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News
People who work for 11 hours or longer each day are more than twice as likely to suffer from major depression, compared with those working a standard eight-hour day, reports The Independent. A six-year study of over 2,000 middle-aged civil servants established the link between regular overtime and depression - even after factoring risks associated with lifestyle, physical health and alcohol intake. The study found that people working long hours were more likely to be men, married or cohabiting, and from higher occupational grades than employees working standard hours. "Although occasionally working overtime may have benefits for the individual and society, it is important to recognise that working excessive hours is also associated with an increased risk of major depression," said the study's lead author Marianna Virtanen. Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, said, "Making employees work excessive hours is a false economy, as not only are tired, unhappy workers less productive, but they risk developing mental health issues that if handled badly, can be costly to businesses. When people get work-related depression, employers need to move away from seeing this as a sign of weakness, and realise it might also be a sign of something wrong with the workplace."
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The tradition of "chucking a sickie" is well and truly woven into the fabric of Australian culture, but that may not necessarily be as bad as we think, reports WA Today. While the NSW Business Chamber issued a press release prior to Australia Day warning of the productivity dangers of unplanned absences, economics writer Jessica Irvine argues that the risks may be overblown. ''At a time when productivity and the economy are under the spotlight," wrote chamber chief, Stephen Cartwright, "employees should consider whether taking the easy way out is a wise long-term decision." Data from the 2001 National Drug Strategy Household survey warned that the cost of alcohol-related work absence was as high as $1.2 billion. However, Irvine dispells a common misconception surrounding productivity. "Productivity is not about how much you produce, but how much you produce relative to what you put in," writes Irvine. "Because productivity is defined as output per hour worked, workers chucking sickies and not working at all, does not affect the nation's productivity. Indeed, turning up to work and producing at below your usual capacity is the real productivity concern." This act - presenteeism - has been calculated by Econtech to cost our economy $26 billion per year.
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According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, 40 per cent of US workers report their job as being very or extremely stressful, CNBC reports. New data from CareerCast has ranked the 10 most stressful jobs in the US. The most stressful jobs were: 10) taxi driver; 9) photojournalist; 8) senior corporate executive; 7) public relations executive; 6) event coordinator; 5) police officer; 4) military general; 3) airline pilot; 2) firefighter; and 1) enlisted military soldier. "Not all jobs are created equal when it comes to stress levels," said CareerCast.com and JobsRated.com publisher Tony Lee. "Probably the one thing that’s overriding is the amount of control you have. People who have the least amount of control have the most amount of stress — they’re reacting to whatever is happening around them."
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Occupational health psychologist Dr Merv Gilbert offers ten tips on improving mental health in the workplace, HealthCanal.com reports. Psychological disorders are the fastest rising cause for short and long-term disabilities and they are expected to exceed 50 per cent of all claims administered within the next five years in the Canada. Dr Gilbert itemises and explains the ten most important steps to improving psychological health and safety. 1) Make managing mental health disorders in the workplace a high priority. 2) Measure the impact of psychological disorders in the workplace. 3) Identify the risks to employee psychological health. 4) Address identified workplace and workforce hazards. 5) Provide information, programs and policies that promote early recognition and response to employee distress. 6) Provide managers and supervisors with resources and supports to address workplace mental health issues. 7) Review current processes, programs and policies with a psychological health lens. 8) Help employees who are, or may be, dealing with psychological health issues to stay at work. 9) Work together to assist with returning employees off work because of a psychological health condition in a timely, safe and appropriate manner. 10) Prevent or minimise relapse or recurrence.
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Professor of medicine at Stanford, Mark Cullen, MD, discusses the multifaceted impact of the growing epidemic of job stress to the San Jose Mercury. "There are two totally different components – individual and societal," explains Cullen. "I think the unrest in our society is not just due to unemployment, but also to the vast insecurity about work and its future. As terrible as the Great Recession was, in which 8 to 10 million people lost their jobs, 200,000 million people got nervous, real nervous. So the biggest question is, how do we return to some civil society in which people have security that there will be work, and they can be productive?" Cullen has a number of helpful suggestions for people suffering from job stress. "The biggest step most people can take is to become their own advocates. To do their own job analysis and to think about what parts of their job — the demands, the control over their job and the rewards — are amenable to change. Many of us can exercise more control and leverage over our work than we realize...Many people can actually make the current situation much more compatible with day-to-day good health." Follow the in-article link to find Cullen's complete list of preventative steps.
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Experts say that a lack of light plays havoc with your body clock, which explains why some people find it so difficult to get out of bed on cloudy or rainy mornings, Brisbane Times reports. Bright morning sunlight is the key to inhibiting the secretion of melatonin, the hormone your body produces before you go to sleep that causes you to feel drowsy. Without adequate morning light you can be left feeling lethargic, drowsy and run-down. "We know that each day one of [the] main sources of information we get about whether it is day or night is from environmental light," said Dr Naomi Rogers, Central Queensland University associate professor in chronobiology and sleep. "When it is cold and raining and it is dark you're not getting as much of that signal when you wake up, you're not getting that big jolt of information of 'is it daytime let's switch off the night activities and go into the day' This is why it is common for shift workers can to suffer from sleep disorders. "That's why they have so much trouble falling asleep during the daytime even though they have been up at night is often when they are driving home they are getting all that morning light...Their brain is getting the wake up signal," said Dr Rogers. Experts suggest combating morning sleepiness by keeping a regular wake-up time and giving youself as much exposure to light as possible after waking.
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Three in four Queensland resources industry employees are either overweight or obese, says Diabetes Queensland, and shift work is a major reason why, ABC News reports. "Where you've got a high proportion of shift workers and where you've got a high proportion of workers that actually don't have a lot of opportunity throughout the day to get up and move around and walk around, they're the sort of things that are going to increase the likelihood of being obese or overweight," says Diabetes Queensland CEO Michelle Trute. The organisation predicts that following current trends 65 per cent of the Queensland's adult population will be either overweight or obese by 2020. While mining company Xstrata uses pre-employment health assessments to guage employee fitness before hiring them, they admit there's no real data tracking employee obesity following employment. Reporter David Lewis says, "Xstrata plans to launch a website called "Shape Up Online" in the coming weeks, which aims to shed more light on the lifestyle choices of individual workers, and lure more of them to the gym."
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Poor diet and a lack of exercise are not enough to singlehandedly explain the rise in obesity, says one study, which cites stress as an overlooked factor, Medical News Today reports. Human biologist Brynjar Foss and sports scientist Sindre M Dyrstad have highlighted what they see as only part of the problem in the obesity crisis, in their article, "Stress in obesity: cause or consequence?" Their research gathered a number of studies that link weight gain to higher corticol levels - the stress hormone. "If you have high cortisol, you seem to put on weight more easily," said Foss. Because of this link, putting on weight can trigger a vicious cycle of stress. "When you go up in weight, your body also comes under stress. That probably has a self-reinforcing effect - so you get even fatter," explained Foss. Dieting can also trigger a stress response, which can counter the weight loss. "Should our hypothesis turn out to be correct, it would mean that you'll have to break this stress pattern if you want to halt the weight increase," said Foss.
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Balancing work and home commitments is a common requirement for many women and it comes comes with an increased risk of ill-health, reports Post-Gazette. According to US statistics, women are 60 per cent more likely to miss work due to injury or illness often due to their caregiver role outside of work. Because of this duty towards others, outside of work hours, caregivers are almost twice as likely to report chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. To combat womens' elevated health risk, employers can implement effective workplace health and wellbeing initiatives. Such programs work twofold; by improving the health and wellbeing of workers, productivity also improves. Popular programs aimed at women include: Online resources; Discount programs for uncovered healthcare costs; A focus on womens' health needs in employee wellness programs; Workplace preventative health screenings such as body mass index, bone density, cholesterol level, heart rate, blood pressure and diabetes screening; and Supporting local and national organisations dedicated to women's health issues.
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A significant number of new fathers are experiencing fatigue that is risking their safety at work, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. While new dads experiencing fatigue may not be news in itself, research shows that chronic tiredness is impacting on new fathers' safety at work. A study by Gary Mellor at Southern Cross University followed 241 fathers during their babies' first three months, gauging the effect of the fathers' fatigue levels at work. Those who reported fatigue at work were 36 per cent more likely to have "near misses" at work. Not surprisingly, the more fatigued the fathers were, the less likely they were to follow safety practices. On average, fathers of six week-olds were woken two to three times a night and slept for 5.5 hours. 65 per cent of these fathers reported fatigue. By the time their babies were 12 weeks old, fathers got more sleep yet felt worse for it, with 75 per cent reporting fatigue. ''Fathers might benefit from using leave by working fewer days a week, having later start or earlier finish times, or long weekends,'' suggested Dr Mellor.
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On average, people spend 5 hours and 41 minutes per day sitting at their desks during a typical working week, and that's still too long, Medical News Today reports. A study from the Work & Health Research Centre, Loughborough University, UK, highlights not only the physical risk of prolonged sitting, but the mental health risks as well. Over 1000 employees were surveyed over an 18-month period to determine their physical activity levels and uptake of occupational health services. The study found that nearly 70 per cent of employees did not meet recommended guidelines for physical activity, and that the increase in sitting time was associated with a decrease in mental well-being. Those found to sit for longer at work were also more likely to sit outside of work hours. "People don't need a psychologist to tell them to get up and walk around," said researcher Dr Mayanna Duncan. "But if it helps, I'd tell them to put a post-it note on their computer to remind them. Anyway go and talk to your colleagues face to face, it's a lot more sociable and better for you than emailing them."
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Avoiding your abusive boss may seem like the easiest strategy for dealing with them, but it may actually worsen your well-being, EHS Today reports. A study by professors at the University of Haifa's faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences followed the coping strategies of employees faced with abusive bosses and measured the impact of these different approaches on employees' health. "Abusive supervision is highly distressing for employees. Our study shows that the strategies being used by employees to cope with the stress caused by such behavior do not lead to the most positive outcomes," said lead author Dana Yagil, Ph.D. While five different types of coping strateges were identified, the most popular ones involved avoiding contact with the abusive supervisor and seeking social support. These strategies, however, resulted in negative emotions for the employee, which increased stress. Communicating directly with the supervisor was found to be the healthiest strategy. "It is understandable that employees wish to reduce their contact with an abusive boss to a minimum," said Yagil. "However, this strategy further increases the employee's stress because it is associated with a sense of weakness and perpetuates their fear of the supervisor."
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A first-of-its-kind study has revealed that indoor air in offices may be a significant source of potentially toxic substances, Medical News Today reports. The study reports on Polyflourinated compounds (PFCs), used in water-repellant coatings on carpet and furniture, that were found in office air and subsequently the blood of office workers. Exposure to PFCs has been linked to a possible inreased risk of breast or pancreatic cancers, due to PFCs being suspected as being "endocrine disruptors." This study is the first to link PFC levels in the air to levels in the blood of office workers, which were 3-5 times greater than those reported on in household air, "suggesting that offices may represent a unique and important exposure environment," say researchers.
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The number of companies introducing wellness programs is climbing, yet in some cases so too are absence rates. The disconnect, reports BenefitsCanada.com, arises when such programs aren't implemented effectively. "A successful approach to effective wellness and disability planning is to think of its development as a group of building blocks," writes Rebecca Smith. "When these blocks are combined, they provide a solid, integrated and focused approach to effective workforce management that addresses wellness and disability at all levels. There are five main building blocks: foundation; prevention; accommodation/mitigation; support for recovery; and integrated supports." Foundation involves aligning programs to an organisation's goals, while Prevention involves correctly identifying and understanding current and potential employee health risks. Accommodation and Mitigation involve making work flexible for ill or injured employees; Support for recovery is all about optimal RTW processes; and Integrated Supports means using a combination of complementary services that may be available to you.
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A Canadian study has further stated the link between depression and losses not only on a personal level, but to the economy as a whole, The Vancouver Sun reports. A third of mental illness costs in Canada are due to productivty losses, which could be abated with proper treatment given to depression sufferers. "To get help with some of those symptoms would really help people to better function," said Carolyn Dewa. Among 3,000 surveyed workers in Alberta, those who had received treatment for severe depression were seven times more likely to report regaining functioning at a "highly productive level" at work, compared with people who received no treatment. Those who went through a moderate depression were 2.5 times more likely to reach a high level of productivity compared with those who received no treatment. Researchers highlighted the need for employers to make concessions early on for mentally ill employees, which add up later on in terms of productivity gains. "It's not even just about out-of-pocket payments and things like that," Dewa said. "Can people get time off to go to the doctor or to get counselling? Because to get those kinds of treatment, often you have to go during working hours."
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An op-ed in the journal PLoS Medicine has declared that shift work is so hazardous to health that it should be declared an occupational health hazard, Adelaide Now reports. Editors of the journal cited a study published in December last year which found a link between rotating shift work and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. "Shift work has the potential to accelerate the progression of the global epidemic of obesity and diabetes," wrote editors. The study found that over 11 per cent of nurses who worked rotating hours for a period of over 10 years had an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers attributed this link due in part to less nutritional meals being available for shift workers. SA Ambulance Service chief executive Ray Creen agreed that shift work could be a risk, citing fatigue and nutrition as factors. "Fatigue has been identified by SA Ambulance Service as a significant risk to the health and welfare of our staff if it is not managed appropriately," he said. "SA Ambulance Service is committed to raising awareness of fatigue, helping staff measure their own fatigue levels and providing them with skills and strategies to manage fatigue." This includes the removal of junk food vending machines from ambulance stations and workplaces, as well as encouraging staff to exercise regularly.
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WorkSafe chief executive Greg Tweedley has notified the authority that he will not be seeking a new contract when his current one expires in March, The Age reports. Tweedley's resignation comes just four weeks after the Baillieu government announced it would take $471.5 million out of WorkSafe's budget, over the next four years. The Victorian WorkCover authority (WorkSafe), funded by employer premiums, will have to hand half of its earnings over to Treasury for use in general revenue, until at least 2014-15. A spokeswoman for the state governent maintained that Mr Tweedley's resignation was not linked to the revised budget. He released a media statement saying he was looking to spend time overseas with family and friends, before pursuing new challenges later in the year. The opposition was not optimistic about the future of WorkSafe. ''His (Tweedley's) departure will mean it will be even more difficult for WorkSafe to recover from the half a billion dollars being ripped out of the authority,'' said opposition finance spokesman Robin Scott.
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The most recent theory making a virus responsible for chronic fatigue syndrome has been dismissed, ABC News reports. Two years ago, researchers gave hope to the 17 million sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) suggesting the conditions may be caused by a virus. Just before Christmas, however, US journals Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science withdrew published papers attributing chronic fatigue syndrome to a virus. Medical Science professor from the University of New South Wales, Andrew Lloyd, said that researchers had fallen into the trap of looking for a simple explanation for a complex disease. "The patient population have a great degree of desperation and hope that there will be the big breakthrough, the unique insight into the disease mechanisms, the cure, the diagnostic test," he said. While tens of millions of dollars went into unsucessful attempts to prove a virus the cause of CFS, Professor Lloyd said that minute amounts of mouse DNA actually contaminated the research and caused the false result. There is still hope for sufferers, however, with new research from Norway suggesting CFS may be an autoimmune disease.
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Work stress can lead to changes in the brain that make people less able to deal with future adversity, Work Health Safety Matters reports. Reported in Biological Psychiatry (and featured in Healthland - TIME Magazine), a new study found that stressful events can cause shrinkages in the brain areas responsible for the regulation of emotions and metabolism. Researchers also found that individual traumatic events don't have the strongest impact, but that a lifetime's worth of stress may cause the most significant changes in brain volume. “The key take home message is that across the board the area that is most vulnerable to stress of any kind is the prefrontal cortex,” sais Dr. Rajita Sinha. “It’s important for top-down regulation of our emotions, cognition, desires, and impulse control.” After nerve tissue in this area declines - such as due to stressful stimuli - our ability to counteract our own impulsive negative behaviour also declines, so we may becomes less able to deal with stress as we are exposed to it. “The prefrontal cortex is important for metabolic homeostasis and for our survival and adaptation to life’s challenges,” said Dr. Sinha. Chronic stress, such as possible in a work environment, was not found to reduce brain volume alone. But, when a sudden life trauma or adverse event was experienced alongside chronic stress, key brain areas shrank significantly and people were less able to cope. “Over time, as the number of cumulative stressors increases, chronic stress can interact with that and worsen the effect,” said Dr. Sinha.
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The most widely-accepted guidelines for clinical management of patients with low back pain (LBP) advise keeping active and returning to work, yet most practitioners still believe work factors cause or exacerbate LBP and recommend a short break from work, Medical News Today reports. Researchers at the University of London's Department of Psychology found that some healthcare practitioners see their role in returning patients to work as limited, and believe that some aspects of work are detrimental to their recovery. "Low back pain is consistently among the top most costly health problems. Back pain has been identified as the second main cause of absenteeism in the UK," said lead author Professor Tamar Pincus, PhD. His team created an Attitudes to Back Pain Scale for musculoskeletal practitioners - osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors - to gauge pracitioner beliefs and behaviours, such as whether they limit the number of sessions for the treatment of low back pain, or believe that increasing mobility should be a goal of treatment. "Our findings suggest that, despite guidelines that encourage maintaining people at work during episodes of back pain, many clinicians hold a range of beliefs that contradict this advice, and these beliefs can influence their clinical decisions and behaviors,"said Prof. Pincus. The report noted that physiotherapists were more likely to endorse the benefits of work to aid in recovery.
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The work Christmas break-up is a great occasion for building morale, however, both employers and employees need to make sure it doesn't go too far, the Herald Sun reports. VECCI manager of workplace relations operations Lisa Burrell warned that staff are still obligated to ensure correct safety and conduct procedures are followed at work parties. Employers "need to be wary about issues that may arise under Equal Opportunity legislation such as sexual harassment or offensive behaviour in the form of inappropriate jokes, an ill-thought-out Christmas gift or other forms of inappropriate behaviour," she said. Darren Nelson of Nelson Recruiting advised employers to strike the balance between providing alcohol and providing too much alcohol - leading to potentially damaging situations. Some guidelines for work Christmas parties include: Ensuring safe transportation is available for after the party - consider subsidising travel cost; Understanding that equal opportunity and discrimination regulations remain applicable; Advising staff of expected behaviour standards before the party; Offering low or no-alcohol options; Being prepared to cut-off alcohol if problems arise; Restricting the use of social media - especially uploading of photos.
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A new report titled "Sick on the Job? Myths and Realities about Mental Health at Work"
reveals that 30 to 50 per cent of all new disability benefit claims in OECD countries are now attributed to mental illness, reports Fresh Business Thinking dot com. The report, by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), highlights the impact of this increase in mental health problems, with three in four workers with a mental disorder reporting reduced productivity at work - compared with one in four workers without a mental disorder. Challenging common myths surrounding mental health, the report states that between 55 and 70 per cent of people with a mental health disorder are in employment; an employment rate only about 10 to 15 percentage points lower than for people without a mental health disorder. The report calls for improved working conditions which reduce and better manage stress; systematic monitoring of sick leave behaviour; and help to employers to reduce workplace conflicts and avoid unnecessary dismissal caused by mental health problems.
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Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick has warned people to avoid the dangers of fatigue that are common at this time of the year, My Sunshine Coast reports. "Working when mentally or physically exhausted impairs a person's ability to think clearly, which is vital when making safety-related decisions," he said. "Many workplaces, including retailers, road transport companies, tradespeople and manufacturers, are at their busiest at this time of year and staff are working long hours to complete jobs before the holidays start." He revealed alarming figures suggesting that fatigued drivers can be as dangerous as drunk drivers. "Studies have shown that people who stay awake for 17 hours can impair performance as badly as if they were driving over the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.05%," through a "lack of concentration, poor judgment and decision-making, reduced capacity for interpersonal communication and slower reaction times," said Mr Dick. "Staying awake for 21 hours straight is equivalent to double the legal drink driving limit."
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Taking a 15-minute walk could cut your chocolate consumption at work in half, Medical News Today reports. A new study from the University of Exeter found that even when in stressful situations, workers would only eat half as much chocolate during the work day if they'd been for a quick walk at some stage in the day. "We know that snacking on high calorie foods, like chocolate, at work can become a mindless habit and can lead to weight gain over time." said lead researcher Professor Adrian Taylor. "We often feel that these snacks give us an energy boost, or help us deal with the stress of our jobs, including boredom. People often find it difficult to cut down on their daily treats but this study shows that by taking a short walk, they are able to regulate their intake by half." And to all those people out there who fear that their cravings are still too strong: the study specifically used participants who were identified as "regular chocolate-eaters."
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The woman who acted as whistleblower against "Dr Death," Jayant Patel, is seeking $400,000 damages from Queensland Health for injuries and loss of income over the past seven years, centering around claims they treated her "like a leper," Brisbane Times reports. Nurse Tina Hoffman was awarded the Australia Medal for raising concerns over Dr Patel's conduct at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 - 2005. Ms Hoffman suffered anxiety and depression following the incident, receiving a $30,000 WorkCover payment in 2007. She is now suing Queensland Health for damages because of their alleged mistreatment of her during this period. ‘‘Toni never wanted to sue for damages, it was her preference to just get on with her life and avoid lawyers but she has been forced into this by the conduct of Queensland Health,’’ said Hoffman's lawyer Peter Koutsoukis. Queensland Health allegedly refused a psychologist's advice to provide Hoffman with psychiatric counselling, refused Hoffman's request to be moved to another department, and denied her special leave to attend Patel's trial in Brisbane. ‘‘It’s appalling and I can only wonder why they treat her in this way,’’ said Koutsoukis. ‘‘Recently we had a settlement conference in which we attempted to resolve this matter without recourse for litigation...We just wanted a geniune attempt to try and resolve this and they didn’t even turn up.’’
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Experts warn that a modern business culture of information overload is leading to employees' rising stress levels, psychological illness and billions of dollars worth of lost productivity, The Herald Sun reports. An excessive number of emails and digital information is now considered a normal aspect of the working day by many people, which is causing employees to reach "breaking point", says Marc Peter, director of technology at LexisNexis. “There are two key drivers for information overload," he said. "A lot of the information is irrelevant for the person who is receiving it and the second one is there is an inability of systems and processes in organisations to manage information efficiently.” Management consultant firm McKinsey suggests dealing with the deluge by finding time to focus on the task at hand, filtering out distractions like computers and telephones, and forgetting about work when possible by taking breaks and allowing downtime.
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The number of mental stress claims in the Australian public service have risen by 30 per cent, costing more than $70 million in compensation payouts last year, ABC News reports. "We've still got a lot of stigma to battle around mental health in the workplace," said Ingrid Ozols of Mental Health At Work. "There are a lot of organisations who are doing tremendous strategies. A lot of doing tokenistic stuff - oh let's just do a quick stress management course and tick the box for compliance." Nadine Flood from the CPSU said that the costs of psychological injury and mental illness are really only starting to be understood by both the public and private sectors. "Obviously there's a direct cost if individuals are taking time out from work and that's a cost not just to the business but also to that individual and their family...The costs are actually more significant where you start to damage the productivity and capacity of employees you've invested in." Ozols agrees: "I think that they're not seeing the links between wellness, productivity and profitability, that's the business case we keep coming up against."
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You may think the best thing to do after a stressful day at work is ignore it when you get home, but one expert says you should talk about it with your kids, Fox News reports. “Kids can pick up on our underlying emotions, so when you say you’re fine when you’re not, they know something is not right,” says Brandon Smith, workplace health expert. “On the one hand, we want to shield our children from each and every stress that comes along,” says Rahil Briggs, director of the Healthy Steps of Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. "On the other hand, if we are failing in our attempts to put on a happy face, that is very confusing to a child." Tips for dealing with work stress at home include: Talking to your kids and letting them know you've had a bad day but it's not their fault; Trying to reduce stress before returning home by exercising or talking to friends on your way home; Taking time out by telling your kids you need 10 minutes alone or a 15-minute power nap; and being a good role model and not trying to hide the fact that you are stressed - deal with it properly.
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The Greens' proposal for tougher anti-bullying laws in the ACT has received in-principle support from the other political parties, Canberra Times reports. The proposed Bill requires WorkSafe to appoint a minimum of three inspectors experienced in dealing with workplace bullying. WorkSafe will also need to create an expert bullying advisory committe. ''These changes will enhance the ACT's ability to respond to bullying issues, to take preventative action against bullying, and to implement best practice and innovative laws and procedures,'' said Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan. From next year, workers who recklessly fail to prevent behaviour that causes serious harm to another can be fined $300,000. ''I think there is no doubt that bullying in the workplace is something that the government and parliament need to continue to improve, in terms of our management,'' said Chief Minister Katy Gallagher. ''It's something that has been raised this year...the general principle is good and it's pretty difficult to argue against the management of bullying in any workplace so we have an open mind about improving the systems.''
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Women who work irregular schedules including three or more night shifts per month - as well as their day and evening hours - may have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with women who only worked day and evening shifts, Medical News Today reports. The findings, from a Harvard School of Public Health study of 69,269 U.S. women aged 42 to 67, found that years of this type of rotating night shift work led to weight gain, which may contribute to the increased risk of type 2 diabetes. "Long-term rotating night shift work is an important risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and this risk increases with the numbers of years working rotating shifts," said An Pan, the study's lead author. "This study raises the awareness of increased obesity and diabetes risk among night shift workers and underscores the importance of improving diet and lifestyle for primary prevention of type 2 diabetes in this high risk group," said author Frank Hu.
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Having a flexible workplace improves employees' health behaviour and quality of sleep, Medical News Today reports. A new study by University of Minnesota sociology professors Erin Kelly and Phyllis Moen found that employees participating in flexible workplace initiatives reported an extra hour of sleep per night, were less likely to feel obligated to work when sick, were more likely to visit a doctor when necessary, and reported an increased sense of schedule control and reduced work-family conflict, emotional exhaustion and psychological distress. "Our study shows that moving from viewing time at the office as a sign of productivity, to emphasizing actual results can create a work environment that fosters healthy behavior and well-being," said Moen. "This has important policy implications, suggesting that initiatives creating broad access to time flexibility encourage employees to take better care of themselves."
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Public service workers will now be protected by workers' compensation during their breaks, reports PS News. The Safety, Rehabilitation Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Act has now been approved by both Houses of Parliament, meaning workers taking "recess" breaks away from the workplace during working hours will be covered. These protections were removed in 2007, along with protections for public services staff injured while travelling to or from work. The amendment act also allows Comcare to access the Consolidated Revenue Fund to compensate people with diseases with long latency periods, who were employed before December 1988. Medical expenses for public service staff can also now be paid where payment of other compensation is suspended, and extends coverage of the Act to Commonwealth employees working in declared high-risk countries. The Community and Public Sector Union is still pushing for journey cover to be restored.
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Not only do abusive bosses cause problems at work, they can also lead to strained relationships at home, Medical News Today reports. A Baylor University study published online in the journal Personnel Psychology found that the strain caused by an abusive supervisor at work affects a worker's marital relationship and their overall family life. The study surveyed workers and their partners after incidences of supervisor abuse, which included: tantrums, rudeness, public criticism and inconsiderate action. "It may be that as supervisor abuse heightens tension in the relationship, the employee is less motivated or able to engage in positive interactions with the partner and other family members," said study co-author Merideth Ferguson, PH.D. "These findings have important implications for organizations and their managers. The evidence highlights the need for organizations to send an unequivocal message to those in supervisory positions that these hostile and harmful behaviors will not be tolerated," said Dawn Carlson, Ph.D., study author.
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World rates of disability are climbing due to an ageing population and an increase in chronic health conditions. Disability-field policy makers and researchers from the Asia/pacific region will gather at The University of Sydney to discuss moving forward, following the World report on disability released by the World Health Organisation and the World Bank in June this year. "The Symposium aims to stimulate free, open and vigorous discussion of the report and foster international collaborations to work towards the attainment of human rights and participation for all in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," states the media release. “For the first time the World report on disability provides a realistic picture of disability based on both scientific evidence and the real life experiences of people worldwide,” says Gwynnyth Llewellyn, Professor of Family and Disability Studies at the University of Sydney. “With this new understanding comes a responsibility for us all – nation states, communities, organisations and individuals – to act. Through this symposium we hope to create the momentum to move this forward and see the potential of the report realised.”
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Experts say the Safe Work Australia's draft code of conduct: Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying, may need to be more detailed, in both defining all instances of bullying and protecting employers from unreasonable accusations, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. The final draft of the code will be received by the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council and may inform new workplace bullying laws in NSW. Dan Riley, senior lecturer at the University of New England, said the draft code was a "helpful step" but failed to distinguish between overt and covert forms of bullying. ''Some bullies use the system to shift the focus of the bullying from themselves to the bullying being caused by the organisational expectations within the existing environment,'' he said. Riley suggested that as the code draft stands, employers may also be too open to litigation for failing to act on a verbal complaint that may be as simple as a passing remark. Psychologist and author Evelyn Field said that the emphasis on mediation was of concern. ''There's very little evidence mediation works in cases of bullying because [mediation] relies on the assumption of equal power,'' she said. ''Bullying at work happens when there is unequal power.''
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The incidence of strain injuries arising from smartphone misuse is rising, affecting one in 50 Britons, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Tim Hutchful from the British Chiropractic Association has suggested people limit their smartphone use to under 40 minutes per day to avoid injury. A recent poll saw 44 per cent of Britons using their mobile phone for activities other than making calls - such as internet use - for between 30 minutes and two hours per day. Some health professionals are linking this smartphone use to higher numbers of "text neck" and "text thumb" injury. ''I had a patient who developed inflamed tendons in her thumb from using her smartphone and was unable to use her hand for weeks due to pain,'' said Hutchful. Sammy Margo of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said, ''the phones are far too small, with keys that are too small," and human bodies are ''not designed to be used like this.'' Hutchful said while not wanting to demonise smartphones, he suggested people should limit their daily use and be aware of a proper posture, which involves an imaginary vertical line drawn through your ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle.
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A new WorkCover WA workers' compensation dispute resolution system comes into effect today. The new system – characterised by separate Conciliation and Arbitration Services – will be more accessible and will provide a quicker means of resolving disputes. This change is a result of stakeholder feedback obtained during a 2009 legislative review and subsequent implementation of the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Amendment Act 2011. For more information, download the ‘What happens if there is a dispute?’ brochure or see the Conciliation & Arbitration section of the WorkCover WA website, which includes: an overview of the new system; the Conciliation Service, profiles of the Director and Conciliation Officers, and the Conciliation Rules & Forms; the Arbitration Service, profiles of the Registrar and Arbitrators, and the Arbitration Rules & Forms; and answers to many Frequently Asked Questions.
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Reading Shakespeare's plays could help doctors better understand the link between petients' emotional states and their physical illnesses, BBC News reports. In his research, Dr Kenneth Heaton argues that many doctors fail to recognise the way psychological problems impact on physical conditions, and that a broader view of patients would improve their outcomes. "Shakespeare had an extraordinary insight into the psychology of human beings, extending to the emotional effects on the body," said Dr Heaton said. Heaton's research focuses on physiological symptoms stemming from underlying emotional distress. He argues that many modern doctors are reluctant to attribute physical symptoms to emotional problems; a problem that ultimately causes delayed diagnoses, and unnecessary tests and treatments. "Some medical schools have more in the way of humanities teaching than others, but many doctors would be able to learn something from Shakespeare," Heaton said.
