Fed-up JetBlue flight attendant ... hothead or hero?

We’ve all had horrible days at work that almost sent us over the edge. But we bury the stress and swallow back the urge to yell “I quit” and walk out the door.

Not Steven Slater. For cursing out a customer, grabbing a beer and fleeing the plane via the emergency exit chute, this JetBlue flight attendant has captured America’s attention. In fact, burned-out workers across the country are propping Slater up as a hero after his highly publicized workplace rant.

As two readers shared in an msnbc.com article:

“How many of us can honestly say we haven’t wanted to do the same thing? Steve is a working class hero!”

“Maybe not the best way to quit your job but hey, sometimes enough is enough.”

But the fantasy of telling your boss off could quickly collide with the reality of being jobless. As the article explains:

Some may see Slater as a hero because they know they don’t have the luxury to speak out like that in their own lives. While Slater may have felt great after finally letting loose in such a public way, the fact is that most of us need our jobs more than we need that release. And most of us realize that such a dramatic move can carry heavy consequences, such as the felony charges that Slater is currently facing.

When all is said and done, we need our jobs … and we need to find ways to cope with the frustrations that come with them. We may sympathize with and applaud Slater for his actions, but would we do the same and risk losing our jobs?

Fed-up JetBlue flight attendant ... hothead or hero?

Economy shrinking workers’ paychecks

More than one in three U.S. workers (39%) said that they had not received a raise or that their compensation had decreased as a result of the economic downturn, according to a new survey.

As part of their Tell It Now poll, ComPsych asked workers: “Has the economic downturn impacted your work? If so, in which area have you experienced the greatest impact?”

The highest number of workers (39%) said they haven’t received a raise or their compensation had actually decreased this year as a direct result of the economic downturn.

One in five workers (20%) reported increased conflict and stress among coworkers since the economic recession began.

Another 11% of workers said they’ve had to take on more work due to company layoffs. The added work has about 10% more workers reporting that they’re working more hours and unable to take as much vacation time as they usually do.

Just 20% of respondents said the economic downturn had no impact on their work.


We’d also like to know – Has the recession impacted your work? If so, which area has been impacted the most?

Economy shrinking workers’ paychecks

Wellness programs stay strong despite recession

Despite the recession, companies continue to add wellness and health-management programs to reduce costs while encouraging employees to improve their physical health.

The latest Watson Wyatt/National Business Group on Health survey discovered that companies are still adopting employee wellness programs. The survey results also revealed that many companies improved employee participation rates by offering workers financial incentives.

Survey results show how companies increased the availability of various wellness programs:

• 58% of companies offer lifestyle improvement programs, up from 43% in 2007
• 56% offer health coaches, up from 44% in 2007
• 52% offer weight-management programs, up from 42% in 2007
• 80% offer health-risk appraisals, up from 72% in 2007

Companies that encouraged employees to participate in wellness programs by offering financial incentives reported significantly higher participation rates, according to survey results. Only 40% of companies reported that less than 5% of their workforce participated in weight-management programs.

"Employers continue to see gains from promoting wellness and health management initiatives," said Scott Keyes, senior group and health-care consultant at Watson Wyatt. "Effective financial incentives are one of the keys to encouraging worker participation in these programs — an effort that not only improves the health of workers but also helps reduce costs."

The survey also found that motivating employees with financial incentives significantly increased participation rates. Currently, 61% of employers offer incentives for health-risk appraisals and many employers are also offering incentives for smoking cessation and weight management programs.

Using financial incentives between $51 and $100 have been successful in encouraging employees to participate in smoking cessation programs, weight-management programs, and encourage employees to receive biometric screenings, according to the results.

"The relationship between the amount of the incentive and the level of program participation among employees is strong," said Sherri Potter, senior group and health-care consultant at Watson Wyatt. "A properly structured incentive program does much more than protect investments in health management; it creates a healthier and more productive workforce."

For more information on employee wellness programs and employee health, read these past posts:

Obesity linked to more expensive workers’ comp claims

HR survey reveals top green business practices

New research suggests exercise makes you smarter

Economic stress impacts employee health, productivity

How to beat stress in the workplace

Wellness programs stay strong despite recession

Economic stress impacts employee health, productivity

According to recent reports, you can now add employee health to the list of victims of the recession. Studies show that financial stress due to the current economic recession is having a dangerous impact on employee health and productivity.

Results from the AARP survey, Impact of Economy on Health Behaviors, reveal that one in five adults ages 45 and older are suffering health problems due to financial stress and many are delaying medical treatment because they can’t afford it.

