July 8, 2020 1:51 pm
It’s been about four months since workplaces first started navigating the uncharted waters of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are now entering a new phase of challenges which includes bringing back… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness,
Leadership TAGS: coronavirus,
Covid-19,
curiosity,
EAP,
health,
Health & Wellness Tags: anxiety,
leadership,
listening,
reflection,
safety,
stress,
validation
March 11, 2020 1:03 pm
Workplaces are entering uncharted waters as they try to figure out how to protect both the health of their employees and their businesses in response to a looming worldwide COVID-19… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Stress TAGS: anger,
anxiety,
change management,
corona virus,
crisis,
EAP,
fatigue,
health,
listening,
management,
mindful leadership,
panic,
productivity,
safety,
stress
January 6, 2020 11:50 am
The snow came early to New England this year, announcing the arrival of our darkest season. The diminished sunlight available over the next few months can present some well-documented challenges… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Health & Wellness TAGS: anti-depressants,
dawn simulation lighting,
depression,
EAP,
light therapy,
melatonin,
mood disorders,
psychotherapy,
SAD,
sleep hygiene,
winter blues
December 2, 2019 11:24 am
I have been journaling for a few years now and it has turned out to be one of the best methods I have ever come across for reducing stress and… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness,
Productivity TAGS: accountability,
counseling,
creativity,
goals,
health,
journaling,
performance,
priorities,
productivity,
relationships,
self-improvement,
stress
September 24, 2019 10:25 am
The project may be entirely ordinary like cleaning out the garage, or it may be critically significant like preparing a major presentation for work. The goal may be to start… [more]
POSTED IN: Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: avoidance,
distraction,
health,
motivation,
perfectionism,
performance,
present bias,
procrastination,
productivity,
small changes
August 26, 2019 10:25 am
Our digital devices, the screens connecting us to an infinitely wide world of information, pose a significant challenge because they are so compelling and distracting. They pull our focus away… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness,
Stress TAGS: anxiety,
behavior,
distraction,
EAP,
family,
focus,
goals,
health,
motivation,
negative thinking,
performance,
productivity,
stress,
values,
work-life balance
June 21, 2019 11:39 am
Organizations implement rigorous strategic planning processes because they know they can’t pursue every possible goal. They have to make critical choices in order to focus their business on those objectives… [more]
April 3, 2019 1:52 pm
In January 2018, Stress.Health.Business published a post which anthologized ten of our most popular blogs on the effects of stress on employee health, engagement and productivity. That anthology turned out… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP TAGS: alcohol,
crisis management,
dependent care,
disability,
distractions,
EAP,
financial problems,
focus,
health,
insufficient sleep,
legal issues,
performance,
productivity,
rugs
March 13, 2019 12:46 pm
Since its inception in 2012 stress.health.business has showcased numerous examples of companies making strategic choices which benefit both employees and profits. These companies do not view the workplace as a… [more]
POSTED IN: Training TAGS: best companies,
community college,
education benefit,
engagement,
Fortune 100,
health,
job satisfaction,
leadership,
loyalty,
millennial,
mobile classroom,
motivation,
productivity,
recruitment,
retention,
training,
turnover,
well-being
February 20, 2019 1:17 pm
You don’t have to be poor to experience significant financial stress. Even people with good jobs and substantial salaries can find themselves in situations where their family finances become precarious,… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP,
Work-Life TAGS: bankruptcy,
budgeting,
credit,
debt,
EAP,
financial stress,
foreclosure,
health,
identity theft,
legal services,
retirement,
work-life
February 5, 2019 9:42 am
Having medical insurance is no longer a guarantee that you can get the mental health services you require. A recent survey conducted by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP TAGS: access to care,
crisis support,
disability,
EAP,
emergency room,
health insurance,
human resources,
mental health,
productivity,
safety,
substance use disorder
January 15, 2019 10:31 am
