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Being a Boss vs Being Bossy

Being a Boss vs Being Bossy

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)


Management Tips: Being a Boss vs Being Bossy
“50% of 7,200 adults surveyed left a job to get away from their manager” Gallup Poll 2015

Whether you’re a new manager or seasoned supervisor, it is important to know the difference between being the boss and just being plain bossy. The workplace can be a stressful place, there is no reason to contribute to your own stress or the stress of others on the job.

In fact, it will benefit your workplace productivity if you treat your staff right versus bossing them around just because you can.

Know the consequences of being a bad boss

The stats are in, “50% of 7,200 adults surveyed left a job to get away from their manager” according to Gallup. Poor leadership can create a poor working environment, which leads to employees fleeing the job. As a supervisor, admin, or owner, it is important you create a positive work environment for your subordinates.

According to 5Dynamics, “happy employees have been shown to be up to 20 percent more effective in the workplace than unhappy employees. The NY Times has indicated that both employees and managers are spending more and more time working in collaborative teams than working individually, showing the value of creating strong, positive team interactions.”

Give credit where credit is due

As a leader, it may be tempting to take credit for all of the work your team is doing, but if you don’t properly acknowledge your team’s hard work, then your success may not last very long.

Studies reveal that “79 percent of people who quit their jobs cite ‘lack of appreciation’ as their reason for leaving. People don’t leave companies. They leave bosses,” according to Forbes.

This means that lack of recognition is a huge deal. As the boss, it is important that your team knows that you appreciate and value them.  You play a large role in whether or not they stay with the company, a survey from Accenture shows the top reasons employees quit: “1) They don’t like their boss (31%), 2) A lack of empowerment (31%), 3) Internal politics (35%) and 4) LacErgonomics Consultants | Solutions Northwest Inc.k of recognition (43%).”

The trick is to find passion in your work

Whether you work in an industrial plant, an office, or retail store, it is important to love what you do. You don’t have to have a dream job, you can start just by focusing on short term goals at work. Hustle to achieve goals, encourage team work and positive communication among your staff, and realize that if you put passion into your work, you will begin to love your work.

When you love what you do, it becomes easier to give credit to your team and lead by example. Your positivity as a leader will become infectious in the work place and you will find it much easier to create a happy staff, which we now know leads to a more productive work place.

In Conclusion

If you’re to be a good supervisor or great manager, it is in your best interest to keep your workers happy, for the good of your state of mind and for the good of the company. If you push your team around, over work them, or fail to recognize their hard work, then you will find yourself on hard times.

Hopefully these workplace tips can help keep your workplace a positive and safe work place. For more guidance on all work related health and occupational issues, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Kent, Renton, Arcadia, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

 

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Drinking Water Improves Job Performance

Drinking Water Improves Job Performance

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)
Ergonomics Tips: Drinking Water Improves Job Performance
Drinking Water Improves Job Performance

“If you’ve noticed more joint pain and stiffness as you’ve gotten older, you may be overlooking a critical cause that most people don’t realize can affect joint health: hydration (or lack thereof).”  Dr. Williams

The water cooler is your friend. Whether you’re sitting in an office or walking the floor of a warehouse, you should always stay hydrated at work. Water will not only keep you from being thirsty, it will also provide you with health benefits and help keep you and your workers productive at work.

Learn how drinking water helps you become a better worker and just how much water should you should drink.

The benefits of water

According to organicfacts.net, the health benefits of drinking water include “the maintenance of energy levels, body temperature, metabolism, and breathing. It helps in the prevention of constipation, heartburn, migraines, gastritis, ulcers, kidney stones, cardiovascular disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, backaches, and osteoporosis.” Water also plays important roles in kidney function and skin care.

The key takeaway is that water can help you boost your energy. It may be time to consider switching from the daily coffee or energy drink to focusing on staying hydrated for that extra energy boost at work.

How much water should you drink per day?

