Have you heard of the term “Batteration”? Neither have I and I cannot find it on the internet. But our friend and Energizer Rep, Adam Bradley, says it’s legit and it’s an epidemic spreading like wildfire. Let’s check in with Adam and find out what the heck he’s talking about.
Do You Suffer from Batteration?
By Adam Bradley
What is Batteration? I’ll explain:
According to a recent discovery identified while drinking a Café Mocha from Starbucks, its been determined all individuals who require oxygen to breath, put on their pants one leg at a time and need food to survive, are prone to experiencing Batteration.
Based on those characteristics, I’ll let you determine if you qualify. I’m guessing you’re a candidate.
How do you know if you’ve experienced Batteration? Below are a few symptoms:
- Jamming your finger on the remote control button, the remote control giving you the double-blink but still not changing the channel. You press harder, more double-blinks but still no channel change.
- The shake-shake, knock-knock of your computer mouse. The what? You know, the mouse isn’t working so you give it a couple good shakes, knock it on your desk a couple times and its still underperforming. Then it starts “working” but it takes 3-minutes to move the cursor 3-inches.
- Its Saturday game-night. The agenda: Fun, fun & more fun! Family is in town, friends are over and you open the cabinet to retrieve your favorite game: Catch Phrase. Everybody partners up, rules are explained, open the box and turn on the game console. The game console doesn’t respond. Its supposed to greet you with a “Welcome” but today its greets you with a blank screen. A not-so-very-nice greeting. The mood in the room has gone south. So you shake-shake, knock-knock (see above) and still nothing. Your game-night turns into Go-Fish.
We need to raise awareness of Batteration, too many people are suffering. It’s becoming an epidemic.
Batteration is defined as: “frustration one experiences from batteries.” Hence, Batteration. (Its not on Wikipedia so no need to Google it. Its been deemed too serious of an issue for Wikipedia)
We didn’t want to over-complicate the term, we wanted you to be able to diagnosis your condition because as we learned on TV, diagnosis is the first step to recovering.
I have some good news and some bad news. You want the good news first? No you don’t. You should never want the good news first.
So here is the bad news: Batteration is not 100% curable. Noooooo!
Don’t be alarmed, Batteration is not a fatal condition. Life will go on. Secondly, it CAN be treated and your symptoms can be reduced by 60%-90% allowing your Batteration symptoms to become such a rare occurrence it has close to zero negative impact on your life.
Lets talk steps to recovery. We live in an ever-evolving world where things are always improving & changing. We’re forced to change with it. Unfortunately when you don’t adapt, you increase your chances of suffering from Batteration.
The devices that you and I use on a daily basis aren’t the devices we use to use 10 years ago. Even Mr. Nikon himself didn’t own a digital camera that shot in 1080p HD, has a 921K-Dot LCD Monitor, Bluetooth connectivity & built-in HDR (High-Dynamic Range) capabilities 10-years ago. Our devices have changed but yet we’re still using the same batteries we used during our Y2K New Years Eve parties.
Energizer understood batteries needed to evolve as the devices they battery have changed. The have been the leader in helping reduce Batteration.
Let me introduce to you the Ultimate Lithium and Advanced Lithium. Batteries designed to last 6x-9x longer than standard batteries and meant to work in the high-draining devices that have been creating this epidemic.
Are you using the batteries of yester-year still today? Are you allowing Batteration to creep in your life more often than you should?
Next time you go to make a battery purchase, take a step-back and re-evaluate your decision: is this the right battery for the right device. High-draining devices (which most are today) NEED a higher level battery (Energizer Ultimate & Advanced Lithium) otherwise you’re going to go through batteries like I go through cereal.
Energizer is here to help; did you know on the back of Energizer packaging they even suggest which battery go with which device?
Energizer is making some conscious efforts to reduce the Batteration epidemic that’s taking over our country. Like the classic saying: you can bring someone to the well but you can’t get them to drink… same applies here.
Drink the water it helps cure Batteration.
Oh, you can save too with this $25 Visa Reward card with purchase.
Adam Bradley is an Account Manager at the Highlands Group, and represents some of the top manufacturers in the Office Supply Industry like BIC, Energizer and Dial. He also co-hosts the Ball Hogs Radio program, a premier internet radio show/ podcast in the DC, MD, VA area.
