Welcome Linda Hale-Graves as Director of Affinity Occupational Health 

Try This! Workplace Wellness Tip:

Boost Morale With Employee Recognition  

By Megan Klug, wellness account specialist

Affinity Occupational Health

Are you looking for an easy way to boost employee morale? Make someone's day just by letting them know they are appreciated. It's a simple way to boost positive attitudes in the workplace. 

Employees feel good when they know their co-workers appreciate their hard work. You can facilitate positive feedback by establishing an employee recognition program. Create employee recognition forms that include who is being recognized and why. Make the cards available in common areas, or post the form on your company intranet. As recognition cards are submitted, display the cards on a wall of fame. You can also do a monthly drawing for a gift card or prize.    

 Identifying Troubled Employees  

Warning Signs of Stress          

So far today you've showed up late to a meeting, spilled coffee on your desk and got into a heated argument with a co-worker. Pretty impressive, considering it's only 8:12 a.m. 

"If you're stressed at work, you're not alone," says Donna Schmitz, EAP counselor. "Stress can be healthy when it's channeled constructively. But when it gets out of control, it can hurt not only your job, but also your health and relationships."

Here are some warning signs that your stress is past its limits.

What a pain. Got a headache? Recurring upset stomach? These are some nasty ways stress shows up to taunt you. 

Losing the snoozing. Can't sleep at night? Or maybe all you want to do is sleep, regardless of the time of day. Both are signs of unchecked stress.

Space cadet. Difficulty concentrating, daydreaming or struggling to juggle multiple tasks at once are all red flags that your stress is out of bounds.

Picking fights. Does your temper feel like a burning stick of dynamite? A short fuse, especially when it leads to conflict with co-workers, is one way stress rears its ugly head.

Take this job and @%! If you finished this sentence with enthusiasm, your stress might be getting the best of you. Excessive stress can lead to job dissatisfaction even for the most loyal employee. 

How low can you go? Stress leads to job woes, which lead to low morale. Do yourself a favor--before dragging yourself and your co-workers to the depths--get some perspective on your stress. Talk to your EAP counselor or a trusted friend. 

The Power of Laughter in the Workplace 

Got stress? A little laughter goes a long way toward relieving tension and boosting creative energy. Here are some ways to infuse kicks and giggles into the workplace.

Laughing lunch. Play a slapstick comedy DVD over a couple lunch hours. Book a conference room or other common area where employees can congregate, chuckle, and eat popcorn.

She said what? Keep a running quote board of funny comments co-workers make. Quips that made sense in context - "Has anybody seen my eyeball?" - can be fodder for silliness for weeks to come.

Daily jest. Reserve a small corner of your company intranet or bulletin board for daily jokes, funny quotes or short humorous stories. This might even motivate employees to check communication boards regularly.

Jump start with jokes. Start each meeting with a joke or funny story. If blood pressures rise during the meeting, try ending with one, too.

Comedy show. Consider headlining a comedian at your next company picnic, conference or staff retreat. Promote the show ahead of time to build anticipation and morale.