Washing your hands is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and those around you from harmful germs and bacteria. While you might roll your eyes at the thought of being lectured about washing your hands as an adult, a new study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that when it comes to hand washing before meals, consumers fail to properly wash their hands 97% of the time.

The observational study followed 383 participants in test kitchens in North Carolina. Researchers monitored the participants through cameras while they cooked dishes including turkey burgers and salads. It was found that most participants didn’t follow all of the necessary steps to properly wash their hands. The most common hand washing mistakes included participants not washing their hands for the necessary 20 seconds, failing to use soap, failing to get their hands wet, or not drying their hands with a clean towel after washing. 

Failing to wash your hands properly before preparing and handling food can lead to foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, norovirus, and E. coli. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands. It’s estimated that 48 million Americans are sickened by foodborne illnesses each year. This results in about 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. As you can see, this subject isn’t something to be taken lightly. 

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), depression affects more than 16 million American adults each year. Depression is a serious condition that can happen to anyone and affects people from all different walks of life.

It might not be the most pleasant topic to discuss, but it’s crucial that depression is addressed in the workplace. While the stigma surrounding depression in the workplace isn’t nearly what it used to be a decade ago, there are still many barriers in the workplace that make it difficult for employees to be honest with employers about living with depression. 

Fortunately, employers are focusing on mental health in the workplace now more than ever. In fact, a 2017 Behavioral Health Survey showed that 88% of U.S. employers want to make behavioral health a top priority over the next three years. Many companies are leading the way in promoting mental health awareness in the workplace by encouraging mental health days, providing resources, and creating wellness initiatives focused on mental wellbeing.

When we think of summer, we think of relaxing by the pool and enjoying a sunny, carefree weekend. However, some research suggests that employees are actually more stressed over the summer than they are over the winter months. Surprising, right? 

According to a 2016 study by meQuilbrium, the shift from spring to summer appears to cause an increase in stress levels for most employees. The survey analyzed results from 30,000 working men and women over a period of two years. They found that factors such as eating habits, sleep, time management, and sense of pressure saw a downward shift during the summer months.

So, what could be causing these stress levels to spike? meQuilbrium suggests that it’s not office life that’s causing employees to stress. Outside factors are most likely to play the main role in summertime stress. Let’s take a look at some common summertime stress factors: 

Everyone should have a rest day every now and then. But when that rest day turns into a rest week or rest month, you might start to notice some changes with your body. If you’ve taken a workout hiatus recently, or are just curious of how your body might change once you decide to take a break from your workout routine, keep reading to learn about six things that will happen to your body when you stop exercising. 

Blood pressure rises. Exercise naturally lowers your blood pressure and reduces your risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure). If you abruptly quit your regular fitness routine, your blood pressure might start to rise over time. If left unmanaged, high blood pressure can lead to some negative health consequences and increase your risk of heart disease.

Brain changes. Believe it or not, regular exercise improves brain function in a variety of ways. It boosts memory, learning capabilities, and helps prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s. Without regular exercise, your brain might start to change. One study found that when participants (a group of long-term endurance runners) took a 10-day exercise cessation, MRIs showed a reduction in blood flow to the hippocampus (the part of the brain that is responsible for emotions and memory). 

For a working parent, the workday doesn’t stop at 5 p.m. You still have to pick up your kids from school, rush them to soccer practice, find time to run to the grocery store, and then somehow cook a healthy meal. It’s a stressful lifestyle. And if you’re not careful, that stress can sneak its way into your daily work life.

A new survey by the Business Performance Innovation Network (BPI Network) collected data from 2,000 working parents across North America. Nearly two-thirds of the survey respondents claim they have experienced parental burnout – with 40% of those cases being described as “significant” or worse. This new report details just how big of a problem parental burnout is in North America. 

Parental burnout is more than just a family issue – it’s an issue for corporate America. Many factors of modern work life contribute to parental burnout. In fact, nearly 30% of parents reported that work-related factors are primary contributors to parental burnout. This included the challenge of both parents working and parents feeling exhausted from work. 

Has your diet taken a bit of a detour and you’re not sure how to get back on track? Don’t worry, it happens to all of us. Falling off track of your healthy diet is normal. Sometimes crazy schedules, holidays, or stress can knock us off track. While you might feel a bit discouraged at first, getting back on track to a healthy diet can be easier than it sounds if you know where to start. 

Below are 10 tips to help you get back on track and take control of your diet: 

You spend a majority of your waking hours at work – which means you spend a majority of your waking hours with your co-workers. It should come as no surprise, then, that all those hours together could have an impact on your wellbeing.

The relationships you have at work can either improve or harm your wellbeing. Having positive relationships with your colleagues can put you in a good mood and make the workday more enjoyable. However, feeling lonely at work or having negative relationships with your co-workers can lead to an unpleasant work experience. 

If you’re unsure of how your work relationships could be affecting your physical and emotional health, here are a few things to consider:

Summer is finally here! That means tropical vacations, outdoor BBQs, and plenty of time under the sun. While this beautiful season offers employees the chance to get more active outdoors, it also comes with a few potential dangers if they’re not careful.

Too much time in the sun can lead to wrinkles, premature aging, and even skin cancer. It’s important that your employees understand the importance of sun safety, as skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. 

While skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, it’s also the most preventable form of cancer. By practicing safe sun habits, your employees can significantly reduce their risk of developing sun cancer. We created this free guide to help you educate your employees on how to stay safe in the sun this summer.

In this guide your employees will learn:

• Best practices for sun safety
• How to choose the best sunscreen
• Common risk factors for skin cancer
• Tips for skin cancer prevention

Thursday,  June 21st, marks the first day of summer! If you’re looking to spice up your workplace wellness initiatives for the summer months, you’ve come to the right place! Below are 21 wellness challenge ideas to keep employees motivated, engaged, and inspired to live a healthier lifestyle this season. 

#1 Get your H20 challenge. Proper hydration is extremely important over the summer season. Warmer weather, increased physical activity, and more time spent in the sun can easily leave employees dehydrated – which can lead to a number of health consequences. Challenge employees to track their water intake for 30 days. 

#2 Pack your lunch challenge. A healthy lunch keeps employees energized and productive throughout the workday. While fast food can be quick and convenient over a lunch break, it’ll leave employees feeling sluggish. Challenge employees to bring their own packed lunch every day for three workweeks.

Employee wellness is best with a hands-on approach. Activities such as wellness challenges, health coaching, and employee wellness days provide employees the opportunity to truly dive in and take control over their health. One of the most underrated hands-on employee wellness activities are lunch and learn sessions. They’re easy, engaging, educational, and most importantly, effective. 

Lunch and learn sessions are exactly what they sound like – a presentation or training session hosted over the employee lunch hour. They provide valuable information for employees in an informal setting. Employers can utilize lunch and learn sessions to compliment their workplace wellness program and further educate employees about the importance of their health.

If your company has never hosted a lunch and learn as part of your employee wellness program, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity! Take a look at some of the benefits of hosting a lunch and learn session, plus some tips for hosting a successful one at your company.