Employee Wellness

Unhealthy sleep patterns linked to type 2 diabetes

News - Employee Wellness

Tuesday, 20 September 2011 16:00

Type 2 diabetes is an incurable condition that comes with high healthcare costs due to a need for regular management, including insulin shots, blood glucose measurements and regular exams to stave off comorbidities. This, combined with the growing prevalence of the blood sugar disorder, means that prevention efforts are of utmost importance.

Researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia conducted a study which adds further support to the idea that excessive or inadequate sleep can have a detrimental effect on the body's ability to secrete insulin.

In a trial involving 62 obese teenagers, study authors found that volunteers who slept too much or too little had higher levels of blood glucose.

"Our study found to keep glucose levels stable, the optimal amount of sleep for teenagers is 7.5 to 8.5 hours per night," said researcher Dorit Koren, M.D.

While this study focused on teenagers, the authors noted that their findings are similar to those observed in adult studies.

This suggests that employee wellness programs that provide tips and tools for healthy living - including stress reduction and achieving adequate sleep - may result in a lower prevalence of chronic illnesses among staff members.  

Mental health care is integral to a healthy, productive staff

News - Employee Wellness

Monday, 19 September 2011 16:00

Most organizations offer their employees health insurance coverage, which typically includes visual and dental. However, when they fail to provide coverage for mental health services, they may be putting staff members at risk of depression or chronic anxiety.

Additionally, the uncertain job market appears to be resulting in increased workplace stress, which may exacerbate underlying mental or emotional issues.

"Stress at work and at home triggers depression," said Neil Korsen, medical director for MaineHealth's Mental Health Integration program, quoted by The Portland Press Herald. "And people are more likely to be stressed if they feel they don't have control."

Korsen added that an estimated 10 to 20 percent of individuals experience depression at some point in their lives, making the presence of the condition among staffers statistically very likely.

The Mayo Clinic supports claims that chronic stress can lead to depression. Additionally, the medical source reports that individuals with anxiety cannot perform their daily tasks optimally, making daily life more difficult.

These findings suggest that employee wellness programs that provide workers with tools and resources for stress management may be effective in creating a healthier, more productive staff.  

Survey reveals optimistic findings regarding employee satisfaction

News - Employee Wellness

Tuesday, 13 September 2011 16:00

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Recent research on job satisfaction has been largely pessimistic, with surveys showing that employees are becoming disengaged at work. However, the newly released Randstad Employee Attachment Index paints a more positive picture.

A total of 78 percent of surveyed workers reported feeling inspired to perform at optimal levels on the job, while another 76 percent said they feel pride for their company.

Researchers noted that organizations that are concerned with helping their workers feel more attached to their positions are likely to end up with stronger employee performance and, in turn, a better bottom line than companies that don't make efforts to engage and retain staff.

"If an organization is going to be able to compete and be profitable in this economy, companies need to look out for those indispensible employees first. These top notch people are too valuable to lose, so knowing the warning signs that they may leave and what to do about it is critical," said Eileen Habelow, Ph.D., Randstad's senior vice president of organizational development.

While the human resources company's findings were largely positive, study authors noted that about 29 percent of even the most engaged workers admitted they would consider changing companies within the next six months.

Employee wellness programs may help staffers feel more appreciated and valued by a company. Moreover, initiatives that include resources for stress management have been shown to ease workplace anxiety and improve employee performance.  

Focus on heart health to reduce stress

News - Employee Wellness

Tuesday, 13 September 2011 16:00

Numerous studies have suggested that there is a strong association between mental and physical wellness. For instance, poor cardiovascular health may induce stress, and vice versa.

Research that was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports that stress is as significant of a risk factor for poor heart health as age or genetics. However, unlike these factors, individuals can control their stress levels.

"Cardiovascular responses to stress are exquisitely coordinated and functional up to a point," said study authors. "These stress effects, like other settings of cardiac risk, are potentially modifiable, if not by cardiologists themselves, then by their colleagues who help patients change their behaviors and cognitions."

The Mayo Clinic reports that chronic stress can lead to sleep disruptions, digestive issues, depression, weight gain, poor memory or skin conditions, in addition to cardiovascular disease.

As a result, it's a good idea to keep both stress levels and heart health in check in order to ensure overall well-being.

The workplace may be the most common site where people experience stress, so employee wellness programs that provide anxiety management tools and resources may be a good way to target tension where it matters most.