Don't Let Daylight Savings Time Leave You in the Dark

For many people, the effects of Daylight Savings is still lasting many days after the hour was long gone on Sunday. Who knew the loss of one hour of sleep could still be effecting us days later? According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average number of sleep an adult should have is 7 - 9 hours. If you are like me, you are lucky if you average about 6 hours per night, so that one hour loss on Sunday can really take a toll on your body. One study shows that many people will sleep an average of 40 minutes less the night after the change occurs. The Huffington Post reports that on the Monday after the time switch, there is an increase in car crashes, an increase in the number of alcohol related accidents, heart attacks and injuries in the workplace. Not only is that one hour less of sleep dangerous but it also makes workers generally less productive on Monday and more likely to waste time perusing the Internet.

The National Sleep Foundation states that there is no "magic number" on the exact amount of sleep a person should have but it does depend on the amount of activity a person is engaged in throughout the day. Although the number can vary for each individual, one thing sleep research certainly has shown is that sleeping too little can not only inhibit your productivity and ability to remember and consolidate information, but lack of sleep can also lead to serious health consequences and jeopardize your safety and the safety of individuals around you. On the other hand, research also shows that getting too much sleep, in excess of nine hours or more is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This research also found that variables such as low socioeconomic status and depression were significantly associated with long sleep.

So what can you do to make sure you get the proper amount of sleep for your lifestyle? First step could be to see how you respond to different amounts of sleep. Pay careful attention to your mood, energy and health after a poor night's sleep as compared to a good one. Experts also recommend to establish a routine sleeping and waking schedule even on the weekend. Other suggestions include creating a sleep conducive environment that is dark, quiet and comfortable, finish eating at least 2 - 3 hours before bedtime, exercise regularly and avoid caffeine and alcohol products close to bedtime.  

If you are a shift worker, particularly a pipeline control room, you can also make yourself aware of the impact of sleep deprivation and ways to identify fatigue management strategies by taking the SafetySkills® Fatigue Management for Control Room Employees online safety training course. For more information on this course and all of our online safety training products, please visit SafetySkills.com/

Workplace Bullying - A Common Issue Often Overlooked

Workplace bullying is picking up speed as a national issue. According to abcnews.com, Workplace bullying can lead to increased employee turnover and can even affect your company's bottom line with a loss of productivity and corporate morale. Half of the employers in a 2011 survey by the management association reported incidents of bullying in their workplace. Workplace bullying can include a supervisor's verbal abuse or cruel comments or teasing from a co-worker. Experts believe that workplace bullying could become the next major issue in employment law as a growing number of states consider legislation that would let workers sue for harassment that causes physical or emotional harm. Some employers have put into place anti-bullying policies, but advocacy groups are urging states to give legal rights to workers who do not already fit into a protected class based on race, gender or national origin.

In a 2010 survey conducted by The Workplace Bullying Institute, it was found that 35% of the U.S workforce report being bullied at work; an additional 15% witness it. Half of all Americans have directly experienced it. Workplace bullying prevents work from getting done and in its most severe forms can cause hypertension, auto-immune disorders, depression and anxiety.

In May 2010, New York was the one of the first states to pass the Healthy Workplace Bill. This bill would let workers sue for physical, psychological or economic harm due to abusive treatment on the job. As of 2013, 8 states have an active Healthy Workplace Bill. Twenty three states have introduced the bill since 2003 but without the bill passing. Sioux City, Iowa was the first school district in the nation to address workplace bullying for their adult employees. They have voluntarily created polices and credible enforcement procedures to purge destructive individuals. According to HealthyWorkplaceBill.org, The true purpose of the Healthy Workplace bill is to get employers to prevent bullying with policies and procedures that apply to all employees.

While no state or federal law is currently in effect, it is up to each individual company or employer to take seriously the effects of workplace bullying and to put in place effective policies that are enforced by organizational leaders. SafetySkills offers an online safety training course to help get your company started on the right path. Conflict Resolution Strategies for the Workplace teach the employee effective skills to resolve disputes and react with practical conflict coping strategies. To view more about this course and the other courses in our Human Resources Compliance online training course series, please click here.