I have just reviewed a very compelling new research report which concludes that companies who “embrace best practices for employing and supporting more persons with disabilities in their workforce have… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Productivity TAGS: autism spectrum,
disability,
diversity,
engagement,
human resources,
inclusion,
leadership,
morale,
motivation,
neurodiversity,
productivity,
recruitment,
retention,
teamwork,
training
November 13, 2018 12:23 pm
Bad bosses are an unwelcome, but all too common, feature of the American workplace. Work environments have an abundance of stressors, but having a bad boss may be the worst…. [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Motivation TAGS: bully,
communication,
conflict,
EAP,
engagement,
ghost bosses,
human resources,
incompetents,
Michael Scott,
performance,
productivity,
quitting,
relationships,
respect,
seagulls,
stress,
teamwork
September 18, 2018 10:29 am
Has your family been trying to figure out some rules to govern screen time? If so, you are not alone. Finding the correct formula for limiting the use of electronic… [more]
August 30, 2018 9:35 am
Opioid overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50. This is a staggering statistic reflecting a national public health emergency. A study released this month by… [more]
August 8, 2018 3:25 pm
It is critically important for organizations to be certain that their employees fully understand the definition and risks of harassment in the workplace. A well-designed training program can have a… [more]
POSTED IN: Training TAGS: bullying,
bystander,
compliance,
culture,
disrespect,
harassment,
hostile work environment,
human resources,
inclusion,
leadership,
morale,
motivation,
prevention,
productivity,
Tolerance,
training
July 12, 2018 9:08 am
On June 28th, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed House Bill 4640 which will create one of the country’s strongest family and medical leave programs. This new program will provide participating… [more]
June 26, 2018 9:46 am
During a February presentation at the Harvard School of Public Health Angus Deaton, the Nobel Prize-winning economist spoke about the rise in preventable deaths by suicide, alcoholism and addiction calling… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness,
Leadership,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: addiction,
alcoholism,
bereavement,
burnout,
celebrate,
collegiality,
compassion,
despair,
emotional exhaustion,
empathy,
engagement,
health,
illness,
incivility,
inclusive,
loneliness,
mortality,
obesity,
productivity,
respectful workplace,
self-development network,
social isolation,
stress,
suicide,
work satisfaction
June 11, 2018 11:22 am
A report recently released by the CDC indicates that suicide rates have increased in almost every state from 1999 to 2016 with nearly 45,000 people taking their lives in 2016… [more]
May 24, 2018 9:51 am
Is your company prepared for a potential increase in the reporting of harassment due to the social momentum and heightened awareness generated by the #MeToo empowerment movement? There has never… [more]
April 25, 2018 1:24 pm
How do you like the idea of a diet that lets you eat as much as you want to and still realize a healthy weight loss? A diet which doesn’t… [more]
March 27, 2018 10:20 am
A large study conducted by the Federal Occupational Health (FOH), the largest provider of occupational health services in the federal government has linked EAP use with improvement on measures of… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP,
Productivity,
Work-Life TAGS: absenteeism,
CFO,
critical incidents,
EAP,
health,
life satisfaction,
manager,
presenteeism,
productivity,
ROI,
stress,
supervisor,
tardiness,
training,
work engagement,
work-life,
workplace distress
March 7, 2018 9:18 am
“Twixt the optimist and the pessimist The difference is droll, The optimist sees the donut But the pessimist sees the hole” McLandburgh Wilson, 1915 Anyone who has ever tried to… [more]
February 21, 2018 3:27 pm
According to the Department of Labor, 61.1% of married-couple families in 2016 had both parents working. In my counseling work, and in my role as husband to a working wife,… [more]
POSTED IN: Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: career,
change,
compromise,
conflict,
marriage,
parenting,
problem-solving,
relationships,
romance,
stress
February 6, 2018 1:03 pm
We are all accustomed to receiving instructions for improving our health. We know these directions by heart: eat more fruits and vegetables, get 8 hours of sleep each night, consume… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness TAGS: change,
exercise,
fear of failure,
