Yay To Employee Engagement!

Extracted from “The Star – 2nd July 2013”

How often have we heard organisations speak of employee engagement?

You’d probably say often enough as engagement is the buzz word for many human capital departments today.

There is no doubt that employee engagement and loyalty are more vital to any organisation’s success and competitive advantage.

Every leader in an organisation understands that it is hardly realistic to expect that an employee starting out in his or her career would stay until retirement.

Since employee turnover rate continues to remain high with the possibility of increasing further in various industries due to the shortage of skilled talent; organisations hold the view that whilst they remain focused on improving retention they must be able to get the best from every employee while they remain in the organisation regardless of their tenure.

And since the value and contribution of every employee can never be guaranteed, organisations have begun their efforts on building strong “employee engagement” amongst their employees.

An engaged employee will serve as a role model to others and can build excitement in their workplace. They are individuals who will work hard, give back to the company, and have a strong sense of loyalty that drives their work above and beyond their job description.

There are many factors that impact employee engagement within an organisation, some of the  critical one’s are as follows:

The Leader

First and foremost, it’s crucial to remember that unless the most senior teams within the organisation believe in the power of engagement, it will be an uphill battle for anyone to build a culture around it. And since leaders are all about metrics and ringgit and cents,  it would help to find a business metric that can best describe the impact of having disengaged employees. Not only must there be complete buy on the importance of employee engagement, but all senior leaders must be role models in creating a culture and language that institutes employee engagement as a priority within the organisation.

The Champions

No matter how well executed a strategy, it is necessary to have individuals beyond the leadership group who are passionate about not only the concept but also about driving change and influencing others to consistently support the initiatives of employee engagement. Be sure that the employees selected for this are individuals that have high respect of their peers and have demonstrated capability in delivering on their goals. Selected well these individuals can spark excitement within the organisation and capture the hearts and minds of the others.

Don’t Care, Don’t Bother

The fundamental of engagement is being and creating an organisation environment that fosters care. No employee wants to work with an organisation that has no interest in their interests, this goes beyond knowing the employee but transcending into issues that matter to each employee.

   Unless the organisation creates an environment that allows the employee to feel that their well-being matters then “engagement” may just as well be a trendy word used to keep up with the rest of the organisations. Employee engagement requires a culture that institutionalises the importance of having a work culture that is built around care, it must be visible and represented throughout all levels of the organisation.

Open Communicative Environment

Every employee wants to believe that his views matter and his voice should be heard. No employee wants to feel like the management has something to hide, their opinion doesn’t matter, or that they can’t speak up. Encouraging an environment of openness will help employees feel like a valuable part of the organisation.

   It is important to consistently have a true two-way communication with employees. Keep them informed on what’s going on behind the scenes in the organisation and show them that you’re willing to listen. Encourage employee feedback and then act on or respond to their comments. By doing so, it will reaffirm the fact that the organisation takes employee concerns seriously and cares about what they have to say.

Empowering Employees

Just as employees want to be heard by their employers, they do also want to feel trusted. And since the organisation had enough confidence in the employee abilities to hire them in the first place, then now the organisation must be able to allow them to shine in their roles.

Encourage employees to make certain decisions without seeking prior approval, as most organisations are concerned about the possibility of mistakes that may affect a customer or the business  then organisations can decide on the level of decision making that every employee has depending on their role within themselves. Consider provide convenient work options, such as flexible hours or the opportunity to telecommute, and allow employees to use some company time to pursue volunteer activities.

These actions show the company views its employees as trusted professionals who will work to the best of their ability without anyone micro-managing every aspect of their work.

Recognise Employees Who Make A Difference

Employees thrive on positive feedback; the fact that someone knew and took note of their exceptional job performance can be motivation enough to make them work even harder. Acknowledging high achievements also sets an example for other employees and it can encourage them to aspire to higher levels of performance.

Be sure to take the time to regularly recognise individual employees who go the extra mile, volunteer for the extra tasks, or are active in giving back to the community.

You can easily acknowledge these employees through newsletters, announcements at staff meetings, social media, or on your company website. Every organisation should already have in place if not already a series of recognition programmes and process to consistently sing praise of employees that do a good job!

