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Tag Archive for: healthy workplace

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Is Your Organization Suffering From Presenteeism?

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

It is hard to solve a problem you don’t know you have. Presenteeism has become a growing problem in organizations, more costly to employers than absenteeism, and yet many don’t know what it is, if it exists, and thus what to do about it.

Presenteeism refers to those employees that are physically or emotionally unwell but continue to work instead of taking vacation, personal or unpaid days. Working when unwell equates to lost productivity and a perpetuating cycle of ongoing illness. It can also impact the productivity of others, especially if the illness is acute and spreads throughout the department or organization. Employees suffering from presenteeism may work more slowly than usual, make more mistakes, misuse equipment, are more prone to work-related accidents, can have lapses in judgement, and have more interpersonal problems and conflict with others (1). Clearly, there is a strong link between presenteeism and absenteeism, but the problems people are facing at home, work, or with their health, are not often identified or managed until there is a (often prolonged) work absence. Proactive solutions are the key to stopping a growing problem.

A recent study by Statistics Canada found that lost productivity from presenteeism was at least 7.5 times greater than productivity loss from absenteeism. Statistics Canada also estimates that 7.5 days per employee per year are lost due to presenteeism, which equates to 3% of salary costs. Therefore, it is estimated that presenteeism costs Canadian businesses 15 to 25 billion dollars per year (2).

While understanding the incidence of presenteeism might prove difficult if people arrive to work, their activities are not monitored, and they don’t disclose an illness, there are ways to analyze if this is happening at your workplace. Several screening tools and questionnaires exist that can help employers understand how this could be impacting them. It is suggested that employers rely on the services of an external consultant to obtain this data, otherwise employees may not report problems accurately.

In addition to gathering information about the problem, there are known ways to reduce this. Flexible work hours and choices (such as lieu time), work-from-home options, and Personal Assistant programs are known to provide direct benefit (1).

Occupational Therapy is another solution. Often, Occupational Therapists are retained by employers to assess and treat workplace productivity problems. In fact, we are great at this. One of our many strategies for intervention includes the set-up of Workplace Health Programs (WHP) to target both absenteeism and presenteeism. According to the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (2012), such programs that include organizational leadership, health risk screening, individual (versus group) tailored programs, and those that create a supportive workplace culture are especially effective. When employee supervisors and managers are involved and educated on mental health, organization and environmental factors that influence behavior are targeted, and when exercise is promoted during work hours, the resulting reductions in presenteeism are statistically significant (3).

As the world gets more hectic, stress increases, and demands surpass ability, employers need to dial in and analyze, track and measure the wellness of their workforce. Presenteeism is going to be another silent killer – of productivity, bottom lines, and wellness. Consider Occupational Therapy to get to the root of this problem. We do that.

(1) http://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/media/presenteeism
(2) http://rhealth.ca/corporate/2012/11/05/presenteeism-in-canada/
(3) Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (2012) 59, 247-250.

Check out more of our posts on ways to create a healthier workplace.

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Caregiver Friendly Workplaces – Are You There Yet?

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

I enjoy reading Abilities Magazine. I always find useful information, new products, and inspiring stories of people that overcome adversity and disability. In the recent issue I was intrigued, and pleased, to see an award now offered by the Canadian Abilities Foundation to organizations that are Caregiver Friendly.

The magazine reports: “in recent years, forward-thinking businesses and organizations have begun to recognize the value of supporting employees who are caregivers…the Caregiver-Friendly Workplace Award, presented in partnership with Canada Cares, is provided to organizations who are leaders in this area”.

Would your organization be in the running?

Working as an occupational therapist I am reminded daily that life can change in an instant. Often, amidst the trauma of an accident or illness, families are thrust into a new role. Sometimes the role is advocate and acting power of attorney at a hospital 24/7. Or, it is providing direct care to someone now using a wheelchair who can’t independently toilet and bathe. Maybe it is emotional support via conversations and sleeplessness nights to help someone lower their anxiety or deal with depression. An ailing parent might need rides to the doctor, specialists and pharmacy. A loved one with cancer might need help with instrumental activities like groceries, shopping and banking while they recover from surgery or treatment. The bottom line here is that in the course of our working lifetime, we will all likely be in a caregiving role. From parents with young kids, to the sandwich generation and baby boomers, taking care of others is inherent to being human.

Employers need to recognize that at times employees will need to be awarded some empathy, compassion and flexibility if they are required to care for others. While in Ontario people can apply for a 30-day Compassion Care Benefit through Employment Insurance, this may not be enough. Often caregiving responsibilities extend far beyond a month into years and decades.

