Well, here we go again. Isn’t it time again for us to try and tighten our belts? No, I don’t mean financially. I mean literally TRY AND TIGHTEN OUR BELTS.
Right about now, we are starting to become aware of just how ful-FILLING the holidays have been. And so we begin to feel bad, take a [...]
Continue reading about New Years’ Resolutions and Wellness-Here We Go Again!
Well, its the end of another year and another decade so its this time of year when everyone waxes sentimental sharing some kind of “top 10″ list or holiday list. Well, now its my turn but with a twist. 2010 will begin my 3rd decade in the working world, most of which has been in the counseling, [...]
Continue reading about Another Decade! Are Things Really Different?
Sarah Needleman wrote a great blog post for the Wall Street Journal recently called, “Better Paydays Ahead.” It’s a frank, investigative look at how employee compensation has been changed – probably for a long time – by the economic crisis.
The majority of the experts and research she cites point to modest pay raises in 2010, [...]
Continue reading about Raises Expected in 2010; Are There Other Ways to Reward Employees?
In my last post from the EAPA 2009 conference, I highlighted data shared by Dr. Dan Conti, managing director of employee assistance & work life programs at JP Morgan Chase. It really pointed to the impact of behavioral health in the workplace.
I do realize that this is not an easy topic to talk about. It [...]
Continue reading about EAPA 2009 Highlights – EAP in Difficult Times (The Rest of the Story)
Towers Perrin released its latest Health Care Cost Survey today and the news is about as pleasant as a heart attack: U.S. employers will see a 7% increase in medical benefit expenditures in 2010 and the average annual per-employee spend will exceed $10,000.
In short, with business profits down and many employees facing reduced family incomes, [...]
Continue reading about The Latest Skinny on Healthcare Costs: Prepare to Work Your Tail Off
Americans are eating a lot of junk these days. Unfortunately, it’s impacting business as much as beltlines.
To quote the Wall Street Journal’s “The Fat of the Land” column, which points out that 30% of American adults are currently obese, “a fatter and sicker workforce is a drag on economic growth. In effect, we’re eating money.”
Its [...]
Continue reading about Don’t Let Obesity Eat Your Business: Step-Up Wellness to Cut Down Costs
Msnbc.com’s John W. Schoen wrote a great piece this week about the recent surge in U.S. business productivity corresponding with a drop in labor costs (“Americans working much harder – for less pay.”) The explanation is that fewer employees are carrying more of the workload at reduced salaries.
The news, which is likely to appeal to [...]
Continue reading about Employees Working Harder for Less: Work/Life Services Can Help Compensate
It is unclear how the current healthcare debate, and numerous healthcare bills circulating through Congress, will pan out. But one idea definitely gets my vote: tax credits for businesses that offer wellness programs.
According to Reuters (“Healthcare reform could impact wellness programs”), two-thirds of large U.S. companies already offer wellness programs to lower healthcare costs, reduce [...]
Continue reading about Healthcare Reform: Getting (Tax) Credit for Wellness Programs
Yesterday was a great day at SHRM. First of all, New Orleans is a great city and it is great to feel a part of contributing to the re-building of the city by being at this conference and giving money to the local economy. The food is great and the people are too.
Just a couple [...]
We know for a fact that the cost of indirect medical expenditures from smoking exceeds $92 billion a year in this country. We also have data indicating that smokers cost businesses productivity because smokers are simply not as efficient in any workforce as non-smokers. So when new technologies like the sexy “e-cig,” a sleek electronic [...]
Continue reading about Is Your Bottom Line Getting Smoked? The E-Cig Is Not the Latest “Cessation”
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