Hold Managers Accountable

It’s no secret that the relationship between a first-line manager and their employees has the most direct impact on engagement. After all, the majority of the hours of any employee are in some way or rather connected to their direct manager. Many researchers have confirmed this as being accurate and true. Unless organisations can instill in their managers the importance of engagement within their teams, all else that is executed within the organisation will have no impact.

Obviously the best way to ensure that engagement is practiced, it would help to have managers report results on actions they’ve taken to impact engagement in their teams. This should be weighted as an indication of performance when someone manages others directly.

Become Corporate Sponsor

Employees today are more inclined to work and serve in an organisation that makes a difference either to them or the community of which they serve.

Every employee wants to believe that they can make a difference through either the work that they do or the task that they undertake. And there is nothing grander than the opportunity to work for an organisation that is able to enlist their employees in participating in corporate social responsibility programmes.

The fact that employees will have to work together throughout the process, it will help build a culture of teamwork, collaboration and selflessness. The reward naturally is an energised workforce engaged at making a difference.

Smart organisations know that happy employees stay in their jobs longer, are more productive, and report higher levels of job satisfaction. They also develop emotional bond with their company and will continuously seek to influence improvements in the workplace.

There is an endless list of initiatives that organisations can undertake to improve engagement within the workplace, but the fundamental to it being successful is the believe from senior leadership that engagement can have an impact in their business and organisation. Believe must be then be demonstrated through action – walking the talk!

 

 

Breast Is Best For Getting Ahead

Extracted from “The Sun – 2nd July 2013”

People breastfed as infants have a 24% better chance than their formula-fed counterparts of climbing the social ladder, said a study.

   Conversely, being fed mothers’ milk as a baby also reduced one’s chances of social demotion later in life by as much as 20%, said the findings published in the journal, Archives of Disease in Childhood.

   “Our study adds to evidence on the health benefits of breastfeeding by showing that there may be lifelong social benefits,” wrote the British research team.

   The researchers looked at data on 17,419 people born in Britain in 1958 and another 16,771 born in 1970 – comparing their social class at the age of 10 or 11 to that aged 33/34, and whether or not they had been breastfed.

   Social class was categorised on a four-point scale ranging from unskilled or semi-skilled to professional or managerial.

   In the 1958 group, 68% had been breastfed compared with only 36% in the 1970 group, said the study, which claims to be the largest yet to probe the relationship between breastfeeding and social mobility.

   The researchers gathered data during regular follow-ups every few years and took into account a range of other potential factors such as brain development and emotional stress levels.

   “Intellect and stress accounted for around a third (36%) of the total impact of breastfeeding: breastfeeding enhances brain development, which boosts intellect, which in turn increases upwards social mobility. Breastfed children also showed fewer signs of stress,” said a statement.

   The authors said breast milk contained so-called long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids or LCPUFA’s which were essential for brain development.

   The team said it was impossible to tell which was more beneficial to the child: the skin-to-skin contact and bonding between a nursing mother and her infant, or perhaps a combination of the two.

   Further research was needed, they said, to determine whether mothers who fed their infants formula could aid their long-term development by mimicking the skin contact between breastfeeding women and their offspring.

 

Sugar Overload May Stress Your Heart

Extracted from “The Sun – 1st July 2013”

Addicted to sugar? A new US study finds that eating too much sweet stuff will not only contribute to weight gain but can set people down to pathway to heart failure".

   A single small molecule, the glucose metabolite glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) – which accumulates from eating too much starch or sugar – causes stress to the heart that changes the muscle proteins and induces poor pump function leading to heart failure, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston reported.

   “Treatment is difficult,” said Dr Heinrich Taegtmeyer, principal investigator and professor of cardiology at the UTHealth Medical School. “Physicians can give diuretics to control the fluid, and beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors to lower the stress on the heart and allow it to pump more economically.”

   For the study, the researchers relied on animal studies, as well as conducting tests on tissues collected from patients at the Texas Heart Institute.

   According to recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, most US adults get a whopping 13% of their total calories from added sugars alone. Not only does that add a lot of extra calories which contribute to making us fat, sugary items often displace healthier items, such as fruits, vegetables, and foods packed with nutrients.