Contact Adam via LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adambradley1
Good Morning and welcome to Wednesday. So how do you take your coffee? It seems most of us are very particular. How particular are you with your brew? Let’s check in with Jennifer Nakao and find out more about this subject and her iced coffee addiction.
I Dedicate This Blog Post To Coffee – Preferably On Ice
By Jennifer Nakao
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I recently started watching Downton Abbey on Netflix and since the characters are British and are always drinking tea, it makes me want tea. But then I remember that I don’t have fancy teapots, delicate teacups or cubes of sugar. So that’s no fun. What I do have, however, are several types of espresso beans, a coffee grinder, an array of humorous and ironic coffee mugs, a carton of non-fat iced mocha in the fridge and a Starbucks Gold Card linked to my iPhone. Let the British have their tea, we have our coffee. And Americans love coffee! Fifty-four percent of Americans drink coffee every single day and we spend over 18 billion dollars on specialty coffee, like Starbucks and The Coffee Bean, each year. Just today I had an iced mocha made at home in the morning, a Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino on my way to the dentist and an iced vanilla latté from my local coffee shop after a late afternoon jog. Okay, that’s a lot of coffee. I may have a problem.
As you can tell, cold coffee is my preferred way of drinking espresso. Starbucks started serving coffee over ice in 1986 and I was their first customer in line. I was three. Regardless of the weather outside, I want my coffee at a polar temperature, multiple times a day. So why does coffee play such a significant role in our daily lives? Obviously the addictive nature of caffeine is worth noting but more importantly, how we take our coffee is an intricate part of our routine because it individualizes us, becomes habit and ultimately defines the rest of our day. The majority of coffee drinkers claim that they don’t even feel like themselves until after they have had their daily cup of coffee. We all have our own way of preparing and enjoying coffee and so this simple drink makes us somewhat unique.
My friend Megan, for example, will only drink cold coffee on very cold days and enjoys hot coffee most during the blistering months of summer. My dad wakes up extra early each morning so that he can enjoy an instant cup of coffee alone. And my father-in-law takes his coffee black but prefers it in a Styrofoam cup from the bagel shop next to the pool he swims at each morning. And though I may vary my coffee flavoring, I need it on ice and always when I drive. Most of the coffee drinkers I know have taken their coffee the same way for many years and so naturally without it, something is missing.
Of course it is possible for our coffee habits to change. My grandparents were married for fifty-five years and each morning, for all those years, the same brew of coffee was made using the same pot. My grandparents would drink their coffee together while eating breakfast and watching the morning news. In 2011, my grandpa passed away and it no longer made sense for my grandma to brew a pot of coffee just for her. So she purchased a Keurig Brewer and now makes one individual cup of coffee each morning. My grandparents had an amazing marriage built on love, respect and equality. And even though my grandpa is gone, many things have not changed for my grandma. She still has my grandpa’s coffee mug on the counter, his fishing hat hanging on the wall, and a lamp switched on at all times beside his favorite chair. But now, she does change her coffee flavor every day. She’s also travelling more.
If you’re interested in changing up your coffee habits and want to try my delicious way of drinking coffee – cold as ice – then register to win a brand new Keurig Brewer and a Brew Over Ice Office Party! Check it out here and tell us in the comment section below what your cup of coffee says about you!
Good Morning and welcome to Wednesday. Let’s take a quick coffee break and ponder the possibilities of going back to school with working mom and blog contributor Jennifer Nakao.
Professional Development: Going Back To School To Become A Brain Surgeon
By Jennifer Nakao
In kindergarten my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Obviously this is a ridiculous question to ask a five year-old but it was almost recess so I made up my mind quickly and said that I wanted to be a brain surgeon. I’m not even sure I knew exactly what that entailed but I stuck to my brain surgeon goal all through elementary, middle and high school. I eventually studied brain surgery in college and medical school and now work on brains. No, that’s not true. I realized in 9th grade when math and science got incredibly difficult for me that my career in medicine was already over. It wasn’t until I was out of college, well into my twenties and working full time doing nonsense that I had some notion of what I wanted to be when I grew up. So, like many young professionals these days, I made the decision to go back to school and drop some serious coin on a master’s degree.
The most obvious reason to go back to school is to advance your career so that you can have mo’ money and mo’ problems. And making mo’ benjamins is definitely a possibility since according to topmba.com, on average new MBAs see an 80% salary increase. Regardless, it is a well-established understanding that if money is your main motivator in a decision, it’s likely not the right decision.