Consuming half your body weight in ounces of water every day is recommended. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 oz. (7 ½ cups) of water every day. If it’s hot, or you are exercising you should up your water intake. When drinking something dehydrating such as a caffeinated drink or a glass of alcohol, it is recommended to drink 1.5 oz. of water for every oz. of caffeinated drink or alcohol you’ve consumed.

Remember, you don’t have to pour a glass of water to consume water, as 20% of our water intake can be fulfilled by a proper diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

How do you know if you’re not getting enough water?

If you experience any of these symptoms, try drinking more water:

  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Lightheadedness
  • Dark under eye circles
  • Dry mouth
  • Dry skin
  • Constipation
  • Dizziness
  • Irritability and confusion
  • Dark colored urine
  • Heat exhaustion
  • Kidney stones
  • Rapid heart beat
  • Shriveled dry skin which lacks elasticity

In Conclusion

Drink plenty of water at work. Water is usually provided by most employers for free and is much cheaper than coffee (if you must buy it bottled). If there are no water coolers in your workplace, speak with an office administrator or supervisor to see if management will install one for you. Remember to always consult with your doctor to rule out a possible underlying cause of pain at work.

Hopefully these ergonomics tips can help keep your workplace a safe work place. For more guidance on all work related health and safety issues, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more information.

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

 

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Kinesis Freestyle Pro Keyboard Review

Kinesis Freestyle Pro Keyboard Review

By Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager at Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Kent, Renton, Seattle, and Tacoma Washington, California, and Oregon.

I’m a fan of the Kinesis Freestyle2 ergonomic keyboard, so when the new Kinesis Freestyle Pro mechanical/programmable ergonomic keyboard came out, I tested it out. In addition to having all the features of the Freestyle2, the Kinesis Freestyle Pro is fully on-board programmable and has low-force tactile Cherry MX brown mechanical key switches. Low force means that there is less force required to type. A tactile response reduces impact to the tips of the fingers.

One cool thing about the Pro is that while the basic configuration has 12″ of cable separating between the two sides of the keyboard, this can be adjusted. The cable compartment cover on the back of the left side can be removed, and additional length of cable can be pulled out up to 20″. Pictures of this are below.

Although they look similar, the VIP3 and V3 tenting accessories for the Freestyle2 do not fit the Pro. The VIP3 Pro (includes palm supports) and V3 Pro (does not include palm supports) are made for the Pro. They attach to the keyboard easily when following the included instructions. The tent setting adjustments are 5, 10, and 15 degrees on both the VIP3 Pro and V3 Pro. The VIP3 Pro is shown below with the different tenting angles. The V3 Pro accessory looks exactly the same, except it does not have the palm supports.

 

5 degrees of tenting

10 degrees of tenting

15 degrees of tenting

Hot keys on the Pro are desktop, last app, select all, undo, cut, delete, and copy & paste. Hot keys reduce mouse clicks as well as other repetitive and awkward movement of the hands.

When a split programmable ergonomic keyboard is needed, the Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a good choice.

For more ergonomics tips, visit SolutionsNW.com and subscribe to our blog.

SolutionsNW.com  provides work place and ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., an ergonomics assessment provider located in Seattle, Kent, Renton, Tacoma, Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

Freestyle Pro (PC & Mac)Mechanical / Programmable

3 Shoulder Stretches for Desk Workers

3 Shoulder Stretches for Desk Workers

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

3 Shoulder Stretches for Desk Workers

”In a typical working day, people spend an average of 7.7 hours sitting” – 2008 Vanderbilt University study

Many workstations require workers to sit and look at their computer screens for hours every day. While every office admin should consult with an ergonomics consultant to ensure the workstation is properly set up, repetitive and strenuous work may still lead to workplace injury if you do not properly care for your body.

Beyond making sure to take breaks by getting up and moving, try these 3 shoulder stretches our ergonomics experts have collected from the CCOHS.

