Wellness Programs at the Workplace are a True Win Win
Den Brown
My employer has always been a true advocate of living healthy through diet and exercise. Back in December of 2010 my boss came to me with the idea of offering employees a paid fitness plan. I thought this was a great opportunity for the staff, with New Years fast approaching and many of us coming up with our laundry list of resolutions, the timing could not have been better. My initial thought was how much we as employees stood to benefit from this, without ever really giving consideration as to the advantages a wellness program has on companies as a whole.Recent evidence supports the importance of workplace wellness to reduce injuries, long-term disability, and healthcare costs. According to an article I read the US spends more on healthcare than any other industrialized nation, yet Americans are considered the least healthy of these populations. With this in mind employers need to begin to recognize that there are true advantages to implementing a wellness plan and these advantages may equate out to some big bucks.
It has been proven that happy healthy employees demonstrate reduced absenteeism and higher productivity; this is where the return on investment comes in. “Research now suggests employers get an average of $3.48 back in reduced health care costs and $5.82 in lower absenteeism cost for every dollar spent on employee wellness.” With numbers like that who can afford not to jump on the band wagon.
When we talk about wellness programs it does not necessarily have to be something elaborate like constructing a gym at your worksite or something pricey like paying for membership to an exclusive gym; it can be as simple as making available information that helps to reduce stress and fatigue, to educating your staff on heart health and the importance of a healthful diet, to onsite health screenings that may include everything from blood pressure screenings to flu shots. These are just a few examples and when you really start thinking about it, you could get very creative.
Bottom line, wellness programs create a win win at the workplace, employees are the most valuable asset when it comes to your business so if you have not implemented a program yet, don’t wait just do it!
Exciting Updates From Danlee Medical
Annette Scorzelli
Exciting news! Danlee has two new employees joining our sales team at then end of August. Danlee is committed to our customers and we value your business. We pride ourselves on not having voice mail or automated answering. You will always speak with a human being at Danlee. To keep up with our growing customer database and to insure we provide the best possible service, we welcome Barb and Bev to the Danlee Sales Team.
Danlee Medical Products has a two week in depth training program which covers the basics. As we all know you learn something new everyday and the training will continue each day through on the job training. Please help us in welcoming our new team members to their new positions. We all remember how it is to be the new person so we ask for your patience during our training period.
In Product News we recently became a distributor for Tuttnauer autoclaves. Our website has been updated with a select few products. Follow this link to view these new additions, http://www.danleemedical.com/products/sterilization. However, if you have a specific need and don’t see what you are looking for on our website please contact us and we will help you find what you are looking for.
I hope you all enjoy your August as we wind down July.
Natural Sea Salt VS Table Salt
Tim Walton
Salt is an essential nutrient to animal (human) life. It’s present in the tissues and cells of our bodies and facilitates muscle contractions, nutrient transport to cells, and conducts nerve impulses. It extracts excess acidity from inside cells, including brain cells. Salt is vital for the kidneys to clear excess acidity and pass that acidity to the urine. There are other benefits and claims attributed to salt. But are all salts equal?
The two forms of salt to be discussed are common table (iodized) salt and natural grey sea salt. So what are the differences and the pluses and minuses of them?
Table salt is normally rock salt that is mined, heat blasted, sometimes chemically treated (bleached for whiteness), and then ant-caking agents (calcium silicate) and iodine are added to it. These additives could be up to 15% of regular table salt. This processed salt can cause bloating and water retention which can put the body’s systems out of balance. The added iodines were introduced to counter the incidences of diseases related to iodine deficiencies, specifically goiter. 150 micrograms is the daily requirement of a human being. One teaspoon of iodized salt contains 400 micrograms. Because of it’s fine grain due to processing, one teaspoon of table salt has more salt than a tablespoon of natural sea salt.
In natural sea salt, the minerals retain some moisture and are grey in color. Many salts labeled “Sea Salt” are washed and boiled which strips them of minerals and trace elements. If your sea salt is grey in color, it has not been processed and will have the correct balance of sodium and chloride as well as contain calcium, potassium, and other trace elements and nutrients. If your sea salt is white in color and free flowing, it’s been processed and most likely stripped. Natural grey will not pour like table salt because of its moisture content.
If the ONLY plus to table salt is the added iodine content, consider this: I just looked at the label of a popular multivitamin and it lists an iodine content of 150 micrograms. My advice is to try and use natural grey sea salt for all of the benefits it can provide and get your iodine from a vitamin supplement to avoid the drawbacks of regular table salt.
Live In The Moment
Joni Walton
Live In The Moment. Why is it we are always thinking about what we could have done differently in the past or how we are going to live in the future? Why not focus on today and live in the moment? Some things have happened lately that have made me realize how lucky I am for what I have, who I have in my life and where I am at in my life.
Living in the moment is all about living like there’s no tomorrow. It takes practice but in the end, you’ll lead a fuller life. To do this you must realize beauty in every moment, and in everyday activities.
Take notice of the world around you. Try and find something beautiful around you. View the sunrise, boats on a lake, a pretty garden. Be thankful for the little things.