With that being said, there are plenty of other reasons to consider heading back to school and pursuing a graduate degree whether it is an MBA, JD or Masters. Take a look:
Decided to dedicate my life to teaching AKA I finally realized I can’t “do” so I will “teach.”
Maybe you have finally found your calling, whether it’s teaching, starting your own restaurant, running a non-profit or training dolphins at Sea World. Whatever it is, it’s time to go learn how to do these things. This is without a doubt, the best and most justifiable reason to go back to school. Yes, it will cost you $50-100K in the process but maybe that doesn’t matter because you can’t put a price on actually doing a job that doesn’t make you want to jab ballpoint pens into your eyes.
Want to do something else with life but not exactly sure what…
Law School.
Opportunity: New connections
I loved everything about my graduate program including the focus on real world projects, the competitiveness and most of all, fellow students. During my three years of working prior to going back to school, my network of professionals had actually shrunk down to basically folks from my company. Suddenly, at grad school, I was surrounded by tons of smart and driven people from different backgrounds and industries. I learned about their career paths and future plans, which helped shape my own goals post-graduation. My graduate network became the one I would reach out to the most for guidance, job opportunities and professional motivation.
Your workplace says it’s okay and they help pay
The decision to go back to school is a lot easier when you have the support of your company. This can come in different forms including flexible scheduling, test preparation or even tuition reimbursement. Graduate school is incredibly expensive and many people, including myself, are not able to quit work to focus completely on school. Many companies understand this predicament and actually encourage employees to balance both work and school. There is however, often the expectation that you stick around with your company after graduation, especially if they have helped pay. Talk to HR and see what educational assistance your company offers.
Going back to school is an expensive, life altering and significant commitment that requires careful planning professionally, financially and personally. Luckily there are lots of resources available to help you decide what makes the most sense for you in terms of graduate programs and degrees. Start by talking to people who have gone back to school, attend info sessions and discuss opportunities with HR and your manager. It’s never too late to become a brain surgeon!
About the Author
Jennifer Nakao
Monday Morning Report
By Brad Oswald
Grab another cup of coffee and get ready for another busy workweek, it’s the ImpactOffice Monday Morning Report for June 3, 2013.
This Sitting Thing is Going to Kill You
Last month we talked about ergonomics and why it is so important to think differently in your approach to performing everyday tasks around the workplace. Well, I’ve got more good news for you. See that thing you’re sitting on. You better stand up—it’s killing you! A recent article in LA Times highlighted research studies that have confirmed what many have suspected for some time—too much sitting is bad for your health. Studies show we’re just not built to be sitting all the time and that our love affair with the desk chair could be feeding our growing obesity problem. The long desk hours might be winning points with the boss, but it just might be putting you at greater health risks. A November 2012 report from the journal Diabetologia, compared people who spent the most time sitting with those who spent the least amount of time, and the findings were shocking. Researchers discovered increases in the risks of diabetes by 112%, death from cardiovascular causes by 90% and death from all causes close to 50%. Wow! So, what can you do? Well, the first thing you can do is get up and start moving. During your busy workday, take periodic breaks from your desk and take a walk. Do it as often as you can. Active sitting is another buzz word in the ergonomics industry. Basically it means moving while sitting. Think the Zenergy Ball Chair, where you are bouncing while you are sitting. The desk workout is becoming a popular trend too. From the “Wall Sit” to the “Cubicle Dip” your workstation can become your workout. These are simple solutions that anyone can do but it might be time to rethink your workstation all together. Many forward thinking companies are incorporating standing desks into their work environments to increase productivity and reduce employer fatigue. I have two favorites. My first is the Float Table by Humanscale. Easy to use and super cool.
Looking to convert your current desk space? Check out the WorkFit solution by Ergotron. You can quickly convert any desk space into a standup workstation that’s easy to use and extremely affordable. Check out the video below.
The bottom line—sitting too much is not good for you, so start moving. Visit our friends at Greatist.com for 33 ways to exercise at the office.
