Popular New Year’s Resolutions

Hstick-to-resolutionsere are a lost of popular New Years resolutions. For most people resolve drops off by mid-January so it’s important to stay focused on the goal this time of year.

  • Lose Weight
  • Volunteer to Help Others
  • Quit Smoking
  • Get a Better Education
  • Get a Better Job
  • Save Money
  • Get Fit
  • Eat Healthy Food
  • Manage Stress
  • Manage Debt
  • Take a Trip
  • Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
  • Drink Less Alcohol

via Popular New Year’s Resolutions | USA.gov.

Turning Human Resources into a Profit Center

14731384_sOrganizations live-or-die by the bottom line. However, the HR department typically plays only a minor role in improving the bottom line. They are typically viewed as a cost rather than a profit center. Fortunately, HR departments  can help measurably improve profits. They need to find ways to:

  • Increase profits
  • Decrease costs
  • Make employees more efficient
  • Improve productivity

Human Resource managers can reap tremendous personal benefits by helping their companies improve profits, such as:

  • Earning the status of strategic advisor vs. an administrator role.
  • Earning higher bonuses or percent of profit improvement
  • Being sought out by employers and search firms that have their eyes open for profit improvement talent.

Typically  Human Resources is responsible for the largest part of what effects a companies budget. The list includes payroll, benefits, wellness, workers comp, safety. Turning HR into a profit center requires a progressive, forward-thinking approach. That means letting go the status quo  to go from being viewed as mainly providing service at a cost or at profit-oriented human resource management.

 

 

 

 

Dealing with Depression

beauty girl cryDepression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. You can’t beat it through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key is to start small and build from there. Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day.

via Dealing with Depression: Self-Help & Coping Tips to Overcome Depression.

Avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls at Work

PPR-127Slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents. They cause 15% of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. The OSHA standards for walking/working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural work is performed.

Walking/working surfaces are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, marine terminals, longshoring, and the construction industry.

via Safety and Health Topics | Walking/Working Surfaces.

Depression is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older

depressionDepression is a true and treatable medical condition, not a normal part of aging. However older adults are at an increased risk for experiencing depression. If you are concerned about a loved one, offer to go with him or her to see a health care provider to be diagnosed and treated.

Depression is not just having “the blues” or the emotions we feel when grieving the loss of a loved one. It is a true medical condition that is treatable, like diabetes or hypertension.

How Do I Know If It’s Depression?

Someone who is depressed has feelings of sadness or anxiety that last for weeks at a time. He or she may also experience–

  • Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
  • Irritability, restlessness
  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable
  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
  • Insomnia, early–morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
  • Overeating or appetite loss
  • Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
  • Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not get better, even with treatment

via CDC – Depression is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older – Aging.

Know Your Numbers for Heart Health

Heart-406x304In consultation with your doctor, you should establish and understand the following targets for shooting down heart disease. The numbers are important, but they will be much more useful if you understand the reasoning behind them. General targets are:

• Blood pressure of 120/80

• Total cholesterol count under 150

• HDL cholesterol should be greater than 45

• LDL cholesterol should be less than 70

• The particle number for LDL should be less than 1,000

• LDL should be described as “Pattern A,” meaning your LDL cholesterol particles are large and buoyant

• Triglyceride count less than 150

• A fasting glucose, serum (sugar) count between 65 and 99

• Body mass index (BMI), the percentage of body weight that comes from fat, should be under 25

• Thyroid, C-reactive protein, and homocysteine all within the normal range

via Dr. Crandall’s Heart Health Blog.

The 5 Steps to Setting SMART Goals

Create-Smart-GoalsWhether you have a 50-employee company or an empire of one, your business success depends on your ability to set and achieve goals. Put your business on the fast-track by applying the principles of SMART goal setting.

What are Smart Goals?

S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for the 5 steps of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based goals. It’s a simple tool used by businesses to go beyond the realm of fuzzy goal-setting into an actionable plan for results.

via Smart Goals: The 5 Steps to Setting SMART Goals.

Safety Tips for Working in Cold Weather

MPShoodWhat preventive measures should I take when working in cold weather?

Plan for work in cold weather. Wearing appropriate clothing and being aware of how your body is reacting to the cold are important to preventing cold stress. Avoiding alcohol, certain medications and smoking can also help to minimize the risk.

Protective Clothing is the most important way to avoid cold stress. The type of fabric also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. The following are recommendations for working in cold environments:

  • Wear at least three layers of clothing. An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to wick moisture away from the body. A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet. An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.
  • Wear a hat or hood. Up to 40% of body heat can be lost when the head is left exposed.
  • Wear insulated boots or other footwear.
  • Keep a change of dry clothing available in case work clothes become wet.
  • With the exception of the wicking layer do not wear tight clothing. Loose clothing allows better ventilation of heat away from the body.
  • Do not underestimate the wetting effects of perspiration. Oftentimes wicking and venting of the body’s sweat and heat are more important than protecting from rain or snow.

via Emergency Preparedness and Response: Safety and Health Guides – Cold Stress.

Be Prepared – Winter Car and Emergency Checklist

SnowDriving1You never know when winter weather could leave you stranded on the road. Here is a list of items to have with you just in case:

  • Minimize travel, but if travel is necessary, keep the following in your vehicle:
  • Cell phone, portable charger, and extra batteries
  • Shovel
  • Windshield scraper
  • Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • Water
  • Snack food
  • Extra hats, coats, and mittens
  • Blankets
  • Chains or rope
  • Tire chains
  • Canned compressed air with sealant for emergency tire repair
  • Road salt and sand
  • Booster cables
  • Emergency flares
  • Bright colored flag or help signs
  • First aid kit
  • Tool kit
  • Road maps
  • Compass
  • Waterproof matches and a can to melt snow for water
  • Paper towels

via Preparedness Checklists|Winter Weather.

Back Injuries and Workers’ Comp

pic2Back injuries have a bad reputation. “The workman looks upon them with apprehension, the insurance company with doubt, the medical examiner with suspicion, the lawyer with uncertainty, and the court with as open a mind as is possible under the circumstances….”

This statement was written in 1917. Not much has changed since then.

via JAMA Network | JAMA | Back Injuries and Their Significance Under the Workmen’s Compensation and Other Acts..