Maybe you feel unprepared for your new job, even though your resume fits the job description perfectly. Or maybe you joined a workout class and believe the other participants are more fit than you, even though that’s not the case. [Read more…]
The Mixed Evidence on Workplace Wellness Programs
April 23, 2024 By
In addition to traditional benefits, such as health care coverage and 401(k) plans, employers across the globe are increasingly offering programs designed to boost employees’ mental health—free massages, mindfulness classes, online wellness apps, and more. [Read more…]
What We Know About the Obesity Pay Gap
December 13, 2023 By
Nearly 42 percent of adults in the U.S. are considered obese, up from 30 percent in 2000.
Obesity is linked to many health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, and sleep problems. A body of research also demonstrates a link between obesity and socioeconomic status; in particular, people who are overweight tend to earn less money.
Gratitude Can Promote Healthy Workplaces
November 18, 2022 By Leave a Comment
As we head into Thanksgiving week—filled with roasted turkeys, football games, and family gatherings—it’s important to remember the sentiment that goes along with the season: gratitude.
Researchers long ago established that gratitude promotes well-being. While we may feel thankful for something specific, like a gift or a meal, a broader outlook of gratitude—the mindset of noticing and appreciating the positives in your life—is proven to protect people from psychological distress. [Read more…]
Working A Lot? It’s Probably Affecting Your Health
May 27, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Work is a major component of most people’s lives. On average, Americans spend 41 hours working outside the home each week, according to the International Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. [Read more…]
The Mental Health Costs of Caring for COVID-19 Patients
January 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment
More than 125,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 – more than at any other point during the pandemic. Most of these patients are seriously ill, with low oxygen levels and potential organ failure. Most need constant monitoring and many need a ventilator because they are not able to breathe. [Read more…]
Sexual Harassment Training Is Largely Ineffective
January 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment
More than 40 politicians, actors, news journalists and high-profile managers have stepped down from their posts in recent weeks after being accused of sexual harassment. [Read more…]
The evidence on retirement
April 15, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The other day, a friend who is nearing retirement age stopped me in the gym locker room. “I want to know what the evidence says,” she told me. “Is retirement going to be good for me?” [Read more…]
What we know — and what we don’t — about standing desks
March 22, 2016 By Leave a Comment
If you pay any attention to news stories about health and wellness, you’ve likely read or heard that sitting for long periods of time can harm your health.
There is evidence to suggest that sitting for hours at a time leads to a host of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, bone and joint problems, poor posture, weak muscles and even some types of cancer. [Read more…]
New evidence on the gap between rich and poor
February 26, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The founders of our nation set out to create a place where people could build a life for themselves. Their original idea was that U.S. citizens would be free to pursue happiness and prosperity. But more than 200 years later, a body of evidence shows the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. [Read more…]
Is your workplace making you sick?
October 28, 2015 By Leave a Comment
For a few decades now, major employers across the United States have focused on providing wellness programs that encourage employees to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as nutritional eating, exercise and smoking cessation. This is based on the premise that a healthy workforce will be more productive, and ultimately will help reduce health insurance costs. [Read more…]
The link between working long hours and drinking alcohol
April 14, 2015 By 3 Comments
I have certainly had times in my life where, at the end of the work day, all I wanted to do was have a few glasses of wine to help me relax. For some people, the ritual of having a drink or two after work becomes a habit that’s hard to break. A systematic review published recently finds that this sort of habit can lead to unhealthy behaviors. [Read more…]