She Makes More Than You and That’s Ok
A recent Pew Research study shows that women are now the leading or solo breadwinners in 40 percent of U.S. households but the study also shows that public opinion is conflicted with this growing trend with concerns it could take a toll on children and marriages. Why are we still thinking this way? I know a couple of stay-at-home dads who work from home and take care of the kids while their wives make the big money. You know what I say, “Damn, you lucky b@&%#”. Someone gave me the best advice ever, “Date smarter than you”. Sage advice and it’s not too hard to do. A 2008 Higher Education Policy Institute report showed that women are more likely to get into better schools and outperform their male counterparts once they get there. So don’t sweat it when your wife or girlfriend tells you she’s going to make more money than you. Be a man about it, help out more around the house, give more attention to the kids and then be sure to pass the check to her when the restaurant tab arrives. It all works out in the end.
A Really Bad Day at the Office
Having a bad day at the office? No, really is it as bad as this? Check out this terrifying footage of storm chasers in the middle of a tornado last week. I bet this guy was wishing he had a smart bread-winning wife right about now.
Make it a great week!
Vacation plans yet? What are you waiting for? Ok, here is what you do. First, grab another cup of coffee from your ImpactOffice break room (we have the best break rooms and coffee programs around). Next, visit HR and get a vacation request form. Lastly, sit down, check out our latest blog from working mom Jennifer Nakao and then start planning your escape. Costa Rica, here I come…
Summer Is Here: It’s Time For A Vacation!
By Jennifer Nakao
I just returned from a wonderful vacation where I sunbathed by a pool with cocktails, ate way too much delicious food, hiked through beautiful California hills and spent quality time with my amazing family. It took nearly a year to finally decide to take time off and travel because of work and other commitments. Time away wasn’t a priority. Now that I’m back, I won’t be making that mistake again and neither should you. Here are four reasons why you need to request your vacation time now:
The Rest of The World Is Living It Up
The U.S. has no formal legislation regarding mandatory vacation days but there are plenty of places that do including Finland, France and Brazil. These countries have a whopping minimum of 30 days off. That’s an entire month! As tempting as it is to simply move to Europe or South America for work, we are Americans and that makes us more entitled to everything, including awesome vacations. Likely you get 10-15 days of vacation so use this time to fly to Brazil and show them what 50 hours a week at a desk looks like in a bathing suit.
Staycation Is Legit
Many of us use finances as a reason not to take time off work. If a family trip to Disneyland is not feasible then simply take time off and stay home. Sleeping until noon, lounging in pajamas and going to the movies at 1 o’clock in the afternoon is likely much more relaxing than standing in line for 75 minutes to watch creepy, slightly racist, animatronic kids sing about how the world is small after all. I often feel like I need a vacation from my vacation whenever I travel. Staying put is the only way to truly rest.
The Company Will Not Go Under
Once upon a time, I never took time off from work. I felt that my role in the office was absolutely crucial to the business and to management. I used deadlines, quarterly goals and upcoming meetings as reasons not to take a few days for myself. I worked so hard for so long that I became disgruntled and disillusioned with my company and it showed. That’s when my manager took me into her office and said to me “Jenn, you are not that important. Go on vacation. We will still be here when you get back.” Her words were both a slap and a cool, refreshing splash of water in the face. I left immediately for vacation. We like to feel essential at work and it often gives us a sense of self-worth. But more than likely the office will still function without us. Have faith in your coworkers and give someone else a time to shine so that you can get a full body massage.
Disconnect and Recharge
Every Saturday morning I wake up early and quietly leave the house before my husband and 17-month old baby wake up. I go run 7-8 miles at the beach or in the hills and disengage from my life at home. Once I get back, I’m excited to see my family and feel absolutely grateful for all that I have. I’m certain that if I didn’t get those few hours alone to recharge, it would be difficult to appreciate the happiness having a family brings. Work is the same way. We all need time to completely disengage ourselves from the office during vacation so that we can not only appreciate our time away but also feel satisfied about our career and role at work. This means that while we are gone, we don’t take phone calls, draft emails or pop into the office. Stepping away and clearing our mind provides the opportunity to evaluate our position and what it is about our job that makes us happy or even not happy. After vacation, we’re more motivated to keep going or to make changes.
Make Real Memories
My son has been very hesitant around water lately. Whenever we were in a pool, he would wrap his arms and legs around me so tight and refuse to let go which made teaching him how to swim rather difficult. During our vacation we stayed in a resort that had an amazing pool including a very shallow end for little kids. We spent a lot of time in a few feet of water but eventually my son forgot his fear and started wading around on his own. Eventually my husband and I took him to the deep end of the pool and my baby loved feeling the water all around and splashed about like a lunatic. I don’t remember what important projects I had a few years back that made it so imperative to never leave the office but I know that for the rest of my life I’ll remember the smile on my son’s face when he let go of me in the that pool because he wanted to swim on his own.
