Pets in the Workplace: Chaos or Calm?
There is still much uncertainty about a return to the workplace, what it will look like and how it will work. Will it be full-time or part-time? Is it safe? How long will it last? Will there be another lockdown? In the midst of this crazy ol’ world we live in right now, perhaps the need to focus on workplace wellness is more important than ever. So what can employers do to reassure their employees and create an inviting work environment? Maybe having pets in the office is an idea worth entertaining. Studies have shown that having animals around can be beneficial from a health and wellness perspective and this holds true for the workplace as well. Bringing a pet to the office can boost employee morale, reduce stress, improve job satisfaction, enhance team-building and even promote physical activity. ‘Bring your pet to work’ is not a new concept. Businesses […]
Back To Work?
It’s the dog days of summer, Labour Day is fast approaching. That means cooler weather is on its way and with it comes new challenges as we try to find our footing in a post-pandemic world. Virtually every business has been affected by the lockdown and safety precautions that COVID-19 has necessitated, whether it was lay-offs, working from home, providing essential services, operating with a skeleton staff or finding innovative ways to provide goods and services. The full impact of COVID-19 is yet to be realized but we do know that it has taken a toll on our economy, our lifestyles, our livelihood and our mental health. It’s undeniable, COVID-19 has changed us, at work, rest and play. It has changed the way we do business, the way we interact, the way we travel, the way we shop, the way we entertain ourselves and the way we receive healthcare. Some […]
Hand Hygiene: Help vs Harm
Whether you sing the Alphabet Song, Happy Birthday, Stayin’ Alive, count slowly to 20 or use a timer, we all know the drill by now – washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. While this seems like a simple solution to a complex situation, frequent hand washing and excessive use of hand sanitizers can pose a serious health hazard. The outermost layer of our skin is composed of oils and wax, and it acts as both a shield from the outside and a guard that maintains natural moisture in the skin. Soaps, no matter how mild, and hand sanitizers do not discriminate between unwanted oil, germs, debris and natural oils in the skin and if this natural barrier is broken down, the skin can become dry, red, itchy and […]
Bullying & Harassment: Is it an Acceptable WCB Stress?
While there was a time when the stress of your job did not constitute the basis of an acceptable workers’ compensation claim, the times they are changing, or so it may seem. With the emergence of campaigns like anti-bullying, #MeToo, and #BellLetsTalk (coming up later this month on January 29th), discussions around mental health issues and their impact on how we live has become more prevalent. Issues like bullying (including cyber-bullying), harassment and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being more widely recognized, acknowledged and accepted in a work-related context. Although ‘stress’ is not a medically accepted diagnostic term, mental stress is commonly used to describe a person’s non-specific physical and psychological response to the events or changes that occur in his or her life. These events are known as stressors and stressors are a normal part of life. If a person’s ability to cope with stressors is overwhelmed; distress, a […]
The Beat Goes On: February is Heart Health Month
February 14th is Valentine’s Day which is associated with hearts, no wonder February has been adopted as Heart Month. We all know that heart health is important and we can all probably recite the facts by heart: Cardiovascular disease is the 2nd leading cause of death in Canada, Men are more likely to die of a heart attack than women, One in 12 Canadians over the age of 20 live with diagnosed heart disease, High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are contributing risk factors, A healthier lifestyle can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease Healthy lifestyle habits include: Eating better Getting more exercise Quitting smoking Limiting alcohol consumption Maintaining a healthy weight Reducing stress As repetitious and tedious as this may seem, the reality is that every one of us will likely be affected by cardiovascular disease, either directly or indirectly, at some point in our lives and the […]