Tag: employee health

cost

It’s Time for Employers to Rethink the 9-5

Imagine you had two extra hours today to spend however you pleased. What would you do with that time? Play with your kids? Work out at the gym? Sleep? For many of the nurses in a recent Swedish study, the answer was all of the above. The 23-month experiment followed 68 nurses who were divided […]

Wellness programs

Employers Left in Wellness-Plan Limbo

In recent years, more and more employers have implemented wellness programs—employee participation programs that may include wellness education, health or fitness challenges, and even limited medical testing and preventive care requirements—to promote and encourage employee health and wellbeing. Through these programs, they hope to create a healthier workforce and reduce insurance costs.

Taking the sting out of Zika: what employers need to know

by Lisa Berg On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency associated with the spread of Zika virus, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began advising pregnant women or those considering becoming pregnant to avoid travel to places with Zika outbreaks. To date, more than a […]

New voluntary standards for psychological health in the workplace

By Marc Rodrigue Increasing public attention has been given to mental health awareness. And Canadian employers are not exempt. Today’s employers have many employees who are affected by, directly or indirectly, psychological illness or are at risk of psychological hazards on the job. Sometimes these hazards can create human resources challenges, including extended employee absences […]

It’s time for flu season safeguards in the workplace

by Tammy Binford The headlines are alarming. A virulent flu strain is striking in at least some parts of the country earlier than usual, possibly signaling a rougher-than-normal flu season. Employers who ignore the flu threat risk turning their workplaces into a flu-fueled fever frenzy that gets worse throughout the winter and into spring. A […]

Can I Get a Second Opinion on Worker’s Readiness to Return from FMLA Leave?

by Steve Jones Q: Can an employer send an employee who is returning from Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave to a company-appointed physician for a second opinion to verify that he is able to perform the essential functions of his job? A: No. The FMLA doesn’t permit an employer to request a second […]