Tag Archives: anger

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

MENTAL SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

 
Safety in the workplace is paramount. Too often we focus on physical safety. We must not let the emotional and mental safety of our coworkers and employees fall to the wayside. Depending on the workplace, we might need to pay more attention. As much as all companies might want to deny it, some work places are more likely to lead to depression. Flipping burgers, sitting in front of the computer, or burrowing down in a cubicle can be mind-numbingly boring. These types of jobs are repetitive and are often incredibly alienating. One minute blends into another, and another, and another. It’s all too easy to succumb to the black hole of depression. Especially if our personal lives are not what they should be.

Depression in the Workplace

Depression is a serious factor that could affect the safety and productivity of the workplace. It’s so prevalent that we see instances of depression in our situational comedies like Friends and The Office. In “Performance Review” Michael Scott, the self-involved manager, pulls out a suggestion box that hasn’t been touched in a year to impress his boss. One of the first suggestions that he pulls out is “we need better outreach for employees fighting depression.” Michael breezes over this suggestion as a joke. “Nobody in here is suffering from depression,” he says. 

Employees Do Suffer From Depression

Studies have shown that up to 6% of employees experience depression every year, so depression is a little more serious than Michael Scott would believe. The episode of the office, as blasé as it is about the topic of depression, demonstrates how we must help employees who are suffering from depression. When Michael asks what joker wrote the suggestion, a coworker supplies the information. “Tom? He worked in accounting up until about a year ago,” she explained. When no one recognized the name, she pantomimes shooting herself. Suicide is a very serious possibility of depression in the workplace. 

Beyond the worst case scenario, depression can have other negative effects on the workplace. Depression leads to

  • Aches and pains which could distract employees from giving their best.
  • Easily irritated employees who might complain more often. 
  • Unproductivity caused by listlessness. (Studies suggest that around 18 work days are lost each year).
  • An increase in the number of sick days requested. (Studies suggest that around 8 work days are lost each year).

Pin Pointing Cases of Depression

In order to prevent depression or help employees, we must first be able to identify if an employee is suffering from depression. Here is a list of possible symptoms to look out for. 

  • Employees seem to carry a pervasive stress, even when doing simple tasks.
  • Vocal self-loathing.
  • Loss of energy. 
  • Inability to sleep or oversleeping.
  • Loss of appetite or overeating.
  • Anger. 
  • Reckless behavior or an increased dependence on drugs or alcohol.

Helping Employees with Depression

Depression is such a problem because only about 57% of employees suffering from depression seek mental health treatments. While companies and employees cannot forcefully restore employees to mental health, but they can go a long way to ensure that employees receive the help that can put them on the right path. Here are a few suggestions to kick depression out of your office. 

  • Encourage employees to visit human resources if they need help personally or they believe a coworker might be depressed.
  • Offer health insurance that cover psychologist, psychiatrist, doctors, and medicine.
  • Have mandatory seminars about depression and how to deal with it. 
  • If the work is mind-numbing, drudging, or repetitive, give employees frequent breaks and encourage employees to go off task every once in a while.

As a company or employee, helping others cope with depression may not seem like your business, but it should be. Both companies and employees can benefit from a depression-free workplace. Employees have a more stable place to work. Companies receive more productive, stable, and safe employees.  

Author’s Bio: 

“This article provided by the people at Bennerotte & Associates” and Samantha Hopkins”
  
Note: Thank you, Samantha for this excellent article that hopefully will help workers who know someone suffering from depression find help, and give them the support they need. pb
General Safety Issues

WHAT A TEENAGER SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL (GUEST POST)

Please note: This article is dedicated to all those moms and dads who have lived through this, or will in the future! 

It is a very exciting time for a teenager when they approach the legal age to drive a car. In many states, this can be as young as 15 and a half. Parents, shuddering at the thought of their teen driving, should take into consideration if their teen is actually ready for this next step.

While each person develops at their own pace, reaching the legal driving age does not necessarily mean being mentally and emotionally ready for this task. A quick review with your teen over some key points will help you determine if they are ready to drive.

• Review Basic Traffic Laws

While they will cover this in driver’s education, it is important for you, as a parent to determine if they actually grasp what the laws mean. Talk to them about things like turn signal use, tailgating, and what to do at a four-way stop. These simple questions can go a long way in keeping your teen safe.

• Review Accident Safety

Accident safety is extremely important. Teach your teen to be thorough. In the event of a crisis situation they should be able to note the details, check for injured parties then contact and wait on the police. A prominent West Palm Beach car accident lawyer states this warning, “If you can’t move your vehicle, do not get out of your car and stand in the middle of the highway, wait until help arrives,” which is extremely important for your teen to know. This action will lessen the risk of a compound accident occurring.  There are roadside emergency kits that can be placed by the car to help it be more visible, if one is able to pull the car to the side.

