Worker Health and Wellness

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Boston — Bagels and donuts during the breakfast meeting. Cake for birthday celebrations. Consuming extra food is a common occurrence for many workers. But before you grab that free donut, know this: Workplace snacks may be adding more than 1,000 calories to your daily diet.

Washington — A few days away from the office may help clear your head and leave you feeling more positive about work. But how long does that positivity last once you return? Not long at all, say about two-thirds of respondents to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.

Toronto — More than three-fourths of Canadian workers have missed time because of mental health concerns, with on-the-job stress the leading cause, according to a white paper from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and consulting firm Morneau Shepell.

London — Workers who experience depression may be less prone to miss work when managers show greater sensitivity to their mental health and well-being, recent research from the London School of Economics and Political Science shows.

Spokane, WA — Individual organs in the digestive system contain separate biological clocks that may influence the metabolism of people who work the night shift and help explain a link to shift worker health problems such as obesity and diabetes, a recent study from researchers at Washington State University suggests.

Stockholm — Workers genetically predisposed to develop multiple sclerosis could face a greater risk if they are exposed to organic solvents or they smoke, a study recently published by the American Academy of Neurology shows.

Briarcliff Manor, NY — You’re at home with family in the evening when you receive an email notification. It’s from your boss. Do you respond? A new study finds that pressure to check work email from home can negatively affect your health, your relationship with your significant other, and his or her health.

Atlanta — Prolonged leisure-time sitting, even among people who work out regularly, increases the risk of death from all causes, according to a recent study from the American Cancer Society.

Elk Grove Village, IL — A panel of 13 research experts is proposing a new framework that “incorporates work and non-work contexts for a fuller picture of factors affecting workers’ health and quality of life.”

Chicago — More than half of U.S. workers consider themselves overweight, and many believe their current job has played a role, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of job-search website CareerBuilder.