There are actually countless reasons to take a vacation and enjoy life outside of the office. Make it happen.
About the Author
Jennifer Nakao
Week in Review
By Brad Oswald
Ok, I’ll make this short and sweet because the coffee has kicked in, my to do list is almost complete (not), and Memorial Day weekend is calling. So, raise your coffee cups high, this is the ImpactOffice Week in Review.
After the Storm
There is one thing that can be said for us—we are resilient. We know how to pick ourselves up, brush off the dirt and get going again. It is part of what makes us, us. And as we’re just starting to pick up the pieces in Moore, Oklahoma, New Jersey officially reopened the Jersey shore for summer business this morning. And life continues. Again, it’s what we do. We mourn and grieve our losses but in time we start to find our footing again. Another great thing about us is our willingness to help when others are in need. Again, it’s what we do as a nation. Click on the images below to give what you can or text redcross to 90999 to donate $10 right now. And thank you for giving.
Being Prepared
Earlier this week we asked if you were ready at the office if a tornado was coming. Well, are you? Check out our blog “Being Ready” and then get ready.
Office Buddies
Last week saw the end of the TV show “The Office” and our working mom and blog contributor, Jennifer Nakao took the opportunity to reflect on her past experiences and friendships around the office. Good read, check it out.
Memorial Day
Many times when we think of Memorial Day weekend we think the kickoff of summer. But let’s take a moment to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and what this holiday is about. Visit a memorial, be sure to fly the flag this weekend and if you can, help a veteran or family of a fallen solider. Want to volunteer? Find a local VA facility in your area looking for both volunteers and donations.
That does it for now. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back on Tuesday.
Good Morning and happy Thursday. The long Memorial Day weekend is calling and we’ll soon kick off another hot summer in the big city. It takes you back a bit as you reflect on the years gone by and the close friends you’ve made along the way. Especially the strong bonds we sometimes make in our careers. So let’s grab another cup of coffee and check in with Jennifer Nakao and get her perspective on friendships around the workplace.
Staying Sane In The Office: Friendships With Coworkers
By Jennifer Nakao
During the vacation from life that is college, it was easy making friends. Parties, football games and occasional group projects in class meant an endless barrage of interesting people to associate with regularly. Well, at least they seemed interesting because of the ample amount of beer in my system pretty much the entire time. Fast-forward to my full-time office job where I worked long hours and commuted over 50 miles a day and as a result, had extremely limited time for socializing. I woke up, drove to work, drove home, ate dinner alone and went to bed just to wake up and do it all over again. Naturally I gravitated towards coworkers since we already had a shared interest in work. My coworkers became my outlet for not only releasing frustrations about the job but also laughing and actually looking forward to work. Of course my experience is not unusual. A recent study found that 67% of folks enjoy work more because of the friendships they have in the office and more than half of us feel that our relationships with coworkers make our jobs more worthwhile and meaningful.
Despite the ease of forming relationships at work, they aren’t without their difficulties. Dynamics can change when people get promoted, transferred or even when new management in introduced. Furthermore, when can and should these relationships transcend the office and become an actual friendship where your coworkers are involved in your personal life? My coworker Sarah and I got along so well at work that eventually our conversations about our manager and workload changed to extensive discussions about our significant others, our families and personal aspirations. Happy hours turned into dinner, movies and even weekend vacations together.
As romantic as it sounds, our new level of friendship caused friction at the office because it made other coworkers feel left out. I cared more about Sarah’s opinion than my manager’s and when Sarah didn’t agree with me at work, it stung and was that much more emotional. Nevertheless, we stuck to the friendship and Sarah found my first apartment, she helped me keep my sanity when I decided to get my Master’s and continue to work full-time, she was there for me when my relationship with my boyfriend fell apart and she stood beside me at the altar when I married the love of my life. Our friendship may have been a challenge when we worked together but our company definitely benefited because Sarah was a big reason for staying at that job as long as I did. Furthermore, our chemistry together only made us more efficient and since our work reflected on one another, the quality was supreme.