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Dame Carol Black supports a UK Government review calling for independent medical assessors to sign off on sick notes, HR Magazine reports. Sickness absence costs the UK $13 billion a year, prompting the review to suggest implementation of a new Independent Assessment Service that employers and GPs can refer long-term sickness absence cases to for advice. "GPs alone cannot be expected to reduce employee absence due to ill health," said Henry Goodall, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine. "They should be able to refer to an occupational health specialist." The report argued that too many people with ill-health were being put on Employment and Support Allowance, only to be deemed fit for work after a long delay. "Sickness absence from work can be unavoidable, but when unduly prolonged it is wasteful and damaging," said Dame Carol Black. "We believe we have presented an urgent and compelling case to change the current system so that it unashamedly promotes work for those that can."
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Sucking-up to your boss could actually make you live longer, The Age reports. New research has found that flattery towards bosses and co-workers does more than improve your career prospects or teambuilding, it actually protects against stress. Authors of Coping with Workplace Ostracism: The Roles of Ingratiation and Political Skill in Employee Psychological Distress said that those facing ostracism in the workplace fared better when they ingratiated themselves. This flattery of others made people less likely to experience tension, emotional exhaustion and a depressed mood; improving mental and physical health. "Chief executive officers of companies, for example, have been doing so at increasing rates," said Professor Gerald Ferris. Researchers warned, however, that incorrectly delivered ingratiation could come across as self-serving and manupulating. "They need training to show them how to say it with meaning, sincerity, and conviction. That is, they essentially are being trained to be politically skilled, and in so doing, to inspire confidence and trust in what one says."
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A chromosomal change that reflects biological ageing is quickened in people who are exposed to chronic stress, reports Medical News Today. The telomere - the outermost part of the chromosome - shortens with age due to oxidative stress and inflammation. Scientists have attributed cases of telomere shortening with age-related diseases, unhealthy lifestyle and longevity. New research has found that accelerated telomere shortening also occurs with recurrent depression and exposure to chronic stress. "The test revealed that cortisol levels indicative of chronic stress stress are associated with shorter telomeres in both depressed and healthy individuals," said researcher Mikael Wikgren. This highlights the dangers of disturbed cortisol regulation - brought about via chronic stress and recurrent depression.
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The ABC has a range of tips on staying healthy at work, including avoiding sprains and strains, the dangers of presenteeism, working safely outdoors, taking care of your eyes and ears, diet and exercise, and avoiding the hazards of travel. "The reason your back is tired and sore is probably because your job involves repetitive movement or a sustained posture that has caused a muscle imbalance where one muscle is overworked and becomes tight, while the opposing muscle is unused and remains slack," explains the article. The solution: Alternate your activities, stretch and take a break. As for diet and exercise, try to follow these tips: Increase physical activity before and after work; Go for a walk at lunch; Choose low-GI, low-processed foods for lunch to keep energy levels sustained; Bring your own lunch; and exercise with colleagues.
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Encouraging people to change their unhealthy habits and use preventative health services more frequently may be a matter of incorporating financial incentives, Medical News Today reports. Researchers from the University of Newcastle looked at the effectiveness of personal financial incentives in encouraging smoking cessation and weight loss. "We need effective public health interventions that clinicians can adopt easily to encourage people to change their health behaviors, to produce improved health outcomes for populations and a reduced burden on health care systems," said researchers. They found that while one-time incentives have little effect on long-term behaviour change, regular reinforcement with a range of initiatives was more effective at initiating and maintaining behaviour change. "Financial incentives are not the panacea to all health risk behaviors, but do hold promise for encouraging certain population groups to modify particular health behaviors."
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Australians already work some of the longest hours in the developed world, yet these hours could increase even more, News.com.au reports. A study by the Australia Institute has found that many people who are provided with laptops or smartphones by their employer feel obliged to do extra work outside of their normal working hours. Seven out of eight survey respondents who had an electronic work device supplied by their employer said they worked outside normal hours in the past week, compared to about half of those without a device. Part of their Go Home On Time Day, The Australia Institute's study also found that 23 per cent of people believed working outside hours was expected, while 15 per cent said they often needed to. "What is certain is that some workers who were happy with their work/life balance a decade ago are now less satisfied with the expectations of their job because certain technologies that contribute to polluted time simply did not exist until relatively recently," said Australia Institute director Josh Fear.
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About half of men and a third of women are not eating enough fruit and vegetables, says a NZ Health Ministry adult nutrition survey, Stuff.co.nz reports. Despite evidence that healthy eating improves productivity and reduces sick days, workers are still reporting difficulty eating properly at work. "When I talk to workers from building sites, banks, law firms and IT companies, it still amazes me some eat so little fruit and vegetables," said nutritionist Claire Turnball. A third of the typical adult diet is consumed at work, and many opportunities for healthy eating are lost by eating on the run, workplace morning teas, catered lunches and vending machines. "A lot of people swear they eat five plus a day, but when they write down what they're eating they realise they don't," said Turnball. Research shows that a diet high in fruit and vegies can reduce the risk of cancers, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
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Workplace smoking bans are saving a significant number of lives, Minnpost reports. A Mayo Clinic study found that the incidence of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths in Minnesota's Olmsted County was halved during the past decade, following two smoke-free ordinances. Before the first workplace smoking ban, the incidence of heart attacks was 212.3 cases per 100,000 residents. Following the ban, that figure dropped to 102.9 cases per 100,000. The incidence of sudden cardiac death also fell from 152.5 residents to 76.6 per 100,000 over the same period. Similar results were seen in Scotland in 2008, when researchers noted a 17 per cent drop in heart attack related admissions to hospitals following a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces.
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A joint initiative between The University of Queensland and Chronic Pain Australia aims to study how the internet, social media and apps can assist people who are living with chronic pain. "We want to discover how and why people use ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in relation to their pain, and how these technologies could be improved to provide better pain information and support in future." All chronic pain sufferers who use the internet are invited to take the anonymous online survey. "We hope that the information you provide will help us gain a better understanding of how ICT can improve the lives of people living with chronic pain." You can read more and take the survey by following this link.
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One in 10 people usually use alcohol when then are at work, The Age reports. A new study by The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction at Flinders University surveyed more than 9800 workers about drug and alcohol use in the workplace. While almost 9 per cent of people said that "usually" used alcohol at work, only 5.6 per cent of people admitted to being "under the influence." ''Because they don't think they are at .05 or are drunk...they don't think it's influencing their performance,'' said Dr Ken Pidd. "For a long time, workplaces have used alcohol...as a morale and team building exercise." Pidd warned that, "while that sounds pretty innocent, the fact still remains that injuries and fatalities that occur while you are travelling to and from work are often still covered by insurance." The study also found that about 2 per cent of people admitted to being under the influence of drugs - other than alcohol - at work, and 1 per cent admitted "usually" taking those drugs at work.
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At work even though you're sick? Maybe you should think again. New research on the drivers behind presenteeism has shed light on why people are compelled to attend the workplace while sick, despite the productivity losses it brings, Daily Mail reports. Researcher Gary Johns from Concordia University in Canada surveyed 444 workers and found each had an average of three presenteeism days, compared with 1.8 absenteeism days. This suggests that the practice of employees 'soldiering on' at work while ill may actually be twice as costly to an organisation as someone simply taking a sick day. "Often, a person might feel socially obligated to attend work despite illness, while other employees feel organizational pressure to attend work despite medical discomfort," said Johns. "Secure employees don't fear retribution for an occasional absence because of sickness..."A worker's absence — or presence — during illness can have both costs and benefits for constituents."
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A controversial counselling method employed in Japan following disasters earlier this year is seeing surprisingly positive results, ABC News reports. Medical personnel arriving on the scene following Japan's earthquake and tsunami were discouraged from offering all survivors counselling, instead only offering to people with existing mental health conditions - or those showing visible signs of distress. Eight months on, Japan's hospitals have reported no increase in the number of patients with depression or PTSD. "Acute intrusive intervention such as psychological debriefing has been proved to be not effective or sometimes harmful," said Yoshiharu Kim, director of adult mental health at the National Institute of Mental Health in Tokyo. "So in acute phase we should not touch the deep layer of traumatic experiences of the victims. And such a...concept of doing acute intervention will cause more confusion than benefit. To have anxiety in disaster situation is a kind of normal response. So most of those anxiety are not the target of medical treatment. It's a natural human response. And 80 or 90 per cent of the people have resilience. They can recover by their own will."
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Improving fitness for it's own sake, rather than simply targeting obesity, should be the focus of public health strategies aimed at reducing chronic disease, ABC News reports. Professor Robert Newton argues that the current focus on obesity is ineffective in curbing rising rates of chronic disease. “Obesity is just a symptom of an underlying disease—sedentary lifestyle,” said Professor Newton. “It is low fitness which is killing us, not being overweight.” Instead, he argues that there should be a greater public health focus on improving fitness. “Exercise is the most effective medicine for the prevention and management of chronic disease, a problem that’s responsible for around 80 per cent of our healthcare expenditure. Cardiorespiratory fitness is the strongest predictor of morbidity and mortality. The risk of mortality of someone who is normal weight but unfit is about 3 times higher than the mortality risk of someone who is obese but fit.”
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Does likeability really matter in the workplace? According to some, it can actually make all the difference, The Age reports. The Harvard Business School found that likeability is closely linked with productivity. The study categorised four personality types: The competent jerk, the incompetent jerk, the lovable star and the lovable fool. Obviously, respondents in the study preferred to work with the lovable star, while avoiding the incompetent jerk. Yet, surprisingly, they also preferred the lovable fool over the competent jerk. "We found that if someone is strongly disliked, it’s almost irrelevant whether or not she is competent; people won’t want to work with her anyway," the researchers observed. "By contrast, if someone is liked, his colleagues will seek out every little bit of competence he has to offer.” But Ray McLean, leadership consultant, warns there's also a limit to the benefits of likeability. “I don’t see likeability as a high criterion. But there needs to be a level of mutual respect where employees engage each other in conversations about performance. It’s not about being liked or disliked. It’s about moving towards respect.”
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The trend of taking a 'mental health day' - or non-genuine sick leave dayt - is increasing in Australia, with one-third of workers who admit taking a 'fake' sick day citing mental strain and stress as the real reason they need a break from the workplace, The Age reports. According to a Galaxy poll of almost 1300 employees, 63 per cent of all workers admitted to taking a non-genuine sick day at least once in their lives. Almost one in four workers who deemed their manager as a 'poor performer' admitted to taking days off when they weren't sick, due to a bad relationship with their boss. "Ineffective management affects productivity in lots of different ways, including staff loyalty and motivation," said researcher Stephanie Christopher. The poll also found that workers who feel they have too much workplace responsibility are more likely to take non-genuine sick days, or 'mental health days'. This finding is in contrast to earlier research suggesting that powerless employees are more likely to call in sick. Family commitments also factored highly in non-genuine sick leave, with 27 per cent of workers taking leave admitting they used it as a way of juggling family responsibilities and emergencies.
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As many as 70 per cent of women and 45 per cent of men have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, Fox News reports. According to sociologist Amy Blackstone, victims are at risk of a number of serious health conditions, including: 1) Depression: A study found people sexually harassed in their teens and early 20s could experience symptoms of depression into their 30s. 2) Post-traumatic stress disorder: One study found women in the military who are sexually harassed four times as likely to develop PTSD as those women exposed to a traumatic event in combat. 3) Blood pressure: One group of researchers found a "significant correlation" between sexual harassment and elevated blood pressure, which raises the risk of cardiovascular disease. 4) Sleep problems: The stress and anxiety following sexual harassment can cause sleeplessness and nightmares. 5) Suicide: A study found that of women who had experienced frequent unwanted sexual touching, 15 per cent reported making suicidal attempts "often" in the past six months. 6) Neck pain: A large study found that women with neck pain were 1.6 times more likely to report having experienced unwanted sexual attention.
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WorkCover NSW is more than $2b in deficit, according to NSW auditor-general Peter Achterstraat, and may not collect enough revenue through premiums for long-term sustainability, ABC News reports. Mr Achterstraat said the situation was worsened by workers attempting to maximise claims, as well as a slow return on the scheme's investments. "It does depend to a certain extent on investment returns but last year $4.2 billion in expenses was paid out but only $3.4 billion in premiums and investment income was earned," Mr Achterstraat said. He suggested the potentially necessary step of raising employer premiums. "The actuarial people tell us that the break-even rate for premiums is higher than the premium rate at the moment."
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Do you really understand the impact of your workplace on your health and productivity? Take the ABC's Health IQ: Workplace health test to find out. "Time spent at work can have a real impact on our health: for better or for worse. How much do you know about staying healthy in the workplace?" Follow this link.
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Anti-workplace environmental tobacco smoke lobby group Smoke Free Australia has criticised Safe Work Australia (SWA) for neglecting tighter regulation of second-hand smoke in their draft codes of practice for the national OHS harmonisation, writes Kevin Jones of Safety At Work Blog. Second-hand smoke, states Smoke Free, is "highly toxic [and] carcinogenic" yet "Safe Work Australia has done nothing to prevent it." While SWA had a guidance note on environmental tobacco smoke in 2003, Stafford Sanders of Smoke Free Australia is struggling to understand why the issue has not been given more prominence. Up to 2,000 Australians die every year from exposure to second-hand smoke, alongside the 15,500 who die from active smoking - and the many more who are hospitalised because of chronic illness brought on by smoking. "Controlling the risks of environmental tobacco smoke is a government nightmare that has much to share with the control of problem gambling and the social costs of alcohol abuse," explains Jones. He maintains that while "It may be possible to argue a person’s right to damage their own health through smoking...this argument fails in the realm of OHS and the need for a safe and healthy workplace."
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The number of NSW police on workers' compensation sick leave has increased five-fold over the past seven years, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. That makes the number of officers off sick almost a fifth of those rostered on duty on any given weekday. Figures reveal that 66 per cent of people who leave the NSW police force do so for medical reasons. Seventy-nine per cent of those who leave for medical reasons suffered from psychological injuries alone. Only seven per cent of people leaving for medical reasons left for physical reasons alone. Six years ago, workers' compensation cost the NSW police force $5 million per quarter. That figure soared to $18.3 million in the first quarter of this year. The NSW Government is attempting to push through legislation to slash the police injury management scheme via a new commercial insurance arrangement and restrictions on officers' entitlements to workers' comp top-ups, which are currently unlimited. The Police Association of NSW says the government is trying to quickly "ram" through changes without public consultation.
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UK GPs are being advised by the Department of Work and Pensions to treat a patient's return to work as an "essential" indicator of sucessful clinical treatment, The Telegraph reports. The directive follows General Medical Council guidance that states GPs, "must support patients in caring for themselves to empower them to improve and maintain their health. This may include encouraging patients, including those with long-term conditions, to stay in or return to employment or other purposeful activity." The request from DWP has been met with resistance from some GPs who claim they are being asked to "police unemployment" for the sake of reducing unemployment benefit expenditure. GPs also rejected the suggestion that they ask each patient their "work status" at the commencement of their consultation. “In general, work is good for people,” said Dr Margaret McCartney, a Glasgow GP. “However, it isn’t good, or possible, for all people all the time....The GMC should be more concerned about ensuring that doctors use evidence to treat patients. I’m concerned that doctors will be used to police employment.”
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Despite the benefits of a mobile workforce, the negative health impacts of commuting are largely unknown, Medical News Today reports. New research from Lund University argues that the advantages brought about by daily travel - such as a better paid job or better housing - need to be weighed against the potentially-adverse health effects. The study looked at 21,000 people aged between 18 and 65 who worked more than 30 hours per week and commuted by either car, train or bus, or who were active commuters (walked or cycled to work). Researchers compared 'one way' journey time to participants' perceived general health - including sleep quality, exhaustion and everyday stress. "Generally car and public transport users suffered more everyday stress, poorer sleep quality, exhaustion and, on a seven point scale, felt that they struggled with their health compared to the active commuters," said Erik Hansson. "The negative health of public transport users increased with journey time." Hansson stated that more research needs to be carried out "to identify how exactly commuting is related to the ill health we observed in order to readdress the balance between economic needs, health, and the costs of working days lost."
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A report issued by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare finds obese people more likely to have workplace accidents, falls, tumbles, trips and car accidents, Canberra Times reports. The AIHW report tables the latest evidence on the link between obesity and injury, as well as the major health and economic impacts of obesity in Australia. One study reviewed by the report found that obese people are at a higher risk of both musculoskeletal injuries and heat illnesses in the workplace, and are also more likely to take sick leave and be less productive at work than non-obese colleagues. Another study shows that people with a high body mass index (BMI) are more than twice as likely than normal-weight people to have a car accident. About one quarter of Australian adults are estimated to be obese, costing the country more than $58 billion in 2008.
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A new study links stress early in life to physical ill-health later on, Medical News Today reports. Researchers at the Umea University in Sweden found that young adults who experience social or financial stress face a higher risk of physical problems, including cardiovascular disease, and declines in physical and cognitive functioning. Dr. Per E. Gustafsson and researchers evaluated 822 participants in Northern Sweden aged 16 years-old and tracked their health for 27 years. The researchers measured the impact of a number of adverse social situations, such as isolation, parental illness and loss, exposure to threat or violence, low income, parental unemployment, poor standard of living and financial strain. After analysing the impact these stressors had on 12 sepearate biological factors, researchers concluded that women were most sensitive to stress during adolescence, while men were most sentitive during young adulthood. "Our results support the hypothesis that physiological wear and tear visible in mid-adulthood is influenced by the accumulation of unfavorable social exposures over the life course, but also by social adversity measured around the transition into adulthood, independent of later adversity."
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A study from the University of York has concluded that yoga is more beneficial than usual care for chronic lower back pain, The Guardian reports. 156 patients with chronic lower back pain were given 12 sessions of beginner yoga - specifically designed to be safe for those with lower back pain. A control group of 157 patients only saw their GPs. Participants in the yoga training reported better function, freer from pain. "In the past when you had back pain, you were told to lie down until it passed," said Prof David Torgerson, director of the York Trial Unit at the University of York, who led the study. "These days the main advice is to keep your back active. It seems yoga has more beneficial effects than usual care including other forms of exercise, although we have not carried out a direct comparison...We are still carrying out the economic analysis but it is likely yoga could reduce the costs of back pain both for patients and for the NHS."
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There are a number of factors that influence return to work following an eposide of acute lower back pain, according to a recent systematic review from Canada's Institute of Work & Health. The research all began with the question: “What influences return to work among workers in the early phase of a disability due to low-back pain?” The research found strong evidence that the following factors influenced RTW for those with acute lower back pain: workers’ recovery expectations; interactions with health-care providers (e.g. type of provider); workers’ self-reported pain and functional limitations; presence of radiating pain; and work-related factors, including physical demands, job satisfaction, and the offer of modified work. When the IWH presented these findings to a panel of RTW experts, they found discrepancies between the shared professional knowledge and latest research. This has implications for changing how RTW professionals view acute low-back pain. “People working in practice have heard, over the last decade, how important psychosocial factors are,” said Institute for Work & Health Associate Scientist Dr. Ivan Steenstra. “Unfortunately, it is not very clear what those factors are. Through the workshops, we now know what our message for practice should look like.”
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Doctors who feel your pain are not necessarily going to have better outcomes for their patients, writes Lisa Rosenbaum M.D. for NY Times. Rosenbaum warns that while the latest fad of "breeding nice doctors" may be well-intentioned, it may in-fact have unintended negative consequences. Rosenbaum cites a recent $42m grant to the University of Chicago Medical Center to improve the doctor-patient relationship, as well as a number of medical schools who are not selecting candidates with poor communication skills. While this movement is intended to create physicians with a balance of competence and compassion, Rosenbaum warns that there is no data to suggest that medical students who exhibit more interpersonal skills make less mistakes than their less-communicative counterparts. Studies also show that groups of extroverts are less productive and effective than more introverted people. Rosenbaum argues that we must examine this latest doctor-compassion fad with the same scrutiny of all other medicine: "The beauty of clinical medicine is that we constantly question our latest wisdom."
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A recent Gallup poll highlights the direct link between healthy employees and greater productivity, Daily Finance reports. Conversely, the research also shows the dangers of not improving worker health and wellbeing: "Overweight or obese workers with no other chronic conditions result in $513 million in lost productivity every year; Overweight or obese workers with one or two chronic conditions result in over $32 billion in lost productivity; Obesity is related to more than 20 chronic conditions; All told, the U.S. suffers $153 billion a year in lost productivity costs, more than four times the rate found in the United Kingdom; The above number jumps to $1.1 trillion when you include people who go to work but do an inadequate job due to chronic conditions." A number of companies are leading the way on workplace health and wellbeing, seeing at least a $2 to $3 return on their investment of every one dollar. The news report details some programs from Volkswagen, Sherwin-Williams, IBM, Citigroup and Johnson & Johnson.
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A growing number of physicians are flagging the overuse of MRI scans as a practice that causes misdiagnoses and unnecessary surgery, NY Times reports. Dr James Andrews, sports medicine orthopedist, wanted to test his theory that MRIs were diagnostically misleading. He scanned the shoulders of 31 professional baseball pitchers who had no physical injuries or pain. The scans revealed abnormal shoulder cartilage in 90 per cent of the scans and abnormal rotator cuff tendons in 87 per cent. “If you want an excuse to operate on a pitcher’s throwing shoulder, just get an M.R.I.,” said Dr Andrews. His experiment highlights a growing trend for providing scans ahead of thorough medical exams and understanding a patient's history. Scans almost always find something abnormal, says Dr Bruce Sangeorzan, and can lead to unneccesary surgery. “An M.R.I. is unlike any other imaging tool we use...It is a very sensitive tool, but it is not very specific...It is very rare for an M.R.I. to come back with the words ‘normal study," he said. Another orthopedist, Dr. Sigvard T. Hansen Jr, said MRIs rarely provide useful information. “I see 300 or 400 new patients a year,” he said. “Out of them, there might be one that has something confusing and might need a scan.” A combination of factors is driving the over-use of MRIs, including pocketed fees for doctors who own MRI machines, to patients who demand scans without understanding their relevance.
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The practice of 'hot desking' - workers sharing workstations instead of having personal desks - may be increasing, however the impact of this trend on productivity may be a negative one, Workplace Insight reports. Dr Craig Knight, University of Exeter, investigated 2,000 office workers to gauge how office design and organisation affected them. Knight found that employees with control over their personal workspaces were happier, healthier, identified more with their employers and felt more positive with their jobs. Those with more 'enriching' work environments, such as with plants or artwork, were more than 15 per cent more productive than those in depersonalised environments such as those utilising hot desking. Employee productivity increased 32 per cent when employers involved workers in developing their own work environments. “Space has a massive impact on our comfort, contentment and identity,” said Knight. “When people feel uncomfortable in their surroundings, they are less engaged.”
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A new study has found that men who experience persistently moderate or high levels of stressful events over a number of years face a 50 per cent higher mortality rate, Medical News Today reports. The study concluded that there were only a few protective factors against the effects of these higher levels of stress, such as self-reported good health, being married, or being a moderate drinker - as opposed to a non-drinker. This study of 1,000 men over an 18-year period is the first long-term study to track stress and mortality in an ageing population. "Most studies look at typical stress events that are geared at younger people, such as graduation, losing a job, having your first child," said lead author Carolyn Aldwin. "I modified the stress measure to reflect the kinds of stress that we know impacts us more as we age [such as death of a spouse or putting a parent into a retirement home], and even we were surprised at how strong the correlation between stress trajectories and mortality was...It seems there is a threshold and perhaps with anything more than two major life events a year and people just max out," Aldwin said. "People are hardy, and they can deal with a few major stress events each year...But our research suggests that long-term, even moderate stress can have lethal effects."
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WorkCover SA's unfunded liability has increased by $87 million to a total of $952 million, Adelaide Now reports. This most recent June tally eclipses the figure of $865 million from the end of 2010. "South Australia now has the worst-performing scheme in the nation in terms of return-to-work rates for injured workers and levy rates for employers, as well as an unfunded liability heading back to $1 billion," said Opposition finance spokesman Rob Lucas. Lucas suggested WorkCover had been "caught out" by publishing a media release claiming a $30 million reduction in the level of unfunded liability. This statement omitted reference to the most recent report on WorkCover's unfunded liability as of December 2010, instead referring only to a June 2010 figure. Treasurer Jack Snelling maintained that the increase in unfunded liability is due to market forces. "As Mr Lucas should be well aware, the level of unfunded liability at any time is subject to volatility in the finance market," he said. "It is more important to gauge performance based on long-term trends. The Government remains confident that the reforms put in place will over time improve WorkCover's position."
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Following on from the success of last year, the Return to Work Conference, Expo and Awards once again deliver a must-attend event for people and professionals active in the workers' compensation industry. The Expo features representatives from leading organisations in the workers' compensation industry who will share their knowledge, new initiatives and innovations. Q-COMP's Return to work Conference is in its second year and will build on last year's event to provide inspiration through highly engaging industry speakers and interactive workshops, encouraging debate and discussion on return to work initiatives. The theme for this year's Awards - Onwards Upwards, is all about celebrating the strong return to work culture in Queensland. Presented at the conclusion of the Conference and Expo, the awards have grown to incorporate six categories. This ensures all aspects of the return to work process are recognised, including injured workers, employers, case managers, rehabilitation and return to work coordinators and health providers. For more details visit qcompconference.com.au.
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Researchers have found that people unemployed over the past year are three times more likely to experience mental health issues compared with those employed during the same period of time, Medical News Today reports. "We found that people exposed to long-term unemployment were three times as likely as employed people over the past year to be exposed to their first bout of psychological distress in a clinically defined way," said researchers. "If you're 55 years old, and you've never had a bout of poor emotional well-being that would be described clinically in that way, and have your first bout in the past year when you are exposed to unemployment, it's very unlikely that your poor mental health led to the unemployment rather than your unemployment leading to the poor mental health...When people are exposed to long-term unemployment, they obviously feel that they've lost control of their capacity to earn a living and take care of their families...They worry about their futures."
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Offering financial incentives to employees to participate in workplace wellbeing programs does not provide the best long-term health results, Healthcare Finance News reports. A new report from StayWell Health Management found that employees often participate in a "pay-to-play" model for the economic advantage, not out of a a commitment to their own health. “Paying people to complete a health assessment does result in higher participation rates but does not necessarily get them truly engaged in the process of improving their health,” said co-author David Anderson, PhD. “Research shows that incentives do have a role in workplace health management programs, but that sweet spot may not be where many incentives programs currently reside." The researchers suggest using a progress-based rewards model, rather than an outcome-based approach, to keep employees involved in positive outcomes. “You need a supportive culture, strong messaging and a sense of shared responsibility to get improvement in health. It translates to the bottom line because healthcare costs are directly related to lifestyle risks," said Anderson.
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People who try to tell themselves they've done a great job when they haven't may be more likely to end up depressed, Medical News Today reports. "These findings challenge the popular notion that self-enhancement and providing positive performance feedback to low performers is beneficial to emotional health. Instead, our results underscore the emotional benefits of accurate self-assessments and performance feedback," said lead author Young-Hoon Kim, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania. The research, by the American Psychological Association, also found that both high and low performers ended up feeling fine when they assessed their achievements accurately. Researchers suggested this may be because high performers recognised their strengths, while low performers acknowledged their weaknesses and their opportunity for improvement in the future. "Distress following excessive self-praise is likely to occur when a person's inadequacy is exposed, and because inaccurate self-assessments can prevent self-improvement," said researchers.
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Understanding mental health issues allows you to help others who may be suffering with a condition, The Stratford Gazette reports. Mental Health specialist Sarah Hilton warns against prejudging people in the workplace, at the risk of not recognising a potential mental illness. “Ask questions, don’t assume,” says Hilton. “Everybody’s experience with mental health or mental illness is going to look different." Terms like "lazy," or, "disruptive," may be quickly branded upon workmates, but these traits can also be the side-effects of a mental health condition such as depression. A change in someone's behaviour can be a warning signal. “Look for change in others. Once you see change go back to communication – ask questions," Hilton says. One of Hilton's past colleagues had bipolar disorder. “She was what I would call disruptive, annoying, challenged me at times ... we couldn’t get things done because she had to put up a block," said Hilton. “Luckily for us we had a manager who tracked her behaviours over time and found the opportunities within the obstacles.” Hilton's manager to allocated the woman her own office and a rewritten job position designed around her skills and talents. This resulted in the woman being a less disruptive presence in the office, and also reduced her amount of sick days.
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The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Michelle O’Byrne, urged Tasmanians to get active to help beat stress at work, as she opened a forum on workplace health and wellbeing that is part of WorkSafe Tasmania Month. Ms O’Byrne said that mental health is emerging as a major issue in Australian workplaces. “Scientific research is indicating a strong relationship between physical activity and mental health, with increased physical activity levels shown to help manage or prevent stress, mild depression and anxiety,” she said. “This suggests that by working to address low levels of physical activity in the workplace we can likely address other workplace health and wellbeing issues, including mental health. “A healthy workplace has positive benefits well beyond the office walls or factory gates, influencing family, friends and the wider community.” Ms O’Byrne said a recent study conducted by Medibank Private revealed that the healthiest Australian employees are almost three times more productive than their unhealthy colleagues. “With international research showing a return of between $3 and $8 for every $1 invested in workplace health and wellbeing programs, getting our workforce active and healthy will significantly improve the state’s bottom line."
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A Greens bill that removes the onus on firefighters to prove their cancers are work-related has moved from the lower house to the Senate unopposed, The Age reports. The bill is a response to recent evidence showing that firefighters have higher rates of cancers including testicular, lung, breast, prostate, brain and leukaemia, which are caused by chemical exposure during firefighting. The bill is co-sponsored by Labour and Liberal MPs, seconded by independent Bob Katter, and supported by law firm Slater & Gordon. The changes cover 2800 firefighters, most of whom are employed by the ACT government. The opposition agreed to not oppose the bill following disagreement in the party room over whether doing so would set a bad precedent. Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans said the government supports the need to remove unfair barriers to workers' compensation for firefighters.
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Victorian building workers will have to undergo compulsory drug and alcohol testing if required by their employer, following a "landmark" ruling by Fair Work Australia, The Age reports. While unions and employer groups have locked-heads over the issue for decades, Fair Work Australia deemed the request reasonable. "The risks to employee safety posed by drug and alcohol use have long been recognised by this tribunal,'' ruled the full bench of FWA. ''And compulsory drug and alcohol testing is, of itself, not so extraordinary that it could not be argued to be a reasonable employer instruction.'' The CFMEU is considering appealing the decision, stating it is committed to ''helping any of our members who may have issues with drugs or alcohol...That is why we have had a drug and alcohol policy since 1993. We believe the best way to move forward is through consensus in the industry.'' Master Builders Association of Victoria executive director Brian Welch responded: 'It's not only an important but a landmark decision for our industry.'' He said the problem of people turning up for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs was "endemic," while the CFMEU wants "quash" the issue every time is arises.