Focus. Focus on what is, not what was or what could be.
Smile when you wake up: Set the tone of your day by simply smiling when you wake up.
Commit random acts of kindness: Even the smallest thing like complimenting someone, can bring joy. The most spontaneous and unexpected acts of kindness produce the greatest impact.
Zone In, Don’t Zone Out: Do things that are active, and encourage you to look around and engage the world.
Be Thankful For What Is: When you find yourself wishing for something you don’t have or wishing life were different, start to think about being thankful for what is already in your life.
Here are a couple of quotes which I feel really sum things up:
“You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.” Jan Glidewell
“If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.” Morris West
This is your life, start living!
Joni
Sometimes Opportunity Only Knocks Once
Deborah Brown
As an HR Professional one of the most challenging roles I play is recruitment. Considering the ultra-competitive job market some of you may be surprised to find that landing a good fit is not as easy as you think. I know I have spoken about the use of social media for recruitment purposes in the past and how great a tool it is when it comes to job advertising, but increasing awareness about an opportunity and bringing someone in the door are two very different challenges. I don’t want to put across that it’s due to lack of talent because I have met with some real superstars that I felt at the time had so much to bring to the business. What I really attribute to the hiring challenge usually surfaces during the interview process in the form of job seeker expectations.
I don’t know about you but I tend to be old school when it comes to work. My father owned his own business and engrained in me some basic philosophies that he attributes to his past successes. I thought I would share them with all you job seekers; a little something to think about while conducting your search.
1) Nobody starts at the top- Job seekers should keep in mind when looking for a job that you typically do not start at the top and depending on the position shouldn’t assume even a lateral move. Whether you’re just entering the job market or consider yourself a seasoned worker, employers want the opportunity to see what you’ve got before committing. If you feel the job offers what you want in terms duties and future opportunity, don’t be afraid to take a chance to show you’re stuff and approach the position with a willingness to work your way up.
2) Always consider the market- When looking for a job we all show up to the interview with a salary in mind. Before applicants price themselves out of an opportunity, it is important to research your market value and consider conditions in the current market. Expectations should be realistic and coincide with standards that are relative to the job you are applying for, not necessarily what you have earned a degree in or past experience that would not benefit you in the new position.
3) The job isn’t going to come to you- Serious job seekers should exercise a proactive approach to finding a job and obtaining employment. If you interview for a job you are interested in contact the company to further express your interest in the position. One thing I can tell you, the hirer is not going to hunt you down; you need to go for what you’re after.
4) Take responsibility- Job seekers sometimes involve others to directly participate or interfere in their job search. Although it is acceptable to seek outside advice, it is a personal decision that the applicant needs to make to create and build a satisfying and successful career.
Bottom line is in today’s economy it is important to be flexible and realistic when actively pursuing new employment opportunities. Don’t be too quick to pass up that opportunity today because sometimes it only knocks once.
Looking for Instromedix Accessories?
Annette Scorzelli
Danlee Medical Products has seen an increase in inquiries regarding Instromedix, King of Hearts accessories to go with their event monitors. Instromedix has decided to no longer support these units leaving an opportunity for Danlee Medical to provide these products facilities are looking for. Those products include:
665-226-01 Belt Clip, King of Hearts Express – http://www.danleemedical.com/product-detail/instromedix/instromedix-belt-clip
420-0073-00 Lead Wires, King of Hearts Express, Express plus and Express AF- http://www.danleemedical.com/product-detail/instromedix/instromedix-king-of-hearts-cable-2-lead
110-0116-00 Neck Lanyard, King of Hearts Express – http://www.danleemedical.com/product-detail/instromedix/instromedix-neck-lanyard
426-101-0 Lead Wires, Micro LR – http://www.danleemedical.com/product-detail/instromedix/instromedix-microlr-lead-set-2-lead
Follow the product links above for pricing and pictures. If you require additional information please call 800-433-7797 and one of our sales representatives will be happy to help you.
Believe and Achieve!
Tim Walton
When you set goals to achieve physically, you have to be honest and realistic. Genetics, time, equipment, nutrition, knowledge, and supplementation are all key, but the drive and motivation to attain those goals are the real driving force and the most important element.
“What the mind believes, the body achieves.” I think the first time I heard that, it wasArnoldsaying it. He knew that the mind was more of a limiting factor than the body. He was a huge believer in visualization, kind of a self-hypnosis that has caught on with elite athletes in the past couple of decades. You envision yourself completing an exercise movement, lifting a weight or certain number of reps, etc, that you haven’t before. He used to imagine his biceps as mountains and we all see where that ended up.
We used to experiment manipulating this back in the day. A person would be doing bench presses and one of us would be on each end of the bar. The plan was, after warming up, to put the heaviest weight possible on the bar that the person could lift, then when he did it , we’d strip off a plate on each side, he’d do another set, and we’d work our way down to the bar and one plate one each side. In this scenario the person started off with his maximum weight and after his first set, unknown to him, we actually added a plate on both sides, then again and again. He actually ended up benching 40 pounds over his former max because his mind actually thought he was moving a lighter weight than what he was.
