Holistic Employee Assistance Is Good for the Bottom Line

Naturopathic association gets behind the source of stressWe spend a large part of our lives at work. We make friends, network with colleagues and plan our retirement years based on our active lives in the workplace. But for all the time we spend at work, how healthy is the work climate? The answer to this question has become the focus for a growing number of companies that provide employee assistance programs. Everyone has experienced a cold or flu, which was “going around the office”, or had allergic reactions to cleaning fluids or strong perfumes in the workplace. Some jobs require physical endurance and may have a high risk of accidents. Regardless of our job descriptions, we cope with deadlines, routines that can be repetitive, and environments which we can’t control. The result can be a great deal of stress that can leave us vulnerable to whatever is “going around the office.” Employers are now beginning to realize the interconnection between work and mental and physical health. How we juggle our family lives with work pressures, workplace stress and our ability to achieve excellence have become a focus of human resources professionals. The concept is not whether we are sick or well. It is the environment we work in and the impact of that environment on our lives, our attitudes at work and how we can cope with stress and job- or family-related pressures. Employers are also beginning to connect this to productivity. Seventy-five per cent of employees would like to see holistic health as part of their working relationship and 85 per cent of those polled believe that holistic health reduces employee assistance costs. One company that didn’t need an opinion poll to introduce this idea to its employees is Husky Injection Moldings. Husky employs 1,400 people at its plant in Bolton, Ontario. It has an employee assistance team of eight healthcare professionals, including both a medical and naturopathic doctor (ND). The employee assistance program includes consultations with the ND and health educational programs such as information fairs. The program manager calls the inclusion of naturopathic treatments the “Cadillac” of the program. Representatives of Husky say naturopathic doctors are the key to prevention and employee education. The Husky example is just one of the ways to address the myriad of workplace well-being issues. Some issues in the workplace that negatively affect our health are easy to resolve. For example, many people spend most of their workday in front of a computer screen. More often than not, the screen we look at is higher or lower than our neck and head. This can cause us to adopt an awkward posture which, over long periods, can compromise health. By simply raising or lowering the screen we can help correct our posture. How we handle stress in the workplace is much more complex. These stresses include coping with environmental sensitivities such as dust or mold (statistics show that multiple chemical sensitivity affects about 15 per cent of the population), air quality in sealed office buildings or industrial work sites, fluorescent lighting and the effects of seasonal affective disorder, and communication with coworkers, to name just a few. The British Columbia Naturopathic Association (BCNA) recently created a profile of the working environment and strategies to deal with it. Their employee assistance strategy is seminars for staff and management, interactive workshops, and educational materials. The BCNA also offers seminars that include fitness testing, basic health check-ups, blood typing and other areas of health. The Association conducted stress management workshops for staff at Canada Trust for the first time. This involved an interactive seminar with a ND who addressed the mind/body connection of stress, nutritional tips on helping our bodies naturally cope with stress, as well as simple exercises and activities that reduce stress. Canada Trust has also held natural health fairs and various workshops for its employees. Human Resources Manager Olivia McIvor notes that Canada Trust’s goal is to promote health and well-being in general. Is a holistic attitude towards health too “new age” for some employee assistance plans? Sure–some people can’t see the connection between stress at home and anxiety in the office. Some people have never taken the time to stop, focus and address what they do, how they do it. They don’t look for ways and means to integrate mind, body and spirit in the workplace and in their private lives. But high profile companies, such as Royal Bank, KPMG, Aetna and others are taking the lead and offering their employees an opportunity to discover well being through a variety of complementary modalities. Yet even if employers offer this type of employee assistance for their staff, is there any staff benefit? Absolutely. Canada Trust has seen a 17 per cent decline in stress among those enrolled in its 18-month-old program. Telus, another company making similar programs available to its staff, has shown a 28-per-cent lower absentee rate among employees. As McIvor notes, providing access to alternative practices can help staff strike a better mental, physical and emotional balance. Companies such as Telus, the Royal Bank and Husky are achieving that balance, while at the same time seeing the “bottom line” improve. Employee assistance that monitors health improvements and cuts costs for business is crucial to this new emphasis on holistic health. Make sure your employee assistance program achieves a healthy balance, while at the same time giving employers a measure of success.

Top Tips for avoiding bad breath….