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Whistleblowing can have serious, long-term effects on peoples' well-being, Medical News Today reports. Published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, Australian researchers interviewed both whistleblowers and nurses who had been reported by whistleblowers. The researchers found that whistleblowing had a much more intense and long-lasting negative emotional effect on peoples' lives than previously understood. "Whistleblowing is an issue for all sectors, not just the medical profession" said lead author and researcher Dr Kath Peters. "By its very nature it may lead organisations to adopt a defensive stance to protect their own interests and cast those who blow the whistle as troublemakers. This can generate a hostile work environment and even lead to victimisation, ostracism, exclusionary behaviour, hostility and bullying." Key findings included that, "Participants described overwhelming distress, avoided social occasions and reported loss of confidence and insomnia," and that, "the whistleblowing event was all consuming for the nurses who took part in the study." Study co-author Debra Jackson said she hopes the research, "will lead to a much wider awareness of the effects that whistleblowing can have on individuals and the support mechanisms that organisations need to develop."
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New research suggests that there is a downside to always seeing the upside of things, The Australian reports. An experiment by Professor Tali Sharot, of the University College of London, examined peoples' estimates of their own odds of experiencing various unfortunate events. The researchers then asked participants for another estimate, after they were told their actual odds of such events occuring. The researchers found that when people estimated above the real odds of a negative event occurring, they readjusted their estimation - if the real odds of such an event occuring were lower than what they'd guessed. If, however, the real odds were far greater than what they'd guessed, and meant the participants were in more 'danger', they simply ignored the warning. But - only the participants identified as having an overly optimistic personality were likely to do this. "Our study suggests that we pick and choose the information that we listen to," said Sharot. "The more optimistic we are, the less likely we are to be influenced by negative information about the future...Seeing the glass as half full rather than half empty can be a positive thing - it can lower stress and anxiety, and be good for our health and well-being," she said. "But it can also mean that we are less likely to take precautionary action," thus placing optimists at an increased risk of harm.
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Workers who feel unfairly treated or victimised may be at an increased risk of physical and mental health problems, reports The Wall Street Journal. A new survey of 279 workplace research studies found that employees who believed their employer was unfairly handing out pay raises or promotions, or not sticking to commitments such as future job opportunities, were linked to increased stress, strain or chronic physical or mental problems. The mental health ailments included anger, hostility and cynicism, depression and anxiety, while the physical ailments included high cholesterol and heart attacks, higher body mass index and hypertension. These can lead to a range of costly chronic health conditions. US job satisfaction was rated as low as 11.6 per cent below pre-recession levels in 2008. While employees' perceptions of 'fairness' can vary widely - some may believe in a meritocracy, while others may believe rewards should be given to all, or those especially in need - the researchers emphasised the importance of promoting better communication between employers and employees, to avoid an increase in work-related health conditions.
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WorkCover NSW has launched a new online tool to help businesses estimate their annual workers' compensation costs. WorkCover NSW CEO, Lisa Hunt, said the Premium Estimator was designed to provide a service to employers where they were working – online. “With highly mobile workforces, business owners and workers are spending more and more time working online,” Ms Hunt said. “As any business owner will tell you, time is money, and the ability to easily get an estimate of your workers compensation premium will save both time and money. General Manager of Workplace Solutions at the NSW Business Chamber, Greg Pattison, said the Premium Estimator was an important step in improving business understanding of workers compensation. “Workers compensation premiums can be complex and difficult to understand,” Mr Pattison said. “The Premium Estimator gets inside the black box of workers compensation premiums which isn’t generally available to the average employer." Ms Hunt added that, “the Premium Estimator makes it easier for start-ups, businesses looking to diversify or those looking to expand, to check their workers compensation premium and is part of WorkCover’s customer-focused approach to helping NSW employers."
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A new study finds Australian workers among the hardest-working in the world, yet they are also among the least productive, The Age reports. An annual loss of $109 billion per year was attributed to this productivity slump. While Aussies work an average of 44 hours per week, the Ernst & Young survey of almost 2500 workers and bosses found that 18 per cent of the working day is spent on "work that wasted time and effort." Ernst & Young partner Neil Plumridge said that while, "we are not a nation of slackers," our productivity was the problem. ''The hours are good and the intentions are good, but we found an incredible wastage once we all get to work.'' The top reasons for this were found to be down to management issues (54 per cent), organisation structure (23 per cent), lack of innovation (15 per cent) and outdated technology (8 per cent). Alongside this comes the revelation that a seemingly-low 68 per cent of Australian workers felt, "proud to work for their employer," while 68 per cent believed their work was valued.
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Mental health experts say that boring jobs and dealing with the public can be just as stressful as having a job in the emergency services, The Border Mail reports. Boring and repetitious jobs can be just as stressful as more high-profile, high-stress occupations. “People believe police, ambulance, fire, health workers — people generally dealing with emergencies need support with work-related stress,” said Paul Terrell, Team Leader at Albury Wodonga Health's mental health service. “But boredom and repetition in the workplace can produce its own stresses as well, often just dealing with the public. And you don’t just stress less by deciding to stress less, you have to take steps to do something about it." Some tips for stressing-less include: going for a walk in your lunch break; sending an email to a fellow worker on a job well done; thinking of three positive things that happen each work day; avoiding too much caffeine; keeping a note pad to write down thoughts and stresses; and getting physical by exercising regularly. “There are [many] ways of doing it and its not a one size fits all approach, some people will get more stressed by not doing things but for someone else it is getting that job over and done with," said Terrell. “Finding ways of exercising, doing things differently or taking a break are just as important for your head as your heart.”
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Some back and neck specialists have coined the term "text neck" for the increasing number of cases of neck and back pain brought on by overuse of smartphones and laptops, Daily Mail reports. Technological improvements in mobile phones to allow internet, email and games applications have led to an increase in the amount of time people use these devices. This has led to posture issues with potentially damaging effects. "Imagine sitting on your ankle sideways for 10 minutes. It would feel stiff and sore when you returned it to its natural position. That is what people are doing with their necks," said chiropractor Rachael Lancaster. "We are not built to be sitting down hunched over screens," said physiotherapist Nicola Hunter said. "However, that is exactly what people are doing with their necks. If people continue to put their necks in these positions, the body will gradually adapt to the stresses. Because the head and neck move forwards, it will eventually lead to a reversal of the natural curve of the neck. Postural changes will then occur, which can lead to serious problems in this area." People can avoid such problems by taking regular breaks from texting; looking straight ahead every few minutes while using smartphones; rotating shoulders while keeping their arms by their sides to increase blood-flow to the shoulders; sitting up straight every time they text; and holding their phone a little higher when texting.
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Work-related stess is a significant risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), according to a new study, Work Health Safety Matters reports. The study also found that 'job control' reduced a worker's likelihood of reporting pain. Researchers at the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that work stress was one of the variables with the strongest influence on reported back and arm pain, with workers with arm pain particularly likely to report they were, 'sometimes', 'often', or, 'always' stressed. Interestingly, workers who were able to decide how to do their work were much less likely to report arm pain. Workers who reported having enough time to get their work done also resulted in fewer reports of back pain. The study, based on two "quality of life" surveys of 1564 working adults, found that like likelihood of arm and back pain increased when work stress, repetitive hand movements and heavy lifting were combined. Researchers said their findings will contribute to identifying targeted ergonomic and workplace interventons for MSDs.
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Our personal lives are the real victims of the gloomy economic climate, The Independent reports. Preliminary findings from a British report reveals that amid a culture of downsizing and long working hours, family life is being caught up in a vicious cycle of stress. The goverment funded report, by the Working Families and One Plus One charities, found that one in four workers "constantly" does more than their contracted hours, with a further one in five doing so "frequently." Nearly a third of employees suffer from anxiety or panic attacks directly caused by work stress, and more than half of workers admit to being exhausted and irritable at home. Almost a third of workers report "frequently" or "constantly" sacrificing family time because of work. One in thee workers don't get to eat with their family more than twice a week, and 86 per cent say they have lost out on time with their children. Half of workers often sacrifice exercise as a consequence of work stress, while a third blame the relentless pressure of work for drinking and smoking too much. The result? Twenty-seven per cent of employees feel less productive, 33 per cent are less engaged at work and 34 per cent are regularly distracted at work due to stress at home. "The interaction between family relationships and work can be a vicious cycle, with stress from each crossing over and damaging the other," said Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families. "It's a picture of a way of working that isn't doing us any good, either personally or with family relationships," she said.
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Referring patients with mental health problems to talking therapies potentially cuts the use of sick leave and healthcare services, Medical News Today reports. Evaluation of routinely collected healthcare data of over 152,000 patients examined the impact of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety on health service use and sick leave. The study compared people with and without mental health problems, and those that received talking therapies, focusing on the number of sick notes family doctors issued, antidepressant prescriptions, the number of people who used emergency care and outpatient clinics, and the length of hospital stays. The study found that people with common mental health problems were issued with ten-times more sick notes compared with those with no mental health problems. Those referred to talking therapies - in this case the UK's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) scheme - used fewer hospital services and were issued with less sick notes. "There were marked differences between those with [common mental health problems] and people referred to IAPT and the rest of the registered population," noted the authors. "At a time when there is pressure to control increasing health costs, this study suggests that IAPT may contribute to reducing health service usage."
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The SA Government has moved to end WorkCover's sole provider system, with the claims management contract now being put to tender with likely multiple providers, ABC News reports. Employers Mutual Limited has been WorkCover's sole claims agent since 2005, when the switch to a single manager from four was hoped to cut claims liability by up to $100 million per year after two years. Janet Giles of SA Unions supported the move away from a sole manager, saying, "I think it's universally accepted by everyone who has anything to do with workers compensation in this state that EML has not been a good performer, particularly in the way they've treated injured workers." Treasurer Jack Snelling has recommended the, "Government's preference [to] be a minimum of two providers." Independent MP Ann Bressington, however, has doubts increasing competition will improve the WorkCover system. "In the past we've had more than one insurance company handling WorkCover claims and injured workers have still been put through the wringer and the system has still worked against them," she said. The Government is also reportedly looking at the option of opening up WorkCover's legal services to competition.
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Keeping older Australians in the workforce is the only way to avoid an 'explosion' in the cost of the age pension, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. Age Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan is calling for age restrictions on workers' compensation and income insurance to be scrapped. ''Most people in their 60s and 70s would like to be in work, probably part time, but if people can keep a job after 65 they can't get workers compensation or income insurance,'' she said. "People don't want to employ people they can't get cover for.'' NSW and Western Australia are the only Australian states that don't have age limits on workers' comp. ''Although we hear a lot about the health issues for very old people we shouldn't forget there are plenty of people in their 60s, 70s and beyond who want to work and there shouldn't be these impediments,'' said Ms Ryan. ''Most people live healthy, vigorous lives until close to their time of death. Most people don't get dementia. Most people don't go into residential care. We have got this idea that when you're in your 60s and 70s you're a huge burden.'' Treasurer Wayne Swan said the government is committed to ''better incentives to work for students, single parents and pensioners to boost workforce participation and strengthen our economy."
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A new study has found that individuals in roles of power, but lacking status, have a tendency to engage in activities that demean others, Medical News Today reports. The study involved an experiment on groups of students in which one was a high-status "idea producer", while another was the low-status "worker." The high-status delegate was then asked to select activities from a list of 10 for the others to perform - some tasks were more demeaning than others. Researchers found that, "individuals in high-power/low-status roles chose more demeaning activities for their partners (e.g., bark like a dog three times) than did those in any other combination of power and status roles." This has implications for the workplace: especially middle management and RTW. "We predicted that when people have a role that gives them power but lacks status - and the respect that comes with that status - then it can lead to demeaning behaviors," noted researchers. "Put simply, it feels bad to be in a low status position and the power that goes with that role gives them a way to take action on those negative feelings." In order to counteract this effect, researchers suggested fostering respect for all. "Respect assuages negative feelings about their low-status roles and leads them to treat others positively."
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Further evidence against sitting all day has appeared, with a new study from The University of Sydney's school fo public health suggesting that the longer people sit down each day, the greater their chances of going to an early grave, reports The Age. A new study of over 200,000 people in NSW has found that those who sat for more than 10 hours per day had a 48 per cent greater risk of an early death, compared with more active people who sat for less than four hours per day. "If you think about a few hours of TV every day and driving to and from work and at work mostly sitting, it's not hard to get into that 10-11 hour-a-day range," said study co-author Professor Adrian Bauman. "What we have to do is work quite hard to undo that...People doing high amounts of physical activity, and that's an hour a day, are mostly offsetting the effects of sitting but few of us can get to that and struggle to reach the Australian recommended levels of half an hour (of exercise) a day," Professor Bauman said. "The more you sit in the day the more you should try and build in a few extra minutes of physical activity by walking to the bus stop or to the sandwich shop at lunchtime and using the stairs instead of the lift."
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It has been long held that shift work may increase the risk of cancer for workers, however new research suggests that modern shift work patterns may not be as potentially harmful as previously thought, Medical News Today reports. "Our study indicates that the now common rotating shift pattern of day-day-night-night may not disrupt circadian rhythm or melatonin production significantly," said lead author Anne Grundy. The hormone melatonin is linked to anti-oxidant and tumour-suppressant properties. The study tracked peak and overall melatonin levels of 123 female hospital shift workers during alternate day and night shifts, and found that overall dim light levels in the hospital at night caused little difference in peak melatonin levels in shift workers during the day or night. There were, however, recordings of raised melatonin levels as hospital lighting levels increased. "We've already seen a shift away from the older patterns of two weeks of days, two weeks of nights, and a short time off to more humane patterns of day-day-night-night then five days off, so it's possible that an intervention to combat the health risks of shift work has already occurred," said Ms Grundy. "However, the overall change in melatonin levels that we found may still be a concern."
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A new study has found that women who smoke heavily may experience more chronic musculoskeletal pain than their nonsmoking counterparts, Science Daily reports. Over 6,000 women were surveyed on their smoking habits and symptoms of chronic pain. Results showed that women who were daily smokers had more than double the odds of reporting at least one chronic pain syndrome, compared with non-smokers. Former smokers showed a 20 per cent increase, while occasional smokers showed a 68 per cent increase. Researchers suggested that smokers' acute pain may be more likely to develop into chronic pain in smokers because their normal protection and mechanisms are damaged by exposure to smoke. "It's possible that patients experiencing chronic pain could benefit from smoking cessation treatment in addition to the treatment for their pain," said researchers. "Similarly, it's possible that appropriate treatment of chronic pain could increase a smoker's chances of successfully quitting. Right now, more research is needed on these interventions."
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Internationally renowned RTW expert Dr Richard Pimentel is calling for employers to be more 'agressive and proactive' in RTW of people with disability, Work Health Safety Matters reports. Addressing last week's Comcare conference, Dr Pimentel suggested it is a myth that managers' reluctance to hire people with disabilities stems from their uncertainty as to whether the applicants would be able to adequately perform a role. Rather, Dr Pimentel said that, "employers lack confidence in their own ability to work with [people with disability]" and consequently must fill the "holes in their knowledge," of RTW for people with disability. "There's nothing wrong with people with disabilities, there's just something wrong with the way you react to them," he added. Dr Pimentel is an American veteran of the Vietnam war who was depicted in the 2007 film, Music Within. He suffered a severe brain injury that caused him to lose most of his hearing. His return to the US as a person with disability began his experience of disability discrimination and subsequent advocacy for people with disabilities.
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Fly-in fly-out workers are placing an unsustainable strain on essential services in local mining communities, potentially accelerating the spread of contagious illnesses, Brisbane Times reports. Senior medical officials in mining town Moranbah have warned of the trend in a submission to a new federal inquiry. “Continuing to mistakenly assert that non-resident workers do not place pressure on health care and other essential services is dangerous and short sighted in the extreme," said Drs Johann Scholtz and Reyno Nieuwoudt. The doctors state that the influx of FIFO workers as new patients has limited services available to regular patients, with one estimate suggesting there is a ratio of one doctor to as many as 2750 patients in Moranbah. “A further impact of the travel associated with non-resident mobile shift workers relates to the quick spread of diseases and viruses from far afield," warned the doctors. "Communal living at close quarters is another factor to bear in mind – contagious conditions such as conjunctivitis, influenza, gastroenteritis and whooping cough are easily spread through places where many people live closely together...In the past such outbreaks have wreaked havoc with the availability of appointments for the local community and the ability of medical services to cope."
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Deakin University researchers claim to have found a link between poor diet and a higher risk factor for mental health problems in adolescents, Science Alert reports. In a study of 3000 Australian adolescents, researchers "found that diet quality and mental health were linked, with healthier diets associated with better mental health." According to researchers, three-quarters of psychiatric illnesses begin before the age of 25 and the average age that depressive illnesses start is 13 years old. "We believe that diet may be an important environmental factor influencing the development of mental health problems during adolescence, when rapid growth makes good nutrition particularly important," researchers noted. The study also noted that this link wasn't explained by changes in physical activity levels or weight, nor by 'reverse causality' - i.e. the suggestion that diet is merely a reflection of the mental health states of adolescents. "We tested this idea, but did not find any evidence that this was the case," noted researchers.
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A new study found that patients with acute low back pain who were told to stay active - despite the pain - fared better than those who were told to limit their activity in line with their pain, reports Medical News Today. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg randomly advised 109 patients with acute severe low back pain to either "stay active even though it hurts," or, "adjust your activity to the pain." The participants kept a diary to record pain levels, day-to-day activities, levels of depression and a step-count. Despite having more pain, the active group recovered more quickly and did not feel depressed at the follow-up. "The other category, who had been advised from the very start to adjust their activity to their pain, were less mobile and felt slightly depressed compared to the patients who were active," says researcher Olaya-Contreras. This may be down to a number of things, including that some people with depression may experience pain more acutely. "I think that if you're suffering with acute low back pain you should try to remain as active as possible and go about your daily business as well as you can," said Olaya-Contreras. "If you don't keep moving, it's easy to get locked into a downward spiral, as inactivity combined with pain can, in a worst case scenario, turn into long-term disability and an inability to work that, in turn, can lead to depressed mood and more pain."
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A positive workplace culture is the key to employee engagement, Reuters Workplace Insight reports. “Happy employees are better employees – they look out for each other more,” said Dr Timothy Sharp, psychologist and founder of The Happiness Institute. Addressing Comcare's national conference in Melbourne on Septembner 12, Dr Sharp explained the link between happy employees and productivity, as well as good health. “Happy and positive workplaces are less likely to experience frequency and intensity of injuries than those that are not," he said. Stressful workplaces, said Dr Sharp, can create employee mental health deterioration that causes problems in the future. “We don’t cope well when we experience severe levels of stress." Dr Sharp warned against self-defeating attitudes and the "hedonistic teadmill" as sources of deep dissatisfaction, instead suggesting that “if we build on our strengths...you get a greater return on your investment."
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"Wellbeing workplaces" understand the link between employee "perks" and employee motivation, retention and productivity, The Herald Sun reports. Swisse Vitamins in Collingwood, Victoria, offer staff a range of perks for their 60-strong team, including muesli and toast, organic meals - such as seafood or vegetable risotto and rocket, pumpkin and sun-dried tomato salad, an espresso machine and weekly massages. This promotion of healthy lifestyle has had reportedly great results. "Our productivity is exceptional, and one part of the reason revenue was up substantially last year,"said Swisse cheif Radek Sali. Melbourne Business School leadership program director Clarance Da Gama Pinto, however, said such programs were rare due to the aftermath of the global financial situation creating "toxic" workplaces, focused on short-term results. The benefits of workplace wellbeing initiatives were further supported by Dr Tony Grant, Sydney University coaching psychologist, who said that depressed employees worked at only 40 per cent capacity and took more sick days.
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The Governor in the Executive Council has proclaimed 1 October 2011 for the commencement of the first stage of the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Amendment Act 2011 (the Act). The first stage: removes all aged based limits on workers' compensation entitlements; extends the safety net arrangement for workers awarded common law damages against uninsured employers; and includes various amendments of an administrative nature. The proclamation of the changes to the dispute resolution process is planned for 1 December 2011. This will allow time for administrative processes to be put in place to enable the implementation of the new dispute services. Changes to the calculation of weekly payments of compensation provisions in sections 123(2) to (7) of the Act have not been proclaimed at this stage. This decision was based upon concerns that the proposed amendments could result in unintended detriment to some workers. For more information please see the legislative review page on our website or contact Chris White on 9388 5512 or chris.white@workcover.wa.gov.au.
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Unhealthy and overweight workers are up to 12 per cent less productive than their healthy counterparts, costing companies millions of dollars, The Independent reports. At least one expert says that being an overweight worker should become as socially unacceptable as being unsafe or slack at work. "Health is an economic issue. It is a business strategy about being able to stay healthy and pick up the pace," said Professor Dee Edington, from the University of Michigan. "I bet nobody in a workplace says it's OK not to be safe or it is OK not to do quality work. What we have to get is health up to the same level, to say 'it is not OK not to be healthy around here because we need you working at 95 to 100 per cent efficiency'." But simply rather than telling staff to shape-up or ship-out, Edington says companies need to improve wellbeing in the workplace so as to encourage change. His suggestions include providing healthier eating options, more exercise opportunities and flexible work arrangements. "I think individual coaching is really the right way to make these things happen."
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New research has found potential cellular pathways by which racial discrimination exacerbates cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other age-related health problems, Science Daily reports. The US National Institute on Aging and the National Institutes of Health put forward a new hypothesis on why there were racial differences in disease prevalence. They found that African-Americans who suffer psychological symptoms from racial discrimination have higher levels of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress involves free radicals damaging cellular components including DNA, proteins and lipids. In this way, racial discrimination can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular problems, poor self-reported health and premature disease-related disability. "This is a preliminary report of an association between racial discrimination and oxidative stress," said researchers. "It is a first step to understanding whether there is a relationship between the two. Our findings suggest that there may be identifiable cellular pathways by which racial discrimination amplifies cardiovascular and other age-related disease risks. If increased red blood cell oxidative stress is associated with experiencing racial discrimination in African Americans, this could be one reason that many age-associated chronic disease have a higher prevalence in this group."
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Restorative justice - involving direct emotional expression between disputing parties - may be a superior process to mediation in the workplace, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Restorative justice is focused on the needs of victims and offenders, rather than solely on punishing the offender or satisfying legal principles. Guy Hall, associate professor from Murdoch University law school said that mediation was less effective than resorative justice in the workplace because restorative justice airs peoples' emotional responses to conflict, rather than requiring parties to 'put to bed' past greivances. "One of the downsides of our [workplace] is that we are so punitive," said Hall. "We focus so much on punishment we make it extremely difficult for anyone to admit wrongdoing, to take responsibility and say sorry. Because an admission of guilt will probably get you sacked.'' Hall said that poor leadership is often to blame for most workplace conflicts. 'We are probably all guilty at times of acting as innocent bystanders … but if you've got good, strong, healthy leadership, there's usually very little conflict. The culture of a workplace really is based on the behaviour of the employees' immediate supervisor.''
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The Community and Public Sector Union has responded to allegations of bullying within WorkSafe Victoria, alongside several past and current WorkSafe staff interviewd by The Age. Various current and former WorkSafe staff reflected on the recent allegations of bullying: "'We think the culture's rotten. I would welcome an inquiry and I would be prepared to give evidence...How can we tell other people how to deal with bullying in their workplaces when we don't?'' The CPSU has called for an inquiry into WorkSafe's culture, highlighting alleged widespread distrust of WorkSafe's approach to internal complaints. State Secretary Karen Batt said, "The current process means WorkSafe is unaccountable. When the regulator has the problem, where do you go? The staff at WorkSafe should have the same rights as other workers to have their health and safety rights addressed independently.'' WorkSafe chief executive Greg Tweedly denied WorkSafe had a bullying problem, suggesting employee complaints were more to do with recent restructuring. "It's a tough thing to change people's jobs and we try to do it with as much empathy as possible, but we are here to serve Victorians and so change is something we are always going to do," he said.
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"Unless they're out on a stretcher," says Professor Kim Burton, injured workers should be accommodated at work as soon after their injury as possible, Adelaide Now reports. Professor Burton addressed WorkCover SA's annual conference yesterday, explaining the need for injured workers to be allowed to heal on the job. "It's not so much how serious the injury is, it's how seriously it's perceived that may be the obstacle itself," Burton said. "Once it's in the workplace and in the workers comp context, there needs to be something done right at the beginning to help that person stay at work if they can...what we need to do is say...'what can we do to help you stay here?" Seventy per cent of workplace injuries are common health conditions, such as musculoskeletal injuries or mentall illnesses, which can become much worse when somebody puts work off for an extended period of time.
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Walking 10,000 steps a day and doing three gym sessions a week can make employees $2500 more productive for employers every year, The Age reports. Australian researchers measured components of brain function in workers who were required to walk 10,000 steps per day, plus undergo three resistance training sessions per week. Brain functions that were measured included the ability to plan, remember, simulate future scenarios and make decisions. Employee alertness and energy, anger and stress levels were also measured. After eight weeks, the study found a link between vigorous physical activity, and improved brain function and reduced stress levels. Improvements in brain function and physical health were translated into a dollar value using Harvard's Productivity Questionnaire, which showed that those who walked both the 10,000 steps and visited the gym contributed an additional $2500 extra productivity value to their workplace.
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More than 3,000 delegates from over 100 countries have gathered to discuss how to ensure a culture of safety and health at work amid uncertain global economic times, UN.org reports. The XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is a week-long meeting that will address the latest International Labour Organisation report on occupational safety and health, which shows an increase in the overall number of fatal work-related accidents and diseases increased between 2003 and 2008. "While it is too soon to tell what long-term effect [the global economic recession] has had on rates of accidents and ill-health, there is evidence that some of the recent advances in terms of promoting OSH [occupational safety and health] are being lost as enterprises struggle to remain productive," said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia. Topics discussed at the forum will include: comprehensive and proactive approaches to safety and health at work, social dialogue and partnerships on occupational safety and health, and new challenges in a changing world of work and an uneven global economic recovery.
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Walking is a cheap, simple way to exercise more and de-stress - and it also doubles as transport! The Age reports on Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing that more than one in five Australians prefer to walk as exercise, making it the most common form of physical activity. "All you need is two legs - you don't need expensive equipment or facilities," says Professor Adrian Bauman, of the school of public health, University of Sydney. Walking improves mood and brain function, blood pressure and cardiovascular health, while also reducing obesity, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Professor Bauman says that for walking to have a real effect, it should be continuous; at least an hour at a moderate pace. To lose weight, walking should be for an hour or more. ''The best way to increase activity is to habituate walking,'' he says. ''It's about building activity into your day and walking happens to be the activity most of us can do.'' Walking to work can be a great way of improving health and fitness - if your house is too far away, catch public transport some of the way.
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"Hunched shoulders, angled necks and wrists, and hands twisted like claws" may be one unintended outcome of the increase in prevalence of smartphones, laptops and tablets, New York Times reports. The fact that these devices don't meet the ergonomic requirements of a traditional computer system means that people using them face a greater risk of eye strain, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. The repetitive actions involved in using this new technology can lead to overuse of muscles and tendons, inflaming them and leading to pain in hands, shoulders, neck and back. There is also a further risk using touch screens for typing, because of the lack of cushioning available with a traditional keyboard. Excessive texting even has it's own dangers: De Quervain's tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the thumb tendons that inhibits peoples' ability to hold things. Ergonomics professor Alan Hedge offered some advice for using new electronic technology. "Match the technology to the task you want to perform,” he said. “If what you’re doing is a lot of typing, you need a keyboard. Don’t try to type ‘War and Peace’ with your thumbs.” Perhaps the most important advice for anybody using machines is: take breaks regularly.
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Work Health Safety Matters reports on seven ways to stay healthier at work, via Work Health Safety Matters. "Spending an average of 40 hours per week at work can be physically and mentally draining, but the workplace can also be unhealthy in other ways as well," says the report. "Experts say there are numerous things people can do to make their workplaces healthier." 1) Take a walk in the park: people can improve their working memory span by about 20 per cent after a 50-minute nature walk. 2) Surf the Web: those who use the Internet during a 10-minute break were found to be more productive and effective at their tasks. 3) Make your desk area a mini-gym: available space, desks and office furniture can double as exercise equipment. 4) Keep moving: deliver messages or packages in person and walk to things like copiers and the furthest bathroom. 5) Watch your posture: sit close to the workstation, keep monitors at eye-level, keep keyboard and mouse low and in front, and sit with legs at a 90-degree angle. 6) Plan ahead: bring your own meals and healthy snacks and eat at least every four hours. 7) Practice good hygeine: wash hands and prepare food properly.
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One in five public health workers have reported quitting their jobs because of "nasty bosses, workplace stress, or bullying and harassment," reports Perth Now. WA Health Department exit surveys dated from October 2010 to June 30 (obtained by The Sunday Times) said that of the 244 departing workers surveyed, 7.4 per cent reported quitting because of their "relationship with their manager/supervisor". Fourteen per cent said they would never work for the department again. Just over seven per cent reported leaving because of "workload and workplace pressure," while 5.4 per cent quit over, "harassment, discrimination and workplace bullying." Dissatisfaction with pay and conditions was cited as the definitive factor for a further seven per cent of staff who quit. "(I) had no performance reviews in five years, passive aggressive avoidance behaviours from line manager," reported one worker in their exit survey. "I often felt bullied by the Medical HOS [head of service] and not supported by the DON [director of nursing)]" said another. Eighty-six per cent of departing workers said they'd "consider" returning to the department, which Acting Health Minister John Day inferred as meaning, "overall, exiting employees have a positive working experience with WA Health."
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The 2010-11 Return to Work Monitor results are in: South Australia still has the lowest return to work rate in the nation and has the highest number of workers receiving compensation, Adelaide Now reports. The report shows SA with the lowest proportion of injured workers returning to work in 2010-11, at a rate of 80 per cent. This is the same as SA's rate last year, and compares with this year's national average RTW rate of 86 per cent. "[South Australia] performed poorly in keeping injured workers in paid employment once they returned to work, and employees also took longer to return after an accident than in other states," reports Adelaide Now. Return to Work Matters will be reporting on the recently released 2010-11 RTW Monitor data over the coming weeks.
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The first long-term study of the health impacts of the World Trade Center attacks and subsequent building collapse has found significant and chronic mental and physical health problems among first responders and recovery workers, Science Daily reports. The Mount Sinai Medical Center research evaluated over 27,000 police officers, construction workers, firefighters and municipal workers over the nine years since 9/11. It found a high incidence of conditions including asthma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sinusitis and gastroesophageal disorder. More than one in five of the responders had mustiple physical and/or mental health problems. "Several studies have evaluated the health impacts of 9/11, but this is the first long-term study to demonstrate the lasting burden of disease experienced by the brave men and women who responded in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center," said Juan Wisnivesky, MD, DrPH, Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine and lead author on the study. "Our findings underscore the importance of long-term monitoring and treatment of the rescue and recovery worker population."
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A number of Australia's top work health and safety experts have suggested the option of a single national insurance and compensation body, reports Kevin Jones of Safety At Work Blog. The speakers appeared at a recent Safe Work Australia workshop on recommendations for the next ten-year OHS strategy. Alongside this main OHS focus were suggestions for a combined insurance/compensation system similar to that of New Zealand's Accident Compensation Commission (ACC). "The argument was put that OHS laws and workplace obligations are blurring the regulatory delineation between work-related injuries and illnesses and those that occur outside work, particularly in the area of psychosocial issues," reported Jones. "This blurring should be reflected in one insurance/compensation claim being lodged regardless of where the incident occurred and that claim being processed by a body similar to New Zealand’s ACC." Jones said audience members agreed that this model would "result in considerable cost savings to small business, in particular, a sector which employs almost 95% of Australian workers." This model would also reduce government costs by utilising existing national social security services, and minimising claimants' stress-levels thanks to a centralised claims process.
