Work / Life Issues

The truth about employee wellness … and 7 ways to get workers to take it seriously

07/12/2010

Want your employees to take more responsibility for improving and protecting their health? Examine how you communicate with them about their benefits, says a new report from the Midwest Business Group on Health. Here are seven major findings from its new research, along with tips on using the information to trigger employee participation in wellness programs:

Sitter service is day care alternative

06/30/2010

With 1,500 employees at its Chicago headquarters, advertising firm Leo Burnett isn’t quite large enough for an on-site day care center for employees’ children, says HR Manager Meredith Reinker. So it signed up for an online service that matches parents with local nannies and baby sitters. Sittercity.com also lists elder caregivers, pet sitters, tutors and housekeepers.

Recession bloats waistlines as well as unemployment rolls

06/08/2010

The combination of work stress and economic pressures appears to be playing a role in the U.S. labor force’s weight gain. Overall, 44% of workers say they have gained weight in their current jobs, up slightly from 43% in 2009, according to a new survey.

Are milk expression breaks mandatory?

05/17/2010

Q. I know a number of states already have laws that require employers to provide unpaid breaks to nursing mothers to express breast milk. Are there any federal laws providing for similar requirements?

Got Milk? Understand the Link Between Federal & State Breastfeeding Laws

05/13/2010

As you may have heard by now, the new health reform law includes a provision to protect nursing mothers who choose to pump breast milk at work. But it’s important to realize that 24 states still have their own laws on this topic. And you must follow whichever law—fed or state—gives the greatest protection to the employee.

What must we do to accommodate a nursing mother in our workplace?

05/11/2010

Q. One of our employees just returned from maternity leave and is now requesting that we accommodate her need to pump breast milk during the workday. Do we have to make this accommodation?

Take a hike: Tomorrow is National Walk @ Lunch Day

04/27/2010

Get ready to trade working lunches for walking lunches. On April 28, employees at thousands of companies will take part in “National Walk @ Lunch Day.” It’s not too late to organize your own lunchtime trek—we’ve got links to the planning tools you need.

12 simple ways to boost your wellness program’s effectiveness

04/09/2010

One side effect of the recession: Cash-strapped employees are eating more processed and fast foods and exercising less, studies show. All the more reason for employers to maintain or even expand funding for employee wellness programs. As your organization watches every dollar it spends on benefits, consider the latest research on what’s working when it comes to employer wellness programs.

‘Babies-at-work’ benefits answer a crying need

04/06/2010

Even as the economy forces some organizations to cut benefits, it’s prompting others to add one: allowing parents to bring their babies to work. In just two years, the number of organizations with a babies-at-work benefit has more than doubled. The key, experts say, is to set up formal policies to guide moms and managers alike. Here’s how one company does it.

Be careful! Caregiver discrimination claims are on the rise

03/11/2010

In recent years, employees have begun filing more and more “caregiver” or “family responsibility” discrimination lawsuits. No federal or Minnesota law specifically addresses discrimination against caregivers. However, treating employees with caregiving responsibilities differently than other employees may violate various employment laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADA, the FMLA and the Minnesota Human Rights Act.