After reading all about how to have fresher breath you might now want to know just what you can do to make sure that your breath is the freshest it can be at all times. There is no substitute for speaking directly to your dentist to enlist their help with this problem. There are lots of things that you can do at home yourself to get the process started. Why not try some of these top tips as recommended by Edinburgh Dentist John Booth. Starting with the obvious…. well we have to really! 1. Daily brushing + flossing of all teeth thoroughly. 2. Mouthwashes - take advice from your dental team as to the most appropriate one 3. Regular dental check ups - untreated decay and gum disease both cause halitosis. 4. Drink plenty of water throughout he day- dehydration can cause halitosis particularly from heat in the workplace, stress or jobs where you have to talk a lot. 5. Cut down on coffee and Alcohol, turn the radiator down, if you have to talk a lot take regular sips of water in between and tell your boss that you need to do less work on your dentist%26rsquo;s advice (well it%26rsquo;s worth a try anyway). 6. Use a tongue scraper once per day- you need to really go for the furry bits at the back of your tongue to be effective with this. 7. A Heath Robinson tongue scraper comes in the form of a bent spoon just make sure your work colleagues don’t go making tea with it later! (Yuk!) Alternatively specifically designed tongue scrapers are available. Remember this tip is only applicable to adults or children with direct parental supervision 8. Avoid alcohol based mouthwashes and breath freshening sprays, although they make your mouth feel fresh at the time they will actually just dry your mouth more after an hour or so. They do not treat the problem only mask it temporarily. 9. If you have persistent bad breath that does not respond to the tips here seek professional advice from the dentist, hygienist or your doctor.

Ageing is an irreversible process or so we know it to be. It is the result of mixed issues. Our genetic programming is such that tissues lose binding capacity, bones and muscles lose their sheen with time. Environment also has a deep impact on how we fare. Pollution levels, workplace stress, and myriad other factors let loose a series of mishaps which fastens the fall of age in us. Age begins to show in our psychological, social, and physical shortcomings. It also manifests itself in our appearance. Our face gets sagged; our dark circles get pronounced, eyelids droop, and numerous wrinkles arrive on the landscape of face. Let’s first understand what wrinkles are. Wrinkles are the result of natural process of ageing of the human body or continuous exposure to sun. Much of the crow feet, clean lines and ridges are the consequence of contractions caused in the facial muscles which pull on the dermis. Wrinkles happen due to the tightening of muscles, which causes skin to sag out. People try various surgeries and different methods of chemical peeling. Few surgeries are also based on the implementation of laser rays to relax the face muscles. All have their benefits when utilized in the right way. Anti wrinkles cream generally work along the lines of relaxing face muscles to make the skin flat. This makes the skin firmer. Also lessening the contraction of muscles results in lesser neurotransmitters stretching the skin, this gives the face a wrinkle-free look. There can be various ingredients which go into the process of abating wrinkles. Few function on the action of peptides on face muscles while others contain Argireline, Avocado oil, Propylene Glycol and so on. The ingredients might be different; the result sought is the same. Avotone Anti Wrinkle Cream is one such cream which is trying to avoid formation of wrinkles in a scientific way. It uses advanced peptides to penetrate the face muscles and relax it. Such expansion, as earlier discussed, helps in boosting the deceleration of wrinkles. It can be availed without doctor’s prescription in the market. It claims to change the stretch, depth, coverage area and coarse texture of pre-existing wrinkles in lessthan a month. They come in three 1 oz jars of Avotone cream. Avotone can be applied anywhere on the face and the neck. Generally the most required places are fine lines between the eyebrows and squint lines at the nook of the eyes; these lines resemble the crow feet and are formed typically at the extreme sides of both the eye. The impression of these lines is aggravated if the eyes get squeezed due to some kind of a photophobia. Then obviously the horizontal lines are present on the foreheads which need greater application. Avatone uses Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, and avocado oil for the task of skin sheltering. Avocado oil contains Lecithin, which being natural anti-oxidant protects the face from losing water. It also has vitamin D which enables reproduction of new cells and replenishment of old ones. Skin Store- http://www.exit15.com/childrens-store-c-110.html is a viable idea to help fight aging and wrinkle using needed nutrients to help the body replenish lost cells. To get more on Avotone Anti Wrinkle Cream - 3 pack, please visit http://www.exit15.com/avotone-anti-wrinkle-cream-pack-p-655.html.