fitness,
habit,
health,
motivation,
questions,
sleep,
small changes,
wellness
January 22, 2018 2:40 pm
The most successful employers are always looking for a fully balanced “win-win” when it comes to achieving both higher productivity and healthier, happier, and more engaged employees. These organizations do… [more]
POSTED IN: Motivation,
Productivity,
Training,
Work-Life TAGS: creativity,
EAP,
engagement,
flexibility,
health,
human resources,
job satisfaction,
morale,
motivation,
people skills,
performance,
productivity,
retention,
sleep,
teamwork,
training,
wellness,
work-life fit
January 9, 2018 9:51 am
It’s not a shocker to learn that a blog with a name like stress.health.business. (inaugurated in 2012) has featured more posts about stress than any other topic. However, you may… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: absenteeism,
anger,
anxiety,
attention,
balance,
change,
coaching,
depression,
distractions,
EAP,
engagement,
family,
flow,
happiness,
health,
human resources,
interruptions,
leadership,
motivation,
optimism,
overload,
performance,
productivity,
relationships,
respect,
safety,
stress,
teamwork,
training,
values,
wellness,
work-life balance,
workplace flexibility
December 26, 2017 11:03 am
It’s not complicated. You already know that if you exercise regularly, eat healthier and get more sleep you will feel better, live longer and perform at a higher level. However,… [more]
October 11, 2017 2:49 pm
In my last post I summarized some alarming trends and statistics reflecting our country’s epidemic of opioid addiction. I also pointed out that while research supports the effectiveness of prescribing… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness TAGS: acupuncture,
acute pain,
addiction,
alternative nondrug pain treatments,
back pain,
biofeedback,
chronic pain,
cognitive behavioral therapy,
exercise,
MBSR,
meditation,
mindfulness,
opioids,
overdose,
pain management,
physical therapy,
progressive relaxation,
tai-chi,
Tolerance,
withdrawal,
yoga
September 25, 2017 1:17 pm
Last month a White House panel called our country’s epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose deaths a “national public health emergency.” It’s an ongoing and escalating disaster with an estimated… [more]
April 26, 2017 1:17 pm
One of the more common misconceptions about counseling is that the primary purpose is to rehash troubling events from the past. This is a particularly harmful misconception because, if you… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP,
Health & Wellness TAGS: attention,
calm,
counseling,
feelings,
habit,
negative thoughts,
performance,
self-awareness,
talking,
well-being
February 6, 2017 11:22 am
If, like many employers, you have policies and procedures in place which mandate drug and alcohol testing following a workplace accident you should be aware that the rules governing such… [more]
October 27, 2016 2:20 pm
One of the most irritating, and unfortunately too common, injustices of the contemporary workplace is seeing an individual with less competence and an inferior work ethic advance ahead of a… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP,
Motivation,
Productivity TAGS: attention,
communication,
culture,
EAP,
marketing yourself,
morale,
office politics,
promotion,
recognition,
resentment,
reward,
stress,
teamwork
August 24, 2016 12:22 pm
The United States won 121 medals out of a possible 306 at the 2016 Rio Olympics which just concluded in Brazil. You probably are not aware that Denmark defeated the… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Productivity,
Work-Life TAGS: autonomy,
Denmark,
happiness,
leadership,
micromanagement,
overwork,
performance,
productivity,
training,
unemployment,
workplace happiness
August 2, 2016 10:14 am
Many companies are beginning to change the way they operate in order to reduce employee stress. In doing so they are recognizing that excessive stress is not only bad for… [more]
June 30, 2016 10:12 am
I’ve been thinking about getting our country a gift on her birthday this year. But what can I give a country that already has so much? What can I give… [more]
June 21, 2016 9:41 am
“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” Stephen King Some companies like Zappos spare no expense when it comes to… [more]
POSTED IN: Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: distractions,
engagement,
flow,
gossip,
happiness,
motivation,
multi-tasking,
negativity,
productivity,
stress,
well-being,
work friends
May 31, 2016 10:40 am
I can’t imagine that anyone would ever feel inspired to write an article about the “Top Five Reasons for Taking 100% of Your Pay.” Nobody requires encouragement to accept their… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: anxiety,