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Minister for Industrial Relations Russell Wortley today announced a new round of scholarships to supplement ongoing research into the prevention of workplace injuries and illness in South Australia. A total of up to $70,000 will be made available through two scholarships this year in what will be an annual program. Mr Wortley says the scholarships are designed to encourage PhD candidates to focus their research projects on the prevention of work-related injury and illness.
As such, only applicants who have already been approved to pursue a higher degree by research (HDR) will be eligible. "The successful researchers will be able to access the workplace injury and illness claims data currently used by SafeWork SA to assist in their projects,” Mr Wortley says. "Firstly, they must meet the selection criteria set by the SafeWork SA Research Committee, which comprises representatives of the agency’s main Advisory Committee and three universities.” The deadline for applications is Monday, 7 November 2011, with details available from the SafeWork SA website.
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"Mobbing" - an emotional assault on a single worker by a group of others - should be a better-recognised form of bullying and needs to be referred directly to the Human Rights Commission, says the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, The Canberra Times reports. The ACT's public sector has reacted to recent workplace harassment claims by encouraging staff to speak out against bullying, but AMWU spokesperson Jane Timbrell said the act of mobbing also needs similar attention. The Canberra Times describes mobbing as, "recognised by experts as an emotional assault beginning when an individual becomes the target of disrespectful and harmful behaviour." Ms Timbrell referred to the case of whistleblower Debbie Scattergood, who was the victim of a mobbing campaign after reporting waste and mismanagement in a multimillion-dollar Territory and Munucipal Services contract four years ago. ''Nobody should have to put up with what Debbie had to put up with,'' sais Ms Timbrell. ''Therefore the AMWU requests that incidents of mobbing be taken out of the department and referred to the Human Rights Commission.''
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A recent SafeWork Australia report shows South Australian workers' compensation employer levy rates are the highest in the nation, Adelaide Now reports. The average South Australian employer levy rate for WorkCover is 3 per cent of payroll, compared with 1.3 per cent in the nation's cheapest states of Queensland and Victoria. Last month, Safe Work Australia released its charter for working South Australians, calling for the restoration of fairness to injured SA workers. This is, in part, a rebuttal to changes made by the Rann Government in 2008 that saw a reduction in injured worker benefits, in an attempt to lower employer levy rates. Opposition industry spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith, said, "The costs of our system are crushingly uncompetitive with every other jurisdiction...We should not be surprised that SA manufacturers and other ... businesses are struggling to compete."
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Former WorkSafe employee Jillian Ramsden was allegedly sacked just hours after lodging a compensation claim for bullying, The Herald Sun reports. Ms Ramsden was fired the next morning at 8am after lodging the claim, pertaining to what she described as, "a toxic environment at WorkSafe," and, "a wider cultural issue there." Ms Ramsden, who was the former WorkSafe health adviser, was told she was dismissed for "performance accountability," despite the fact that she had received no warnings and was promoted after just one month at WorkSafe. "I was warned by a colleague about how bad she [the alleged abusive colleague] was and I was told she will either love me or hate me," Ms Ramsden said. "I had no support. There is a total culture of fear there. God help you if you speak up to complain." Maurice Blackburn lawyer Josh Bornstein said, "This case will be a long, instructive and difficult journey for WorkSafe...If there is to be fundamental cultural change at WorkCover, it will be first necessary to expose its behaviour in this case to sustained external scrutiny by Fair Work Australia and the Federal Court."
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Nearly four in 10 sufferers of mental illness don't discolose their condition to their employers, reports The Australian. The SANE Working Life and Mental Illness study surveyed 520 sufferers of mental illness, gauging their opinion of workplace support for their conditions. Less than half (43 per cent) of peoples' managers were said to understand how mental illness affected people in the workplace, while only 30 per cent of sufferers reported having flexible working conditions. "Many people with a mental illness do not disclose their condition to employers, fearful they will lose their jobs, thus making it harder to access support," said the report. "This also applies to employees who are caring for a family member with a mental illness." "People with mental illness are already employed all around Australia, and if they aren't recognised and given support, good staff can be lost," said SANE Australia executive director Barbara Hocking. Bipolar disorder sufferer Nicci Wall highlighted the benefits of flexible working arrangements: "If I come in and can't focus, I can say to my boss I'm not functioning and she's quite happy for me to go home and make the time up. I tend to make time up rather than use sick leave, which I think should be for other standard illnesses like the flu and so forth."
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Say goodnight to the nightcap: new research shows that even a small amount of alcohol before bed can reduce the quality of sleep, ItsMyHealth.com.au reports. US and Japanese researchers found that alcohol interferes with the restorative sleep phase, leading to insomnia and other negative health effects. Participants took up to a single dose of alcohol 100 minutes before sleep and were monitored for eight hours. Researchers noted that, "although the first half of sleep after alcohol intake looks good on the EEG, the result of the assessment regarding the autonomic nerve system (both parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems) shows that drinking leads to insomnia rather than good sleep." This challenges the widely-held belief that alcohol can aid sleep or sleep initiation. The full paper, "Alcohol Has a Dose-Related Effect on Parasympathetic Nerve Activity During Sleep" will be published in the November 2011 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
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Much time and effort has been put into researching the connection between the mind and the body when it comes to pain. There is now no doubt that psychological health plays a large part in injured workers remain at or return to work outcomes. Dr Lorimer Moseley and Associate Professor Eoin Killackey will discuss different aspects of psychological health as it relates to the work place in their sessions at the sixth annual WorkCover conference, Staying Connected, to be held in Adelaide next month. With a focus on how pain works in the brain, Dr Moseley will explore the difference between pain and actual tissue damage, and the ways in which pain can hinder a successful return to work. He will share what he has discovered through his studies into pain and the body, and offer a new approach to return to work, which involves retraining the body after an injury. Associate Professor Killackey will then explore mental illness and the ways in which people with mental illness can be supported in their return to work. He also looks at the barriers to participation in the workforce for people with a mental illness. An important aspect to the rehabilitation of someone with a mental illness is reengaging them in the workforce in a meaningful capacity.
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The UK’s Spinal Research Unit Director at the University of Huddersfield, Professor Kim Burton, is in Adelaide next month for WorkCoverSA’s sixth annual conference Staying Connected, as a keynote speaker presenting ‘Recovering better at work – overcoming the obstacles’. Professor Burton is a well respected osteopath, with a keen interest in the way attitudes of injured workers, their colleagues, managers, families and friends affect successful return to work outcomes. The better connected the injured worker the quicker and better the recovery in most instances. Burton’s studies suggest that workers who remain connected with their workplace and others in their social circle are more inclined to recover and return to or remain at work. Burton's session demonstrates ways managers and employers can help injured workers get back to work quickly and safely. Delegates will leave the conference with a better understanding of some of the elements that combine to achieve best possible return to work outcomes. Staying Connected, WorkCover’s annual conference will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 14 September.
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The cost of workplace bullying reaches far beyond the immediate impact on a worker’s productivity and feelings of self-worth. While falling victim to bullying is not a physical injury, the psychological effects can be devastating. While the bullied worker feels the effects most immediately, its impact is far more widespread: individual’s families, co-workers and employers can all be affected by it. So it is important for organisations to take steps to ensure bullying does not occur. Trainer and mediator Sheila Freeman is in Adelaide next month to present an interactive and entertaining workshop that deals with managing bullies and those who are bullied in the workplace. With real-life examples, Sheila will discuss the various definitions and costs of workplace bullying. They also highlight some of the reasons that it is important for organisations have bullying policies in place. They identify types of bullying and discuss the effects bullying has on victims. This session is for anyone wanting to ensure their workplace is free from bullying, and for those seeking techniques for managing bullying in the workplace. Staying Connected, WorkCover’s sixth annual conference will be held at the Convention Centre on 14 September. More details at www.workcover.com/conference
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Closing the gap between male and female workforce participation would boost economic growth by at least 13 per cent, reports The Age. The economic benefit of this would be about $180 billion, highlighting the error in considering equal pay, parental leave, childcare, flexible working hours, female career paths and political and executive representation as simply women's or social policy issues. ''Australia is only two-thirds of the way to unlocking the hidden value of the female labour pool," said Goldman Sachs chief economist Tim Toohey. Despite this, Australia's pay gap is as wide as it was two decades ago - a discrepancy that cannot be explained by gaps in ability nor education. In fact, Australian women are more likely than men to graduate from university and Australia ranks highest in world women's educational attainment. "Much of the national investment in education and training is effectively wasted at a time when employers are crying out for skilled labour," comments The Age Opinion editorial. Scandinavian countries that have higher female workforce participation have done so through investing in provisions for parental leave, childcare, family-friendly work conditions and female leadership roles.
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Be a non-smoker, eat well, exercise regularly and don't overdo the alcohol - you'll not only enjoy fewer chronic health problems, but live longer too, Medical News Today reports. A new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that neglecting these four healthy lifestyle factors is the major cause of illness and death related to chronic illness. The CDC used health survey data of 16,958 people and found that those who practiced all four healthy lifestyle factors were 66 per cent less likely to die early from cancer, 65 per cent less likely to die early from a major cardiovascular disease and 57 per cent less likely to die early from other causes - compared with people who practiced no low-risk lifestyle behaviours. The CDC suggests: avoiding tobacco - either not starting smoking, or quittting ASAP; limiting alcohol to no more than two drinks per day for men, or one drink per day for women; improving diet to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy, and seafoods, and cutting down on salt and foods high in sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, added sugar and refined grains; and increasing exercise: do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (e.g. brisk walking) five days per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (e.g. jogging, race walking) three days per week.
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New research contradicts the suggestion that working night shift may raise a pregnant woman's risks of preterm labor, or giving birth to an underweight baby, Reuters reports. In a meta-study of 23 studies - each involving anywhere from 700 to more than 35,000 women - researchers found that overall, shift work was not strongly linked to the risk of preterm labour, compared with a standard 9 to 5 shift. Night work did slightly increase the risk of having an underweight baby, but researchers believe this risk is "likely to be small." Prior studies of the relationship between womens' shift-work and their reproductive function have had conflicting findings. This may be partly to do with the fact that women who do shift work also make less money, have higher smoking rates and generally less healthy lifestyles than women in a standard work week. "The evidence currently available about the investigated birth outcomes does not make a compelling case for mandatory restrictions on shift-working in pregnancy," said researchers. "In the meantime, we suggest that, it would be prudent...to permit pregnant women who wish to do so, to reduce their exposure to shift and night working."
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The WA state parliament has passed important amendments to the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981. Changes include: the removal of age-based limits on workers' compensation entitlements; an extension of the workers' compensation safety net to enable workers employed by uninsured employers to receive common law entitlements (under certain circumstances. The amendments also make it mandatory for all employers to have insurance covering both statutory and common law liabilities); a restructure of the dispute resolution system; and addressing legislative anomalies and inefficiencies. Most of the amendments come into effect on 1 October, 2011. Changes to the dispute resolution process will take effect from 1 December, 2011. More info.
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According to NT News, four recommendations of a 2009 internal review of NT WorkSafe have been kept "secret" by the authority. The review made 17 recommendations for improvement, yet only 13 were publicly acknowledged by WorkSafe - until prompted by NT News. WorkSafe's executive director Laurene Hull maintained that the four recommendations were "not released to staff as they were either irrelevant, fell outside the scope of the consultancy, compromised staff privacy or were based solely on the author's point of view." Yet, NT News suggests the four recommendations were ignored because they, "found executive director Laurene Hull should get coaching to be a better boss, apologise to staff for a door fiasco and relinquish power over "independent'' reviews into her decision making." According to NT News, one of the report's recommendations stated Ms Hull was, "driven and dedicated, she tended to micromanage, could be intimidating, and made 'barbed comments'." CLP politician John Elferink suggested WorkSafe was dysfunctional and questioned Ms Hull's management, but Attorney General Delia Lawrie's spokesman Patrick Hastwell responded to this as a "witch-hunt."
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Many people assume narcissists are natural-born leaders - thanks to their confidence, dominance, authority and self-esteem - yet researchers think the opposite is true, Mecical News Today reports. Narcissists are often promoted because of their percieved leadership attributes, yet researchers of a recent study say narcissists lack an essential element of sucessful group decision-making and performence: the free and creative exchange of information and ideas. "The narcissistic leaders had a very negative effect on their performance. They inhibited the communication because of self-centeredness and authoritarianism," said author Barbora Nevicka. "Narcissists are very convincing. They do tend to be picked as leaders. There's the danger: that people can be so wrong based on how others project themselves. You have to ask: Are the competencies they project valid, or are they merely in the eyes of the beholder?"
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Uncivil colleagues have a negative impact reaching much further than just their own workplace, Science Daily reports. This behaviour affects not only the family of an employee who is poorly treated, but their partner's workplace as well. "Employees who experience such incivility at work bring home the stress, negative emotion and perceived ostracism that results from those experiences, which then affects more than their family life - it also creates problems for the partner's life at work," said study author Merideth J. Ferguson, Ph.D. "This research underlines the importance of stopping incivility before it starts so that the ripple effect of incivility does not impact the employee's family and potentially inflict further damage beyond the workplace where the incivility took place and cross over into the workplace of the partner."
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More employers should be offering job candidates with a disability "a real opportunity to demonstrate capacity", says federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes, reports HR Daily. Presenting to the 19th Annual Labour Law Conference and the Australian Network on Disability Conference, Mr Innes said that labour force participation among people with disability is about 54 per cent, compared with 90 per cent for people without disabilities. He suggests employers positively discriminate in favour of people with disability in order to redress the workforce participation imbalance. Among a range of suggestions for employers, Mr Innes advises that "merit selection" criteria should only relate to the inherent requirements of a job. He uses the example of a talented computer programmer with Asperger's syndrome who couldn't get a job because his poor communication skills let him down in an interview. "But how many interviews do computer programmers do during their day-to-day job? Why test him on something he'll never have to do again?" asks Innes.
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The prospect of a High Court challenge to SA WorkCover legislation concerning injured workers' rights to appeal has stalled, Indaily reports. As RTW Matters' Sean Gleeson previously explained, injured workers are currently denied the ability to have legal representation at medical review panels, which can terminate their entitlements after 130 weeks. However, two recent decisions by the Full Bench of the SA Supreme Court has upheld WorkCover's position, for now. In one case (Davey), writes Den Ryan, the Supreme Court, "upheld WorkCover’s power to terminate a worker’s entitlements after 130 weeks on compo without allowing an opportunity to plead a case for their continuance." In Yaghoubi & Campbell, Ryan writes, "the Full Bench found WorkCover had the power to refer cases to a medical panel but the panel’s opinion about a “capacity to work” was not binding on the Workers Compensation Tribunal." The likelihood of an appeal is low, said Stephen Dolphin, lawyer for Yaghoubi & Campbell. WorkCover CEO Rob Thomson also said, “There is no basis for WorkCover to appeal in either case [in the High Court]."
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Constant bitterness can affect a person's health, according to new research, Medical News Today reports. Concordia University researchers examined the relationship between failure, bitterness and quality of life. "Persistent bitterness may result in global feelings of anger and hostility that, when strong enough, could affect a person's physical health," said professor Carsten Wrosch. Wrosch has recently identified failure as one of the most frequent causes of bitterness, which is often associated with anger and recrimination. While regret is about self-blame, bitterness that is harboured for a long time, "may forecast patterns of biological dysregulation (a physiological impairment that can affect metabolism, immune response or organ function) and physical disease." If an individual who experiences failure can find other ways to fulfil their goals, they can avoid bitterness and it's potential health effects. "In order to deal with bitter emotions there may need to be something else required to enable a person to overcome the negative emotion - that something is forgiveness," said Wrosch. This has important implications for injured workers and their relationships with employers, claims agents and treaters.
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WorkCover NSW is conducting a series of webinars to inform businesses of the impending implementation of national OHS laws, Australasian Bus News reports. Five interactive webinars will be held, each focusing on different aspects of the new laws, including the role of health and safety representatives, officers and volunteers, changes for small business and amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. “From 2012, new health and safety legislation will be introduced in NSW. Under the new arrangements, all jurisdictions are harmonising their work health and safety laws and these webinars will help business develop a greater understanding of their impact,” said John Watson, General Manager of WorkCover's Work Health and Safety division. “All you need is a computer with an internet connection to participate in the webinars, so we’re encouraging all employers and workers wanting to learn how the new laws affect their workplace to go online and register.” Webinars will be held at 11am, between August 11 and September 7. You must preregister to take part - at this link.
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Sex discrimination complaints made by men have reached a higher number than those made by women, reports The West Australian. Figures from the State's Equal Opportunity Commission reveal an increase in sex discrimination allegations lodged by men last financial year. Equal Opportunity Commissioner Yvonne Henderson put this trend down to men becoming increasingly aware of their treatment by employers and service providers. "Since the 1991-1992 financial year, complaints made by men in general have increased from 29 per cent to 46 per cent while complaints by women have dropped slightly," said Ms Henderson. "Men are now more likely to say 'No this is wrong and I am going to lodge a complaint about it'." However, there were still more women alleging sexual harassment in 2010-11, but sexual harrassment complaints by men had also increased by 4 per cent. Ms Henderson said common complaints from men involved those who felt they'd been discriminated against in job applications, or had been denied access to a bar on the basis of their sex. Paul Pule, secretary of Men's Advisory Network put this change down to an "increased emotional vocabulary of men."
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The number of Tasmanians injured at work last year increased by around 5 per cent, reports The Mercury. 448 more workers were injured last year compared with the previous year, putting the final tally at 9721 workplace injuries. Half of the injuries were traumatic joint, ligament, muscle and tendon injuries, and about 70 per cent of those were soft-tissue injuries such as sprains and strains. WorkCover Tasmania board member Kevin Harkins noted the increase and emphasised the need for workers to attend "WorkSafe Tasmania Month" training activities to help prevent injuries. Mr Harkins said it was employers' responsibility to give workers the time off to attend training sessions. "All Tasmanians are encouraged to get involved by signing up to attend one of the many free workplace health and safety-related workshops," he said.
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Figures reveal public servants are taking more than twice as much sick leave compared with the average Australian worker, The Mercury reports. The Australian Public Service Commission State of the Service report found that 30 per cent of federal agencies had an average absence rate above 12 days in 2009-10, compared with 9.8 days for the average Australian. One agency reported empoyees taking an average of 23.5 days leave. According to the report, around 75 per cent of unplanned leave is sick leave, followed by carer's leave (13 per cent), compensation leave (6 per cent) and miscellanious other leave (4 per cent). Paul Dundon of Direct Health Solutions - who provide absence management services for government agencies - alleged there is, "a culture of entitlement and sick leave abuse in the public sector," and that, "it's a scandal because they're not managing it." He puts this down to a "failure of leadership," which costs the economy $30 billion a year.
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In a recent survey of 2,250 employers, only 56 per cent agreed that the financial benefits of investing in worker health and wellbeing outweighed the costs, Health Insurance Magazine reports. The UK Department for Work and Pensions Research Report No 750 – "Health and well-being at work: A survey of employers" - also found that two-thirds of employers had not taken any actions to assist employees with health problems to stay in, or return to, work. Only a quarter of employers recognised sickness absence as a barrier to productivity, while 21 per cent still had no system for measuring sickness absence. 61 per cent of employers did offer flexible working arrangements, such as flexi-time, work from home and job sharing. 83 per cent of employers did not provide stress management advice and support, with half thinking their employees would not want them to intervene in health and wellbeing matters. When asked to rate the importance of various priorities, employers listed "improving employee health and wellbeing" second-to-last. The report can be found on the DWP website.
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Projections show that over the next 70 years, the growth rates of people with a severe disability will be between two and three times population growth, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) would allow all people with a diagnosed disability to access funding and administer it independently - without the need for a third party organisation. "An NDIS would ensure people living with disability will have barriers to participate in the workplace removed and gain opportunities for social participation," writes John Della Bosca. If we do nothing, he warns, "we condemn tens of thousands of Australians with a disability to poverty, missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. And the nation will miss out on the productive potential of people with a disability and their families. Disability will ultimately cost the community far more as other systems such as health, mental health, housing, welfare and the criminal and juvenile justice services bear the brunt of a leaderless, short-sighted approach."
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One in three rural and regional workers take at least one day off work every few months because they feel stressed, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, reports Australasian Transport News. Research by Medibank Health Solutions reports one of the major drivers of this stress leave as due to unrealistic work and a lack of work-life balance. While almost one in five workers take a day off every month, less than a third of employers were reported to have a support program for workers dealing with mental health issues. “While a lot of time and money is invested in providing a safe physical work environment, the effect that workplace pressures have on an employee’s mental health is being overlooked at a huge cost to employers,” said Matthew Cullen, Medibank General Manager. The repercussions of stigma are also a barrier, Cullen says. “The fear of colleagues finding out is big concern for employees as there is still a negative stigma associated with mental health issues and people think that admitting to suffering from depression or anxiety may harm their chances of career progression...As a result, we now see many companies outsourcing their workplace support programs to assure staff that their confidentiality will be protected and that they have access to a quality service.”
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People with symptoms such as pain, weakness or diziness that can't be explained by an underlying disease may be helped by a new type of therapy, Medical News Today reports. "People with these symptoms make up one-third of all clinic visits, but the outcomes are poor," said study author Michael Sharpe, MD. While intense cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms, distress and disability in people with these symptoms, people often resist referrals to mental health services. Researchers developed a self-help style workbook that was based on CBT. Patients were given the workbook and had up to four half-hour sessions guiding their use of the book, over three months. After this period, those who received the workbook were twice as likely to report improvements in their overall health than those who did not receive the book. "Cognitive behavioral therapy-based guided self-help may be a new and potentially useful first step in improving the management of these challenging symptoms," Sharpe said. "This approach needs further evaluation but can be a potentially effective and cost-effective first step toward providing more help for these often neglected patients."
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Despite setting aside time for regular exercise, people who lead a predominantly sedentary lifestyle face an increased risk of chronic diseases, Medical News Today reports. A recent study found that regular movement throughout the day, even for those who regularly exercise at allocated times, will reduce peoples' risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease. "If people spend the majority of their time sitting, even with regular periods of exercise, they are still at greater risk for chronic diseases," said author John Thyfault. "If people can add some regular movement into their routines throughout the day, they will feel better and be less susceptible to health problems." "Everyone should try to take at least 10,000 steps a day," said assistant professor Scott Rector. "It doesn't have to happen all at once, but 500 to 1,000 steps every few hours is a good goal. Small changes can increase the number of steps people take in their daily routines. Changes might include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to a coworker's office rather than calling, or planning time for short walks throughout the day."
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New research shows that workers' financial and domestic problems become inceasingly worse in the years following settlement of their claims for painful work back-injuries, particularly for those on lower incomes or under 35 years of age, Medical News Today reports. The research examined 10 years of court records - five years prior to claim settlements and five years after - to study the impact of claim settlement on major life disruptions. "Regardless of the settlement that you receive, if you continue to experience pain, our findings indicate you will often get worse over time - worse in ways that can lead to the loss of a home, lead to family disruptions, and even lead to divorce," said author Raymond Tait, Ph.D, professor of psychiatry at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. "Taken together, the pattern of results raises ethical, medical and legal questions regarding the social justice implications of the current workers' compensation processes."
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WorkSafe has launched its new return to work campaign, entitled, "Returning to work sooner can be the best medicine." Promoting the campaign, WorkSafe emphasised the growing body of evidence finding, "long-term work absence, work disability and unemployment harmful to physical and mental health and wellbeing," and that "for most individuals,
working improves health and wellbeing and reduces psychological distress." RTW statistics cited show that the chance of a person ever returning to work following an injury are 70 per cent if off work for 20 days, 50 per cent if off work 45 days and 35 per cent if off for 70 days. A new RTW site features tools and resources, campaign videos, information on RTW awards, and interviews with campaign faces Michael Klim (swimmer) and Robert Murphy (AFL footballer).
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A child who experiences a psychological adversity or a mental disorder has a higher chance of developing a chronic physical condition later on, Medical News Today reports. New research from the University of Otago, New Zealand, found that childhood mental disorders anxiety and depression were linked to one of three chronic pain conditions in adulthood: frequent or severe headache, chronic spinal pain, or osteoarthritis. Physical abuse in childhood was linked with chronic spinal pain, headache, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, asthma and heart disease. "These results are consistent with the hypothesis that childhood adversities and early-onset mental disorders have independent, broad-spectrum effects that increase the risk of diverse chronic physical conditions in later life," researchers noted.
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Australia's first Age Discrimination Commissioner, Susan Ryan, wants to change the "cultural stereotype" that older people are no longer useful to society, The Australian reports. "We all know older people who are capable of making a huge contribution to both work and society in general," Ms Ryan said. "Older people's health and wellbeing improves when they are engaged in the workplace." The Age Discrimination Commissioner explained that employing older workers has far-ranging benefits. "Enabling them to work for longer is a win-win. Employers retain their skills, the government gets national participation and productivity levels up, and the people themselves are ready and able to contribute."
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People who employ strategies such as hunour to cope with the challenges in life are less likely to suffer from mental ill-health, Canberra Times reports. A study divided 6382 people into different age groups: 28 to 32, 48 to 52 and 64 to 68. Those in the 20s and 40s brackets using "positive reframing or humour" were less likely to experience mental health impairment. ''These effects seemed stronger for the 28-32-year-olds, where, for example, 14.9 per cent of users of positive reframing experienced moderate to severe mental health impairment, compared to 34.8 per cent of persons who used it little or not at all," said researchers. Using alcohol or other drugs to assist in coping were found to be detrimental. "In the 20s cohort, where 37.1 per cent of persons using substances to cope experienced mental health impairment, compared to 16.6 per cent of persons using this style little to not at all." The report will be used to help develop government mental health policies and programs.
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Recent amendments to the medical tables that determine the severity of a person's disability will see an end to obesity being a claim option, Daily Telegraph reports. Instead, people will be assessed on how the condition affects their ability to work. "The new tool will make sure people applying for the disability support pension will be assessed based on what they can do and not what they can't do," said Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin. "I want to see people who have some capacity to work doing so. Work provides purpose and dignity and a greater sense of achievement and pride." A Centrelink study of claims shows that the new tables would have found 38 per cent of applicants from the first half of this year ineligible. People now deemed ineligible for disability support will be directed to Newstart assistance, where more of those with "mild" disabilites will be encouraged to work.
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Mental health conditions are behind the longest work absences, The Age reports. Recent ABS Australian Social Trends data reveals that 55 per cent of people suffering stress or other mental conditions take an average of 5 or more days off work in a row. Safe Work Australia figures suggest workers with work-related mental health problems take more days off, estimating an average of 10.8 weeks off a year. A recent study by the Centre for Applied Psychological Research at the University of South Australia found that workers with "mild levels" of depression take twice as many sick days off as their colleagues. About 20 per cent of surveyed workers were found to be suffering mild depression. Centre director Professor Maureen Dollard said the "relentless drive" of productivity increases is causing stress conditions, and managers need to be more aware of their workplace's psychosocial safety climate. "The quantity of work, rather than the quality of it...It's taking its toll. Managers are after short-term productivity gains and don't really value the worker any more.''
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The majority of NSW smokers and non-smokers would support a ban on cigarette breaks at work, and banning smoking outside building entrances, reports The Canberra Times. A Cancer Council NSW study found that 85 per cent of people supported bans on smoking during work hours, including 74 per cent of smokers themselves. Study co-author Raul Walsh said that in the future, smokers would likely be allowed to smoke in their lunch breaks - provided they are away from the work premises entrance - but that "the idea that having special breaks to go out and smoke [will be seen as] a bit bizarre.'' Professor Walsh said workplace smoking bans helped lower general cigarette consumption and improve quit rates. One study he cited found smokers spent about 64 minutes per day on smoking breaks. About 4.9 million people worldwide die every year as a result of smoking.
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Is stress the scourge of modern times or an ailment invented by therapists to medicalise normal human reactions? That's the question being asked by BBC News in the debate over whether measuring stress levels is useful or makes matters worse. "Stress is one of the biggest factors in absenteeism. We distinguish between pressure which can be a positive, motivational factor to you doing your job well, and stress which is the adverse reaction that people have to excessive pressure," said Helen McGill, for the UK Health and Safety Executive. But will being able to measure their own physiological stress levels with consumer kits really help people get to the root of their stress problem? "Stress is a clinical diagnosis," says Dr Mark Porter. "It's similar to the way you don't have a blood test for depression. These kits may tell you something in isolation but they need to be interpreted properly." Angela Patmore, author of "The Truth About Stress", believes all stress testing is harmful. "The whole thrust of stress management is to medicalise what is a normal human emotion. It makes people become hyper-vigilant and anxious, and display all the symptoms of fear. They begin to examine themselves and start thinking they have a mental illness."
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There has been a 54 per cent increase in mental stress claims since 2006-07 according to Comcare, reports Kevin Jones of Safety At Work Blog. "Clearly this trend could have serious consequences for employees and employers through serious health issues and a significant loss in productivity," said Work Health and Safety General Manager Neil Quarmby. "The analysis shows that while work pressure was previously the main cause of serious mental stress claims, in the last 12 months, the proportion of serious mental stress claims related to harassment or workplace bullying has increased to a level equal to that of work pressure." While an increased awareness of workplace bullying is partly responsible for the increase in claims, Jones writes that, "much more analysis and much broader analysis is required...The complexity of the issue of workplace mental health is illustrated by the connections above between workplace bullying, workplace stress, work pressure (workload), and harassment. Each of these elements are different, occur from different sources and are managed in different ways. It is a trap for these issues to be grouped under a collective term that may misrepresent them."
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Multinational corporations plan to implement a greater range of workplace health programs within the next few years, reports Edmonton Journal. Research company Towers Watson reported three-quarters of surveyed companies saying workplace health and promoting health and wellbeing is earmarked as a strategic priority this year and next. 87 per cent said it will be a higher priority in the next couple of years. 54 per cent of companies said their health programs are designed to demonstrate their continued interest in employee wellbeing, resiliency and stress management. 52 per cent said the initiatives also help control rising healthcare costs. "Given the variety of health systems and market practices around the world, the need for a global workforce health strategy has never been greater," said Francis Coleman, senior global consultant at Towers Watson. The ageing workforce also factored: "Employers want to keep those people at work more and more, doing phased-in retirement as opposed to getting them out (of the workforce)," said work health expert Wendy Poirer. "The general rule is that about 20 per cent of the workforce drives 80 per cent of the health, drug and disability costs...It's also making sure that those gen X-ers and Y-ers are paying some attention to their health . so they don't become the next wave of chronic problems."
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New research suggests that blue-collar workers are much more likely to work past 65 than white-collar workers, and are much more likely to suffer from conditions such as arthritis, reports Medical News Today. Researchers found that at all ages, blue-collar workers are in worse health than white-collar workers. By age 65, 22 per cent of blue-collar workers with arthritis remain in the workforce, compared with 19 per cent of white-collar workers. 16 per cent of blue-collar workers are over 65, while 14 per cent of white-collar workers work past 65. Blue-collar workers also have more severe disease than their white-collar counterparts, and also have 11 fewer years of healthy life compared with 14 for white-collar workers. "The increasing age of the U.S. workforce presents new challenges for government, employers and working families," said researcher Peter Muennig, MD, MPH. "As the population ages in the face of expanding budget deficits, we face politically difficult choices if the U.S. is to prevent significant declines in its standard of living."