Last Thursday, The Office had its series finale. I stopped watching the show a few years ago but decided to tune in to the final episode just to see how all the characters’ lives were settled and to make sure Jim and Pam definitely lived happily ever after. The theme of the finale and really the entire run of the show was that it isn’t about work as much as it’s about the relationships that are cultivated in the office. Creed, one of the more profound characters on the show, had a line at the end that really resonated with me. Creed said, “No matter how you get there or where you end up, human beings have this miraculous gift to make that place home.” I immediately thought of Sarah and our time working together. I had really difficult days at our job because of the long hours, taxing management and impossible expectations. However, when I think about that time I have positive feelings about the entire experience and I believe that this is because of my relationship with Sarah. She came into my life when I not only needed to be confident about my career choices but also when I needed a sense of belonging. And every morning when I walked into the office and she said “Hey Jenn!” from her desk, I felt home.
If you have 5 minutes and 39 seconds to procrastinate, here is the end of The Office:
About the Author
Jennifer Nakao
Being Ready
By Brad Oswald
The tornado that devastated the town of Moore, Oklahoma seems so unimaginable. And when you look at the ravaged outlines of what used to be homes and schools, it’s hard to imagine the death toll wasn’t greater. By some estimates, people had 15-20 minutes to get to shelter once the tornado took form. But it was those 15 minutes that most likely made the difference. Those precious 15 minutes and the mindedness of the people to be ready for what was coming.
Are you ready? Do you have a safe place to go right now if you had a 15 minute warning your office was in the direct path of a F5 tornado? Where would you go? What’s the procedure? Do you even remember the basics? I thought about the fire and tornado drills I participated in during my elementary and middle school years, and beyond those exercises and a couple of fire drills I participated in one office building about 15 years ago, I’ve had little to no preparation for these types of events. So, when was the last time you participated in tornado or fire drill at your workplace? Depending on where you work, I bet never. So what should you do? Start with these three steps:
- Get a game plan together
- Equip your staff with tools and knowledge
- Train and Exercise
Planning
Planning is key and knowing where your shelters are located can be the difference between life and death. An underground area such as a basement or storm cellar is best. If you do not have access to an underground shelter consider a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floors away from outside walls, windows and doors. Stay in the center of the room and away from the corners and avoid auditoriums or building with flat or wide-span roofs.
Equipping
Equip your staff with knowledge and understanding. Have an evacuation plan in place. Communicate with your employees on these procedures and develop a system for knowing who is in a building during an emergency. Assign duties to staff member(s) for being responsible for managing these types of events, if and when they occur. And be sure to equip your shelter locations with emergency preparedness kits and a battery operated or hand-cranked NOAA Weather Radio.
Train and Exercise
Some say you’re not truly prepared for something unless you lived through it before. And for many of the victims of the recent tornado in Oklahoma, this wasn’t their first time. Experience counts, so to be ready, you need to exercise and drill the plans and procedures you’ve put into place. The more you train and drill, the more prepared you and your staff will be.
Need help with your emergency preparedness plan? Look to our friends at the US Department of Labor and OSHA. They have created an outstanding resource page to help get you started.
Lastly, I would like to encourage all of you who can give to do so. I recommend the American Red Cross and Save the Children. Click on the images below to donate today. You can donate $10 right now from your phone. Just text “redcross” to 90999.
Back hurting? Squinting at your screen? Coughing and sneezing all the time? I’m not a doctor and never played one on TV, but it sounds like you’re suffering from bad ergonomics at the office. Not good. The diagnosis is dreadful. I prescribe another cup coffee and for you to check out our latest blog from our working mom and blog contributor Jenn Nakao.
Ergonomics In The Office: Get Comfortable. Be More Productive.
By Jennifer Nakao
A good friend of mine, who shoots guns, rides motorcycles at dangerously high speeds and swims with sharks, was recently telling me a work story in which he caught fire. My friend was welding important top-secret metal parts together for a large aerospace company when, after smelling smoke, he glanced down to see that his lap was on fire. Apparently a spark from his welding tools had fallen onto his highly flammable pants. Panic took hold of my friend for a fraction of a second and then he put out the fire and continued to work. I asked if he had been given protective clothing and he explained that the company had very few guidelines when it came to clothing safety. I then considered telling my work hazard story about how I was sick for an entire month because I sat in an office for 9+ hours a day breathing re-circulated air that blew down from dusty old vents and that there wasn’t a single window in the entire building that opened to welcome fresh air. I decided not to share because it didn’t seem as precarious or as compelling as being on fire.
