Worker health and wellness

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Elk Grove Village, IL — Wellness programs and insurance coverage that includes bariatric surgery can help manage worker obesity and alleviate its economic costs to employers, according to a recently released guidance statement from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Toronto — Brief episodes of intense noise exposure for city commuters – particularly those in and around public transit vehicles – could prove damaging in the long term, researchers from the University of Toronto warn in a new study.

Critics of the recently introduced Workflex in the 21st Century Act say the bill would “create an off-ramp for employers to evade state and local laws,” while supporters say it “gives employers more certainty and predictability over their leave practices.”

Cologne, Germany — Workers who spend most of their day sitting at a desk would prefer to be more active on the job, according to a recent study from the German Sport University Cologne.

Menlo Park, CA – The holiday season brings with it a mix of joy and stress for workers: 51 percent say they’re more cheerful at work this time of year, but 35 percent feel more work-related pressure, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by Accountemps, a finance staffing firm.

Arlington, VA – More than 40 percent of health care professionals who reported at least one symptom of influenza during a recent flu season did not stay home from work, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Boston – An integrated approach that employs “a sharp focus on using policies and practices to influence working conditions” can improve worker safety, health and well-being, according to a new manual published by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Hellerup, Denmark – Nearly a quarter of workers who return to their jobs after experiencing a heart attack leave within one year, according to a new study.

Atlanta – Workers in smaller organizations and in certain industries are screened for cancer less frequently than other groups, according to a recent study from the American Cancer Society.

Washington – Although tobacco use continues to decrease among working adults overall, a significant number of workers in the construction, mining, and transportation and warehousing industries still use some form of tobacco product, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.