Back pain is one of the most widespread issues in modern American life. Experts estimate that eight out of ten Americans will experience back pain in their lives. According to the Integrated Benefits Institute’s Health and Productivity Benchmarking 2016, musculoskeletal disorders (aka pain in the back and joints — especially the hips, knees and shoulders) account…
How many people are meditating or practicing mindfulness in your organization? A 2017 study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal Preventing Chronic Disease, suggests it may be more than you realize. According to the study authors, approximately one in seven workers in the U.S. workforce “report engagement in some form…
Of all the health risks that HR teams are watching these days, how many are analyzing the rising levels of loneliness in the workplace? We live in the most technologically connected age in human history — with open plan offices and devices that allow us to communicate with each other in manifold ways in an…
Working Americans are spending a lot of time behind the wheel. The U.S. Census reports that in 2016 the average American commute was 26 minutes each way. That’s nearly an hour a day on the road, five hours a week, 20 hours a month. What effect does all this time in the driver’s seat have…
Most of us know that sleep is important. Our sleep — or lack thereof — can make or break a day, a job, or a relationship. With enough sleep we’re happier, healthier, more productive people. Without it, we become moody zombies who can barely remember what day it is, only that the weekend seems too…
Ever since Steve Jobs appeared on a stage with an iPhone in 2007, software has been radically changing and disrupting our world. Our phones have become virtual publishing houses, TVs, calculators, cameras, GPS devices, and countless other things. For people living with disabilities, accessible tech is making a big difference — and offering new ways to engage…
Just under half of all adult Americans do not meet the physical exercise guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re one of these people, you probably already know that you should be exercising. You’ve heard all the benefits of frequent exercise: how it can control your weight, build resilience against…
It’s the final stretch of winter for people in the northern parts of the U.S., and while the light-filled days of spring are closer, a significant number of people in your workforce may still be struggling with seasonal affective disorder. The American Psychiatric Association reports that approximately five percent of Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder…
Flu season is in full-swing, which has people hiding underneath the covers and doing whatever else possible to avoid getting sick. While the best path toward a healthy immune system is a combination of a proper diet, sleep, and exercise, there are a number of supplements that can help boost your defenses against the myriad viruses…
The modern workspace is open, collaborative, and egalitarian. It’s also been shrinking in size. According to a 2013 CoreNet Global Survey, the average amount of office space per worker reduced from 225 square feet in 2010 to 150 square feet in 2013. That reduction in the personal space of employees has coincided with the rise of…