However, not to diminish my friend’s firestarter incident, he was able to continue with work right away whereas I ended up missing several days of work because of poor air circulation in the office. Everyone in my building got sick. It was like being in daycare and we were taking turns licking the same toys all day long. My company likely lost a considerable amount of money because so many of us missed work and as a result projects weren’t being completed on time and sales goals weren’t being met. Nevertheless, my company did nothing to improve the air quality in the office. Maybe investing in a few air purifiers would have helped considerably. And at the very least, we could have used the air purifiers to break windows. Regardless, ergonomic solutions were not something my company seemed to spend much time on even though all businesses should.
OSHA defines ergonomics as “the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population.” The point is to make work a safe environment where employees have the “right fit” equipment and tools to maximize productivity and minimize injury, illness and dissatisfaction. All of which saves businesses tons of money because employees miss less work, file for less workers’ comp and are more efficient. When it comes to ergonomics in the office, most people think of ergonomic chairs, keyboards and mouse pads. But it’s much more than that and can include positioning of pretty much everything at your desk, how you move, appropriate ways to lift, lighting and of course air quality.
If you’re wondering where to get started in making your office more ergonomic, companies like Humanscale not only offer quality ergonomic products but also extensive background information on why these products help support you and your work environment. And this month, we’re working with Humanscale to offer free ergonomic assessments and a chance to win a Freedom® Saddle Seat from Humanscale. There are easy ways and great tools available to be healthier, safer and more comfortable at your desk. Unless you’re on fire, then it doesn’t matter what kind of air purifier or mouse pad you’re using.
About the Author
Jennifer Nakao
Week in Review
By Brad Oswald
Good morning. Another workweek in the bag. He shoots and scores. Time to grab another cup of coffee, wrap everything up early this morning and make a break for it before three. What is this? A last minute management meeting today at five? And on a Friday? But the sun is out, it’s a holiday weekend and we still have to shop for our moms and wives. It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and if we plan things just right, we can still get the gifts, do the occasion (we love our Moms) and still get 18 holes in over the weekend. What’s that saying about best laid plans? It’s Friday, May 10, 2013, and this is the ImpactOffice Week in Review.
Dow closes above 15,000
Big week on the stock market with the Dow closing above 15,000 for the first time on Tuesday. Have you checked your portfolio lately? A big change? You bet. The Dow has risen 130% since the Great Recession hit bottom back in 2009. And Business guru and chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, says to expect higher gains from the stock market. Check out his recent interview with CNBC. Good bet he’s right. But as we're seeing higher returns with our stocks, we’re still seeing a high unemployment rate and stagnate wages. Check out this recent article from USA TODAY and get their take.
Get the Grey Out
This one is for everyone with Grey issues. I’ve been going grey since I was 19. And during my twenties I did a really good job of covering it up, but that came to screeching halt about 6 or 7 years ago in my mid-thirties when I came to work with red hair. Everyone at work had fun with it. As would I, if someone else came in the office with Ronald McDonald hair. I deserved the beat down and accepted my plight as a gray/white-haired gentleman from that point on. At least I was not going bald. And some women like, white-haired men. What do they call it, “the distinguished look”? Yeah, ok. Well hold it right there Mister Distinguished, grey hair may just become a thing of the past. Researchers have discovered ”greyers” develop massive oxidative stress that produces an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair, which causes the hair to bleach itself from the inside out. Researchers suggest this can be cured with a topical cream activated by the sun. Slap some cream on your head, take a walk and presto, you have your natural hair color from your teens. Learn more from our friends at the NBC News.
For the Procrastinator…
Did you forget Mom? Ok, it’s not that we forgot, we just haven’t made it to the mall yet? No worries, we’ve got solutions. Check out these great do-it-yourself gift ideas for stressed out Moms from BuzzFeed. I’m not a big DIY type of guy, but these would be great tasks to keep the kids busy this weekend, while you get the 18 holes in. Homemade gifts for Mom, kids stay busy, and you get some golf in. Genius!
Old vs. New
Had to share this. Old Spock vs. New Spock. Funny. Enjoy!
We Love Our Moms
Big shout out to all the Moms out there that make it happen every day in and out of the office. What else can we say but “Thank You”!