depression,
identity,
leisure,
mental health,
productivity,
stress,
vacation,
work-life balance
May 3, 2016 11:04 am
The Department of Labor (DOL) is preparing to introduce new rules governing overtime pay this summer. The new regulations, which represent an historical reversal of a 50 year old trend,… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Productivity,
Work-Life TAGS: compensation,
fairness,
hourly employees,
income inequality,
middle class,
minimum wage,
overtime,
overwork,
salaried employees,
stress
April 6, 2016 10:09 am
I can’t cite a source for the widely circulated statistic that “ten percent of conflicts are caused by a difference of opinion and 90% are caused by tone of voice”… [more]
POSTED IN: EAP,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity TAGS: bullying,
business outcomes,
communication,
conflicts,
consulting,
culture,
EAP,
emotional tone,
empathy,
engagement,
harassment,
interpersonal skills,
leadership,
listening,
mood,
motivation,
payback,
people skills,
performance,
respect,
self-awareness,
self-control,
stress,
summer job,
talent drain
April 1, 2016 9:42 am
A high-ranking source at OSHA has confirmed that the agency will require all managers and supervisors (from companies with more than 25 employees) to pass a licensing exam by the… [more]
March 23, 2016 10:12 am
We spend a high percentage of our waking hours interacting with our work colleagues. Conventional wisdom has it that coworkers don’t have to like each other; they just need to… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity TAGS: civility,
collaboration,
collegiality,
communication,
creativity,
fairness,
meetings,
problem-solving,
productivity,
recognition,
respect,
safety,
stress,
teamwork,
toxic behavior
March 10, 2016 11:46 am
Grieving has many different faces. Some of them are familiar and expected like sadness and despair. However, some of the effects of bereavement are more subtle such as experiencing… [more]
September 9, 2015 9:18 am
A recent article in the New York Times detailing the arduous demands Amazon places on its employees has put a spotlight on the subject of working long hours. The authors… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: balance,
communication,
emotional intelligence,
engagement,
flexibility,
health,
leadership,
long hours,
morale,
motivation,
productivity,
retention,
stress,
supervisors,
training
June 10, 2015 9:31 am
Many organizations try to boost employee productivity by using traditional analytic approaches which focus on strategic planning, goal setting and process efficiency measures. These methods reflect the belief that better… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Training TAGS: accountability,
change,
communication,
conflict,
culture,
EAP,
emotional intelligence,
en-gagement,
frontline management human resources,
leadership,
listening,
management,
mind-fulness,
motivation performance,
positive reinforcement,
productivity,
relationships,
respect,
teamwork,
training
May 28, 2015 9:24 am
Next time you start feeling the unwelcome onset of stress and all of it’s debilitating symptoms, take a couple of deep cleansing breaths and apply some of the life saving… [more]
POSTED IN: Stress TAGS: anger,
anxiety,
burnout,
curiosity,
mindfulness,
rehearsal,
relaxation,
stress,
teamwork,
training,
worry
April 8, 2015 10:01 am
What happens when you have a winning product and/or business strategy but your managers have poor people skills? Lost opportunity is what happens. Failure to capitalize is what happens. Your… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Productivity,
Training TAGS: change,
communication,
conflict,
culture,
EAP,
engagement,
frontline management human resources,
leadership,
listening,
mindfulness,
performance,
productivity,
relationships,
respect,
teamwork,
training
March 18, 2015 9:05 am
A new research study from Stanford University and the Harvard Business School has named workplace stress as a contributor to at least 120,000 deaths a year and up to $190… [more]
POSTED IN: Health & Wellness,
Leadership,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: communication,
conflict resolution,
EAP,
engagement,
fairness,
health,
human resources,
innovation,
leadership,
organizational justice,
performance,
problem-solving,
productivity,
respect,
safety,
stress,
teamwork,
training,
wellness,
work-life
March 5, 2015 9:06 am
In our culture, which extols the merits of authenticity and transparency in everything from TED talks about leadership to advertisements for our food, it may seem a bit contrarian to… [more]