Caregiving requires a lifestyle change – a shift in priorities, a new schedule, and emotional resilience. Thus when an employee is thrust into an often challenging life change involving caregiving responsibilities, employers need to find a way to bridge the gap, offer alternative work arrangements, provide a supportive ear, and patiently await the development of routines that will hopefully include the one-day return of the employee to regular work hours and duties.

If you are an employer that offers compassion, support, and flexibility to your caregiving employees, let the Canadian Abilities Foundation hear your story. Be recognized for the culture you are creating at your workplace and know that you are setting an example for other organizations that still need to rise to the challenge.

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Pump It Up For Optimal Performance!

It is well known that there are both physical and mental health benefits to regular fitness and exercise. But is your employer recognizing this as a way to improve on-the-job performance? Studies show that regular exercise can boost brain power and make you more productive. There are easy ways to integrate this into a regular day without the need for an onsite gym or class, including:

  • Walking meetings
  • Encourage movement in the office throughout the day
  • Assessing workstations to ensure employees who must sit throughout the day are doing so properly, and have sit / stand options.
  • Encourage exercise with the use of wearable devices that monitor activity
  • Provide incentives for employees to get fit
  • Make sure those in leadership positons model healthy behaviours

While many workplaces have integrated wellness and fitness programs into their workplace culture, there is always room to improve. Check out the following article from the Harvard Business Review on how exercise should be a regular part of every job!

The Harvard Business Review:  Regular Exercise Is Part of Your Job

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Test The Psychological Health of Your Company

It’s Healthy Workplace Month in Canada and our focus this month is on improving health and wellness in the workplace. The following article from Psychology Today discusses the top questions to ask when assessing the psychological health of your workplace. However, in addition to these, we feel a few others are also pertinent:

1. Does my workplace offer programs or benefits that show me that they value my physical and mental health?

2. Do I have opportunities to move around during the day, to be active, or to modify my workstation to allow me to be physically healthy at work?

3. Do my supervisors model a healthy lifestyle and healthy work behaviors?

4. Do I have people at my work I can go to who will listen to my physical or emotional concerns and who will help me to get the help I need?

What would you add to this list of questions to test the psychological wellness of your place of work?

Psychology Today:  How Psychologically Healthy Is Your Workplace?

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How Will You Create Change This Healthy Workplace Month?

Workplace health is becoming an increasing concern among companies large and small across the globe. With absenteeism and presenteeism on the rise and costing the economy billions each year, it is time to focus on change. October is Healthy Workplace Month in Canada and across the country companies are making a commitment to create a healthier place to work. It is a great time to come together as a team to discuss, share ideas, and plan for how your company can make a difference in the lives of its employees. The following from Vancouver 24 Hours shares ways to celebrate Healthy Workplace Month as a team to create a better culture and inspire healthier lifestyles at work.

Vancouver 24 Hours:  Workplace Health Needs Team Effort

Check out more of our articles on creating a healthier workplace and tell us:  how is your company taking part this Healthy Workplace Month?

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How to Conquer “Sitting Disease”

The negative health effects of sitting for extended periods of time, coined as “sitting disease” has been a hot topic recently. Studies show that sitting for extended periods of time, as many of us do at work, while commuting, and even while watching television or reading, can lead to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and a decreased lifespan. But while we need to work, commute, and enjoy our down time, how do we combat these negative effects? Here are our top 5 tips to conquer sitting disease:

1. Take Regular Breaks: Taking a regular break can help boost productivity, reduce stress and benefit your physical health. Once an hour make sure you stand up, walk around the office, stretch or do some simple exercises like squats or lunges.

2. Stand While You Work: Standing workstations are becoming an increasingly popular choice in offices across the globe. These workstations allow you to adjust your desk from sitting to standing so you can have both options during the day.

3. Switch Your Seat: If you must sit while working, think about changing your seating options! From exercise ball chairs to desks with pedals, there are many options to help you increase your health while sitting.

4. Perfect Your Posture: While you are seated ensure you are not slouching, leaning or bending over to access your workspace. Sitting up straight and ensuring proper posture will go a long way for your physical health!

5. Make it a Mobile Meeting: If you’re meeting with a colleague see if you can have your meeting on the go. Take a walk around the block while you discuss or walk to your favourite coffee shop where you can continue your discussions there.

Check out the following article from The Guardian for more information on “Sitting Disease” and be sure to speak with your employer or an occupational therapist about ways your workspace can be accommodated.

The Guardian:  Is Sitting Down Bad for my Health?