Tag Archives: health

The Economies Effect on Healthcare

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With the economy causing families across the country to cut costs, one of the most common sacrifices being made is preventive care and a healthy lifestyle.  Statistics show that during recessions Americans tend to eat more unhealthy, cheap fast food, and exercise less.  A recent report released by Nursing Times looks at all the studies done on health during a recession and draws the following conclusion:

“The evidence from studies looking at the closure of factories is that everybody who lost their job saw their health go down regardless of how healthy they were to start with.  The mere threats of unemployment and its twin evil homelessness damage health. ‘It seems to be to do with stress which, we know, has numerous physiological consequences on the cardiovascular system and the immune system,’ says Professor Wilkinson. ‘Sometimes people liken it to rapid ageing’…the weight of evidence from studies in Japan, the US and Europe shows mortality and morbidity rise in hard times, especially for those who lose their jobs.”

As a result of these trends, employers are starting to focus in on programs that will help to reduce costs in this area.  Implementing  a program however is just the beginning.  In order for a wellness program to truly reach it potential in savings for both the employee and employer there must be adequate marketing and follow-up.  Here are some tips from the Wellness Council of America that will help you to maximize benefits:

1. Regularly tracking participation.

2. Monitoring participant satisfaction.

3. Documenting improvements in knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors.

4. Assessing changes in biometric measures (e.g., body weight, strength, flexibility,
cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc.).

5. Assessing and monitoring the health status of “at-risk” employees.

6. Measuring changes in both the physical and cultural environment (e.g., policies,
benefits, working conditions, etc.).

7. Monitoring the impact of wellness on key productivity indicators (e.g.,
absenteeism, turnover, morale, etc.).

8. Analyzing cost effectiveness, cost savings, and return on investment.

You can access the entire eight page checklist as well as other resources to help in developing and increasing your wellness program in an effective way log in to your HRSentry account and search for “wellness programs”.

PANDEMIC FLU – WORKPLACE GUIDANCE

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In response to a possible pandemic flu outbreak, we are adding critical resources to HR Made Simple to assist and guide you and your organization.  In the event of a pandemic, organizations will play a key role in protecting employees health and safety.  Here is an important resource available immediately:

Workplace Guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor – How Employers Can Protect Their Employees, Steps Employers Can Take To Reduce the Risk of Exposure, and more.   http://www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html

As always, we will be adding key resources to HR Made Simple as they become available to keep you current on information you need to protect your employees’ health and safety.  To access these resources login to your HR Made Simple account, to learn more about the services offered through HRSentry, visit our products and services page.

Avoid OSHA Fines: stay compliant

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The Society for Human Resource Management reports that each year OSHA conducts 35,000 to 45,000 job site inspections. It is important to be prepared for such an inspection at all times as well as update policies and procedures regularly.

Who is Covered:

In general, the Act covers all employers and their employees in the 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories. Coverage is provided either directly
by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or by an
OSHA-approved state job safety and health plan. Employees of the U.S. Postal Service
also are covered.

The Act defines an employer as any “person engaged in a business affecting commerce
who has employees, but does not include the United States or any state or political
subdivision of a State.” Therefore, the Act applies to employers and employees in such
varied fields as manufacturing, construction, longshoring, agriculture, law and medicine,
charity and disaster relief, organized labor and private education.

The Act does not cover:

  • Self-employed persons;
  • Farms which employ only immediate members of the farmer’s family;
  • Industries in which other federal agencies, operating under the authority of other federal laws, regulate working conditions. This category includes most working conditions in mining, nuclear energy and nuclear weapons manufacture, and many aspects of the transportation industries;
  • Employees of state and local governments, unless they are in one of the states with OSHA-approved safety and health plans.

During OSHA inspections all employees are subject to review, as such it is necessary to instruct everyone on the required policies and procedures. Providing written instructions in easily accessible places is also important. More information on OSHA requirements can be found at the Department of Labor website. To access more information on these and other HR related issues, join HRSentry.

Two Upcoming Webinars

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HRSentry is pleased to announce two upcoming webinars in the next few weeks. On April 30th at 11:00 a.m. there will be a webinar for Vermont Chamber of Commerce members on the HR Made Simple service. This half-hour program describes how with a virtual HR Department you can save time, manage risk, lower your cost of not having to support a full-time HR Department, and focus on what you do best. Be the first 25 to register and receive a complimentary two-month subscription to HR Made Simple, register now!

The second webinar, open to the public, will be focused on the three major leave laws. Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Workers Compensation. Presented by Brenda Sabin, it will cover the specifics of each law, compare the regulations for each, and review how they interact using specific examples. Keep checking back for information on how to register for this event, I will be posting more information in the next few days as it becomes available.