• Review Passenger Safety

Make sure your teen knows all about passenger safety. Let them know that if they are going to have passengers in the vehicle that every passenger must abide by safety rules. This includes but is not limited to, using seat belts and refraining from overcrowding the car.

• Talk About Anger

Some of the worst accidents occur because the person behind the wheel is angry or upset. Their emotions overtake them, and their driving becomes erratic and dangerous. Stress how important it is to avoid driving while emotional.

• Talk About Drinking

While no one wants to think of their teens taking part in underage drinking, the risk remains. Confront your teen about this issue and let them know where you stand and what you expect. Being open with your teen is the best prevention.

• Discuss Cell Phone Use

Depending on the state in which you live, using a cell phone without a hands-free set may be illegal. Regardless if it is illegal or not, stress how important it is to only use the cell phone when parked. It takes four seconds to answer a phone, seven if you must look for it first. It only takes 2.5 seconds to cause an accident on the road. Stress even more that texting is absolutely forbidden in the car. 

Parents should also remember that their teens will mimic their driving habits. If you do not wear your seat belt, if you use the phone while driving, or if you are an aggressive driver, they will most likely drive that way on the road as well. 

Parents should also consider having extended periods of supervised driving. Have your teen run local errands with you and allow them to drive. The more experience they get behind the wheel before driving on their own, the better. Encourage them for all the right driving decisions they make. Support and encouragement will make them more confident and apt to continue making the right decisions on the road.

Nickey Williams contributes this article for those parents of teenagers who are in need of pre-driving tips. The West Palm Beach car accident lawyer firm of Steinger, Iscoe & Greene values the livelihood and welfare of their clients and shows this by lending guidance and whatever professional resources afforded to them. This legal team’s first goal is to get South Florida injury victims the compensation deserved when involved in an accident.

 
General Safety Issues

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “AGRESSIVE DRIVING” AND “ROAD RAGE”

Do you know the difference between “Road Rage” and “Aggressive Driving?”  I thought the two were about the same, but here’s what the AARP Driver Safety Program says: 

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING – Usually involves traffic offenses such as following too closely, unsafe lane changes, speeding, failure to signal intent to change lanes, and other forms of negligent or inconsiderate driving, such as yelling, cursing, repeated blowing of the horn, rude or obscene gestures, etc. 

ROAD RAGE – Occurs when a traffic incident escalates into a far more serious situation.  For example, a person becomes so angry that he or she overreacts and responds with some type of violence, such as getting out of the vehicle and threatening you with bodily harm.  These acts may range from verbal abuse to physical abuse, or even to an assault with a weapon or motor vehicle (such as using their car to run you off the road.) 

Studies show that eighty-five per cent of angry drivers claim they would not have escalated the situation if they had gotten some sort of apology from the other driver.  Even if you are not at fault, apologize in order not to provoke an angry driver further.  Be courteous and avoid cutting others off, and stay with the traffic flow.  You know that you were in the right, but sometimes it pays to a little contrite, as you won’t gain anything from a confrontation with an irritated and angry person. 

There are probably not too many of us who can honestly say that something hasn’t happened as we were driving along the freeway or local street that ignited our tempers  to the point of triggering such an emotion, especially aggressive driving.  However, I have never felt such anger that I would want to ram someone with my car, (with the exception of the infuriating experience with my first brand new car, and a lady ran a stop sign. I thought she was going to hit me.  Later, I felt ashamed that I could let a material item make me feel so mad. 

Road rage is a horrible thing to have happen, especially if there are children in the vehicle.  Parents and grandparents must hold their tempers at all times and set a good example for their youngsters.  If you drive that way, chances are they will, too.  Here are some tips from AARP that will help you avoid aggressive drivers and help prevent road rage behavior: 

  • Leave early in order to arrive at your destination on time.  Then you aren’t rushed.
  • Avoid eye contact with drivers trying to challenge you. (Keep your eyes on the road.)
  • Don’t block the passing lane.
  • Don’t abuse your vehicle’s horn.
  • Don’t make or return obscene gestures or words.
  • Use turn signals when changing lanes.
  • Don’t stop in the road to chat with someone.
  • Don’t “tailgate” or follow too closely.
  • Be courteous and remain calm.  Avoid conflict.
  • Don’t get out of your vehicle to argue or challenge another motorist or pedestrian. 

If you feel there is a chance of road rage behavior, and you are unable to avoid a confrontation, drive your vehicle to the nearest lighted public area (a shopping center, mall, hospital, convenience store, police or fire station), and call for assistance from store owners, the police, or security personnel or other people before getting out of your vehicle.  If you can get their license number, give that to law enforcement.  You may save someone else’s life.  Get out of harm’s way as soon as you can. 

Remember, drive defensively, and stay safe!