1. Shoulder Roll

Tight or tense shoulders? The shoulder roll will help you relax your shoulder muscles. Sit back in your office chair, and slowly roll your shoulders backward 5 times in a circular motion. Next, roll your shoulders forward.
Shoulder Roll Stretch

2. Shoulder Shrug

Sitting all day at your workstation can lead to tightness or tension in the shoulder and neck area, try the shoulder shrug to relax the muscles. Begin by raising the top of your shoulders towards your ears until you feel slight tension in your neck and shoulders. Hold this feeling of tension for 3 to 5 seconds, then relax your shoulders downward into their normal position. You can repeat this 2 or 3 more times.
Shoulder Shrug Stretch

3. Neck Relaxer

Relax a sore, computer neck with the neck relaxer stretch. Begin by dropping your head slowly to the right, trying to touch your right ear to your right shoulder. Repeat on the left side. Then, slowly drop your chin to your chest, turn your head all the way to the right, then turn all the way to the left.
Neck Relaxer Stretch

In Conclusion

Staying proactive by stretching at your workstation is a great way to avoid workplace injury. If you are in serious pain, be sure to consult with your doctor to see if it is serious. And for more tips check out our blog featuring advice from our ergonomics experts.

For an ergonomics consultation, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more detailed information.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California (Arcata), Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

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Sitting vs Standing While Working

Sitting vs Standing While Working

Post By: Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Produced by: Solutions Northwest, Inc. (Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California)

Sitting vs Standing While Working
“Sedentary time — even among physically active people — may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and more.” American Heart Association

Too much sitting has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and more. Occupations that require computer work, office work, telecommunication, driving, etc. will generally require employees to sit at a desk or in a vehicle, so what is one to do? Is the solution to purchase a standing desk?

Our ergonomics experts will examine this dilemma and provide some suggestions to avoid injury in the work place.

Sitting at Work vs Standing at Work

Sitting allows one to conserve energy and stabilize the body, therefore performing tasks like computer work, driving, or even micro-surgery generally involve sitting. However, sitting for over an hour at a time can release biochemical changes in the body that lead to heart disease.

Standing while working may seem like the logical solution to too much sitting. Standing can help burn more calories than sitting due to the energy required to stand, however prolonged standing has perils of its own. Standing for long periods of time may cause aching joints and sore feet in the short term and in the long term, too much standing could cause painful back problems or permanent muscle damage.

What about Sit-Stand Workstations?

Often both the employer and employee think that the ergonomic risks are abated once a sit-stand station is installed, when in fact, the sit-stand workstations may have introduced new ergonomic risk factors. A sit-stand workstation may lead to awkward postures of the spine and upper extremities with incorrect equipment heights in relation to the individual’s anthropometric needs, incorrect equipment positioning, and incorrect equipment. Additionally, sit-stand workstations do not resolve the issues of repetitive work with inadequate rest breaks. Studies show that the typical break schedule of 15/30/15 minutes is not sufficient to recover from repetitive office work.

The Solution is Movement

If both sitting too long and standing too long is bad for you, then what is the solution? The answer is movement. Moving frequently to avoid prolonged inactivity is key.

Don’t be afraid to sit while doing computer work, just be sure to incorporate movement in to your day beyond your 15/30/15 breaks. This means, every 20-30 minutes stand and take a posture break for a few minutes and move around for a couple of minutes more. When you walk around, your blood circulates through your muscles and benefits your body.

You don’t need to do exercises at your desk (though here is a list of some you can do if you wish), but get into the habit of walking to the printer, grabbing a beverage, standing during meetings, using the stairs, walking the floor, and even parking further than necessary in the parking lot.

In Conclusion

Just use common sense to break up prolonged inactivity in the workplace. Realize that simply standing in one spot for hours isn’t the solution to too much sitting, but that movement is key. And as always, remain proactive about your health in the work place.

For an ergonomics consultation, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more detailed information.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics consultants located in Washington State, Northern California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.

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