Erectile dysfunction in men does not necessarily mean that, physically, you have an impairment as erectile dysfunction can also be affected psychologically such as environmental and personal stresses within your home and workplace. Stress can dampen a man %26#39;s spirit. If he does not know how to control his reaction with stress and allows it to go unresolved, he can go into depression. Depression then, when left unrecognized, can affect how a man functions sexually. There are other psychological causes of erectile dysfunction or impotence such as anxieties, low self esteem and insecurities. Even sexual boredom and lack of intimacy within a relationship can cause erectile dysfunction in men. But if psychological factors are the cause of your erectile dysfunction, then the higher chance you have of curing your erectile dysfunction with the power of mind over matter. I know it sounds ridiculous and difficult, but with time and mastery of some techniques I will discuss below, you can put the zing back into your relationship and beat impotence.Psychosexual therapy has been used by many couples, and they found it satisfying. They consult with a psychiatrist who teaches them new techniques and exercises geared towards making their sex life more satisfying. Psychosexual therapy helps couples bring intimacy back into the relationship, thus, increasing their sexual interests and arousal. Talking and discussing the problem can help the couples understand it better, and they can identify the stresses and anxieties that cause his erectile dysfunction. With these out in the open, they can begin removing the stress out of their relationship and do activities that will help them keep these out in the future.Behavior modification is also a good technique of curing erectile dysfunction. If a man is suffering a low self esteem, chances are that his outlook of himself is down. With behavior modification, the man can learn techniques on how to look at himself in a positive way and react to himself in a positive way. After he mastered this, he and his partner will see improvement of performance in bed. Although this technique takes a much longer period of time to master, its benefits are wide because not only does it help men with their erectile dysfunction but it also improves their characters. Here are some tips to do behavior modification on your own.* Assess how you feel about yourself, your personal and social situation and your work situation. You also have to know how you feel about your partner.* Talking about these things with your partner is advisable because you can share each others’ concerns and learn from each other. It is imperative that both of you speak honestly about things and what you want in your relationship as it is necessary for the two of you to come up with a solution that would best suit you both.* A healthier life is a way to a healthier mind. It is necessary for you to become aware of the need for exercise and right choices of food as lack of exercise and high cholesterol can affect erectile function.If you are finding this to be extremely difficult then it is wise to consult with a professional therapist.

Naturopathic association gets behind the source of stress

We spend a large part of our lives at work. We make friends, network with colleagues and plan our retirement years based on our active lives in the workplace. But for all the time we spend at work, how healthy is the work climate? The answer to this question has become the focus for a growing number of companies that provide employee assistance programs.

Everyone has experienced a cold or flu, which was “going around the office”, or had allergic reactions to cleaning fluids or strong perfumes in the workplace. Some jobs require physical endurance and may have a high risk of accidents. Regardless of our job descriptions, we cope with deadlines, routines that can be repetitive, and environments which we can’t control. The result can be a great deal of stress that can leave us vulnerable to whatever is “going around the office.”

Employers are now beginning to realize the interconnection between work and mental and physical health. How we juggle our family lives with work pressures, workplace stress and our ability to achieve excellence have become a focus of human resources professionals. The concept is not whether we are sick or well. It is the environment we work in and the impact of that environment on our lives, our attitudes at work and how we can cope with stress and job- or family-related pressures.

Employers are also beginning to connect this to productivity. Seventy-five per cent of employees would like to see holistic health as part of their working relationship and 85 per cent of those polled believe that holistic health reduces employee assistance costs.

One company that didn’t need an opinion poll to introduce this idea to its employees is Husky Injection Moldings. Husky employs 1,400 people at its plant in Bolton, Ontario. It has an employee assistance team of eight healthcare professionals, including both a medical and naturopathic doctor (ND). The employee assistance program includes consultations with the ND and health educational programs such as information fairs. The program manager calls the inclusion of naturopathic treatments the “Cadillac” of the program. Representatives of Husky say naturopathic doctors are the key to prevention and employee education. The Husky example is just one of the ways to address the myriad of workplace well-being issues.

Some issues in the workplace that negatively affect our health are easy to resolve. For example, many people spend most of their workday in front of a computer screen. More often than not, the screen we look at is higher or lower than our neck and head. This can cause us to adopt an awkward posture which, over long periods, can compromise health. By simply raising or lowering the screen we can help correct our posture.

How we handle stress in the workplace is much more complex. These stresses include coping with environmental sensitivities such as dust or mold (statistics show that multiple chemical sensitivity affects about 15 per cent of the population), air quality in sealed office buildings or industrial work sites, fluorescent lighting and the effects of seasonal affective disorder, and communication with coworkers, to name just a few.

The British Columbia Naturopathic Association (BCNA) recently created a profile of the working environment and strategies to deal with it. Their employee assistance strategy is seminars for staff and management, interactive workshops, and educational materials. The BCNA also offers seminars that include fitness testing, basic health check-ups, blood typing and other areas of health.