 

Eat Fish To Stay Mentally Young

Extracted from “The Sun – 1st July 2013”

Want to stay mentally young forever? Make it a sushi or baked salmon dinner. Because according to a new study, a diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids may cause the brain to age faster.

   Published in the journal Neurology, a team of US researchers studied the MRI brain scans of 1,575 people who averaged 67 years old. None of the participants had dementia.

   Researchers also measured their body mass and tested subjects’ mental function and the amount of omega-3 fatty acids levels in their red blood cells. After studying the results, researchers found that people whose levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – a nutrient in omega-3 fatty acids – were among the bottom 25% had lower brain volume compared to people with higher DHA levels.

   Those with low levels of DHA also scored lower on virtual memory tests and executive function, like problem solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking.

   Meanwhile, a Spanish study has found that the roe of hake, lumpsucker. and salmon are the best dietary sources of omega-3.

   Sardines, mackerel, salmon, soy beans, flaxseed oil and walnuts are also good sources of the nutrient.

   The latest study builds on previous research which has found that this nutrient can do everything from helping cognitive function to protecting against Parkinson’s, preventing nerve damage and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Herbal Help

Extracted from “The Star – 1st July 2013”

Here are some herbal remedies to soothe the body and help curb haze-related illnesses, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, Lai Yeat Sean of Dama TCM in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Rose

Making a tea using rosebuds can enhance blood circulation and relieve headaches, something which is common during the haze. For a sweeter touch, add honey.

Chrysanthemum

Besides being a delightful and refreshing drink, chrysanthemum tea can reduce pain in eyes irritated by the haze.

 

Cassia Seed (known as jue ming zi in Mandarin)

Another thing that’s common during the haze is teary eyes, which is caused by the heat. Consuming boiled cassia seed can reduce that. This can be taken together with chrysanthemum.

Ophiopogon root (mai men dong)

Haze particles can clog up the lungs and make the throat dry. Take boiled ophiopogon root to moisten both the lungs and throat.

Buddha Fruit (luo han guo)

Due to the heat, it is common to drink something cold and sweet. However, consuming too much sugar can be detrimental to your health.

   Buddha fruit is healthier alternative to something sweet. Boil the fruit and quench your thirst with this sweet drink. It can also be taken with ophiopogon root.

Raw liquorice ( gan cao in Mandarin or kum chou in Cantonese )

Boil it in water and drink. It helps alleviate a cough, soothes the throat and reduces inflammation.

Lily bulbs with snow fungus

Make the drink by first boiling the snow fungus for two hours and then adding lily bulbs and rock sugar. This drink clears heatiness and nourishes the lungs.

      

 

10 Weight-Loss Myths Busted!

Extracted from “Health Today – June 2013”

 

Weight loss has been, and will continue to be, one of the hottest health topics. And it can also be one of the most confusing, especially with the plethora of weight-loss related information floating around. The latest celebrity endorsed-diet fad, the workout regimen deemed to get you back in shape in mere weeks, pills guaranteed to help you shed those extra kilos in no time – you have heard them all. But what’s fact and what’s fiction? It’s time to find out.

   Here, we look at the 10 most popular misconceptions which could be sabotaging your weight-loss efforts.

Myth # 1 : Starving is the best weight-loss method

Starving is unlikely to produce long term-weight loss effects. In fact, they might just do the opposite. When starving, your body lacks energy, causing you to crave sugary and fatty foods. When you cannot hold back any longer ad give in, you tend to eat much more calories than you need. This result in weight gain.

Myth # 2 : All fatty foods are bad

Not all fats are bad. “Good” fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats), which come from foods like salmon and avocados, are good for your heart and overall health. While it is impossible to eliminate foods containing “bad” fats (saturated fat) from our daily diet completely, we can limit our intake. Avoid processed baked and fried foods as they are loaded with unhealthy fats.

Myth # 3 : All carbohydrates cause weight gain

Complex carbohydrates like high-fibre fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods do not promote weight gain as they are excellent energy sources and low in calories, in contrast to refined carbohydrates like white rice, pasta and potatoes.

Myth # 4 : Eating late makes you fat

You may have heard of the phrase, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper”. But calories are calories, regardless of when you eat them – morning, afternoon or night.

