‘Tis the season for sneezing, tissues, Tamiflu,  and...flu shots.

Yes, it’s already time to start thinking about the flu season months.

Flu season is here and paired with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this flu and cold season doesn’t sound like it’s going to be very forgiving. As cooler weather approaches, more people are likely to gather inside together — unmasked — making it easier for viruses and germs to spread.

Experts are forecasting a 20% increase in flu cases compared to normal seasons.

Despite seeing record-low numbers for flu cases last year — thanks to everyone who stayed home or masked up outdoors — this year with the reopening of workplaces, schools, and decreased protocols, it could turn out to be a mess of a flu season.

Here’s what you need to know about the flu, what’s new this season, advice from health experts, if you can have COVID and the flu at the same time, and the best time for employees — and yourself — to get the flu shot.

Need some great ideas for employee engagement?

You’re in the right spot.

Sadly, only 36% of employees feel engaged in their work. That’s according to a July 2021 study released by Gallup that surveyed over 100,000 teams. Of those who are “actively disengaged,” 74 percent are also actively looking for work.

Employee engagement is one of those areas companies are struggling with on a regular basis these days. So, how can you keep employees engaged without overtime work parties, eye rolls, and sighs?

Don’t let your employees get disengaged to the point of leaving. Solicit feedback to see where your company can improve. This post is an excellent starting point for getting them reengaged.

Ready for some exciting employee engagement? Read on!

You have heard it for years — the health benefits of exercise can’t be denied.

Despite any dismay you feel toward sweating, research indicates regular sweat sessions are good for both your physical and mental health.

Other than looking good and feeling strong, the list of the benefits of regular exercise is quite long. Some of the perks may even surprise you — like delayed aging and reduced bodily inflammation.

If you’re looking for a reason to keep up your workout routine into the fall and holiday season, your list of exercise incentives is here.

Here are 17 surprising health benefits of exercise to get you excited to sweat — even if it’s just a little bit.

Is your desire to stick with your exercise goals fading as fast as summer?

It happens.

Summertime makes it easy to stay active. After all, we can be outdoors more and enjoy all nature has to offer, making it a naturally more active time. But as summer fades to fall, exercise routines often fall to the back burner, too.

If you’re feeling the lack of workout motivation hardcore, we’ve got you covered. Below, we share the perks of working out, along with simple ways to get yourself excited to hit your next sweat session.

Here’s to more intense and fulfilling workouts!

Not everyone is in tune with their emotions enough to know they need to take a mental health day from work.

Even if they are, new research shows that more than half of employed Americans would be nervous to take a day off for mental health reasons because they believe an employer will think less of them. Unfortunately, the consequences of employees going hard until they are on the verge of quitting or having a mental breakdown are real. The cost is expensive to both employees and employers.

Research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that anxiety and depressive disorders cost the global economy a trillion dollars in lost productivity each year.

Unsure of the signs to look for that an employee needs a break?

Below, this post covers the tell-tale signs an employee needs to take a day or two for themselves. Read on to keep these signs in mind for the health of your employees and yourself.

Just why are vitamins essential to good health?

Believe it or not, our bodies need 13 different types of vitamins daily in order to thrive and function properly. These vitamins work inside the body to help with cell development, growth, and overall function.

This is why doctors stress the importance of a healthy, well-balanced diet. It’s also another reason to keep up with your annual blood work; it can indicate where you’re severely lacking in necessary vitamins and minerals. As we go into the fall season, if you’re planning to see your doc for your flu shot, you might as well follow-up on your blood work needs, too.

If you need a refresher on the vitamins you need to stay well all year round, we’ve got you covered. Below, we dive into the 13 different vitamins your body needs, which food sources are the best to consume for each, and whether your daily multi-vitamin is necessary.

In recent weeks, mental health discussions sprouted from the unlikeliest of places: the Tokyo Olympic Games.

After gymnast Simone Biles’ recent departure — and stunning return — to the Olympic stage after a brief mental health break, she tackled the subject head on during interviews.  The four-time Olympic gold medalist stepped away briefly from the Tokyo Olympics and withdrew from several competitions after realizing she wasn’t in the right mental headspace.

"We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day, we're human, too," said Biles, according to The Associated Press. "We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do."

As a nod of unity to the talented gymnast for talking about mental health, we decided to round up mental health quotes of the day for you to share. Quote them to your staff daily, send them in an email, or even put one on a sticky note placed on someone’s desk who you know needs it.

Ready to inspire your own mental health conversations at work? Read on.

Looking to make life easier for your teams in 2021 and beyond?

Then investing in and using digital HR tools is a wise move. Intuitive tools paired with technology is a great way to keep your team connected and engaged.

As teams move into a hybrid or fully remote work environment, having the best tools for your employees to connect, engage, and collaborate is essential. Build trust in your remote — and in-house — employees by showing them you’re willing to invest in their work environments.

But it can be overwhelming to figure out just which HR tools are worth investing in. That’s why in this post we share the best tools to use in the workplace and the key features of each to make your decision easier.

HR folks, get ready to share these amazing tools with your leadership to get workflows moving smoothly while skyrocketing employee engagement!

For those working from home, it may be a pain in the neck for more reasons than one — including literal pains in the neck and back.

Thanks to improper work stations and sedentary lifestyles, neck and back pain is becoming more of a problem for at-home workers. Unfortunately, many remote workers are finding neck, back, leg, and shoulder pain are now becoming the norm, according to the UT Southwestern Medicine Center.

It’s an expensive problem for employees and employers, too.

The American Chiropractic Association reports, “Back pain accounts for more than 264 million lost work days in one year — that’s two work days for every full-time worker in the country.”

Ouch.

With remote work becoming the norm, now is the time to help your team work more comfortably. Here’s a look at how to relieve neck and back pain and how to prevent it in the first place.

Is employee engagement important?

The answer is a resounding yes.

As more companies move into hybrid work models, it’s more important than ever to keep employees engaged to minimize staff turnover and improve efficiency and productivity.

Sadly, only one in five employees actually want to work for the company they’re hired by, according to the Workforce Institute 2021 Engagement and Retention Report. Worse yet, about half of employees surveyed plan to actively job hunt this year. Eek.

A lack of employee engagement could be caused by numerous factors including: poor company communication, false alignment with the company’s mission, minimal recognition, and more.  

Below we share the importance of employee engagement and how to engage your employees even more so they never want to leave your company.