The Association conducted stress management workshops for staff at Canada Trust for the first time. This involved an interactive seminar with a ND who addressed the mind/body connection of stress, nutritional tips on helping our bodies naturally cope with stress, as well as simple exercises and activities that reduce stress.
Canada Trust has also held natural health fairs and various workshops for its employees. Human Resources Manager Olivia McIvor notes that Canada Trust’s goal is to promote health and well-being in general.

Is a holistic attitude towards health too “new age” for some employee assistance plans? Sure–some people can’t see the connection between stress at home and anxiety in the office. Some people have never taken the time to stop, focus and address what they do, how they do it. They don’t look for ways and means to integrate mind, body and spirit in the workplace and in their private lives. But high profile companies, such as Royal Bank, KPMG, Aetna and others are taking the lead and offering their employees an opportunity to discover well being through a variety of complementary modalities.

Yet even if employers offer this type of employee assistance for their staff, is there any staff benefit? Absolutely. Canada Trust has seen a 17 per cent decline in stress among those enrolled in its 18-month-old program. Telus, another company making similar programs available to its staff, has shown a 28-per-cent lower absentee rate among employees. As McIvor notes, providing access to alternative practices can help staff strike a better mental, physical and emotional balance.

Companies such as Telus, the Royal Bank and Husky are achieving that balance, while at the same time seeing the “bottom line” improve. Employee assistance that monitors health improvements and cuts costs for business is crucial to this new emphasis on holistic health. Make sure your employee assistance program achieves a healthy balance, while at the same time giving employers a measure of success.

Exan Wellness, Inc. provides employee assistance, wellness tracker programs, employee health programs, employee wellness programs, stop diabetes programs since 1991. Please visit official website www.exanwellness.com

As any human resource executive can tell you, frustration and office temper tantrums by employees are not unusual, but two new studies indicate that incivilities in the workplace appear to be increasing. Termed “desk rage,” by one survey, it includes arguments between employees, pen throwing managers and workers kicking expensive computer equipment in fits of aggravation.

In a telephone survey commissioned by Integra Realty Resources, Inc, nearly one-third of 1,305 workers who responded admitted to yelling at someone in the office, and 65% said workplace stress is at least occasionally a problem for them. Work stress had driven 23% of the respondents to tears, and 34% blamed their jobs for a loss of sleep.

In a separate study published in the quarterly journal Organizational Dynamics, it was found that workers who experienced rude behavior at work had reactions that were negative for business. Nearly one-third of them admitted intentionally decreasing their commitment to the company, with a quarter indicating that they stopped doing their best. Almost 12% of the rudeness recipients quit their jobs to search for friendlier environments.

Workplace stress is not new, but many experts and workers feel that it is at epidemic levels. Several economic and social trends have escalated tensions or at least made employees more sensitized to stress. Years of layoffs and downsizing have left a lingering sense of job insecurity for many workers while demands for productivity have increased.

At the same time, the nature of the American workforce has changed. It is more diverse, includes more women, and multiple generations, which can exacerbate on-the-job tensions. There is a sense that the technology that was suppose to make jobs easier, from cell phones to e-mails, have turned into high-tech leases. Referred to as “technology tethers” by C. Leslie Charles in her book, Why Is Everyone So Cranky? She feels American workers are overwhelmed, overworked, overscheduled and overspent.

“We’re leading these non-stop lives, and we’re continuing to accelerate the pace,” according to Charles. “We are so preoccupied with what we’re doing and what’s next that we have an inability to process what’s just happened or what’s bugging us.”

Charles recommends the following tools to de-stress your work life:

• Fortify your “emotional immune system (EIS)” When exposed to “crankiness,” stop and quantify the problem and put it in perspective. Is this a small, medium or large annoyance? Or something more serious? How large of a response is required? Make your reaction match the size of the problem.

• Take a “Reality Bite.” Expecting, waiting and hoping for things to be different in our lives only increases our susceptibility for crankiness. Expect some parts of life to be frustrating; you will wait in lines that are too long, people will do things that irritate you, and you will encounter inconvenience more days than not. Accept this reality. Let it roll off your back and smile. It may not change what is happening, but you will feel better.

• Take time out for a Personal Battery Recharge. What do you really enjoy doing? When was the last time you did it? Take the time to recharge. Whether a game of golf, a walk with your spouse or reading a book, take the time for renewal as often as possible.