How’s Your Health & Safety Management Program?
You can’t scrimp on safety! We are all aware that the workforce, across all sectors, has undergone significant upheaval over the past couple of years mainly due to COVID-19 and the impact of a global pandemic. We’ve learned how to work remotely, work creatively, and to think outside the box. We’ve been stressed out, zoomed out, and burned out. There has been an unparalleled number of resignations and retirements in virtually every industry as the labor force has reassessed their lifestyle and priorities. This, combined with the lockdowns, shutdowns and business closures caused by the pandemic, saw the 2020 unemployment rates rise to levels not seen in over 20 years. As the economy started to recover, there were a plethora of job postings and hiring opportunities throughout every industry and a pool of unemployed workers available to fill the positions. As a result, the May 2022 unemployment rate is now […]
Pets in the Workplace: Chaos or Calm?
There is still much uncertainty about a return to the workplace, what it will look like and how it will work. Will it be full-time or part-time? Is it safe? How long will it last? Will there be another lockdown? In the midst of this crazy ol’ world we live in right now, perhaps the need to focus on workplace wellness is more important than ever. So what can employers do to reassure their employees and create an inviting work environment? Maybe having pets in the office is an idea worth entertaining. Studies have shown that having animals around can be beneficial from a health and wellness perspective and this holds true for the workplace as well. Bringing a pet to the office can boost employee morale, reduce stress, improve job satisfaction, enhance team-building and even promote physical activity. ‘Bring your pet to work’ is not a new concept. Businesses […]
Back To Work?
It’s the dog days of summer, Labour Day is fast approaching. That means cooler weather is on its way and with it comes new challenges as we try to find our footing in a post-pandemic world. Virtually every business has been affected by the lockdown and safety precautions that COVID-19 has necessitated, whether it was lay-offs, working from home, providing essential services, operating with a skeleton staff or finding innovative ways to provide goods and services. The full impact of COVID-19 is yet to be realized but we do know that it has taken a toll on our economy, our lifestyles, our livelihood and our mental health. It’s undeniable, COVID-19 has changed us, at work, rest and play. It has changed the way we do business, the way we interact, the way we travel, the way we shop, the way we entertain ourselves and the way we receive healthcare. Some […]
Hand Hygiene: Help vs Harm
Whether you sing the Alphabet Song, Happy Birthday, Stayin’ Alive, count slowly to 20 or use a timer, we all know the drill by now – washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. While this seems like a simple solution to a complex situation, frequent hand washing and excessive use of hand sanitizers can pose a serious health hazard. The outermost layer of our skin is composed of oils and wax, and it acts as both a shield from the outside and a guard that maintains natural moisture in the skin. Soaps, no matter how mild, and hand sanitizers do not discriminate between unwanted oil, germs, debris and natural oils in the skin and if this natural barrier is broken down, the skin can become dry, red, itchy and […]
Bullying & Harassment: Is it an Acceptable WCB Stress?
While there was a time when the stress of your job did not constitute the basis of an acceptable workers’ compensation claim, the times they are changing, or so it may seem. With the emergence of campaigns like anti-bullying, #MeToo, and #BellLetsTalk (coming up later this month on January 29th), discussions around mental health issues and their impact on how we live has become more prevalent. Issues like bullying (including cyber-bullying), harassment and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being more widely recognized, acknowledged and accepted in a work-related context. Although ‘stress’ is not a medically accepted diagnostic term, mental stress is commonly used to describe a person’s non-specific physical and psychological response to the events or changes that occur in his or her life. These events are known as stressors and stressors are a normal part of life. If a person’s ability to cope with stressors is overwhelmed; distress, a […]