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An alliance of 50 charities has criticised the UK government's 'Welfare for Work' policy, claiming it feeds a negative attitude towards people with disabilities and will incite violence towards them, reports The Guardian. In an open letter to the work and pensions secretary, the charities questioned the government's quarterly release of statistics detailing the numbers of claimants on diability benefits who've been turned down because they have been deemed able to work. "The language portrays disabled people as scroungers, as lazy – a drain who are not playing their part and making a contribution. It has led to an increase in hate crimes against disabled people, victimisation and reinforcement of very old stereotypes and prejudices," said Jaspal Dhani, cheif executive of UK Disabled People's Council. The charities said four out of 10 of those denied disability benefits are granted it on appeal, but this fact is not widely publicised by the government. The letter claims the government, "highlights the people whose applications failed – implying high levels of fraud and unnecessary claims...The fact is that eligibility criteria for this benefit are set incredibly high, while flaws in the assessment mean many people with a significant level of impairment are declared fit for work....This partial picture feeds the tabloid media's negative narrative on 'benefits scroungers', and these releases in turn have an impact on the public – and therefore employers' – perception of disability and disabled people."
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The number of complaints of bullying reported to WorkSafe Victoria have more than doubled in the past year, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. A spike in complaint numbers followed immediately after the Brodie Panlock case finding, yet despite this surge, WorkSafe figures suggest that there's not been an increase in the incidence of bullying. Only 10 per cent of the 6000 bullying complaints were referred on to the bullying response unit, and of those referrals, one in 10 resulted in further inquiries. However, many of the complaints were referred to other organisations such as Fair Work Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission. "We are seeing the term bullying used quite loosely...to describe something that has 'gone against me' or 'that I haven't liked,'' said WorkSafe's Ian Forsyth. "We're certainly not saying that these people aren't suffering from some form of ill treatment or some form of injustice or that they're not genuinely feeling that they've been disadvantaged or put under pressure. But in the vast majority of incidents these types of behaviours which they might describe as bullying are not going to meet the criteria for us to investigate or prosecute.''
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The term 'workplace culture' often invokes visions of management lectures and corporate-speak, which risk turning people away from the real issues, writes Jenna Price, for The Canberra Times. Yet, workplace culture remains a very important factor that has far-reaching ramifications. "One of the fascinating aspects of the whole News of the World fiasco is the way that we have all sought to find the one person who can take responsibility," writes Price. "And it's true, you can always chase an individual act down to, yes, an individual...But the entire group of people involved in the decision making acts the way it does because of the culture." Brian Martin of the University of Wollongong says there are three ways people act when something is wrong with workplace culture: bystanders, those who join-in and those who act to change things. Martin blames our inability to act partly on our "highly individualistic" society.
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Women who make the most of maternity leave are financially penalised for doing so, according to recent research, The Age reports. The Australia Institute found that women returning to the workforce post-maternity leave receive a lower hourly pay rate than those female workers who had no career break. After one year back at work, women who took maternity leave earn 4.4 per cent than their previously equally-paid colleagues. By the third year, they could earn up to 12.3 per cent less. The Australia Institute's report, "The wage-penalty effect: The hidden cost of maternity leave" , found that women paid an average 'wage penalty' of $1566 in 2009 because of slower wages growth after returning from maternity leave. ''In effect, due to the wage penalty women will be receiving just 15 weeks of paid parental leave, not 18,'' said David Baker, A.I. research fellow. "The paid parental leave scheme is very welcome," said Baker, "but complementary policies need to be developed, like keeping women more connected to to the workforce during leave.''
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The line between work and home-life is becoming increasingly blurred, writes psychologist Eve Ash, for SmartCompany. "There was once a time when people could leave the office and their work behind, forget about it until the following day when they arrived at work refreshed and ready to put on their work hat," said Ash. "That is no longer the case. We finish work, make calls on the way home, answer a few emails before dinner and if we’re lucky we will sit down for an hour or two in the evening before doing it all again the next day." Though this may appear to be a boon for business, Ash warns that this can lead to home-life invading work. "Instead of calling up a few friends at night or even spending time with them we tend to be doing a little bit of catch-up work. The next day if we can slip in an unobtrusive email or Facebook message to some friends we do." "People who [attempt to perform all their life-roles simultanteously] for extended periods often report a form of malaise – a sameness that occurs from lack of distinction between times where they need to be “on” and focused on work and times whent they can be “off” and focusing on fun and rejuvenation," said Ash.
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60 per cent of employees say the benefits they receive are a major reason why they stay with their employer, The Age reports. According to an annual employee benefit survey by Metcash, when employees are satisfied with the benefits they get at work, they are more than three times as likely to say they're satisfied with their job. The survey involved interviews of over 1500 employers and 1400 employees. The most sought-after health benefits included: health insurance, gym memberships, smoke-free work environments and corporate exercise programs. Also rated highly on the benefits list was flexible work hours, workplace training, time off work and having a financial share in the business. The article suggests low-cost ideas for company benefits including work from home days, complimentary lunch or breakfast in the office, recognition of good performance, and head and shoulder massages.
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Simply replacing a lacklustre staff member with a new recruit may not be as straightforward as it seems, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. Terminating underperforming staff instead of addressing their issues directly can actually cost businesses far more in terms of recruitment, induction, training, the 'wearing-in' period and morale. "Realistically, it may be several months before a new starter’s confidence, productivity and efficiency levels match those of the underperforming employee who they replaced," says Anthony Fogarty. "And there’s no guarantee you won’t end up back at square one." Employers can examine the alternatives to dealing with underperformance, which include identifying the problem, analysing the severity of it, discussing the problem with the employee, jointly devising a solution, and monitoring the employee's performance, providing feedback and encouragement.
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An overly procedural approach to sickness absence can backfire when compared with a more personal, pragmatic approach, said Dr Mary Wyatt to HR Daily. Many employers have "this very strong focus on productivity and... rules and regulations, so sometimes the line managers get wound up in the rules and regulations," said Dr Wyatt. This can lead to employees being treated with less care and respect, which may actually increase absenteeism and reduce productivity. "An employee who senses their manager looks after them is likely to look after their manager and not take inappropriate sickness absence," she said. "It should be the line manager who's the first point of contact, because the worker knows the line manager and the line manager knows the worker... The closer you can make it to the key relationships at work, and good communication between those key relationships, the better your outcomes are going to be."
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A landmark Administrative Appeals Tribunal finding in Queensland could threaten the future of flexible working arrangements, Human Capital Magazine reports. Telstra has been forced to pay multi-million dollar legal, medical and lost-income compensation costs in a suit initiated by an employee who slipped down her stairs while working from home. Dale Hargreaves, 42, alleged she injured her shoulder after slipping down her stairs twice in two months while working on marketing campaigns for Telstra. The implications of this case may force employers to undertake WHS audits in the homes of telecommuters, which would increase costs and potentially disincentivise the work option. “It’s a shame because current flexible working arrangements help employees and employers alike,” said Dr. Paul Lanthois, director of the Work Life Balance Foundation. “Research clearly shows that providing the option of working from home for employees helps to improve employee happiness and work-life balance. Businesses benefit through improved productivity and staff retention."
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WorkCover NSW has announced a number of initiatives and reforms to improve return to work outcomes. “The NSW Government is committed to ensuring both employers and employees are provided with incentives and assistance to ensure longer-term injured workers can re-join the workforce,” said Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce. Initiatives for employers include udpating the JobCover Placement Program wage subsidy from $3,600 over 12 weeks to $27,400 over the first year; increasing from one to two years the period that an injured worker's wages are exempt from premium calculation; increasing the protection period against further costs from existing injury from one to two years; and reducing red tape for the agent managing a worker's claim. Injured workers will receive: a "transition-to-work payment" of up to $5,000 for costs that pose a significant barrier to return to work such as childcare or relocation; equipment funding for tools; and extension of the work trial period several weeks beyond the current 12 week limit.
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The Bligh Government has formed a special reference group to establish whether Queensland bullying laws adequately protect workers. "I am establishing a workplace bullying reference group to look into the incidence of bullying and strategies to prevent bullying in Queensland workplaces," said Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick. "The reference group will consist of senior worker and employer representatives, as well as legal and academic experts [and] will ensure that Queensland’s framework for dealing with workplace bullying remains valid and effective in modern-day workplaces." One of the group's tasks will be to provide advice on current legislation from other states and countries. "It is appropriate to undertake a review and consider any issues that exist and any contemporary responses needed to address workplace bullying," said Mr Dick.
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Going beyond the minimum parental leave requirements can help employers boost productivity, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. "Employers with parental leave policies that make employees feel valued can benefit from having more committed and productive staff," said Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson. "They will also improve staff retention, resulting in lower recruitment and training costs." The FWO has released a best-practice parental leave guide that suggests employers go beyond minimum legal obligations to develop tailored policies that will boost productivity. Good communication arrangements can help an employee on leave feel attached to the workplace, their career and their colleagues," Mr Wilson said. "Best-practice policies also detail the support strategies an employer will use to ensure the employee has a smooth transition back into the workplace on their return from parental leave."
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An "alarming" number of people are experiencing high stress levels at work and home according to a recent Newspoll study, reports The Canberra Times. The poll found that one in two Australians are so stressed it could make them unwell. 93 per cent of Australians reported being stressed, up from 90 per cent last year. Around 48 per cent of people reported experiencing high" levels of stress, compared with 43 per cent last year. Work was attributed to 75 per cent of stress cases, while other causes included throughts of the future, finances, health and personal relationships. Women were generally more stressed than men, as were people living in cities, compared with those in the country. Part-time workers were more stressed than full-timers, and 60 per cent of 18-19 year-olds were stressed. Lifeline is promoting "Stress Down Day" on July 22.
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30 per cent of Australians are affected by chronic pain, according to the recent Pfizer Health Report on Chronic Pain, and one in five of these people regarded their pain as so stressful that they've considered suicide, reports The West Australian. Chronic Pain Australia president Coralie Wales said these figures confirmed the need for the Federal and State governments to implement the National Pain Strategy. "Australians need access to an improved network of pain management options, which is what the National Pain Strategy focuses on," said Ms Wales. "It is time we took more co-ordinated action to relieve the suffering associated with chronic pain...The National Pain Strategy provides clear guidance on how this can be achieved. The first step is recognising chronic pain as a separate condition so healthcare professionals can give it the time and attention it deserves," she said.
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The recurrence of sickness-absence happens much sooner when caused by mental health conditions, as opposed to physical conditions, reports Medical News Today. A new study by Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows that most workers who take leave from their jobs for a mental health condition remain free of disability leave for at least two years, while in contrast, most who have had a physical health disability leave have almost four years before a second episode. "It’s important to be aware that although workers who have had one mental health disability leave are at risk of having a recurrence, it doesn’t happen immediately," said study lead Dr. Carolyn Dewa. "These workers want to be back at work, but unfortunately, sometimes supports to help maintain their health are not available." It is important to do return-to-work planning to help employees transition back after a leave. Workplace resources can be very valuable in sustaining worker well-being and help them remain on the job longer.
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A bill introduced to Federal Parliament will make it easier for firefighters who have contracted cancer to access workers' compensation, ABC News reports. Greens MP Adam Bandt explained that for firefighters who contract certain types of cancer, the Commonwealth legislation means these cancers will be presumed to be work-related - giving firefighters clearer access to workers' compensation. "Firefighters start out being 20 per cent healthier than the average member of the public but after five years the average firefighter will have twice the risk of contracting leukemia," said Bandt. "After several years in the job male firefighters can find themselves up to 10 times more likely of contracting testicular cancer." Labour MP Maria Vamvakinou said that, "while we all very often acknowledge the life-saving work of our firefighters...we also need to acknowledge the human cost that their profession bears on their health and wellbeing as well as the cost to their families."
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21 per cent of working Australians consider themselves overemployed, working an average of 46.9 hours per week, The Australian reports. The most recent ABS social trends data, released last week, reveals 27 per cent of 45 to 65 year-olds described themselves as overworked, while 7 per cent of 15-24 year-olds also place themselves in this category. On the other hand, 14 per cent of the workforce wanted more hours of work. The figures also suggest a trend of individualism: only one in five Australians who want to work fewer hours would spend the extra time with family, while 35.7 per cent would use their extra time for social and recreational activities. 70 per cent of white-collar professionals reported their health as excellent or good, while only 50 per cent of blue-collar workers rated their health as good.
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Nominations for the annual BRW Great Places to Work list are now open. Companies are selected primarily on the basis of their employees' responses to the Great Place to Work Trust Index, a proprietary employee survey developed by the Great Place to Work Institute. Further information used for selection process is provided by completion of the Great Place to Work Culture Audit, a two part management questionnaire, also developed by the Great Place to Work Institute. All companies who participate in the process receive: a survey of their employees by Great Place to Work Institute, Australia; a Feedback Report – showing their organisation-wide results to each of the 58 statements of the Trust Index survey; 5 subscriptions to BRW magazine; the opportunity to partner with Great Place to Work Institute to take a more in-depth look at employee survey results; the opportunity to benchmark the quality of a company’s workplace practices with those of the nation’s "Best" employers; the opportunity to benchmark the company with similar organisations around the globe.
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South Australian university-based or independent researchers can apply for Work Health and Safety (WHS) Commissioned Research Grants to undertake applied research that helps expand the body of knowledge on the prevention of workplace injury and illness in this state. A total of $412,000 is available for successful applications. The 2011 call for applications opens on Monday, 4 July 2011 and closes on Friday, 26 August 2011. Applications must be relevant to one or more of the Priority Research Areas identified by the SafeWork SA Advisory Committee or the MAQOHSC Priority Research Areas identified by the Mining and Quarrying OHS Committee. Applications should also address one or more of the broad research priorities identified in the OHSW Research Strategy for South Australia. To assist potential applicants in preparing grant applications, a free Information Session will be held at Keswick on Monday, 11 July 201. A major aim of this session is to provide advice on developing applications that are relevant to the priority research areas. Contact Ms Bev Hodge on 8204 9587, or email hodge.bev@dpc.sa.gov.au, by COB on Thursday, 7 July 2011.
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The U.S. Institute of Medicine has called for a "cultural transformation in how the nation understands and approaches pain management and prevention," in the face of widespread prevalence of chronic pain, Medical News Today reports. Chronic pain costs the U.S. between $560 billion and $635 billion annually, prompting the committee to declare it a major public health problem in America. "All too often, prevention and treatment of pain are delayed, inaccessible, or inadequate," stated the committee. "Patients, health care providers, and our society need to overcome misperceptions and biases about pain. We have effective tools and services to tackle the many factors that influence pain and we need to apply them expeditiously through an integrated approach tailored to each patient." The committee's recommendations include suggestions for various state and private healthcare schemes, and workers' compensation schemes, to support interdisciplinary pain care programs.
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Sitting for longer than six hours per day will likely shorten peoples' lives, reports CNN. A large study conducted by the American Cancer Society found that women who sit for more than six hours per day were around 40 per cent more likely to die, while men sitting longer than six hours per day were about 20 per cent more likely to die. Recent research points to a number of health conditions linked with a seduntary lifestyle, and alarmingly suggests that even significant and regular exercise cannot undo these risks of excessive sitting. The American Cancer Society of 123,216 people over a 14-year period has highlighted the fact that public health policy focuses on promoting an increased activity level, while erroneously making little or no reference to reducing the amount of time spent sitting. Endocrinologist Dr. James Levine said, "Sitting is not bad for you in moderation, but in excess it is addictive and harmful...Of concern is that for most people in the developed world, chair-living is the norm."
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The popular practice of "hotelling" office space - requiring employees to book workstations, meeting rooms or offices in advance - may help companies utilise space and reduce rent costs, but it can also lead to employee job dissatisfaction, feelings of powerlessness and identity issues, The Age reports. The practice, otherwise known as "hot-desking," reportedly allows businesses to accommodate 20 to 40 per cent more staff. Workplace psychologist, George Mylonas, suggests that hotelling can negatively impact on employees' job commitment and satisfaction, and even trigger an identity crisis. "Employers shouldn't blindly follow the trend like we did with open-plan offices in the 1980s," he said. "Companies need to think about the type of work that is done and the impact it has on their staff." However, Mr Mylonas pointed out the benefits of hotelling, including employees getting to know members of other teams and departments, as well as having more flexibility.
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Age is one of the greatest barriers to employment, says the outgoing Age Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick. Ms Broderick says the new benchmark for a mature age worker is age 45, at which point employment options recede. "Before I came into this job three years ago I would never have imagined that,'' said Ms Broderick. ''If I was to go for a job and they said terrific skills and experience but we are looking for a man I would be justifiably outraged. But if they said something like terrific skills and experience but we have a bit of a younger team around here, not only is it more acceptable to say, it is often more accepted.'' In her final speech as Age Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Broderick warned that, ''for reasons that have nothing to do with skill, ability, capacity or merit, people who want to work are unable to,'' she said. ''And the very common outcome … is poverty in older age - in fact, at an age that is not old at all.''
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Contrary to popular belief, a team in the workplace is only as efficient as its least motivated member, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. New research upsets the common assumption that a team of colleagues generally work to the capacity of its average member. PhD student, Benjamin Walker, created an experiment wherein 158 undergraduate students were sorted into teams and assigned a task. Walker psychologically assessed their respective levels of conscientiousness, then separated the participants into 33 teams. They were informed that all members of a team would receive the same mark for their work. Walker's experiment found that one 'bad apple' actually did reduce a group's overall performance, which the other team members' efforts could not compensate for. "These findings show the person who contributes the least has a huge impact,'' said Walker. ''Even if on average the rest of the team is pulling their weight, they won't be able to compensate for that member and they won't be happy about it."
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Workplace bullying not only affects the targeted individual, but also significantly those who witness the behaviour, The Australian reports. A new study found that "the greater exposure a person had to bullying, both directly and indirectly, the more negative their perception of the work environment was," according to researcher Dr Helena Cooper-Thomas. The study of more than 1700 workers found that bullying was associated with lower wellbeing at work and poorer work attitudes. "Often people tend to think of bullying as being just between individuals - a bully and a target," said Ms Cooper-Thomas. "[But] when you think of the ripple effect across a workforce from all those who are touched by bullying, the impact is significant." Researchers noted that bullying was most reported by people working in an environment with less constructive leadership and a "more relaxed, laissez-faire management style."
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People who have survived cancer are less likely to be employed and work fewer hours when they are - even two to six years after diagnosis, Medical News Today reports. A study focused on cancer survivors in their prime working years - between 28 and 54 years old - who are often less able to consider retirement an option following cancer treatment. "There are reasons to be especially concerned about younger workers who, on average, have less money saved and who probably view retirement as a less attractive option than those in the 55 to 65 age group," said researcher John Moran. Employment rates of cancer survivors were 8 to 9 per cent lower than among similarly aged individuals, and cancer survivors worked between three and six hours per week less. The study also revealed that even cancer-free surviviors were 4 to 5 per cent less likely to be employed, working two to four fewer hours per week. "We don't know if the reductions we observed are voluntary, perhaps reflecting people's changing priorities in the face of a serious illness, or if they are the result of forces beyond their control, such as employment discrimination or inadequate workplace accommodations," said Mr Moran.
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WorkCover Queensland has released the industry premium rates for 2011-12, resulting in the average rate of 1.42 per cent - up 9 per cent from an average of 1.3 per cent in the current financial year. "It is important for Queensland workers and employers, that WorkCover has a stable and financially viable fund. The premium rates for 2011–2012 help maintain that stability," said WorkCover Queensland Chairman Ian Brusasco. The increase moves Queensland from first to second lowest average premium rates in the country, edged out now by Victoria. "We have a solvency rate above 100 per cent, which means our assets exceed our liabilities and the new premium rate will help us maintain our solvency and the viability of the fund," said Brusasco. "It [the new rate] is also well below the rate for employers in South Australia, which has an average premium of $2.75 for $100 of wages. It is also below New South Wales, which has a rate of $1.66 (most current published rate), and Western Australia, which is increasing its premium to $1.547. This enables Queensland employers to remain competitive."
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Unions are planning industrial action next month over WorkCover amendments that cut benefits and give medical panels the power to remove people from benefits with no right of appeal, Adelaide Now reports. SA Unions sent a letter to all MPs calling for amendments to the WorkCover law, describing it as a "failed social experiment," that has "taken away the rights of injured workers, destroyed the balance between the interests of workers and the interests of employers, and has left our scheme in a weak financial position with the worst return to work rates in the country." SA Unions secretary Janet Giles said that when Premier Mike Rann, and MPs Kevin Foley and Patrick Conlon changed the laws in 2008, "They skewed the laws against injured workers and in favour of employers in a failed social experiment that has not improved return to work rates or significantly improved scheme performance." She said she did not have faith that Patrick Conlon would overhaul the law.
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Men are using health services 30 per cent less than women, according to men's health advocate, Foundation 49, and are dying prematurely from a range of preventable diseases, reports It's My Health. Men are at an elevated risk of developing certain serious illnesses, yet many visit the doctor too late - after problems have already started to develop. From age 20, men should be checking blood pressure regularly and cholesterol every couple of years. After age 40, regular diabetes checks should be given, and bowel cancer checks from age 50. All men over 50 should have their prostate checked annualy - or age 40 for those with a family history. Prostate cancer is as common as breast or cervical cancer. Attempting to break the stoic male culture of reduced GP visits, the campaign reiterates that, "there is nothing heroic about premature death or disability from preventable diseases."
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With up to a quarter of Canadian workplaces considered "mentally injurious," The Mental Health Commission is now establishing a voluntary national set of best practices to improve workplace mental health, The Vancouver Sun reports. Canada has seen an increase of up to 700 per cent in damages awarded for workplace mental health injury, said Mental Health Commission chair Micheal Kirby. "What this says is that the courts are now recognizing that conditions in the workplace can precipitate mental illness," which are affecting one in five workers and costing $51b each year, he said. Conservative MP Kellie Leitch said that once the standards are released, businesses will see a decrease in productivity and a boost in productivity.
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Former Victorian premier Steve Bracks has urged the states to, "forget about tactics; think about the long term," in the lead up to implementing uniform national OHS laws, The Australian reports. "The public discourse in this country is tactical, not strategic. It is not pursuing good, long-term policy, and the Victorian scheme is good, long-term policy," said Bracks at a private function in Melbourne. "It may not benefit every stakeholder involved, but it has a significant economic benefit to the state. That is the message to other governments around the country." Though Victoria now has the lowest average employer premium, a recent Ombudsman's report strongly criticised WorkSafe's performance and the performance of its insurers responsible for claims management.
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Positive psychologist Robert Biswas-Diener gives us a new perspective on the popular act of procrastination, suggesting that many practitioners actually create superior-quality work in the eleventh-hour, having legitimately mentally prepared, The Age reports. Biswas-Diener differentiates these people - deemed "incubators" - from true procrastinators, who will still produce mediocre work after a long period of stalling. Incubators' working style has long been a source of workplace conflict, but the difference is simply in how they are motivated, Biswas-Diener explains. "People hate to work with incubators because they want the project done now or ahead of time and the incubator is saying, 'Well just wait till the last possible moment, trust me and I'll have it done." He advised incubators to build trust with colleagues, so they know that great work will always be done by the deadline.
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The life expectancy rate of Australians is up, with 42 indicators linked to chronic disease suggesting that efforts to prevent and manage chronic disease are proving effective, The Australian reports. A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that the number of people dying from chronic illness has dropped by almost 20 per cent in the decade preceeding 2007. This boosted life expectancy by 3.5 years for males and 2.3 years for females. "The indicators were developed as a first step to consistent reporting, which will over time be able to provide information about progress with preventing and managing chronic disease in Australia," said Ilona Brockway of the AIHW's Population Health Unit. Brockway said that smoking rates had declined to less than 18 per cent of adults, compared with over 24 per cent in 1991. However, the prevalence of obesity was found to be increasing, with almost a quarter of children currently overweight or obese, while for adults that figure was at 60 per cent - and rising.
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Concern over changes to the title of New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation managers has raised concerns of a focus away from injury and illness prevention, Scoop.co.nz reports. ACC managers will see their title change from Injury Prevention Managers to Insurance Product Managers. The move follows ACC Minister Nick Smith's announcement that the ACC Workplace account will be opened up to competition. But secretary of the Council of Trade Unions, Pat Bolster, raised concerns over the new direction. "It appears that the plan is to undermine ACC, wait for it to ‘have an accident’ while trying to pick up the pieces of a previously extremely well working system, and then privatise it completely," said Bolster. “We know that for every dollar invested in Health & Safety, N.Z’s economy saves $5; that the premiums paid here are much lower than in Australia; that the failed top-down only approach to workplace health & safety is being re-emphasised with union representation being cut out of tri-partite arrangements; and with funding for training workplace Health & Safety Reps being discontinued from next April...This won’t stop the worrying incidence of workplace bullying...or reduce the numbers of those catching the bus off to work in the morning, but coming home in a hearse," Bolster said.
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Research published in the Journal of Labor Research has suggested that a significant number of disability benefit applicants may be more motivated by financial factors ahead of physical need, Eurekalert reports. The research, "adds to a growing literature suggesting that financial factors may be a driving factor in a large number of disability applications," said economist Seth Giertz of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "Federal disability programs have undergone tremendous growth in recent decades and appear to be discouraging able-bodied adults from staying in the labour force." The research found that male disability applicants who were rejected for federal benefits tended to have lower earnings and labour force participation rates over the preceding decade before applying for disability benefits. Rejected applicants also worked less, despite being in better health than accepted applicants. On average, those rejected for benefits made 8.5 per cent less income than successful disability beneficiaries, 6 years before applying, and almost 22 per cent less income just prior to applying. In the U.S., the number of applications to federal disability benefit programs have grown more than five times since the 1960s, and twice since the 1990s.
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A number of Hungarian companies are increasingly realising the link between employee health and productivity, and are working towards improving it, reports Budapest Business Journal. Focusing on prevention, seven Hungarian firms have detailed their employee health and wellbeing programs, along with what they expect to gain from them. These interesting initiatives include: regular medical checkups and free medical screenings; health awareness sessions; stress management programs to maintain work-life balance; healthy eating options in corporate canteens and cafeterias; subsidised or free access to fitness clubs; health funds; and programs that provide employee assistance for non-work related problems. Many of the companies already report increased employee satisfaction and uptake of the programs, as well as improvements in productivity and employee wellbeing.
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The latest data from the WorkSafe WorkHealth program shows that many workers are unaware they're at risk of common, preventable chronic diseases. The Monash University analysis of the first 300,000 WorkHealth checks conducted in Victoria reveals that 83 per cent of participating workers who were found to be at high risk of cardiovascular disease, and 84 per cent at high risk of type 2 diabetes, rated their health as ‘good’, ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. Tim McLean, WorkHealth Spokesperson, said that more than 340,000 Victorian workers had participated in the free, confidential, 15-minute WorkHealth checks so far, and more than 23,000 workplaces have signed up to the program. “We’ve found that 66 per cent of workers tested have a medium to high risk for type 2 diabetes and nearly 18 per cent have a medium to high risk for cardiovascular disease...The results also show that the majority of participating workers don’t eat enough fruit or vegetables or do enough exercise, and more than a third are drinking alcohol at risky levels. These are the types of habits that put them in the higher risk categories for chronic disease." WorkSafe urged workers to sign up for the free health checks and work towards lowering their risk of chronic disease.
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The APA has released new research condemning proposed budget cuts for the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, Medical News Today reports. The research confirms that had the proposed cuts been in place at the commencement of the Better Access initiative, more than 260,000 people would have been adversely affected by a reduction in effective treatment. 84 per cent of people receiving 11 to 18 sessions of treatment (to be reduced to a maximum of 10 by proposed budget cuts) had a "moderate to severe, or severe" disorder at the commencement of treatment, as well as 43 per cent having "additional complexities," which, "required more than 10 sessions of psychological treatment to achieve an effective outcome," said APS Executive Director, Professor Lyn Littlefield. "How can it be seen as a saving to cut funding for these people who are clearly receiving effective psychological treatment under the Better Access program?" said Prof Littlefield. "It's not possible to get into public mental health services with these commonly seen problems that are usually managed by GPs, and other mental health programs such as those run through the Divisions of General Practice (i.e., Access to Allied Psychological Services [ATAPS]) cannot accommodate all these people nor are they necessarily equipped with the experienced psychologists to treat them."
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Almost a third of workers claim to have been bullied in the work force, with a quarter of these people experiencing bullying within the past two years, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. A recent national survey of 5100 Australian workers found similar results to a study three years ago, questioning our improvement in the face of recent bullying awareness campaigns and legislative amendments. Nearly half of the 5100 surveyed workers said they had witnessed a colleague being bullied or discriminated against, while more than one in 10 workers claimed they had been victim to intimidation or systemic workplace abuse. ''It comes down to lack of education," said Tania Evans, manager of the surveying firm WorkPro. "Employers are assuming that because the issue has gained more media attention in the past few years everyone is aware of what is and what is not acceptable in the workplace." Evans also noted that, "the Australian workplace is a melting pot, and a lot of the bullying and discrimination which is taking place is cross-cultural.'' Ms Evans suggested employers work harder to promote employees' rights and responsibilities regarding bullying and discrimination.
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Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson has been nominated for a Pride of Australia medal in the Community Spirit category, for her outstanding unpaid work for workplace accident victims, Weekly Times Messenger reports. McKenzie-Ferguson founded the Work Injured Resource Connection, which assists WorkCover recipients and their families with services such as food parcels. "There’s a lot of families on WorkCover struggling to make ends meet," said McKenzie-Ferguson. Her own experience as an injured worker prompted her work in the area. "I went looking for the social justice component of WorkCover to find out what support I could get for the social issues I was having and it just wasn’t there." The Community Spirit Pride of Australia category is described as one, "for selfless and largely unacknowledged actions that have enriched many lives."
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Bullying may be caused by sleep problems including fragmented sleep, over stimulation from electronic devices or chaotic home environments, sleep apnoea or snoring, reports Its My Health. New research from the University of Michigan showed that sleepiness in school children seemed to be the biggest driver in their behaviour problems. "What this study does is raise the possibility that poor sleep, from whatever cause, can indeed play into bullying or other aggressive behaviours – a major problem that many schools are trying to address," said researcher Louise O'Brien, Ph.D. "We know that the pre-frontal cortex area of the brain is sensitive to sleep deprivation, and this area is also related to emotional control, decision making and social behaviour...so impairment in the prefrontal cortex may lead to aggression or disruptive behaviour, delinquency or even substance abuse."
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Tasmanian workers take the least number of sick-leave days per year, according to a recent survey, The Mercury reports. 94 per cent of Tasmanian workers experience at least one cold or flu each year, however 92 per cent of those said they would continue to work despite being sick. Half of the 77 per cent of workers who would work despite illness reported feeling guilty about talking time off because of the impact on colleagues. A quarter reported feeling pressure from their employer, while 40 per cent said they would not be paid if they took a sick day. Ironically, nine out of 10 of respondants who admitted to working while sick believe avoiding people with a cold or flu is the best way to stay well. "By going to work you run the risk of infecting colleagues and continuing the cycle," said Lisa Guy. "Studies have shown that the cost of presenteeism ends up being four times the cost of absenteeism."
