetings with coworkers because of their condition, too.
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Posted March 16, 2016
Advances in technology have made it easier than ever to manage your HR needs with integrated software platforms, mobile apps, expanded cloud storage and other developments. New technologies allow large companies to easily control costs and manage large amounts of data, and for smaller companies to recruit and retain employees more efficiently so they can grow.
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Posted March 9, 2016
Employees who miss work due to illness or stay on the job while sick and unable to work productively take an enormous economic toll on organizations. But on-site clinics could make a dramatic difference in both workers’ health and the bottom line of many companies.
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Posted March 2, 2016
Having comprehensive workplace wellness programs (CWWPs) in place doesn’t mean the programs are necessarily effective in improving employees’ cardiovascular status. Although a 2013 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found a substantial majority of employers (77%) offer wellness programs, many CWWPs don’t adequately track and evaluate heart health, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
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Posted February 1, 2016
Human resources professionals are often called upon to deliver information to employees at all levels of their organizations. Whether it’s a serious message or something less important, poor employee communication can lead to people missing out on benefits they could use, company programs or extracurriculars they would have enjoyed,
policies they must follow or other essential news about the organization.
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Posted September 18, 2015
It's no secret that employers' medical costs are increasing. In 2011, average annual premiums for family plans rose 9%, to $15,073, and average premiums for single coverage climbed 8%, to $5,429, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Premiums for family plans have more than doubled since 2001, the foundation noted. Several factors are contributing to the surge in health care costs, including advances in medical technology, administrative expenses and the increasing incidence of chronic illnesses.
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Posted September 10, 2015
Far too often, workers leave benefits presentations with a glazed look in their eye – they’ve clearly been hit with far more information than they can handle. That often happens at open enrollment or when an employee first becomes eligible for benefits. Hearing about the health, dental and vision plans, as well as the 401(k), voluntary benefits and all their various options at one time is overwhelming, especially for a layperson who doesn’t work in human resources. Often they pick and choose off the menu and then just stop thinking about it, possibly never taking advantage of all that their benefits can offer. It’s better if they know they can come to the HR team anytime with any questions or concerns. It’s best if you go to them year round as well. Here are five ways to continue your benefits communications throughout the year.
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Posted November 18, 2018
More employers are turning to workplace wellness programs to help control employee benefits costs and as an additional benefit to help attract and retain top employees. Industry research suggests that such investments can pay off handsomely for employers – but only if organizations are smart about how they execute their wellness initiatives.
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Posted September 1, 2018
Do you offer a wellness program as one of your organization’s employee benefits?
According to the RAND Workplace Wellness Employer Survey, about half of all U.S. employers offer some kind of wellness program. It’s not a surprise; encouraging your employees to participate in a company-sponsored wellness program can pay off. The survey found 61 percent of employers reported decreased medical costs as a result of employee participation in wellness programs, while 78 percent reported reduced absenteeism and 80 percent said productivity increased.
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