"Right now people are increasingly concerned about their jobs, retirement savings and simply being able to provide for their families and it's taking a major toll on their health," said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director. "It's a harsh irony that worrying about being able to afford health care is actually causing health problems."

Key findings of the AARP survey include:

• 20% of people 45 and older reported health problems due to financial stress
• 22% have delayed seeing a doctor due to cost
• 16% had to use retirement savings or other savings to pay for medical care
• 21% have cut back on other expenses to afford their medical care
• 16% are not confident they will be able to afford health care in 2009

A poll by AXA PPP healthcare of 200 HR professionals found that a quarter of firms believed the majority of their employees were showing symptoms of stress as a result of money worries.

More than 75% felt that employees would be more productive if they were less concerned about financial issues. Unfortunately, more than 40% of HR professionals admitted they would wait until a worker asked for help before offering advice or support.

Instead of waiting for employees to come to them, HR can take proactive steps to help make a positive impact on employee stress. Helping employees deal with mounting financial stress can lead to lower health care costs, higher morale and a healthy bottom line.

According to the wellness professionals at Wellness Corporate Insights, HR can help employees by:

“Establishing comprehensive corporate wellness programs to increase employees' awareness of their own behavior, to show them that the company knows and cares, and to head off problems of increased health care costs and diminished health and efficiency that will remain after the recession is over."

"It's an important time to focus on employee wellness--not only for the good of employees, but for the health of the company too.”

Economic stress impacts employee health, productivity

Online tool helps employers reintegrate veterans

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the launch of a new online resource to help employers accommodate veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the workplace.


The new America’s Heroes at Work website provides employers with information about TBI and PTSD, along with tools and advice on how to reintegrate afflicted veterans, particularly service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This America's Heroes at Work initiative focuses on the employment challenges of returning service members who are living with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

“One of the best ways we can help these courageous men and women and honor their sacrifice is to help them return to full, productive lives through work. Employment can also play a role in their recovery.”

Though their injuries may not be visible, veterans with TBI or PTSD face challenging obstacles when returning to the workplace. Through America’s Heroes at Work, employers can find resources including job coaching and mentoring programs to create a positive, successful work environment for employees who have experienced traumatic events.

"Employment plays absolutely a major role in the rehabilitation of our servicemembers, regardless of the kind of injuries that they may have," said Charles S. Ciccolella, the Labor Department's assistant secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training Service.

Visit America’s Heroes at Work.

Online tool helps employers reintegrate veterans

How to beat stress in the workplace

Stress in the workplace can have a more dangerous impact on employee heath than employers realize, according to research presented yesterday at the annual conference of the American Psychological Association.

Ohio State University researchers found that stress negatively affects immune responses and the time it takes the body to heal itself. Long-term stress can increase the risk of obesity, insomnia, digestive problems, heart disease, depression, memory impairment and physical illness.

Stress on the job is one of the top reasons why workers are unhealthy, according to a new poll by work/life experts at LifeCare. The poll revealed that the top factors having the most negative impact on employee health are:

• Lack of exercise (24%)
• Stress about finances (22%)
• Stress in personal/family life (20%)
• Stress on the job (14%)
• Lack of sleep (8%)

Not only is stress harmful to employee health, it hurts business in the form of increased job turnover. The top reason why people quit is because of excessive stress, according to a Watson Wyatt study.

Promote employee wellness and reduce job turnover with the following stress-beating tips:

• Make to-do lists. Along with day-to-day tasks, write down your long-term career goals and the small steps you can take to reach them. Thinking long-term will help you get through mundane, daily tasks by knowing you’re going somewhere.
• Take a break. Stretch, go for a walk or grab a coffee whenever you start to feel stressed out. Taking short breaks throughout the day can help reduce stress and improve productivity.
• Get organized. A cluttered desk is a stressful desk. An organized desk will help you find things faster, feel less stressed and be more efficient.
• Have a laugh. Laughter is a known stress reliever, so lighten up and smile more. Talk to a friendly coworker or call a family member to make you day more enjoyable.
• Sleep better. Make a conscious effort to get more sleep at night. Along with reducing stress at work, a good night’s sleep will give you more energy and increase your concentration.
• Squeeze something. Keep a fun squeeze toy, like Dilbert below, on your desk for those times you need a little stress relief. Reduce built-up tension and squeeze the stress away.

How to beat stress in the workplace