POSTED IN: Leadership,
Motivation,
Training TAGS: anxiety,
authenticity,
kindness,
leadership,
mindfulness,
motivation,
relationships,
stress,
teamwork,
training,
values
February 26, 2015 9:33 am
We are forgetful creatures. I’m not referring to the “senior moment” variety of forgetfulness. I’m talking about the habitual forgetting that takes place in the midst of everyday life challenges… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress,
Training,
Work-Life TAGS: change,
culture,
EAP,
engagement,
health,
human resources,
innovation,
leadership,
motivation,
productivity,
safety,
small changes,
stress,
supervision,
training,
wellness,
work-life
February 11, 2015 9:16 am
Meetings are important. For better or worse, most organizational decisions are still made in groups. Meetings are a ubiquitous element of organizational life even as teams are now often geographically… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership,
Motivation TAGS: communication,
conflict,
diversity,
drama,
engagement,
groups,
human resources,
leadership,
meetings,
motivation,
performance,
problem-solving,
teamwork
January 21, 2015 1:36 pm
Work environments have an abundance of stressors, but having a boss who behaves badly may be the worst. The experience of being treated unfairly or rudely is always unpleasant, but… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Leadership,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: anger,
burnout,
conflict,
EAP,
human resources,
leadership,
performance,
problem-solving,
productivity,
relationships,
stress,
teamwork
January 7, 2015 9:30 am
People who have a persistent propensity to complain, find fault and judge others harshly can sap your energy and optimism if you are not careful. One of my EAP clients… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Stress TAGS: anger,
communication,
compassion,
complainers,
conflict,
EAP,
kindness,
mindfulness,
negativity,
people skills,
problem-solving,
relationships,
small changes,
stress
December 31, 2014 9:23 am
If someone foolishly launched into a litany of excuses and rationalizations around my former colleague Nancy, she loved to proclaim: “If wishes were dishes, the whole world would be a… [more]
December 18, 2014 11:30 am
You know the feeling. A dark cloud of procrastination sweeps in blocking the light of your enthusiasm, inspiration and creativity. Your project stalls. Momentum fizzles. Distraction and guilt follow. According… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: distraction,
motivation,
perfectionism,
performance,
procrastination,
productivity,
small changes,
stress
December 9, 2014 9:18 am
Our hyper-connected, 24/7, ultra-competitive and globalized work environment is putting extraordinary stress on employees and their families. The health consequences to individuals and the financial costs to businesses add up… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: absence,
anxiety,
depression,
disability,
EAP,
engagement,
LTD,
mental health,
productivity,
return-to-work,
STD,
stress
November 25, 2014 9:10 am
I am thankful for a family that loves me even though I am so reliably imperfect. I am thankful for a profession which allows me to… [more]
November 6, 2014 8:25 am
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide organizations and their employees an array of counseling and supportive services to address the negative effects of workplace stress. This is an extremely important mission,… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Leadership,
Productivity,
Stress,
Training TAGS: absenteeism,
anger,
communication,
EAP,
engagement,
leadership,
problem-solving,
productivity,
strategy,
stress,
teamwork,
training
October 22, 2014 9:03 am
Advances in brain imaging technologies are extending the reach of scientific comprehension into the complex and fascinating recesses of human motivation. By studying detailed pictures of the brain’s responses to… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Training TAGS: collaboration,
communication,
creativity,
culture,
engagement,
human resources,
innovation,
morale,
motivation,
problem-solving,
productivity,
strategy,
teamwork,
training
October 15, 2014 9:39 am
Last week the Boston Globe published a chart which details the current costs, in dollars and in time, of providing care for an older family member (It is worth noting… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: benefits,
Care-giving,
EAP,
eldercare,
family,
health,
performance,
productivity,
stress,
work-life
October 8, 2014 9:03 am