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A new study has found that peoples' increased awareness of mental health issues, improved tolerance towards people with mental illness and support for providing care in the comminity lead to a greater likelihood of them seeking help for their own mental health problems, Medical News Today reports. 1,751 adults were surveyed on their willingness to seek mental health care. Those who suggested they would seek treatment for a mental health condition also typically expressed stronger attitudes of tolerance towards people suffering from mental illness, and stronger support for providing care in the community (versus in institutions). Women were more likely to seek help than men, as were older versus younger people. Prejuidiced attitudes were associated with poorer knowledge of the issues and less contact with people suffering from mental illness. "Knowledge of mental illness and treatments was the strongest predictor of both help-seeking and disclosure, a finding that underlines the role of mental health literacy in influencing reactions to developing a mental illness," researchers noted.
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The number of recipients of the disability pension taking advantage of a 15-hour per week work allowance has dropped 34 per cent, to its lowest level in seven years, The Australian reports. The 15-hour provision, which allows people to "suspend" their disability benefits in order to try working for up to 15 hours per week - without losing their right to the pension - was only taken up by 7725 people in 2009-10, compared with 11,751 in 2003-04. These figures come amidst the Government's plan to increase the working-time per week to 30 hours, in a move to "entrench a new culture of work" amongst the growing number of people on the disability pension (up 4.7 per cent between 2009-10). National Welfare Rights Network president Maree O'Halloran said that disability pensioners were afraid of trialling work because they were not aware of the "suspension provisions," which had not been publicised well amidst public "crack-down" debate over disability benefit recipients.
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WorkCover WA has redeveloped the Injury Management Code of Practice Guidance Notes, now called Injury Management: A Guide for Employers. The Guidance Notes were originally developed to support the Workers’ Compensation Code of Practice (Injury Management) 2005. The new Guide has improved on the Guidance Notes in several significant areas and now includes: a practical three-step approach to effective injury management; more detail on developing and implementing an injury management system; expanded information on alternative, modified and restricted duties; and improved tools and templates. The call for comments in April led to a number of changes, including the incorporation of information on an employer’s obligation to have workers’ compensation cover for all their workers and an employer’s options where a worker is uncooperative. “The Guide has been designed to assist employers to comply with their obligations under the law and implement effective injury management systems," said Tim Roach, General Manager Regulatory Services. "Insurers, medical practitioners and workplace rehabilitation providers will also find the publication useful to assist them and their clients to understand the legal requirements.”
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Nominations for the Queensland Safe Work Awards are now open. The Awards encourage workplaces to develop and share innovative safety solutions that contribute towards a zero harm at work culture, making sure workers return home to their loved ones at the end of each day. The awards, run by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Electrical Safety Office, reward and promote innovative ideas and practices, leadership and commitment to workplace health and safety. Entrants also have the chance to win a share of $6000 in prize money and be publicly recognised as a leader in workplace health and safety. Winners of the Awards will be announced at a joint ceremony with Q-COMP’s Return to Work Awards on 26 October 2011 during Safe Work Week. For more information and details on how to enter visit the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website or call the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline on 1300 369 915. Entries close Monday 11 July 2011.
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A fundamental shift is occurring in the makeup of the Australian workforce that, if not well managed, has the potential to be a severe impediment to economic growth. "An ageing population and increasing retirement age mean that the working population over the age of 55 is going to increase dramatically in the coming years – that’s a given," said Chris McHugh, Executive General Manager GIO Workers Compensation Portfolio, at this week’s Australian Insurance Summit. ABS figures predict a 40% increase in workers aged 55-59 and 65% in workers aged 60-64 by 2056. A 2010 survey by Suncorp Life revealed that 37% of respondents intend to work into their late 60s and 11% into their 70s. 21% of people aged 60-65 said they needed to work to survive. Employees over 45 are significantly more likely to die or be injured at work and the statistics indicate that an older worker will remain on benefits longer than their younger colleague for the same injury. “Claims managers, treating doctors and injured workers themselves have to abandon the approach of staying on benefits waiting to retire and focus on finding innovative ways to get back to being productive," said McHugh.
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Kevin Jones of Safety at Work Blog has published SafeWork SA's strong response to Robert Gottliebsen's BusinessSpectator article regarding new harmonised OHS laws. According to SafeWorkSA, Gottliebsen's May 23 article "contains several serious errors that need to be addressed." SafeWork SA asserts that the Bill was tabled in the same form before Legislative Assembly, and was only withdrawn because of a change of Ministers. They refuted the claim that there was "community outrage generated by radio talkback hosts," instead recounting concerns raised by the Housing Industry Association regarding new home cost increase due to compliance with regulations on fall protection. The reply clarifies the issue of "employer" onus, stating that "the concept of PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) replaces the previously narrower concept of ‘employer’ and expands the range of entities that must take responsibility for safety in a workplace...As an example, multiple contractors on a single construction site will ALL have responsibility for the health and safety outcomes of activities under THEIR control." The response also states that while the right to silence provision has been removed, there is a "use immunity" clause.
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The Shooters and Fishers Party has succeeded in amending NSW workplace safety harmonisation laws to include a limited union right to prosecute, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Passed in the upper house, the amended laws allow unions to prosecute for offences in the lower category and for category one and two offences if WorkCover fails to follow up breaches identified by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The amendments also restore a limited role to the Industrial Relations commission, previously stripped of responsibilities by the NSW government. The upper house rejected Greens and Labor-proposed "reverse onus of proof" amendments, which would have forced employers to prove their innocence. Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon remarked: "Retaining these provisions would have been the best outcome for workplace safety."
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United General Practice Australia – the coalition of the peak groups representing Australia’s general practitioners – has issued a strong united statement calling on the government to expand the Better Access program to meet the demand for mental healthcare in the community, rather than reducing Medicare patient rebates for vital mental health services. In the 2011/2012 Federal Budget announcement, the government reduced funding for mental health support delivered by GPs, by across the board cuts to funding for MBS items under the Better Access program. These cuts are very likely to negatively impact on patient access to high quality primary mental healthcare. The current health reform initiatives reduce resources from successful programs now and do not invest in resources in the near future.
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Taking painkillers may increase the risk of death to heart attack victims by up to 55 per cent, The Daily Mail reports. A Copenhagen University Hospital study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association found that non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were associated with a 45 per cent increased risk of death or recurrent heart attack within as little as one week of treatment. The risk of death extended to 55 per cent if treatment with NSAIDs lasted three months. Treatment with NSAIDs - which include ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin - was found to be "associated with a statistically significant increased risk of death," according to the study's lead author Anne-Marie Schjerning Olsen. "Our results indicate that there is no apparent safe therapeutic window for NSAIDs in patients with prior heart attack," said Dr Olsen. "A very conservative approach to use NSAIDs in patients with prior heart attack is warranted."
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Nearly half of all Australians who work indoors will be lacking in vitamin D by the end of winter, Canberra Times reports. A survey conducted by the Dieticians Association of Australia found that 42 per cent of respondents were deficient in vitamin D after winter, while one in three also had low levels during summer. "We suspected lifestyle makes a difference to vitamin D, especially working indoors, but we hadn't expected that we'd have this much of a problem,'' said research Professor Rebecca Mason. She recommended 10 minutes of sunshine mid-morning or afternoon every day during summer and 30 minutes at around midday each day for the winter months. Vitamin D is an important mineral required for the absorbtion of calcium, which builds healthy bone structure and helps prevent osteoporosis. The mineral is also implicated in potentially assisting the immune system, avoiding cardiovascular disease and even preventing cancer.
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People tying to lose 10lbs (4.5kg) or more were far more likely to be sucessful if they had lower stress levels and slept more than six hours - but not more than eight - a night, Science Daily reports. New research published in the International Journal of Obesity measured whether sleep, stress, depression, television viewing and computer screen time were correlated with weight loss in nearly 500 participants. "This study suggests that when people are trying to lose weight, they should try to get the right amount of sleep and reduce their stress," said lead author Charles Elder, MD, MPH. "Some people may just need to cut back on their schedules and get to bed earlier. Others may find that exercise can reduce stress and help them sleep. For some people, mind/body techniques such as meditation also might be helpful." Researchers also found that while sleep and stress levels were good predictors of weight loss, surprisingly depression and computer screen-time were not.
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The Public Service Association has called for more flexible working options for older workers in response to recent Victoria University research suggesting widespread workplace underpreparedness for the loss of retiring aging workers, Stuff.co.nz reports. "The idea of more flexible arrangements to retain older workers and their expertise is something the public service wrestles with...there needs to be more flexibility in terms of number of hours worked by older workers," said PSA national secretary Brenda Pilott. The research finds that many organisations are under-prepared for the loss of knowledge that will take place when baby-boomer generation reaches retirement. Victoria University graduate student Carmel Joe said her research confirms that a growing percentage of the workforce will be over 55s: 25 per cent within 10 years. Age Concern chief executive Ann Martin said that employers will need to create more flexible working hours, "in order to retain or employ older people."
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A recent study of the effects of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) work rosters has recommended mining companies adjust schedules to better protect employees' health and wellbeing, ABC News reports. Surveying around 100 miners from the Goldfields and Perth, students from the Curtin University's WA School of Mines found that mining workers' health was being negatively impacted on by the number of days in a row that they worked. "We saw the stress, we saw other things and interviewing guys coming on and off shifts and stuff like that we could physically see that," said student Luke Andony. He suggested reducing concurrent rostered working days to "accommodate easy management and execution, increased productivity, job satisfaction and possible flow on to improvements in employee health and welfare."
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Employers who take on staff with a disability should be paid by government for any higher workers' comp premiums incurred, says Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes, reports The Australian. "We really need to do some work among those making employment decisions to change their attitudes towards employing people with disability," said Mr Innes. Innes called for this a part of a blanket government guarantee of workers with a disability. "This would not cost government, as premiums are actually not higher - this has been researched by Worksafe Australia - but it is a very strongly held myth among employers." Innes maintained that people with disabilities are harder workers and more loyal. "We find it so hard to crack it for a job that once we get an employer that's prepared to employ us we will hang in there and pay that back," he said.
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Women predict their starting salaries to be 14 per cent less than men, increasing to 18 per cent less earnings after five years, Eurekalert reports. Comparing career expectations of Canadian female and male university students, a study found that women also anticipate waiting almost two months longer than men for their first promotion. "Women know that they currently aren't earning as much as men so they enter the workforce with that expectation," said Professor Sean Lyons. "Because they don't expect to earn as much, they likely aren't as aggressive when it comes to negotiating salaries or pay raises and will accept lower-paying jobs than men, which perpetuates the existing inequalities." While the research proved that women aren't blissfully ignorant of the gender gap, the results showed that male expectations are also generally "far too high." Gender differences in career priorities were cited as a contributor, as was the possibility of women seeking career information from other women. "If these students are asking their mothers or other older women for their experiences, they will be getting a reflection of the historical inequality," said Dr Lyons.
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Workplace smoking bans have led to a reduction in emergency hospital admissions due to respiratory illness, cardiopulmonary disease, asthma-related admissions and admissions related to acute coronary syndrome, ScienceDaily reports. New research on data before and after Ireland's workplace smoking ban recorded significant health benefits attributed to the change. "We already know the disastrous effects smoking has on our health," said lead researcher Dr Imran Sulaiman. "This study further proves that the implementation of a workplace smoking ban improves general health and also reduces hospital burden by respiratory illness, one of the most common illnesses to present to the emergency services." The study is one of the first to record data on the effect of workplace smoking bans on respiratory illness in an adult, working-age population (20-70 years).
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The South Australian government has shelved proposed national draft OHS laws after suspicion over "Mickey Finn" wording that could see a "decade or so of uncertainty as the application and interpretation of connecting duties of care" halt new projects such as BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam, reports Robert Gottliebsen for Business Spectator. Gottliebsen writes that wording in the draft laws alters the requirement of employers to ensure, "as far as is reasonably practicable, the workplaces, machinery, equipment and process under their control are safe and without risk to health," to a "new and untested legal concept of connecting duties of care to a 'person conducting a business or undertaking." The SA Government is now working on changes to the proposed national legislation that returns the "control" premise, as well a previously omitted "silence protection clause."
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The ACT Government has come under fire for its proposal to build new offices for thousands of public service workers, The Canberra Times reports. Department of Land and Property Services chief executive David Dawes defended the proposal to move from "C and D-grade" offices, condemning the facilities for their poor air quality and lighting, substandard amenities and a lack of minimum-standards for building, floor-space or environmental ratings. ''You'll see ACT Government workers in conditions that their Commonwealth counterparts simply would not accept and nor should ours,'' said Mr Dawes. ''We compete for staff in the same market and have an obligation to provide appropriate working conditions.'' The $432m plan to build a 53,000sqm office space is estimated by the Government to save $34m in rent savings, general efficiences and other savings. While the Opposition has suggested that these savings have been overstated, there has been no mention from either side about the human impact on financial gains.
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New research suggests that having a strong colleague peer support network helps workers live longer, reports MSNBC.com. Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel found that workplace social support positively influenced cholesterol levels and blood pressure, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, exercise levels, age, gender and education level. But before you start chumming up to your boss, researchers found no link between social support from supervisors and a reduced risk of mortality. The link between co-worker social support and mortality was strongest for those aged between 38 and 45. "Our findings may have some important implications for the design of worksite health promotion interventions," said researchers. "Increasing peer social support ... could, in principle, lower the risks of mortality for those participating in these interventions."
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Comcare will be undertaking a new injured worker survey to gain a better understanding of the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of injured workers. This is part of Comcare's 2015 Strategic Plan, implemented in July 2010 and aimed at understanding key client groups including injured workers. "An external research company called the Social Research Centre will conduct the injured worker survey by telephone during May and June 2011 on behalf of Comcare. Participation in the survey will be voluntary...Individual responses will not be identifiable to employers, employer’s insurer or treating practitioners. Please note participation in the survey will not affect any claims in any way." The injured worker survey will be conducted twice a year in April/May and October/November. Questions can be directed to: research.team@comcare.gov.au or 1300 366 979.
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New data released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies sees the paid and unpaid workload of mothers and fathers increasing steadily since 1992, The Age reports. Additionally, four out of 10 Australians aged 25 to 34 were reported as, "dissatisfied with life," due to pressures of, "establishing relationships...raising children and...often (being) busy [at work]," said the institute's director Professor Alan Hayes. A majority of fathers reported feeling guilty about not helping enough at home, partly attributed to an increase in their (fathers of pre-school children) workload by 5.7 hours between 1997 and 2006. ''It's a very marked trend," said Professor Hayes, "and this is happening when everyone is meant to be doing more at home."
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WorkCoverSA has launched its Recover Better at Work campaign, aimed at demonstrating the importance of return to work in injury recovery, recovering financial independence, improving self-esteem and supporting social connections. "We want to raise awareness that it is possible for injured workers to remain at work and and that we all have a role to play in supporting them to do so," said WorkCover CEO Rob Thomson. The campaign emphasises the important role of maintaining relationships and communication between workers, employers and co-workers. The television commercials and radio clips are also available for view online, and there are downloadable posters and information packs. "The real life stories of David, Mick and Kerry show that the support of their workplace was critical in them returning to work and positively focusing on the end goal of a full recovery," said Thomson.
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The Melbourne City Council has come under fire for implementing a $25,000+ massage program for parking inspectors, ABC News reports. 15-minute deep-tissue massages were offered to inspectors on a fortnightly basis between 2008-10 in a move aimed to reduce workplace injuries and Workcover claims. Council chief executive Kathy Alexander explaind that the initiative assisted parking inspectors suffering from muscle soreness and injuries after bending to chalk tyres. Ratepayers Victoria president Jack Davis was quoted by News.com.au criticising the initiative as, "a bit of a joke...If they are genuinely stressed they should get some counselling." Alexander defended the move, saying, "everybody else gets protected, so of course it's fair and equitable that these people get treated in an effective way."
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Despite their status as the generation that's had it all, an increasing number of baby boomers are being involuntarily forced out of work, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Brotherhood of St Laurence research has found that one in five members of the baby boom generation (aged 45 to 64 in 2008) who are not working have been forced out by management, disabilities or career duties. The study found that involuntary joblessness climbs above 44 per cent of men aged 45 to 54 who are not in paid work, while over a quarter of women in the same age bracket who are not in jobs could be potential workers. Additionally, around 12 per cent of men aged 60 to 64 are involuntarily out of the workforce. ''This is a substantial minority, and it would be worthwhile to look further into the reasons why so many are out of work who want to be in work," said Justine McNamara, principal research fellow at the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling.
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Office workers could be at a heightened risk of bowel cancer, reports Perth Now. A new study of almost 2000 people aged between 40 and 79 found that those who worked for 10 years or more behind a desk faced almost twice the risk of distal colon cancer, and a 44 per cent increased risk of rectal cancer compared to those who didn't spend any time in a sedentary occupation. Researcher Terry Boyle also noted the other risks posed by seduntary work. "Too much sitting has also been linked to things like heart disease, diabetes and some other types of cancer," he said. Boyle warned that going for a run of going to the gym won't necessarily counteract the negative effects of sitting down all day, so "it's important that office workers try to stand and take a break from sitting every 30 minutes."
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NSW Industrial Relations Commission president Justice Roger Boland has accused the state government of holding one of the shortest consultation periods in "recorded history," in a move described by Greens MP David Shoebridge as, "(what) looks like the first step by the government in killing off the Industrial Relations Commission and ending a separate state industrial system," The Sydney Morning Herald reports. In a letter to the Industrial Relations Minister Greg Pearce, Boland complained that Pearce had not contacted him while he was on leave, despite only being away for two weeks and supplying contact numbers for Mr Pearce to use as needed. "I am afraid that I am left to conclude that you had no intention of meeting with me or consulting with this institution regarding the changes to the OH&S laws and, in particular, the transfer of the jurisdiction," wrote Justice Boland. ''I am simply puzzled as to why you saw the need for such secrecy.'' Shoebridge said that Pearce had consulted the chief judge of the District Court and the chief justice of the Supreme Court, but no representative of the IR commission.
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Pharmacies are providing sick certificates at a cost of $10 to $25 each, with allegedly "little or no health checks," reports Adelaide Now. The report suggests that some pharmacies are disregarding Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Pharmacy Guild of Australia guidelines by actively promoting the service. Australian Medical Association state president Dr Peter Sharley condemned the practice, stating, "Pharmacists are not trained to examine patients or diagnose people...that falls into the 'I'm pretending to be a doctor category." National Pharmacies general manager of professional services Neale Burton argued that his chain's policy is to offer a certificate of absence service on request from customers. "Certificates of absence...would only be granted for one or two days absence and only when the particular condition was within the general 'scope of practice' of our pharmacists," he said. Pharmacy Guild state president Ian Todd supported the practice, observing that "it's perfectly legal for pharmacists to do." The AMA's Dr Sharley emphasised the risk involved, suggesting pharmacists "have good indemnity insurance to allow them to carry a legal responsibility for diagnosing patients."
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Amidst discussion over the model national OHS laws, federal workplace relations minister Chris Evans has defended the government's decision not to include provisions for the union right to prosecute, or the reverse onus of proof, Thompson Reuters reports. "On the union right to prosecute, the national review considered [the] right should be limited to the regulator so the conduct of the prosecution is transparent and in line with clear, publicly available prosecution guidelines," Evans said. "With respect to the reverse onus of proof, the review concluded that, consistent with criminal law principles, the prosecution should bear the onus of proof." Evans said the next step was a possible revision of the model codes and regulations in response to public submissions.
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New beyondblue research reveals that only 51 per cent of professionals are comfortable managing the work performance of an employee with depression or an anxiety disorder. Additionally, only 61 per cent of those surveyed reported feeling comfortable working with a colleague who has a mental health condition. 18,000 Australian professionals were surveyed to gauge their awareness levels and attitudes regarding depression and anxiety disorders. While 47 per cent of professionals are confident in their ability to support a colleague with depression, anxiety or a related mental health disorder, those surveyed generally have low confidence in knowing how to manage depression and anxiety-related problems in the workplace.
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Mental health problems have overtaken musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as the leading cause of incapacity benefit claims in the UK, BBC News reports. A study reported in Occupational Medicine showed that claims for MSDs fell by 50 per cent between 1997-2007, while mental health claims remained steady. Researcher Professor David Coggon suggested that the trend could reflect peoples' beliefs and expectations. "In a particular country, or in a particular occupational group, at a particular time, there will be certain illnesses that everyone knows you can get," said Coggan. Claims for back pain increased eightfold between 1950-1990 when public awareness of it increased, along with the widespread inaccurate belief that back pain could be long-term and seriously incapacitating. "I'm not saying people aren't ill or disabled. But there are complex causes," said Professor Coggan. "If you say you're trying to tackle hazards linked to workplace stress, it sends a message that people are exposed to 'bad things' and that affects reactions." He instead suggests the importance of stressing positive approaches, such as good management and appropriate workloads.
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West Australian shadow attorney-general John Quigley has declared the WA government "lucky" it only had to plead guilty to charges of failing to ensure Aboriginal elder Mr Ward was not exposed to hazards, rather than face manslaughter charges, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. "They are very lucky to be able to plead to such a minor charge, it should have been manslaughter," said Quigley. "There was enough evidence there for charges for failing to provide the necessities of life and it's a disgrace that charge wasn't preferred...the best they (prosecutors) can come up with is falling to protect him from hazard, it's just a pissant charge." The government now faces a maximum $400,000 fine under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Prisoner transport company G4S is set to lose its prisoner transport contract to immigration detention centre operator Serco.
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The Victorian workers' compensation average insurance premium rate will remain at 1.338 per cent of employers' remuneration over the next financial year, WorkSafe reports. The premium remains the second lowest in Australia, as well as the lowest ever average premium rate in Victoria, down from 2.22 per cent a decade ago. "Reducing the number of injuries each year and encouraging employers and injured workers to look at early, safe and sustainable return to work opportunities are central to bringing down costs," said WorkSafe chair Elana Rubin. "WorkSafe is committed to reducing premium if there is a sustainable reduction in the cost of running the scheme, but safety improvements must be driven by the community, particularly those in a position to influence performance in a business," Rubin said.
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Nominations are now open for the Safe Work Awards 2011. "The Safe Work Awards bring deserved attention to companies and individuals striving to help their workmates," said Industrial Relations Minister Patrick Conlon. "The awards highlight technical innovations, best practice systems and the efforts of individuals who make a substantial contribution to safety at their workplace." This year’s award categories are: Best workplace health and safety management system; Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue; Best workplace health and safety practice(s) in a small business; and Best individual contribution to workplace health and safety. Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, July 15.
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Dr. Monika Engblom of Stockholm, Sweden, has sought to improve the understanding of sickness certification challenges experienced by primary care providers and occupational health providers in her recent thesis. "The results showed that two thirds of the patients had been on sick leave for more than a year. It was also found that the most common type of cases concerned women, who were employed in non-qualified nursing occupations and were on sick leave due to psychiatric diagnoses. Furthermore, the most common measures taken by the physician were referrals to a psychotherapist and/or physiotherapist, and prescribing antidepressants."
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Irregular hours and no sick or holiday leave are an increasing part of working Australians' lives, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. As casual employment grows to one-fifth of the workforce, it is no longer confined to students working in hospitality or working mothers. The now nearly 2.2 million casual employees demonstrate that, ''the classic notion that it's all students and working mums is definitely a thing of the past,'' said Iain Campbell, senior research fellow at RMIT's centre for applied social research. On the downside, studies show that casual work not only puts financial pressure on employees, but the unpredictable, unstable nature of casual work can have a serious impact on the mental and physical health of workers.
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G4S, the patient transport contractor responsible for the death-in-custody of Aboriginal elder Mr Ward has pleaded guilty to failing to prevent the heatstroke death of their charge over three years ago, The West reports. While the WA Director of Public prosecutions ruled out criminal charges against G4S, the two patient transport drivers, Graham Powell and Nina Stokoe, and the State Government, WorkSafe laid charges against all four parties because they considered the transport van a workplace under the Act. G4S is expected to be sentenced on June 3, facing a maximum fine of $400,000 for failing to ensure the safety and health of Mr Ward. The drivers are expected to enter pleas on May 30.
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The current skills shortage, partly caused by an ageing population and growing economy is set to worsen in the next five years, prompting calls for employers to overcome bias and hire more workers with disabilities, Adelaide Now reports. "There is a real clear need in the Adelaide employer community to think more widely to how they meet the skill and ability needs of their business and how to organise work so they meet the needs of a broader range of workers to the business," said Craig Harrison, executive manager of recruitment firm Personnel Employment. "In general, it's been about ignorance or about how to go about engaging these diverse communities." Harrisson said that while active discrimination was less common, a "passive" employer bias was enough to prevent skilled workers with a disability from being employed. "With the labour market returning over the next few years, employers will be very smart to be much more open in how they engage with these groups," said Australian Institute of Social Research executive director Dr John Spoehr.
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Five employees have quit the department responsible for running Parliament house, complaining of workplace bullying, Canberra Times reports. The former employees, from areas including Hansard and security, complained of bullying in 2009-10. "We'd like to have no complaints at all," said Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Alan Thompson. "It is a reality about human nature that some people do the wrong thing and we've got to just regularly monitor and we find the exit interview process is a good way to know what's going on." Thompson suggested the number of complaints received about bullying was in line with other departments. Thompson denied the reports should prompt a revision of the depatement's anti-bullying policy, responding, 'What we need to do all the time is keep on...reinforcing the policy to our staff and that doesn't go away because you have staff turnover."
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A year after the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster, a prominent psychological scientist says that efforts to blame individuals are unhelpful, and instead should be focused on developing a culture that promotes safety, Science Daily reports. "Root cause? No. There are contributing factors," said E. Scott Geller, professor at Virginia Tech in a recent paper published by the APA. "The disaster would have been prevented if people were willing to speak up and report the hazards." Geller identifies the preference of using positive reinforcement to encourage an open dialogue on workplace safety, rather than negative reinforcement which only has, "a temporary effect, if any." Geller says, "We know from experience that emotions are motivating," which is a powerful way of helping connect workers to the real reason for workplace safety and wellbeing.
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As more people aged over 55 are working later in life, the work-related injury rate is rising: from 12 per cent in 2003, to 17 per cent according to the US Center for Disease Control, USA Today reports. The CDC stresses that while older workers don't have an overall increased risk of injury compared with younger workers, they do face an increased risk of falls from stairs, ladders or heights, as well as specific types of injuries including fractures and hip injuries. The CDC predicts that the injury rate of older workers may climb from 19 per cent to a quarter of the workforce by 2018 if workplaces do not improve focus on the safety of older workers. "There is an urgent need for us to look at the safety and health needs of older workers, because they are growing. Employers and others should take steps to help protect the older worker," said report co-author Dawn N. Castillo.
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While reporting on the recent Crimes Amendment (Bullying) Bill 2011 - dubbed "Brodie's Law" - has generally focused on changes to criminal code, more attention needs to be given to the existing rules under workplace law, reports Kevin Jones of Safety at Work blog. Jones writes that recent amendments to the stalking section of the Crimes Act 1958 to more comprehensively include bullying are not new, which may surprise many people following mainstream newspaper coverage. Jones warns that because of this, "changes to guidance may be minor as stalking is already seen as a potential element of workplace bullying." Furthermore, Jones quotes Helen Trinca of The Australian: "….workplace lawyer Michael Tooma argued the new law was not needed because “it’s already a crime”. The head of the occupational health and safety practice at Norton Rose went on to warn the new laws could inadvertently catch a range of conduct that should not be seen as bullying." Jones points out that any new legislation may not necessarily help prevent bullying, and advises that because many workplace hazards are psychosocial, they need to be controlled through organisational change.
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High blood pressure was expected to cost the United States more than $76 billion in health care services, medications, and missed days of work in 2010, reports News Medical. Yet, "Employers aren't doing anything about hypertension because it's not as visible as other diseases like cancer," said Gateway Project participant Frankie Hagen of KU Hospital. The Gateway Project has been developed to assess and combat the growing problem of hypertension and its burden on health costs and productivity. Preliminary data from the Gateway Project revealed the prevalence of hypertension: though only 19.4 per cent of employees reported having high blood pressure, more than 63 per cent of those were found to have pre or hypertension. Encouragingly, employers recognised the need for addressing other risk factors when attempting to lower hypertension, such as obesity, diabetes and cholesterol. The project will now focus on supporting employers to conduct workplace interventions in combatting hypertension and other chronic conditions.
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Long term sickness absence in the UK police service can only be remedied by a "major culture shift", reports Science Daily. A report in the British Medical Journal by occupational psychiatrist Dr Derek Summerfield reviews the cases of 300 officers who retired from service on mental health grounds, between 2001 to 2004. During this time, 4.8 per cent of the workforce was not in full operational duties due to stress-related absence. Retirement on mental health grounds was also increasing, up to 46 per cent in 2002-3. Dr Summerfield found that long term sickness absence was strongly associated with workplace disputes. He also noted that NHS mental health services may unduly prolong mental health sickness absence. "The medicalisation of non-specific symptoms, allied to social rewards that create perverse incentives, reliably prolongs disability," reported Summerfield. "Early intervention with goal setting is essential to prevent protracted sickness absence." Professor Simon Weasley added, "the process of leaving, at least in the Met, has become increasingly medicalised, with the result that officers leave embittered and encumbered by inappropriate medical labels that will make it far more difficult for them ever to work again...The dilemmas of the employee trapped in a system that creates perverse barriers to recovery and leaves both patient and doctor increasingly irritated and powerless have been recognised...but whether the proposed reforms will tackle it remains to be seen."
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Increasing numbers of UK teachers are being driven from their jobs due to stress, with some even considering suicide, The Daily Express reports. The The National Union of Teachers (NUT) conference in Harrogate heard a number of examples of employer mismanagement of workplace stress. "As a divisional secretary I have seen a meteoric rise in work-related stress and on more than one occasion have had to support a member who has attempted suicide...This meteoric rise in work-related stress is due to the demands being placed on our members to hit Government targets," said delegate Sue McMahon. John Illingworth from Nottingham said, "stress-related illness is widespread, affecting thousands of teachers each year. It is more likely to end a teacher's career than any other cause." The union passed resolutions calling for support for victims of work stress and for the Health and Safety Executive to intervene in schools who do not comply with stress risk assessments.
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Online newspaper Indaly has reported on DeakinPrime's summary of a November 2010 summit on workers' compensation, focusing on an overwhelmingly negative representation, Kevin Jones of Safety at Work blog reports. "According to InDaily’s article there were many more negatives than positives but such should be the expectations from a summit," said Jones. "The more important consideration is how the negative concerns will be addressed by government." Some of the criticisms included: "a silo approach by Workcover; the lack of feedback; injured workers were not the prime consideration of Workcover; politicisation was leading to instability; and a disassociated claims management process." Jones mentions the unreported positives, including, "the creation of an accredited qualification for rehabilitation specialists; a specialty recognition for those General Practitioners who wish to distinguish themselves as having an interest and desire to treat injured people; and the [delivery of] high quality education and qualifications for claims managers in South Australia."
