Editor’s Note

A workplace that promotes good mental health achieves more through greater morale and productivity. People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behavior. They are able to handle life’s challenges, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.

Mental Health Awareness Month: Take the first step towards a mentally healthy workplace

With the growing list of legal, organizational, and health issues on your plate, I hate to add one more. However, did you know that depression affects more American adults than diabetes? The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that in 2014, nearly 44 million adults suffered from mental illness, representing 18.1% of all U.S. adults. For that same year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 29.1 million people of all ages, or 9.3% of the total U.S. population, as having diabetes.

Employee Benefits and Wellness Excellence May 2016 Advertisers

Life In The Face Of Death: How Neil Lagden survived a life threatening brain tumour

Back in June 2015, Bond Payroll Services was in a good position mid-year and on the cusp of launching new strategy. Just going into the summer months, however, the company was turned upside down. Neil Lagden, Bond’s Managing Director and the architect of its success over the previous eight years, suffered a seizure that led to the diagnosis of an eight and a half centimeter brain tumour.

Diet For Dollars Program: 11 key considerations

Since research has proven financial incentives and penalties to be highly effective in motivating weight-loss, there's been an uptick in the number of organizations looking to capitalize on the cash-driven dieting idea and add their spin to an already crowded marketplace. The trick for employers seeking to bolster workplace wellness programs to give staffers an extra source of motivation to shed a few (or more) pounds, is determining the legitimacy of the organization in question. Choosing poorly could make the entire endeavor a bust or, worse, could land you in the heart of a scam.

The Next-Gen Employee’s Benefits Needs: Do you have a strategy in place?

The demographic of the workforce in the United States is rapidly changing and new technological advancements are being made every day, both of which are shaping the future of employee benefits. As an HR professional, you are uniquely positioned to connect your company with solutions and strategies that bridge the gap between the needs of employees today and these developing needs of future employees.

Conflicts Of Interest In Retirement Advice: Labor Dept. finalizes the rule to address the issue

On April 6, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule addressing conflicts of interest in retirement advice. The new rule requires those who provide retirement investment advice to abide by a fiduciary standard and put their clients’ best interest before their own profits. The rule also prohibits fiduciaries to plans, plan participants, and individual retirement account (IRA) owners from receiving payments creating conflicts of interest unless they comply with conditions designed to minimize the potential effects of a conflict.

The Three Levels Of Organization Health: Tools to help you measure

Blue Zones researcher Dan Buettner concluded that the environment and culture play a huge role in the health and longevity of the inhabitants in the world’s Blue Zones. As worksite wellness practitioners, why would we ever think the workplace environment and an organization's culture would have any less of an impact on employee health and well-being? The research is clear. They do have equal impact.

The Inner Game Of Performance: What is Emotional Freedom Technique?

A little book called: The Inner Game of Tennis, by W. Timothy Gallwey, caught my attention in 1985 as a result of the mental war zone that I found myself in any time I stepped foot into a competitive arena.In a nutshell, this book was all about overcoming self-doubt and inner stress that robs the athlete of their ability to concentrate on and achieve their desired athletic goal, or any goal for that matter.

Dying To Live!: Are your stress and wellness levels killing you?

Healthcare and wellness are quickly becoming the number-one concern in the developed world. More than 70% of North Americans are now obese or overweight and 50% are diabetic or pre-diabetic. Further, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, stress-related illness is costing employers over $7500 USD per year. Beyond that, stress is affecting our personal quality of life as we age. Honestly, who cares if we are living longer if our quality of life is poor?