If you take the pleasure of getting things done at work and multiply that by the pleasure of getting better at what you do, the result is improved job satisfaction,… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: anxiety,
career,
change,
creativity,
engagement,
habit,
happiness,
incentives,
motivation,
performance,
persistence,
problem-solving,
productivity,
small changes,
stress
October 1, 2014 9:09 am
Some days it feels that way. You’re a manager with an ever lengthening task list and rapidly approaching deadlines and you worry that your blood pressure and stress level may… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Leadership,
Productivity,
Stress,
Training,
Work-Life TAGS: balance,
EAP,
human resources,
leadership,
performance,
productivity,
stress,
supervisor training,
work-life
September 24, 2014 9:17 am
Of all the employee personal issues that managers and HR professionals are called upon to address none is more complicated, hidden and stressful than domestic violence. A new Massachusetts law,… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Work-Life TAGS: domestic violence,
EAP,
harassment,
human resources,
leave,
risk,
safety,
violence,
work-life
September 17, 2014 10:31 am
According to a recent survey of senior executives the success rate for major change initiatives is only 54%. Why do so many organizational change initiatives fail? Organizations are certainly aware… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress,
Training TAGS: anxiety,
burnout,
change,
engagement,
habit,
leadership,
morale,
motivation,
productivity,
strategy,
stress,
training,
vision
August 28, 2014 12:24 pm
Today, as Spaceship Earth orbits the sun at the unimaginable speed of 67,000 miles per hour, a new passenger has come aboard. He is my first grandson, Isaiah Kenneth Sagor,… [more]
August 20, 2014 9:41 am
The current Market Basket saga features product and customer shortages but there certainly is no lack of compelling story lines and business lessons here. The intricate melodrama of the Demoulas’… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership TAGS: corporate governance,
culture,
customer service,
employee relations,
Facebook,
leadership,
loyalty,
relationships,
respect,
social media,
Twitter,
values
August 13, 2014 9:50 am
It was about an hour before I was supposed to “run” my first therapy group. The clients, ranging in age from 20 to 60, were in various stages of recovery… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership TAGS: communication,
conflict,
diversity,
drama,
engagement,
groups,
human resources,
leadership,
meetings,
performance,
problem-solving,
teamwork
August 6, 2014 9:18 am
Employers doing business in states which have legalized marijuana should make sure that their employment policies are keeping up with a rapidly evolving, and often contradictory, legal environment. Their employment… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Training TAGS: ADA,
disability,
drug testing,
drugs,
employment policies,
human resources,
marijuana,
safety,
substance abuse,
training
July 23, 2014 9:40 am
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 6.7% of the U.S. adult population has a major depressive disorder in any given 12 month period. The number goes up to… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Productivity TAGS: alcohol,
depression,
disability,
EAP,
health,
mental health,
productivity,
sleep,
substance abuse,
wellness
July 16, 2014 10:42 am
Today is my birthday. My mother enjoys telling me that I stood at the gate of our backyard inspecting the presents from guests to my second birthday party. She has… [more]
July 9, 2014 9:06 am
Ward Cleaver was an exemplary Dad, calm and wise and always available to talk with his kids and guide them. His wife June was an iconic nurturing at-home Mom. The… [more]
July 2, 2014 9:13 am
“When one aged Zen master was asked to relate his biography, he exclaimed, “Just one mistake after another!” from Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das. The experience of… [more]
June 18, 2014 9:23 am
Stress is a modern plague responsible for 75% to 90% of all doctor’s office visits. OSHA has declared it a workplace hazard costing American business $300 billion annually. Conventional wisdom… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: attention,
creativity,
distractions,
family,
flow,
interruptions,
motivation,
productivity,
relationships,
stress,
values,
weekend,
work-life
June 11, 2014 8:59 am
There is nothing better than an impending disaster to clarify the distinction between the essential and the trivial. When total annihilation is on the horizon no one is wasting any… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership,
Stress TAGS: anxiety,
authenticity,
career,
