A new study revealed health risk factors are responsible for up to 24% of productivity loss with workers. Some additional highlights from the study included the following:

• A strong association was found between the number of health risks and productivity loss, ranging from 3.4% for those with none of the eight assessed health risks to a 24% productivity loss for people with all eight health risks.
• Researchers found that ongoing back pain was responsible for 5.7 weeks of lost productivity each year, representing a 10.9% differential between employees at risk and those not at risk for back pain.
• Mental well-being and stress accounted for 2.4 and 1.1 weeks of lost productivity, respectively.

A recent survey revealed some tactics job seekers have used to get prospective employers' attention. Executives recounted the most unusual things they have seen or heard an applicant do to stand out from the crowd. The following represent some of their responses:

• "I remember a job candidate bringing milk and cookies."
• "Singing. It's something you don't forget."
• "I have seen magnets on people's cars directing others to websites for their resumes."
• I remember someone had his resume delivered in a pizza box."
• "Someone wrote a press release announcing she had been hired and used it as her cover letter."

Because we want to best serve our readers, we feature a segment of our Newsletter where you can submit questions directly to our OperationsInc professionals. Do you have a question related to the management of the Human Resources function? Email it along to enewsletter@operationsinc.com. The best ones will make it into a future newsletter, along with the answer... and those that don't get published will still receive a response.

This week's question:
"What are the recommended steps to take in an accident investigation?"

--- DON - Healthcare Facility

Answer:
Logically speaking you want to best understand from as many perspectives as is possible exactly what happened. How you go about this and what you ask can be dictated by many factors. For example aside from your own concerns about OSHA and office safety you most likely have an obligation to cover certain areas as directed by your Worker's Compensation carrier. Then you may have an issue that would involve your company's liability insurance, meaning that carrier has questions. With all these factors in mind it's wise to check and see who needs what info before moving into the phase of investigation.

" The noblest search is the search for excellence."

- Lyndon B. Johnson

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