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The AMA has supported the Coalition's proposed additional mental health policy, emphasising the need for more preventative services in the community and the workplace, Medical News Today reports. "Australia suffers from a lack of mental health and early detection services...Where mental illness can be detected early and treated accordingly, the likelihood is that future demand for services will lessen," said AMA President Dr Andrew Pesce. He added that addressing mental health is more than providing acute services, stating, "It is simply inadequate to address mental health without considering the vital accommodation and workplace support that will enable those with mental illness to function and prosper in the community."
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The Augusta Zadow Scholarships are open for any permanent residents of South Australia who have identified a particular health and safety issue and need funding to conduct or continue research for an occupational health, safety and welfare (OHS) initiative for working women. In 1895, Augusta Zadow became the first female Inspector of Factories in South Australia. She played a crucial role in securing better conditions for employees in factories, particularly for women and children. Many of the working conditions we now take for granted are due to Augusta's efforts. The annual Zadow Awards were introduced in 1994 (Centenary of the Factories Act and Women's Suffrage in South Australia) in recognition of the work carried out by Zadow. In 2005, the Augusta Zadow Scholarships (the Scholarships) were initiated. Two annual scholarships of up to $10,000 each are awarded each year to assist with OHS improvements undertaken by, or for the benefit of, women in South Australia. Applications close Friday, 26 August 2011. Follow the link for more information.
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The firing and treatment of Sarah Ryan, lawyer and former head of a Comcare claims unit, exposes hypocrisy from the agency charged with working ''in partnership with employees and employers to reduce the human and financial costs of workplace injuries and disease in the Commonwealth jurisdiction'', writes Paul Daley for The Age. Ryan, poached by Comcare while she was on six-weeks leave from the AFP for a serious virus compounded by workplace stress, was subsequently fired for not declaring she was "medically unfit" when she began with Comcare - despite being declared being fit to work by the agency. Following legal proceedings and a rejected Comcare claim, a Comcare psychiatrist reporting, "Her [Ryan's] self-esteem was thoroughly destroyed … the causative factors relate directly to … the circumstances of her unjust termination.'' Journalist Paul Daley highlighted the irony, remarking, "So much for yet another department supposedly being a model litigant."
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The father of a bullied army recruit who committed suicide has spoken out against the Australian Defence Force, warning there will be more suicide deaths if the "toxic culture" is not changed, The Australian reports. Charles Williams' son Jeremy committed suicide during basic training with the ADF. "You must remember young people go into the ADF ... they are in a controlled environment from which they can't escape," said Mr Williams. "If they are subject to bullying then very sinister options emerge...That's why we've had these suicides, we've had these young people despairing of their situation." Mr Williams's comments on ABC Radio followed Defense Minister Stephen Smith's announcement of six seperate ADF reviews. Mr Williams was supportive of the move: "At long last we have a minister who is prepared to put his hand up, come forward and direct that the chiefs manage, as they should, this toxic culture of abuse that we have seen too much of in the Australian Defence Force," he said.
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In the push to raise workforce participation among those on social security payments, care must be taken by the Government to provide viable opportunities for those who can work, while protecting those who can't, The Age reports. While Gillard espouses the "Dignity of Work", chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service Dr Cassandra Goldie says the difficulties facing those with disabilities in the workforce are considerable. "Less than one in five of those diverted to Newstart obtained employment after a year on that payment," said Goldie. "There are programs to rehabilitate and prepare people with disabilities for employment but the real sticking point is that employers are reluctant to offer them paid work because they believe people with disabilities are less productive or are a workers compensation ''risk'', said Goldie. "Discrimination is alive and well," she added. Goldie suggests the need for better incentives and resources for employment services, while employers could be assured with temporary wage subsidies. She also calls for more suitable government vocational training and more investment in foundation skills like literacy.
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A new study suggests that optimistic patient expectations and mental health are significant factors in improved clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction following cervical spine surgery, Medical News Today reports. Researchers at Boulder Neurosurgical Associates and the University of Colorado studied 79 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), a mainstay treatment for nerve root compression caused by a herniated disc or bone spurs. "The patients who expected no pain reported lower postoperative neck and arm pain, higher postoperative mental health ratings and higher satisfaction scores," said Dr. Alen T. Villavicencio. "Additionally, we noted that higher preoperative mental health ratings significantly predicted lower postoperative neck pain and neck disability scores, and higher postoperative physical and mental health ratings, as well as patient satisfaction levels...This study clearly demonstrates the effect of patient mental health and optimism on clinical outcomes and also suggests that meeting patient expectations in terms of pain relief is less important than their outlook and optimism," he said.
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Western Australian white collar workers are the least physically active in the country, Perth Now reports. The 2010 Global Corporate Challenge saw 45,000 Australian workers measuring their step count over 111 days. Western Australians recorded the lowest average daily step count, clocking in at an average of 11,003 steps per day. Tasmania, the most active state, recorded around 1,000 more steps per day on average. Though the average Australian office worker usually only takes around 3,000 steps per day, the survey pointed out that people who took between 9,000 and 15,000 steps per day reported a productivity and engagement boost, as well as increased levels of happiness. GCC chief executive Glenn Risely said, "an increase in physical exercise has been proven to improve the overall mental wellbeing of the workforce and increase productivity."
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Claims of bullying have emerged from within WorkSafe, the agency charged with protecting Victorian workers from workplace bullying, The Age reports. Two formal complaints were lodged by WorkSafe employees last week, following their concern over pressure placed on them to answer calls within strict time limits. The complainants were allegedly discussing their issues with HR directors when their manager interrupted and spoke to the pair, leading to one of them having a panic attack and breaking down in tears. WorkSafe spokesman Micheal Birt played down any potential irony in the situation, saying, "Like any responsible employer, we encourage employees with any concerns to raise them immediately. When people do raise issues, we independently investigate. The fact that from time to time people do raise concerns is positive; it confirms people are comfortable raising issues and know they’ll be investigated."
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Every year, 3.2 million Australians suffer from a mental illness, yet only 46 per cent receive treatment, Medical News Today reports. One mental health expert suggests that using online treatment methods will essential in meeting Australia's growing demand for mental health services. Professor David Kavanagh, Chair of the Australian Psychological Society's Telephone and Internet-based Counselling and Psychology Interest Group, said, "Online treatments have the same components as many face-to-face psychological treatments...They support people in their efforts to address their own problems, and research suggests they can be as effective as traditional treatments for certain mental health problems." The benefits of using online treatment services include their accessibility, low-cost and the lack of stigma involved. "Almost all Australians now have internet or mobile phone access, which expands the potential for the delivery of psychological services," said Professor Kavanagh.
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A year after their introduction, "fit notes" have been deemed to improve the timeframe of patients returning to work, HR Magazine reports. According to a report by the DWP, 61 per cent of UK GPs "somewhat or completely agree" that the use of fit notes has improved the quality of discussion with patients about return to work. 48 per cent of GPs agreed that fit notes had "increased the frequency with which they recommend return to work as an aid to patient recovery", while 70 per cent agreed that fit notes helped patients make a phased return to work. While 88 per cent of GPs believed helping patients stay in or return to work was an important part of their role, 99 per cent agreed that work is beneficial for peoples' health. Mark Simpson, medical director of AXA ICAS, said, "Getting general practitioners to accept that, generally speaking, work is good for people's health and wellbeing is a significant positive step...The challenge for employers remains to respond constructively to GPs' support for encouraging an early return to work of ill or injured employees."
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92 per cent of 300 leading Welsh companies believe that businesses benefit from investing in employee health and wellbeing, Wales Online reports. Half of the surveyed respondents believed that increased staff morale and a better working environment were the greatest benefits of investing in such a scheme, while 41 per cent reported using these programs to communicate their value of employees. Over 70 per cent of businesses also believed that implementing health and wellbeing programmes could lead to improved individual performance and productivity. 46 per cent of respondents reported that their business had been affected by stress, with 75 per cent confirming that this stress resulted in work absence. John Antoniazzi, partner at surveying firm Deloitte in Wales, said, “The economic downturn has, in some cases, led to increased levels of sickness absence and presenteeism and in particular a prevalence of stress stemming from job insecurity...This is the time when businesses should be investing in the health and wellbeing of their employees."
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A new study has found that people who work longer hours could be at an elevated risk of heart disease, The Australian reports. Researchers at University College London tracked 7,095 workers over 11 years, finding that people who work an 11-hour day increase their risk of heart disease by 67 per cent, compared with those who work a standard 7 or 8 hours. "Finding out how long people work adds to our understanding of heart disease," said Andrew Steptoe, British Heart Foundation professor of psychology at UCL. "This could be to do with stress, or it could be to do with other factors in peoples' lives - if you are spending 11 hours at work you are spending less time with the people you may love and like to be with...But we do know that work is associated with increases in stress hormones and various other biological changes which might themselves increase the risk of heart disease."
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Changes to stalking laws to include bullying behaviour will see potential offenders face a maximum 10-year jail term, ABC News reports. The changes follow the widely publicised suicide of Brodie Panlock, who was relentlessley bullied in her workplace. "The amendments that we will introduce to Parliament this week will include into the offence of stalking, actions by offenders such as abusive words or threats or any other conduct calculated to cause harm to victims," said Attorney-General Robert Clark. "This will put beyond doubt that serious bullying is a serious crime and will carry a serious jail term." In February last year Cafe Vamp owner Marc Da Cruz pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and was fined $220,000, while Panlock's workmates were fined between $10,000 and $45,000 each.
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New research shows a relationship between low income and several mental disorders and suicide attempts, while decreased income is associated with anxiety, substance abuse and mood disorders, Medical News Today reports. "To date, findings on the relationship between income and mental illness have been mixed," noted the authors of the study, who analysed data from the largest U.S. mental health survey. They found that, "Participants with household income of less than $20,000 per year were at increased risk of incident mood disorders during the three-year follow-up period in comparison with those with income of $70,000 or more per year," while, "a decrease in household income during the two time points was also associated with an increased risk of incident mood, anxiety, or substance use disorders in comparison with respondents with no change in income."
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The Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health has called for more attention to be given to mental health programs for workers in the mining, resources and construction industries, and particularly fly-in, fly-out workers, The West reports. The Centre said that while some companies were proactive with mental health issues, many still lagged behind. "In the blokey world of mining and resources, too often mental health is stigmatised and not seen as a 'safe' topic," Chief Executive Dr Jennifer Bowers said. "One can't help but wonder if mental health has even emerged as something for these companies to think about." Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said that while the Government was working on a suicide prevention plan, companies needed their own strategies. "The nature of the fly-in, fly-out culture that has emerged in WA can sometimes disjoint families and weigh heavily on these workers," she said.
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While eating less and exercising more are well-known solutions for weight loss, new research also shows the importance of decreasing stress levels and improving sleep quality, Medical News Today reports. A trial of 472 obese participants found that adequate sleep and stress reduction were predictors of successful weight loss, while declines in stress and depression were also important in continued weight loss. Research head Dr Charles Elder said, "We found that people who got more than six but less than eight hours of sleep, and who reported the lowest levels of stress, had the most success in a weight-loss program." Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine, said, "While we often tend to look at health one condition at a time, the reality is that health is best viewed holistically...And the factors that promote health: eating well, being active, not smoking, sleeping enough, controlling stress, to name a few, promote all aspects of health."
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The company responsible for the 2008 death-in-custody of Aboriginal elder Mr Ward has re-applied for its prisoner transport services contract, The West Australian reports. Despite strong public pressure last year for the Government to terminate G4S's contract, it said it could only do so after two or more deaths in custody in a single year. Deaths in Custody Watch Committee chairman Marc Newhouse said, "There's no place for private providers in the delivery of those sorts of services because there's not enough transparency and accountability." Corrective Services Minister Terry Redman said 40 prisoner transport vehicles had been replaced and the State Government had implemented all of the coronial recommendations. Mr Ward died while being transported on a 360km trip with no water or working airconditioning.
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Construction workers at a Brisbane site are being encouraged to join a new health and wellbeing program, Brisbane Times reports."The Bussta Gut Challenge will provide tailored and personalised advice to help workers lose weight, get active and develop healthier habits," said Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick. "Under the eight-month challenge, workers will get an initial assessment of their body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and also their lifestyle risk factors." The initiative follows recent statistics showing that two-thirds of construction workers are overweight or obese, while one-third have "at risk" blood pressure. 34 per cent of construction workers are smokers, while 64 per cent are consuming a "risky" amount of alcohol.
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A Pilbara mining worker's allegations of sexual harassment were dismissed by her employer, who told her that such behaviour is a part of mining, The West Australian reports. When Kylie Gordon reported sexual harrassment by a male colleague to her employer, he allegedly said, "So what. That is mining. You should grow up. You are trying to stir trouble." Following her return to work a few days after the incident, Ms Gordon claims her employer fired her. The case has been taken to the Australian Human Rights Commission, who has held failed conciliation talks and is proceeding with the case in the Federal Magistrate's Court this week.
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New technology that tracks eye motions in place of mouse movements may revolutionise the way we interact with our computers, New York Times reports. The fruits of a collaboration between Swedish eye-tracking company Tobii Technology, and Chinese PC maker Lenovo, is billed to do away with the humble computer mouse, potentially reducing RSI and even improving productivity. Dr Roel Vertegaal, director of the human media lab at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, said eye tracking technology saves a considerable amount of time. “We’ve done experiments...It’s clear you can speed up interactions by a factor of two.” The technology is not expected to appear in consumer products for at least two years.
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Research links poor use of office space with declining employee satisfaction and productivity, The Age reports. At a time when the average office space has shrunk from 12 to 10 square metres, businesses are focusing on office space redesign. Jim Hardy, general manager of integrated planning and fit-out company Urban Office, warns that while smart managers will consult with employees during redesign, most businesses were, "creating the illusion of collaboration", to their own detriment. This follows research by Professor Alex Haslam, from the School of Psychology, University of Exeter, which found that, "failing to look at the costs of employee satisfaction with their working environment can have a colossally negative impact on business productivity." Haslam added that, "Management might invest in pictures, light and plants but...it's still an imposed corporate identity on the space and in some ways that's worse.”
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A new booklet aimed at improving the lives of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers and their families has been produced by an online community of mining families, ABC News reports. "The Survival Guide for Mining Families", covers a range of topics, with the aim of relieving the pressure on workers in the arduous mining industry. The book's creator, Alicia Ranford, is encouraging mining companies to provide the book free of charge to their employees. "By encouraging companies to use it as an induction tool, we can get this information to families when they join a new mine site or maybe start mining, so that the problems that do arise through the mining industry don't become a major issue within their relationships," she said.
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Many employers remain hesitant to implement flexible working arrangements - including working from home - despite their increasing awareness of the benefits, News.com.au reports. SafeWork SA discovered that when considering providing employees with more-flexible working arrangements, many bosses were concerned about communication, output co-ordination and OHS implications. Despite employers' awareness of the benefits of a more flexible work-life balance, SafeWork SA research found many employers lacked formal policy. SafeWork SA Work Life Balance Strategy manager Michelle Hogan said, "We find that a lot of people also have to package their initiatives better...when they actually ask their employees what they want, they are quite simple things, but they need to be formalised so people can ask about them."
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WorkCover SA has enjoyed a significant drop in the Scheme's unfunded liability, decreasing to $865m. This compares with $982m at 30 June 2010, making for a profit of $117 for the six months to 31st December 2010. Phillip Bentley, Chair of the WorkCover Board, cites improved claims management performance as the main factor in determining the financial results. “This is the sixth six-month period in a row that a positive improvement in claims management liability has been achieved. This is a pleasing performance but the extent of the unfunded liability indicates that much further improvement is needed,” he said. The Board has also maintained the average levy rate for employers at 2.75 per cent for 2011-12.
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The effect of milder forms of psychological stress on long-term disability may have been underestimated, Medical News Today reports. A study spanning 2002-07 tracked the mental health, stress levels and wellbeing of over 17,000 working adults, finding that while participants with higher levels of stress were significantly more likely to receive disability benefits, those with mild stress were up to 70 per cent more likely to receive disability benefits. One in four cases of awarded disability benefits were a result of physical illnesses such as high blood pressure, angina and stroke, while nearly two-thirds were associated with mental health conditions attributed to stress. This prompted researchers to ask, "Are the strains and demands of modern society commonly exceeding human ability?"
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A Visy worker who was fired after injuring his back in a non work-related incident in October 2008 has been reinstated in a Fair Work Australia appeal, The Age reports. Stuart Bormann resumed work in July 2009, but was stood down in December the same year after the Visy board claimed that allowing Mr Bormann to work would, "breach its duty of care." While Bormann was told he could apply for workers' compensation or income protection insurance, he was sacked in August 2010 for not keeping the board "informed" of his injury progress over the past seven months. Bormann argued in his FWA case that he had been given no instructions to inform his employer of his regular contact with his claim case manager.
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A study has found that the life expectancy of people suffering from a severe mental illness can be reduced by up to 25 per cent, Medical News Today reports. The study of 782 people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder found that nearly two-thirds were overweight or obese, while a disproportionate number suffered from diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol. Researchers noted that the main cause of death of severely mentally ill people was not suicide - as commonly mispercieved by health practitioners - but cardiovascular disease. Lead author Professor Richard Gray said, "Mental health nurses do a tough job and are compassionate and highly committed. But they do not tend to be skilled at managing the physical health of their patients and they often don't lead entirely healthy lifestyles themselves."
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One in three people worldwide are estimated to suffer from burnout, Sydney Morning Herald reports. Exacerbated by the recession, many people are experiencing burnout - inreased stress and fatigue - and and its symptoms of sleeplessness, low mood and anxiety. "There's an epidemic of fatigue which is leaving people physically and emotionally spent and struggling to cope with life," said Jack Challem, author of No More Fatigue: Why You're So Tired and What You Can Do About It. Challem warns that sugar and caffeine are, "anti-energy" foods, which provide a brief boost before creating a "roller-coaster" effect on energy and blood-sugar levels, as well as adversely effecting sleep patterns. Challem suggests small changes that will enable people to recover from burnout.
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The effect on mental health of poor quality work may be as severe as joblessness, Medical News Today reports. A new study suggests that while there has been a positive increase in awareness of the health risks of joblessness, there are equally significant health risks posed by badly paid, poorly supported or short-term work. The study is based on data from the HILDA national annual Australian household survey, of more than 7,000 people of working age. While mental health was found to improve with work, the authors also found that those in the poorest quality jobs experienced the sharpest decline in mental health. "Work first policies are based on the notion that any job is better than none as work promotes economic as well as personal wellbeing," said the authors. "Psychosocial job quality is a pivotal factor that needs to be considered in the design and delivery of employment and welfare policy."
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Latest figures show the average personal leave taken by ACT Public Service personnel at 9.58 days in 2009-10, Canberra Times reports. Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services workers were most likely to take an absence, recording an average of 11.7 days sick and personal leave per year. ACT Health employees came in at 11.17 days, Territory and Municipal Services recorded 10.86 days, and ACT Planning and Land Authority had 10.57 absent days. The ACT Public Service Workforce Profile report details compares these leave figures with the Commonwealth, but ACT Commissioner for Public Administration Katherine Hudson warned against straight comparison. ''We don't have compensation leave in our figures. Also, the Commonwealth doesn't have those service delivery employees such as teachers and nurses (who may take absences to protect others from infection)," she said.
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The WA Government has introduced amendments to the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, allowing all workers access to the same entitlements regardless of age. Previously, injured workers aged 64 or older were only entitled to one year of income payments. Minister for Finance, Commerce and Small business Simon O'Brien said the changes will benefit the state's economy. "The State has an ageing workforce, low unemployment and a need to maintain a skilled and experienced workforce. We want to encourage older workers to remain at work and the State’s workers' compensation scheme should support this," said O'Brien.
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The recent unnoticed death of a 55 year-old mining worker in the Pilbara has highlighted the isolated, lonely nature of fly-in, fly-out mining work, Perth Now reports. Suicide prevention group OzHelp estimates that suicide rates among mining and construction workers in the Pilbarra may be up to 70 per cent higher than the national average. OzHelp suggests that a male-dominated culture, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse and a common low emotional capacity for working through problems among workers are key reasons why mining workers are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and suicide. WA secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Steve McCartney said, "The problem with anxiety and depression is when you stop work and are by yourself in your room...You start thinking and it gets worse." OzHelp, unions and mining companies are working to improve the supportive capacity of working camps by making them more similar to normal communities.
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The UK Government is urging leading food and drink companies to sign up to a series of industry pledges aimed at improving public health, The Telegraph reports. The pledges focus on components including food, alcohol, physical activity and health at work. Some examples of the latter include: ensuring those people with chronic conditions at work are managed with reasonable flexibilities and workplace adjustments; to use only accredited occupational health services; to include workplace health and wellbeing sections in annual reports and websites, including sickness absence rates; encouraging healthier staff eating and providing healthier options.
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WorkCover Tasmania’s Research and Workplace Innovation Grants Program (the Grants Program) will close Friday 18 March 2011. The Grants Program has been divided into two funding streams: work health and safety research; and workplace innovation. Funding will be directed towards preventing work-related injury and disease, and fostering the successful rehabilitation and productive return to work of injured or ill workers. All work health and safety research applicants, before completing an application form, must submit a Notice of Intent by Monday 7 February 2011. Grants of up to $80,000 in any given year are available to eligible applicants. Applicants will be advised of outcomes in May 2011.
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New evidence suggests that older workers enjoying encore careers - e.g. meaningful paid or unpaid work undertaken by people in the "second half" of life - are happier and healthier than those who do not work during the latter stage of their lives, Ageing Workforce News reports. The Waikato University research found, however, that the transition to later work was not always an easy one. Researcher Dr. Margaret Richardson said, "Many managers had negative stereotypes of older workers believing that they were unable to change and lacked the appropriate job-seeking skills such as how to write a CV and how to present at interviews."
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In collaboration with The Federation of Small Businesses, UK mental health initiative Mind has released guidelines to assist small businesses manage mental health and wellbeing, Medical News Today reports. The guidelines suggest simple, cost-effective and non-bureaucratic changes that can be made in small businesses, to improve workplace mental health and wellbeing. The guidelines include recommendations such as: Dialogue with employees to assess what adjustments they might need in their working environment; Promoting a supportive working environment; Informal mentoring and peer support; and Flexible working and workload planning. Mind's Sophie Corlett said, "Employees will experience work related stress and mental health problems in any business...taking small steps to support staff at an early stage can result in significant cost savings for small businesses."
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People enduring adverse work circumstances including the unemployed are more likely to experience sleep problems, with negative health effects, Science Daily reports. The UK Understanding Society survey of 15,000 working people found that those who are unemployed are over 40 per cent more likely to report difficulty staying asleep. Job satisfaction levels also affect quality of sleep, with 33 per cent of the most dissatisfied employees reporting poor sleep quality compared with 18 per cent of those most satisfied. The type of work also affects quality of sleep, with those in routine occupations reporting poorer quality sleep than those in professional occupations. Researcher Professor Sara Arber said: "Given the links between sleep, social and economic circumstances and poor health found in this and other surveys, health promotion campaigns should be open to the possibility that the increased incidence of sleep problems among the disadvantaged in society may be one factor leading to their poorer health."
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Two former Virgin Atlantic beauty therapists are seeking over £500,000 injury compensation for chronic repetitive strain injuries they allegedly aquired while working in the Heathrow Clubhouse Lounge, The Daily Mail reports. The women, now out of work, developed symptoms of RSI in their wrists, shoulders and upper backs after providing Shiatsu massages to a large number of customers. Over-long shifts and high-paced work were cited as the major contributor to the womens' injuries. While attempts were made by the employer to restrict duties to two massages per hour, the women state that this lasted for only a short period of time before the pressure of work resumed. Virgin Atlantic does not dispute liability for the claims but is attempting to reduce the amount of compensation payable.
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A Work For All report investigates the history of disability employment services in Australia and asks whether recent policy changes meet the needs of people with a, "significant, recently acquired disability." The report focuses on whether changes actually enable people to return to, or commence, work. Gillean M Hilton writes, "As a stakeholder in the policy cycle, sub acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities aim to optimize function in their patients and arm them with the knowledge and know how required to navigate the maze of disability resources and services in the community. For individuals who have experienced significant trauma with resulting permanent disability such as cognitive or physical impairment, navigating that maze can be near impossible."
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The Business Council of Australia has warned the Government that choosing low or no population growth over the next 40 years poses unnaceptable risks to the nation, The Daily Telegraph reports. The council - comprised of 100 Australian business chief executives - says our ageing population will see the number of people of working age to each Australian aged 65 or over drop from five to 2.7 by 2050. Alongside a "sensible debate about our population choices," BCA president Graham Bradley advocates investment in lifting workforce participation, as well as education and skilled migration.
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Opposition treasurer Joe Hockey has stated his support for a quota outlining a mandated percentage of women on corporate boards in Australia, ABC reports. Hockey suggested a target of 30 per cent, compared with the Government's election pledge to ensure women comprise at least 40 per cent of public board positions by 2015. "Corporate Australia has had so many warnings, they've put in place so many programs ... but Australia has actually fallen behind," said Hockey. Women currently make up around 25 per cent of board appointments in Australia, though falling to 11 per cent within the top 200 Australian Securities Exchange listed companies. ABC reports that Minister for the Status of Women Kate Ellis, "would not be drawn on taking faster action with the oposition's help."
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Kevin Jones' Safety at Work Blog reports on a recent independent assessment of the proposed national OHS harmonisation. Lawyer Andrew Douglas provides a relatively rare contrary perspective on the matter, summing, "…the Model Act, the regulations and documents that flow from it will dramatically increase state-based businesses legislative compliance, will massively increase the paperwork proving compliance and will inevitably lead to a substantial increase in costs to business in managing safety and OHS." This opinion runs counter to most State positions that extoll OHS harmonisation as a plus for business. Jones suggests the impending legislation undertakes more detailed analysis of the business elements.
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In the face of skill shortages and an ageing workforce, the challenge of maintaining work ability remains an important priority. In his recent presentation to ComCare, Professor Juhani Ilmarinen of Finland outlined the key targets central to promoting work ability. They involve good work; good health; positive attitudes and good competence. Professor Ilmarinen believes we should be removing the barriers to and processes involved in work, rather than trying to change how workers adapt to work. He noted that it is vital to develop managerial attitudes that support older workers and workers with health issues, to influence workplace values and the motivation of workers and leaders.
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Three new research projects are underway, aimed at identifying 'leading indicators' for improving workplace injury rates, increasing productivity and decreasing workers' comp costs, IWH reports. "Traditionally, an organization’s injury rates are used to help manage occupational health and safety (OHS) performance," says the report. "This is known as a lagging indicator because the injuries have already occurred. A leading indicator is a measure of an organization’s ongoing health and safety initiatives, or of the workplace conditions leading to illness and injuries." The research projects, respectively, involve the relationship between business objectives and OHS practices; breaking through from poor to strong OHS performance; and studying OHS practices in 5,000 firms.
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The public comment period for the draft of the model National Work Health and Safety Regulations will close on 4 April. Safe Work Australia Chair Tom Phillips said, "This (legislation) will increase profitability and productivity and most importantly, lead to improved safety for workers and greater certainty for employers...We need your views to ensure the model Work Health and Safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice are relevant to all Australian workplaces.” The draft can be viewed here and submissions can be made to: submissions@safeworkaustralia.gov.au
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About 85 per cent of hand-held device users reported pain in at least one body part - notably the hand, neck and shoulder areas - IWH reports. A small study published in Applied Ergonomics 2010 found that hand-held devices may contribute to musculoskeletal symptoms or disorders (MSDs). 137 participants reported on how long they used a hand-held device for each day, and any symptoms of pain involved in the hands, arms, shoulders, upper back and neck. Researchers noted that the total time spent using a hand-held device was, "significantly associated with moderate and severe pain the the base of the right thumb, the shoulders and the neck." The researchers suggested this problem is relatively poorly understood, stating, "We are concerned about the limited number of well-designed studies available."
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Women working night and rotating shifts are more than two times at risk of work injury compared with daytime workers. A study of Canadian shift work trends from 1996 to 2006 has explored the risks of work injury associated with various types of shift work, IWH reports. Researchers identified four types of shift work including regular daytime schedule; regular nights (evenings and shifts beginning around midnight); rotating shifts; and other shifts including split shifts, on-call or irregular schedules. Researchers found that men working night shifts and women working night or rotating shifts experienced a higher rate of injury compared with daytime workers. The researchers noted that women were more likely to have to juggle childcare and household responsibilities.
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Preliminary research may have revealed a way of detecting burnout - a common workplace stress condition - before it occurs, Science Daily reports. Burnout, clinical depression and workplace-related anxiety affect at least 10 per cent of North Americans and Europeans, according to the International Labour Organisation. Researchers conducted a pilot study of 30 participants, measuring their ongoing stress levels with a combination of blood tests, saliva tests and questionnaires. "One potential signature of burnout appears to be fatigued production of the stress hormone cortisol and dysregulations of the physiological systems that interact with this stress hormone," said researcher Dr Sonia Lupien. "In the future, we need studies that track people over time to determine whether this profile of low cortisol and physiological dysregulations is indeed burnout's autograph. If so, science will be one step closer to helping distressed workers before they burn out," she said.
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A person's unemployment can have a notable impact on their spouse's job performance, Medical News Today reports. Researcher Maw-Der Foo said, "One of the key findings in this study is that couples are better at sharing their burden than helping alleviate it...if you feel bad at home there is going to be spillover at work where you will also feel lousy." Foo suggested employers need to be especially supportive of employees who have unemployed family spouses or family members, stating, "organizations can implement family-friendly policies to help their employees fulfill their family roles, which in turn may increase the employee's productivity."
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The fake smile may well be a necessary work tool for many, but new research suggests it may also be bad for health and productivity, NY Times reports. A study published in the Academy of Management Journal followed bus drivers for two weeks, monitoring their fake smiles - known as "surface acting," and real smiles - "deep acting" - and the effect these two states had on drivers. The researchers found that when smiles were forced, the subjects' moods worsened and they withdrew from work. When the smiles were genuine, subjects were more likely to have improved moods and increased productivity. The study also found that women were more affected than men, leading researchers to suggest that women were more socialised than men, and so experienced more strain when attemping to hide their emotions.
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Peoples' emotional responses to stressful situations may predict how their bodies respond to stress, Medical News Today reports. "This could help explain why some people with high levels of stress experience chronic health problems," said researcher Dr Judith Carroll from the University of Pittsburgh. The research found that people who reported high levels of anger or anxiety following a stress task showed greater increases in an inflammation marker. "Our results raise the possibility that individuals who become angry or anxious when confronting relatively minor challenges in their lives are prone to increases in inflammation," said lead author Dr Anna Marsland. "Over time, this may render these emotionally-reactive individuals more vulnerable to inflammatory diseases, such as cardiovascular disease."
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The UK Government has called for a major review of the sickness absence system in Great Britain, in an attempt to reduce the annual £100 billion cost of working age ill health, DWP reports. The review will explore how the current system could be improved to help people stay in work and avoid the health and social dangers of worklessness, as well as reduce costs of sickness absence to the taxpayer and business. Over 300,000 people leave work to claim sickness-related benefits every year. "From my work as a doctor and now as National Director for Health and Work, I’ve seen the damaging effects of prolonged sickness absence on individuals and their families, and on the wider community, besides the costs to business and the economy," said Dame Carol Black.