conflict,
creativity,
crisis,
disaster,
diversity,
engagement,
habit,
heroes,
innovation,
leadership,
performance,
problem-solving,
relationships,
respect,
small changes,
stress,
teamwork,
values,
worry
May 28, 2014 9:57 am
When I started working in the employee assistance profession, EAPs did not offer legal consultation services. If a distressed employee called us about a legal issue we could be sympathetic… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: anxiety,
conflict,
EAP,
family,
legal,
stress,
well-being,
work-life,
worry
May 21, 2014 9:28 am
We launched Comprehensive EAP’s blog on June 6, 2012 with an expression of hope for what it would become: ………a place where we can think about… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: blog,
business,
EAP,
health,
productivity,
safety,
stress,
success,
well-being
May 15, 2014 10:53 am
“Anger impedes our ability to be happy, because anger and happiness are incompatible” -Unknown Anger is a combustible emotion which leaves a trail of regret in its wake. The inappropriate… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: anger,
communication,
conflict,
EAP,
frustration,
human resources,
management referral,
morale,
productivity,
respect,
safety,
stress,
teamwork,
threats,
violence
May 7, 2014 9:14 am
The most persuasive evidence for the value of an Employee Assistance program (EAP) depends on who is making the decision. If you are a human resources professional, or you are… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Productivity TAGS: alcohol abuse,
benefits,
CFO,
depression,
disability,
drug abuse,
EAP,
health,
human resources,
mental health,
productivity,
psychiatric illness,
safety,
STD,
substance abuse
April 29, 2014 9:16 am
I met Steve Mellor in the mid-1980’s when he was a young HR professional and I was a green EAP consultant. We bonded immediately as allies and comrades learning to… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership,
Work-Life TAGS: balance,
bereavement,
change,
family,
friendship,
human resources,
leadership,
problem-solving,
relationships,
respect,
teamwork,
work-life
April 23, 2014 8:50 am
Let’s begin with the iconic image of Tom Hanks as the exasperated coach of a woman’s baseball team in the movie A League of Their Own, declaring “There’s no crying… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Leadership,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: anxiety,
authenticity,
crying,
EAP,
human resources,
kindness,
leadership,
mental health,
productivity,
respect,
stress,
worry
April 16, 2014 9:54 am
Organizations are on a quest to identify the essential elements of employee engagement. They dream of building cultures and work environments that will capture every last ounce of employee discretionary… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Health & Wellness,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: burnout,
culture,
engagement,
health,
human resources,
innovation,
leadership,
motivation,
problem-solving,
productivity,
stress,
trust,
work-life,
worry
April 9, 2014 9:16 am
The intensive search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 entered its second month yesterday. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are very experienced with helping individuals and organizations in times of crisis, but… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Stress TAGS: bereavement,
Care-giving,
counseling,
crisis,
disaster,
EAP,
family,
grief,
healing,
stress
April 2, 2014 9:28 am
Joan Venocchi wrote an op-ed piece in the Boston Globe last week about the curious case of Kelly Greenberg, the embattled head coach of the Boston University woman’s basketball team…. [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Training TAGS: bully,
coach,
conflict,
EAP,
leadership,
mentor,
motivation,
performance,
relationships,
teamwork,
training,
values
March 26, 2014 11:31 am
For the past 25 years the Families & Work Institute has been tracking the benefits practices, policies and programs of U.S. employers. Their findings have documented the many ways that employers… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Health & Wellness,
Productivity,
Stress,
Training,
Work-Life TAGS: balance,
benefits,
Care-giving,
childcare,
EAP,
eldercare,
engagement,
family,
flexibility,
health,
human resources,
productivity,
stress,
training,
work-life
March 19, 2014 9:13 am
“A skilled [feedback] giver is great, but mostly our lives are populated by everyone else, folks who aren’t so skilled, have their own issues, or are too busy to really… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership,
Training TAGS: change,
coaching,
communication,