Emotions and mind set can also be manipulated. My son learned this when he was around 5 years old. I had taken him out sledding in fairly deep snow and we had been out for quite awhile. He was trying to trudge up the hill for probably the 80th time, when he looked at me ½ way up the hill and stated that he couldn’t make it any further. I said, “That’s ok buddy. We’ll pack it up and …….”OH MY GOD!! WOLVES!!!”, as I pointed behind him and turned around and ran. He shot past me so fast he was on top of the snow. I actually felt kind of bad afterwards, but we look back at it now and laugh. He saw at an early age that his mind could overrule his body.
To sum it up, don’t let your mind be the limiting factor when it can actually be your greatest asset. Learn techniques to tap into its abilities. As we used to say in the military, “Your mind is your primary weapon. Everything else is an accessory.”
Re-Inventing Your Brand…Important?
Joni Walton
Danlee Medical is in the process of re-inventing our brand. For the past couple of months we have been working on a new logo to represent a more updated, fresh look. History has shown we do this about every 8 years or so. Is this important? To me it is. I believe as our company changes and evolves we need to change with it. Danlee is about to embark on a journey of re-structuring and re-tooling our business for maximum efficiency and growth.
When we started this process of re-designing our logo I really had no specific criteria other than to “freshen” it up and make it look more up to date. My other thought was to be careful not make it totally different and lose our identity. This process can be particularly difficult, at least for me, because I need the logo to mean something to me. I don’t just want a pretty logo that has no meaning.
In 1994 when we came up with our very first logo, the name Danlee represented my son’s name, Daniel Lee. When I was asked what color I wanted it to be I said without hesitation… green. When I was asked why, I said “because it was the color of money,” and I was hoping to make some with my new business venture.
In 2003 we reinvented our logo again. This time we added another color. We again were looking for a more updated look. I remember asking for our “D” in the box to look like it was glowing. This represented the fact that we had made our mark and we were now known in the industry so the light was finally shining on us.
Now in 2011 here we are again. When I saw this new logo it immediately struck me and clearly represented where our company is and where we are going. The swoosh at the end represents our Danlee “D” appearing to be launching forward which is exactly what we plan to do. Our best years are yet to come.
Although I can’t say that all of my employees originally got the same message from this logo, once I explained my vision they have all willingly jumped on board. Without the support and hard work of all the Danlee team members my goals and vision for this company are just words on a page.
Looking forward to see what the next 8 years bring and what our next logo will be!
The Skinny on FMLA
Deborah Brown
The Family Medical Leave Act, commonly known as FMLA is a federal employment law introduced in 1993 and administered by the United States Department of Labor. The federal law requires employers to provide employees “job-protected unpaid leave due to a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform his or her job, or to care for a sick family member, or to care for a new child (including by birth, adoption or foster care)”. The law originated to address a national concern relative to balancing work and family responsibilities. Since commencement the law has been amended to include implementation of the Military Family Leave Act and additional improvements have been made to limit potential abuse of intermittent leave rights. In addition to the federal FMLA directive, some states have chosen to supplement the regulation with their own state FMLA laws. In my opinion this could complicate an at times hard to manage benefit, but it’s something that NYS employers do not have to contend with because New York is yet to jump on that bandwagon. In compliance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, NYS employers that have 50 or more employees working within a 75 mile radius of the “worksite” are ordered to provide FMLA benefits. If your NYS organization is operating as a co-employer under a PEO, FMLA is not a required benefit if your organization employs less than 50 and the PEO acts only as more a benefit/payroll administrator rather than a full fledged co-employer. NYS employees under FMLA are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave if they meet eligibility requirements. Eligibility for NYS employees requires that workers work at least 12 months prior to requesting FMLA leave and within that 12 month time frame work at least 1250 hours. Employees granted FMLA continue to receive all benefits that they would have been allotted if they were working. All employer funded benefits continue to be paid by the employer while employee funded benefits are made by employees and handled according to documented policy. The Family Medical Leave Act has pros and cons for both employer and or employees. From an employers standpoint FMLA can be advantageous if introduced as a valuable benefit during the recruitment process. On the flipside employers may be faced with rearranging tasks to provide coverage while an employee takes FMLA. In addition the employer must police use of the benefit to deter FMLA abuse. From an employees standpoint FMLA promises peace of mind when the employee is faced with a serious illness or having to care for an ill family member. In addition to job protection, the employee’s ability to retain health insurance during leave prevents lapse in coverage and further alleviates employee anxieties.
“CLIA WAIVED”?
Annette Scorzelli
Have you ever received product literature with a stamp on it that says “CLIA WAIVED” and thought wonderd what that means? Many of us in the medical profession have probably glanced at this and never gave it a second thought but curiosity got the best of me this week and I wanted to find out the details. Here is an article I came across with enough information to clear up some of the uncertainties. Have fun reading this short article, http://www.testcountry.org/what-does-clia-waived-mean.htm.