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A new study has found that peer support programs can reduce symptoms of depression "better than traditional care" and are "about" as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Medical News Today reports. The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and University of Michigan Health System analysed 10 randomised trials of peer support interventions - programs where patients and volunteers share information - spanning over 20 years. "Peer support is much less likely to be incorporated into the treatment of depression than for other conditions such as alcohol or substance abuse," said lead author Paul Pfeiffer."Our study...found peer support seems to be as effective for treating depression as some of the more established treatments." Peer support programs are low-cost and effective, says Pfeiffer, and should be integrated into primary care and specialty treatment of depression.
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The Harbour Health Primary Health Organisation has proposed a shift from the "sick note" approach to the less prohibitive "fit note" philosophy pioneered in Britain, The NZ Herald reports. The group's two reports last year identified doctor's medical certificates outlining work restrictions as a significant dampener on return to work outcomes. The recommendations, presented as a pilot program to the Ministry of Social Development, include paying doctors an extra $50 to spend 15 more minutes when consulting with accident victims, to foster discussion of return to work and possible duties. The recommendations aim to reduce weekly compensation payments from one in 11 cases, to one in 15.
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Experts and research suggest that getting up from a sitting position and moving around every 20 minutes or so throughout the working day may benefit bodies more than a 45-minute gym session, The Age reports. Personal trainer Jamie Atlas said, "From a cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome perspective, your results will be significantly better." (This advice follows the 2008 Baker IDI report, "Breaks in sedentary time: beneficial associations with metabolic risk," which outlines the risk of sedentary lifestyles despite regular exercise.) ''You might feel that you're justifying your desk-bound position by going to the gym. But your body will benefit more if you get up and move around," said Atlas.
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A strong sense of employee coherence results in their more positive response to a company merger, Medical News Today reports. Employee coherence - involving comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfullness - has been linked to a reduced risk of mental health problems, such as stress-related disorders like burnout. Researchers at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health found that employees with a low sense of coherence were around 80 per cent more likely to report a worsening work situation following a company merger. The workers with a low sense of coherence generally had a higher rate of psychiatric problems within two years of the merger. Employees who had a strong sense of coherence were less likely to experience mental health problems regardless of whether they felt worse off after the merger. Researcher Krista Pahkin said, "during an organizational change process it is important to ensure that employees understand what is going on (meaning), why (comprehensibility), and what they can do (manageability)."
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A new study has found that viewing the site of body pain reduces pain levels, Work Health Safety Matters reports. Researchers from the University College London and The University of Milano-Biocca reported that participants who could see their hand while it was in pain experienced a higher tolerance to the pain. Participants held a heat probe while either being able to see their hand, or not. Those who had visual feedback of their hand were found to have a higher pain threshold. Furthermore, participants whose hands were enlarged with convex mirrors had an even greater tolerance of pain, suggesting that the experience of pain may arise in the parts of the brain that represent the size of the body. Professor Patrick Haggard said "many psychological therapies for pain focus on the painful stimulus, for example by changing expectations, or by teaching distraction techniques. However, thinking beyond the stimulus that causes pain, to the body itself, may have novel therapeutic implications."
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A new approach to claims management and a new service delivery model have been announced by Comcare. The changes are described as the result of a renewed focus on early return to work, largely inspired by recent research on the health benefits of work by Dame Carol Black and Sir Mansel Aylward. Ongoing claims will be managed by a Claims Services Officer based in Canberra, Sydney or Melbourne Service Delivery Teams. Features of the new model include a focus on RTW with progress measurement; "early expectation setting" with injured workers outlining RTW timeframes per injury type; more regular claims reviews including all key players; improved communication; implementation of a clinical panel to review treatment plans; and enhancing the knowledge of claims services officers.
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The NSW government has approved reforms to employment conditions that grant public sector employees leave if they experience domestic violence, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Victims of domestic violence are now able to use their existing leave entitlements when they require time off to seek help. When these entitlements are spent, employees are able to use up to five days per year of special leave. Minister for Women Jodi McKay said, "the effects and costs of domestic violence on women and families are severe and far-reaching - including impacting upon victims' employment." Employers will be expected to facilitate flexible hours and working arrangements, and changes to work locations, phone numbers and email addresses.
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Sleeping less than six hours per night, and having disturbed sleep increases the risk of developing or dying from heart disease by 48 per cent, and stroke by 15 per cent, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. New research from the Warwick Medical School in England shows how the health risks of not sleeping for at least six uninterrupted hours are as significant as fatigue-related accidents. Prominent historical fatigue-related include the deaths of seven crew members aboard the space shuttle Challenger, the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear disasters, and the 3,000+ UK annual road death toll directly attributed to sleep deprivation.
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Australians are less likely to relocate to other states for work, The Age reports. Americans are twice as likely to migrate across the states in pursuit of employment opportunities and are rewarded by an average of 10 per cent greater earnings. China too has a high level of internal migration, with 2 billion journeys being taken by workers across the country within 40 days, propelling the massive boom in the Chinese economy. It is argued that the more flexible labour market of the US not only encourages entrepreneurship but makes for more assertive employees, with anticipated flow-on health effects due to increased income. While Australia has introduced a $9000 grant program for unemployed workers relocating for work, critics of the scheme are unhappy with penalties for those who quit new jobs within six months.
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A record number of UK workers were expected to call in sick on Monday, costing the economy £32 million ($52 million), The Australian reports. Despite legitimate sickness constituting a small percentage of absentees, Employment Law Advisory Services said the majority would take the first Monday in February off due to cold weather, credit card debt worries, the post-Christmas blues and a wait before any upcoming public holidays. Spokesman Peter Mooney said managers were sometimes their own worst enemy by allowing workers to call in sick electronically: "allowing workers to text in sick is an open invitation to some people to pull the wool over eyes and grant themselves some free time off."
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A childcare worker has been fired for gossiping about other employees in the workplace, The Age reports. Tara Davies lost her job at Hippity Hop Childcare last June after her employer claimed she breached the "no backbiting" policy by describing one colleague as lazy and another as an incompenent carer. The policy outlined that, "backbiting is not tolerated at Hippity Hop Childcare, it is unacceptable and can lead to the breakdown of unity between staff within the centre, making it an unpleasant place to work." Despite the centre's apparent move against bullying, Fair Work Australia awarded Ms Davies $9480 unfair dismissal compensation, stating there was no clear definition of what "backbiting" meant.
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The American College of Physicians (ACP) has discouraged the routine use of CAT and MRI scans in low back pain cases, Medical News Tpday reports. Amir Qaseem, MD, PhD, MHA, FACP, director of clinical policy for the ACP said, "low back pain is one of the most common reasons for a patient to see a physician and many patients with low back pain receive routine imaging that is not beneficial and may even be harmful. Unnecessary imaging can lead to a series of unnecessary additional tests, interventions, follow ups, and referrals that do not improve patient outcomes." Instead, the ACP recommends that doctors consider the full range of costs, benefits and harms of interventions to assess their value, and to reduce the use of interventions that provide no benefit.
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A Finnish study has found a link between mid-life work ability and old age health, Science Daily reports. Poor work ability in midlife was found to predict disability in old age, even after health and lifestyle factors were adjusted for. Researcher Dr Mikaela von Bonsdorff from the Gerontology Research Centre at the University of Jyväskylä said, "poor work ability of middle-aged employees could be considered as an early warning sign of decline in functioning in old age." In a follow-up study of 6000 employees, researchers also found that peoples' work ability predicted their mortality and disability in old age.
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A German study has shown that the unemployed suffer more often and longer from physical and emotional conditions, Science Daily reports. The GEDA (Current Health in Germany) study conducted in 2008-09 by the Robert Koch Institute found that unemployed people between the ages of 30 and 59 were more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, anxiety disorders and substance addictions. These physical, emotional and functional impairments result from a loss of income, loss of social contacts in the workplace and loss of social reputation.
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Workers who are forced to retire early because of mental illness can be left with far less accumulated wealth than those who are able to continue working, impacting on their retirement and living standards, Medical News Today reports. Researchers from the University of Sydney and University of Canberra found that people forced to retire early due to depression accumulated 78 per cent less wealth, while those retired because of other mental illnesses had 93 per cent less accumulated wealth. Researcher Professor Deborah Schofield said, "our study shows that people who retire early as a result of mental ill health not only have a loss of immediate income from employment, but also have a very low value of savings...we believe that some of this financial burden could be avoided by investing more money in interventions to prevent the occurrence of mental illness in the first place."
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The economic rationalism triggered by recession often involves a diminished focus on OHS and workplace wellbeing, Kevin Jones of Safety at Work Blog reports. Additionally, a UK study has found that workplace injuries can also increase post-recession. UK Government report, "Trends and Context to Rates of Workplace Injury" found a 1.4 per cent increase in workplace major accidents across all sectors of the economy. This is partly due to increased hiring rates of new workers, who are statistically more at risk of injury, and increased worker risk at times of overtime due to higher market-driven demands. Recession cuts cause the loss of specialised OHS and Return to Work staff, the reduction of 'optimal duties' staff, and the sacrifice of people-managing strategies for economic strategies.
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The benefits of psychologically healthy workplaces are increasingly being realised by organisations around the world, reports the Winnipeg Free Press. The American Psychological Association has identified five key areas that contribute to a healthy and productive workplace: 1) employee involvement - allowing employees to be involved in decisions; 2) work/life balance - assisting employees to manage their multiple responsibilities with flexible working arrangements; 3) employee growth and development - having opportunities for employees to improve their skills and knowledge; 4) health and safety - the need for health screening, OHS training and stress management; and 5) employee recognition - appreciating and recognising employees' individual and collective contributions.
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Over 30 per cent of the UK population suffers from insomnia or another sleep disorder, with dramatic implications for sufferers and the economy, Medical News Today reports. A new study by UK charity the Mental Health Foundation highlights the link between poor sleep and poor health, including a greater risk of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, immune deficiency and heart disease. The study found that people with insomnia are four times as likely to have relationship problems; three times as likely to experience low mood; three times as likely to lack concentration during the day; and three times as likely to struggle to get things done at work. Dr Andrew McCulloch said, "whilst great emphasis is rightly placed on the importance of diet and exercise, sleep has for too long been neglected as a major influence on the physical and mental health of the nation."
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Employees who are the most invested in their jobs are at increased risk of reporting high levels of work stress , Medical News Today reports. A CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - Canada) study of 2,737 workers found that 18 per cent reported that their job was "highly stressful." Managers or professionals were more likely to have high stress, as were those who feared their poor job performance could negatively impact upon others, or those who worked long or variable hours. Researcher Dr Carolyn Dewa said, "employers should be very concerned with keeping this population healthy. From a business perspective, it is in a company's best interest to support these workers." Other factors that led to increased odds of reporting high stress included having a worksite away from home, having to travel or entertain as part of a job, and variable hours such as being on-call, shift work or a compressed work week.
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A study has shown that the ingestion of trans-fats and saturated fats increases the risk of depression, Medical News Today reports. A six-year study of over 12,000 participants has found that participants with an elevated consumption of trans-fats "presented up to a 48 per cent increase in the risk of depression...compared to participants who did not consume these fats." There was found to be a dose-response relationship between trans-fats and depression, whereby "the more trans-fats were consumed, the greater the harmful effect they produced in the volunteers." The study also found that polyunsaturated fats such as in fish and vegetable oils, and olive oil, were associated with a lower risk of suffering depression.
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Two damning letters have been sent by a former Victorian Managed Insurance Authority staff member to finance minister Robert Clark, outlining a "culture of fear...staff resignations...terminations and redundancies...many recollections of bullying and ostracism," reports Crikey. Persistent bullying claims and the exit of eight senior staff in the last three months has prompted the Baillieu government to request a sit-down meeting with VMIA. WorkCover issued an official bullying notice to VMIA in 2009, and since then Crikey reports, "at least 20 senior employees have been dismissed or encouraged into premature retirement. Many received payouts and signed confidentiality agreements to ensure details of the poisonous climate never emerged."
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A growing number of Finnish companies are testing the fitness levels of their employees as a preventative health measure, Yle.fi reports. Aimed at supporting healthy living, Finnish company Konecranes regularly tests the fitness levels of all its 1800 employees. Jaana Rinne, head of HR, said, "We want to help our employees to be healthier in the workplace and also to help extend their careers. We believe in using preventative methods and that the results will be a reduction in sick leave and the number of people giving up work on health grounds." Jyrki Eklund, Head of Occupational Health firm AinoActive, said, "You could say that this is 'Big Brother watching', but almost everyone has been grateful for the extra support, as they often find it difficult to make the necessary changes on their own. Once they'd done the maths they (companies) realised that investing in the health of their workers would not only reduce company expenditure but also increase competitiveness."
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The number of obese Australians will overtake those of a healthy weight by 2025, reports The Age. Epidemiologists from Monash University have calculated our future weight gain based on weight increase statistics from 6300 people between the years of 2000 and 2005. Study leader Dr Helen Walls said that only about 28 per cent of adults will be at a healthy weight in 2025, while nearly 34 per cent will be obese. Dr Walls suggested that the obesity problem could be avoided if the government implemented the recommendations of the National Preventative Health Taskforce. "The evidence generally shows that individual-based strategies aren't going to work," said Dr Walls. "Educating people about good nutrition and the importance of physical activity isn't generally effective, and that is very intuitive for people who know how they can live more healthily but don't."
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WorkSafe WA will prosecute both the Department of Corrective Services and the private custodial services contractor G4S over their involvement in the death in custody of Aboriginal elder Mr Ward in January 2008, ABC News reports. Mr Ward died of heatstroke after being driven through the desert in a prisoner transport van with faulty airconditioning. WorkSafe began investigating the case after the Department of Public Prosecutions decided against pursuing a criminal case. The Department of Corrective Services is charged with failure to ensure safe systems of work, exposing non-employees to hazards and not properly maintaining the transportation vehicle. G4S have been charged with failing to ensure that safe systems of work were in place for the transportation of persons in custody, while the two drivers were charged with failing to take reasonable care of the safety and health of Mr Ward.
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Despite their pledge to protect domestic violence victims' employment rights, there are suggestions the Keneally government is 'stalling' the process, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. The government pledged in their June 'Stop the Violence End the Silence' policy to, "work with the Public service Association to develop specific formal and informal employment support initiatives...that enable women who have experienced violence to enter or return to the workforce." Industrial Relations Minister Paul Lynch said the goverment is moving on the issue in the coming weeks, yet Public Service Association assistant secretary Steve Turner said, "we have written to the Premier...in November last year, but despite having a domestic violence policy that both she and the Minister for Women signed off on, we have heard nothing.''
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WorkCover Tasmania’s Research and Workplace Innovation Grants Program is now open and will close Friday 18 March 2011. The Grants Program has been divided into two funding streams: work health and safety research, and workplace innovation. Funding will be directed towards preventing work-related injury and disease, and fostering the successful rehabilitation and productive return to work of injured or ill workers. All work health and safety research applicants, before completing an application form, must submit a Notice of Intent by Monday 7 February 2011. Grants of up to $80,000 in any given year are available to eligible applicants. Applicants will be advised of outcomes in May 2011.
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The working contribution to the economy made by women aged between 45 and 64 has risen from six per cent to 15 per cent over the past three decades, The Daily Telegraph reports. Released Monday, the Productivity Commission's working paper on the labour force participation of women over 45 has also found that half of women full-timers wanted to work less hours. Nearly a quarter of part-timers, however, wanted to work more hours. The article also stated that, "about seven per cent more mature-aged women could be enticed into working, if it wasn't for the participation barriers that the commission identified as significant and hard to overcome."
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If you're feeling a bit unexcited to be back at work following the Christmas and New Year break, you may have a case of post-holiday blues, Stuff.co.nz reports. Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and career coaches say they receive higher numbers of anxious and depressive employees wanting to make a career change in January or February. The Black Dog institute Professor Gordon Black said, "workplace blues are like the baby blues, and are commonly felt in response to some phase of adjustment. Most workers are thinking they'd rather be lying on a beach or out playing golf and socialising than being back in the yoke of the office." However, he warns that if the sad feelings persist, it is a signal to make a change in either your workplace, career or attitude. "If the feelings are severe," said Black, "last longer than two weeks and interfere with work functioning, it could be due to clinical depression."
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Walking 3,000 steps a day, five days a week could significantly reduce your chances of developing diabetes and becoming obese, Medical News Today reports. Australian authors claim that their study, published in the British Medical Journal, is the first to assess the impact of doing a daily step count on insulin sensitivity. Researchers also found that sedentary individuals who gradually increased their daily step count to 10,000 over a five-year period would enjoy a threefold improvement in insulin sensitivity, compared to those who were still walking just 3,000 steps per day (five times per week) at the end of five years.
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The Australian National Preventive Health Agency is a new national body set up to improve Australians' health by targeting obesity, smoking and alcohol abuse, ABC News reports. Transitional CEO Dr Rhonda Galbally said, "there are programs in Australia that are working quite well, but they're small and they're localised, and it's a matter of how can we get a rollout right across Australia." Galbally emphasised the importance of making health messages more consistent across the country. "To have an agency that's at arms length from a particular government department is really important because health promotion doesn't just happen in health...Health promotion happens in education in primary industries. You want around the table every sector in Australia."
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Only 25 percent of reviewed patients who had vertebrae fusing surgery actually returned to work, compared with 67 percent of patients who didn't have surgery, Medical News Today reports. The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation reviewed 1,450 patients who had diagnoses of disc degeneration, disc herniation or radiculopathy. Researchers also found there was a 41 per cent increase in the use of painkillers - specifically opiates - in patients who had surgery. The study's lead author, Dr Nguyen, said, "This study provides clear evidence that for many patients, fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs don't work."
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The biggest factor in determining recovery time following a total knee reconstruction may in fact be personal motivation, Medical News Today reports. New research author Joseph F. Styron, PhD, said, "although the physical demands of a patient's job certainly have some influence on their ability to return to work following a primary total knee replacement, the patient's characteristics, particularly motivation, play a more important role." Other significant factors that predicted an earlier return to work included: being female; having a less-physically-demanding job; being self-employed; being employed at a handicap-accessible workplace; and having a stable preoperative emotional state.
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Follow the link to see how HR managers and supervisors can take a proactive approach in making sure everyone has fun and stays safe at the company holiday party. With these tips in mind, you'll be able to save yourself and others from the embarrassment of having a little too much egg nog and regretting it on Monday!
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The number of people experiencing a work-related injury or illness has declined, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). In 2009-10, about 640,700 people (5.3% of the 12 million people employed at some time in the last 12 months) experienced a work-related injury or illness, compared with 690,000 (6.4%) in 2005-06. Overall, of the people who worked at some time in the last 12 months, men were still more likely to experience a work-related injury or illness at 55 per 1,000 men (down from 74 per 1,000 in 2005-06) than women at 51 per 1,000 women (same rate as in 2005-06). More than half of people who experienced a work-related injury or illness were men (56%).
The highest rates of work-related injury or illness were experienced in the 45-49 year age group (74 per 1,000 men and 70 per 1,000 women). However, the decrease in the rates of incidence of work-related injuries were highest for young men.
The most commonly reported injuries or illnesses were sprains and strains (30%), followed by chronic joint or muscle conditions (18%), and cuts or open wounds (16%).
Around half of the most recent work-related injury or illness were sustained mostly by lifting, pushing or pulling objects (27%) or by hitting or being hit or cut by an object (25%).
More than 60% of those who experienced a work-related injury received some sort of financial assistance, and of those who received financial assistance more than half (59%) received workers' compensation. More than 55% of those who experienced a work-related injury had some time off.
Around 30% of persons who worked at some time in the last 12 months had not received formal training in occupational health and safety risks in the workplace.
Further information can be found in Work-Related Injuries, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 6324.0) available from the ABS web site.
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Many people who suffer from mental health problems are forced to hide their illness from employers and colleagues, according to a new study reported on by The Independent. Four in 10 employers consider it a "significant risk" to hire people with mental health conditions for positions dealing with clients or the public, while one in four employers are unable to even name a single mental illness. Almost three quarters of the companies surveyed by the study were found to have no formal policy on stress and mental illness, despite the fact that one in six Britons suffer from conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks or anxiety at any point in time. 78 per cent of employers believe British industry loses talent because it doesn't know how to deal with mental health in the workplace.
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Researchers are trying to determine whether pregnancies and/or cesarean-section deliveries are a precipitating factor in the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis later in life, Medical News Today reports. The condition is characterised by a vertebrae that slips forward onto a bone below it, causing lower back pain, muscle tightness and nerve damage. Degenerative spondylolisthesis affects women three to nine times more often than men. Previous studies have make a link between pregnancy and low back pain, with abdominal muscle deficiency as the primary underlying cause.
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Examining the story of a young apprentice tiler who was blinded at work, Kevin Jones reports that, "Anecdotal evidence shows that facing up to the reality that an incident has occurred is less costly in the long term." 16- year-old apprentice Kane Ammerlaan fell off a ladder while carrying a bucket of concrete, which landed in his eye and blinded him, reports The Age. Ammerlaan alleges that when he fell, his employer, Dean Martin, laughed and took a photo on his phone. There was no first aid nor ambulance called, and it took Ammerlaan over 2 hours to see a doctor. Ammerlan's case is now being taken up by the CFMEU, while the damage to Dean Martin's reputation will be long-lasting.
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It's official: quitting makes you happier. A new study has found that smokers who quit are the happiest when they are smoke-free, reports QUIT.org.au. Christopher Kahler, the study's author, said, "The assumption has often been that people might smoke because it has anti-depressant properties and that if they quit it might unmask a depressive episode. What's surprising is that at the time when you measure smokers' mood, even if they've only succeeded for a little while, they are already reporting less symptoms of depression." The study found smokers who stopped smoking showed bright moods at checkups, but returned to a darkened moon if they returned to smoking - while often experiencing higher levels of sadness than before.
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Canberra workers rallied against proposed changes to OHS laws that would reduce their access to common law claims, ABC News reports. Hundreds of nurses, bus drivers and tradespeople attended the rally. According to UnionsACT secretary Kim Sattler these, "are the very kinds of workers who are going to be affected by the proposed changes to the workers' compensation." IR Minister Katy Gallagher said, "The unions have taken a view that they want to protect the rights of a small minority ... in terms of access to common law...The changes to workers compensation are about ensuring that about 4,000 workers actually get more money and more entitlements out of the workers compensation scheme...We are very worried that only about 17 per cent of the scheme's funds actually goes to rehabilitation costs."
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Employee dissatisfaction with the management skills of their bosses could lead to an "exodus of staff in 2011", The Australian reports. A new survey by financial services consultancy firm Robert Half found that 40 per cent of employees described the management skills of their boss or manager as "average" or "substandard." While 40 per cent of bosses believed they were doing a good job and "leading by example," only 20 per cent of employees agreed. 42 per cent of employees would leave if they thought another company had better management. Robert Half director Kevin Jarvis said, "If issues between staff and management are not resolved, many organisations could see staff leaving in the New Year."
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Stress is being increasingly linked to physical illness, yet the mechanisms by which this occurs are often not understood. A new study from Sweden has linked social stress to the activation of the immune system and an accelerated development of artherosclerosis, Medical News Today reports. The study, conducted on genetically engineered mice, found that, "situations that disrupt the social environment in which the mice normally live increased artherosclerosis, while more physical forms of stress did not." Artherosclerosis is a condition in which artery walls thicken due to a build-up of fatty materials such as cholesterol. Artherosclerosis is the major underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and stroke.
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A study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has found that neck pain is more common in women than men, irrespective of occupation or age, Work Health Safety Matters reports. Researchers were reportedly surprised by the results, expecting a roughly even split between numbers of men and women experiencing back pain - considering the fact that the sample was mostly 'young' (i.e. yet to start a family) and sharing a similar working environment. The results indicated the role of psychosocial factors in injury, with the report stating, "perceived stress was more common among the women students than the men, and appeared to play more of a role in the development of neck pain in young women than in men."
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The NSW Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat has found that despite efforts to reduce sick leave to a target of one day per person, per year in 2008-09, there has been a decline of only a quarter of a day (1.84 hours) since 2004-05, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. The highest ranking average sick leave in hours, per person in government departments were as follows:
NSW Fire Brigades: 95.3;
Ambulance Services: 79.8;
Juvenile Justice: 78.6;
Corrective Services: 74;
RailCorp: 70.4.
The Auditor General found that the higher the sick leave entitlement, the more sick leave was taken. The report also suggested that, "The key barriers in reducing sick leave were an ageing workforce, an industrial environment which slows workplace reform, and an entitlement culture where staff think they must 'use it or lose it."
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A new study has found that WA mining sites are "much worse" than QLD for drunken violence, with mining bosses also taking less responsibility for the situation, WA Today reports. The Queensland University of Technology report found that a lack of entertainment options other than alcohol for fly-in, fly-out mining workers led to a, "spike in violence (2.3 times the state average), a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases and mental health problems." Professor Kerry Carrington said that while QLD regulates the social impacts of fly-in fly-out mining work, "WA does not have the same policy...(mining executives) refused to talk to us and didn't see it as their problem. That's because they sub-contract out their workforce."
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So many NSW police officers are on long-term sick leave that those remaining are reportedly becoming "stressed, injured or being pushed too hard," according to police association representatives, the Daily Telegraph reports. Partial and permanent incapacitation claims have blown-out from $25m four years ago to almost $120m this year. Figures released under Freedom of Information legislation show that 230,000 police hours are lost every month due to sick leave absences and limited duties, with 735 officers on long-term sick leave.
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Queensland Police Service WorkCover claims for psychological injuries totalled $2.75 million in 2009-10, almost equalling the tally for musculoskeletal injuries at $2.8 million, the Courier Mail reports. The difficulty in proving psychological injury in the courts suggests that the number of claims submitted versus those actually accepted could be much higher. Forensic psychologist and criminologist Professor Paul Wilson said, "Psychologists and counsellors providing that information are having to show more evidence to the courts."
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As employees become more anxious about their job security and financial status, their job satisfaction, company commitment and work engagement diminishes, Medical News Today reports. Researchers have begun to identify how employee engagement can change during an economic downturn, helping management identify and acknowledge the impact of employee anxiety, ensuring staff engagement, committment and job satisfaction. The researchers suggest that, "managers acknowledge the impact of the anxiety generated during recessionary times and take actions to reduce the negative impact of workplace anxiety by providing employees with information related to the organization's current situation and each employee's status."
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It's December, which means even more corporate lunches and dinners. But take heed: eating at gourmet restaurants may be as bad for you as a trip to McDonald's, reports The Age. Dr Neale Cohen, general manager of Baker's diabetes service, said, "People think that if they're dining at a nice restaurant that it's good and healthy food, but eating out is really code for eating badly...in a lot of cuisine, particularly French and Italian, the food is cooked with oils and cheeses and sauces and dressings that are not what you would normally do at home....many of my patients will eat out three or four times a week for work and we are seeing 40-year-old businessmen who are in real trouble." Dr Cohen suggets eating out only once a week.
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A new survey has found that one-fifth of surveyed people working in management positions report "being lazy" because they are unhappy in their jobs, ABC News reports. The Australian Institute of Management surveyed more than 3,000 managers, also finding that 36 per cent reported they could put in more effort, but did not feel appreciated by their employer. AIM chief executive Susan Heron said, "This has significant negative flow-on impacts for all of Australia...we've got some serious challenges ahead of us and we should be engaging with our best resources." A further 44 per cent of managers said they were unhappy with workplace culture, with 33 per cent considering leaving their employer.
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Soldiers who suffer repeat wounds or injury duiring active service are being denied compensation, The Australian reports. Compensation for any new claims is being offset against previous injuries an individual has suffered, under a "grouped assessment" system, which allocates "whole body impairment" points to previous wounds or injuries. If a claimant was compensated for an injury before this new points scheme came into effect in July 2004, that payment is deducted from any additional sum the claimant might receive. In contrast, lawyer Greg Isolani said, "If you look at Comcare, which is for public servants, they're entitled to individual assessments for each of their injuries."
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A 70 year-old nurse has been denied further compensation and ordered to pay costs after initiating a Federal Court Case over workers' compensation payments, The West Australian reports. Petrine Keech was injured while working at the King Edward Memorial Hospital in 2007, when she was 66 years of age, but was only eligible for one year of workers' compensation because she was over 64 when the accident occurred. Ms Keech and the Australian Nursing Federation argued that this was discriminatory, but were ordered to pay damages. ANF state secretary Mark Olson said, "The reality is we have an ageing workforce, in particular we've got an ageing nursing workforce, and we have hundreds of nurses who are over the age of 65 who are effectively working without any protection."
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WorkCover WA has released an article outlining the benefits of a proactive approach to managing workers' compensation cases. The relationship between the treating practitioner, the GP, the injured worker and their employer, and specialist medical and allied health providers, is said to be one of the best indicators of a successful return to work following injury. Two case studies highlight how communication and a proactive approach between all parties are the key to durable return to work. The article emphasises that when it comes to injuries, the "wait and see" approach is not usually the best one.
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A Thompson Reuters report suggests that more needs to be done to address workplace mental health problems in Australia. The report outlines various figured recently released around Australia pointing to the cost of depression in the workforce. Tasmanian Workplace Relations Minister David O'Byrne said at the recent 2010 Safe Work Week, “Every employee with depression will, on average, take three to four days off work per month which is equivalent to over six million days lost each year in Australia.” Recent Tasmanian statistics show that mental stress continues to be one of the main causes of workplace injuries.
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A survey by IBM has found that 45 per cent of managers agree having too many irrelevent emails in their inbox increases workplace stress, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. 48 per cent of workers describe constantly responding to emails as stressful. Though almost 100 per cent of people said email remains the most commonly used communication tool in the workplace, they suggested that it is often used in the wrong way, leading to avoidable workplace stress. IBM Australia spokesman James Gorry suggested that Australian organisations are missing out on the opportunities posed by social networking tools, which, "alongside the old favourites including email...can both increase employee morale as well as drive a more efficient workforce."
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Safe Work Australia has called for the second phase of public consultation on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations and priority Codes of Practice, Safe to Work reports. The draft model will be open for public comment beginning December, for four months until April 2010. Safe Work Australia Chair Tom Phillips said, "This (legislation) will increase profitability and productivity and most importantly, lead to improved safety for workers and greater certainty for employers...We need your views to ensure the model Work Health and Safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice are relevant to all Australian workplaces.” The draft can be viewed here and submissions can be made to: submissions@safeworkaustralia.gov.au
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WorkCover WA recently commissioned an independent survey of 704 workers who lodged a compensation claim between 1 October and 31 December 2009. The survey aimed to obtain data and opinions on return to work outcomes and satisfaction with services provided by the WA workers' compensation scheme. The research note says that overall, 87 per cent of people thought that the process they went through was, "open and honest," and 82 per cent, "believed they were treated fairly." 76 per cent said they were satisfied with their overall workers' compensation experience, while 17 per cent were "dissatisfied." 77 per cent had resumed working at the time of the survey (July 2010), 94 per cent of whom had returned to work with the same employer.
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A new tool designed to combat workplace stress has been launched by UK Business in the Community as part of its Workwell campaign. Backed by Dame Carol Black, the tool is designed to improve staff mental health and reduce sickness absence and presenteeism. It was estimated that in 2007 the UK lost £15.1 billion in reduced productivity and presenteeism due to stress or other factors. The tool introduces
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