conflict,
feedback leadership,
learning,
performance,
relationships,
training
March 13, 2014 10:21 am
The next time I present a training program for supervisors about using the EAP to help manage performance, I will be referencing a news story that was reported a couple… [more]
March 5, 2014 9:27 am
“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. ….get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Motivation TAGS: anxiety,
boredom,
burnout,
change,
engagement,
Groundhog Day,
habit,
learning,
mindfulness,
motivation,
movies,
optimism,
radical amazement,
worry
February 26, 2014 9:09 am
You know that jittery feeling you get before you have to make a presentation? Most people believe that trying to “calm down” is the best way to handle this kind… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress TAGS: anxiety,
cognitive reframing,
motivation,
optimism,
performance,
productivity,
small changes,
stress,
worry
February 19, 2014 9:51 am
Of all the complicated personal problems that employees bring to the workplace, none is more difficult for organizations to manage than drug and alcohol issues. Employee drug and alcohol problems… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Stress,
Training TAGS: alcohol,
conflict,
drugs,
EAP,
human resources,
leadership,
motivation,
performance,
productivity,
safety,
stress,
substance abuse,
supervision,
training
January 29, 2014 9:13 am
Last October, I had an opportunity to ask 25,000 strangers five questions concerning their attitudes and feelings about work. Today’s post reviews some of the responses I received to one… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Productivity,
Stress,
Work-Life TAGS: balance,
burnout,
career,
counseling,
EAP,
engagement,
happiness,
mindfulness,
performance,
productivity,
relationships,
stress,
work-life
January 20, 2014 9:00 am
The year was 1971, my first as a school psychologist in Michigan’s Willow Run School District. On April 3, the eve of the third anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King… [more]
January 14, 2014 9:09 am
Ethel Weiss is the primary (and sole) investigator for the longest running research project in the country on the subject of happiness and job satisfaction. When I tell you that… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Motivation TAGS: advice,
career,
change,
customer service,
EAP,
happiness,
job satisfaction,
kindness,
love,
motivation,
optimism,
persistence,
small changes,
values
January 7, 2014 9:17 am
I usually write about the experience of working. Today I want to write about the experience of not working and the plight of the unemployed. HBO’s heart wrenching documentary, American… [more]
December 31, 2013 9:07 am
What a joy it is to recycle stuff that has been gathering dust. It’s not just the space it opens up, although that’s pretty satisfying. The best part of repurposing… [more]
December 18, 2013 9:27 am
One of my best management experiences was coaching my son’s Little League baseball team. I may not be able to remember the name of the movie with what’s-his-name in it… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity TAGS: compensation,
creativity,
culture,
engagement,
human resources,
incentives,
innovation,
leadership,
motivation,
problem-solving,
productivity,
teamwork
December 10, 2013 9:29 am
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” More than ninety heads… [more]
December 5, 2013 9:34 am
“Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same.” Franz Peter Schubert Today’s post is the third in a series. Part 1… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
Leadership,
Motivation,
Productivity,
Training TAGS: engagement,
kindness,
leadership,
motivation,
performance,
persistence,
problem-solving,
productivity,
relationships,
respect,
training
November 27, 2013 8:00 am
I am thankful for a family that loves me even though I am so reliably imperfect. I am thankful for a profession which allows me to share meaningful moments in… [more]
November 21, 2013 9:15 am
Organizations face daunting challenges when it comes to effectively managing employees whose personal problems begin to interfere with their work performance. Just ask the city of Toronto. The headlines concerning… [more]
POSTED IN: Blog,
EAP,
Leadership TAGS: alcohol abuse,
anger,
conflict,
drug abuse,
EAP,
human resources,
leadership,
performance,
safety
November 11, 2013 9:48 am
Of the 21.5 million veterans in the United States, 9.1 million are currently in the workforce. According to government estimates, one million service members will be leaving active duty over… [more]
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