Myth # 5 : The more I exercise, the more weight I lose

While exercising does burn calories, you can only lose weight when the calories you burn are more than those you consume. Aim for a minimum of either 150 minutes weekly of moderate aerobic exercise (eg. cycling and brisk walking) or 75 minutes weekly of strenuous aerobic activity (eg, running) – preferably spread throughout the week.

Myth # 6 : Skipping a meal is fine

Research shows that people who avoid breakfast and eat fewer times throughout the day are likely to be heavier than those who eat a healthy breakfast and eat four to five times daily. This could be because those who miss meals tend to feel hungrier later on – hence, eating more than necessary. It can also be that consuming small portions throughout the day helps people control their appetites.

Myth # 7 : All weight-loss pills are effective and safe

Not every slimming pill on the market has been scientifically tested and approved for consumption, so always consult your doctor before trying any new drugs or supplements.

Myth # 8 : Weight lifting will only bulk me up

Strength-training exercises like weight-lifting and crunches will not turn you into the next Mr Universe, rest assured. Performing strengthening activities two or three days weekly help build muscles which, in turn, burns calories.

Myth # 9 : Certain foods can burn calories

 

Unfortunately, there are no miracle fat-burning foods. Some foods may increase your metabolism rate temporarily, but they do not result in weight loss.

Myth # 10 : Sweating is a sign of an effective workout

Sweating does not automatically indicate a successful workout. It is merely our body’s way of cooling itself. It is possible to burn a significant amount of fat without swearing.

COMBAT HAZE

Extracted from “The Star – 1st July 2013”

We may be seeing less haze, but the skies won’t remain clear until the root cause of this annual problem is addressed. While experts struggle with that, here’s a round-up of what we can do the next time smoke gets in our lungs.

The haze seems to visit us with clockwork regularity during every dry season, so it makes sense to prepare ourselves to deal with it.

   While the haze has cleared for now, it may return at any time as long as there is smoke from open burning and winds to carry it over to us.

   Precautionary measures are crucial to safeguard our bodies, especially those with pre-existing health conditions. We spoke to some doctors and looked at our newspaper archives and trawled the web to come up with various simple tips and traditional remedies to deal with the haze.

   Here are several tips one can apply to keep the haze at bay:

Boost Immunity

   Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables (or take supplements) so ensure you have enough vitamin C and E (which work together to keep lungs healthy). Also look out for foods with Omega-3 oils.

   Consume less dairy products, sugar, red meat, coffee and alcohol. Avoid foods high in saturated fats.

Steamy lung moisturisers

   People of Kedah can visit this traditional Thai herbal steam bath at Dpehnimit Wat, at the foot of Gunung Keriang about 10 km from Alor Star!

   Breathing in some steam (which has cooled down a bit! ) helps combat dryness in the atmosphere and keeps the respiratory system moist. Apart from herbs, people (but not kids under the age of two) can also add in some aromatic decongestants.

Air purifiers

   Dr Leong Oon Keong, chest physician and president of Perak Chest Society, has advised people not to engage in any outdoor activities and even exercise because it will cause more air to get into the lungs where the haze will deposit more harmful particles.

   Stay inside as much as possible, with doors, windows closed and preferably with clean air circulating through air conditioners and/or air purifiers. Use air conditioners on the “re-circulate” setting so outside air will not be sucked into the room.

   For air purifiers, look for a machine with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter – only that would be able to trap the super-fine haze particles which can be as small as 3mm according to consultant allergist Prof Dr M. Yadav.

Vitamin A

   This is available in liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes and spinach and helps protect your lungs, eyes and the oxygen-carrying capabilities of your bloodstream.

Use the mop

   Put away the vacuum cleaners during this hazy period. They tend to stir up loose dirt and dust off the floors. Use a wet mop instead.

Vinegar

   Add two tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water and drink it. You can add some honey too. Vinegar dissolves the mucus in the throat and reduces inflammation.

Use masks

   If you have to go outdoors, or if you have no air purifier indoors, use a mask to breathe. The best type is the N95 mask, says consultant cardiologist Tan Sri Dr Ridzwan Bakar, as it can filter out tiny haze particles.

   Make sure it fits snugly and tightly on the face as it would defeat the purpose if air can enter from the sides.

   These masks are a must for those with lung problems, reduced immunity or those who work outdoors for prolonged periods. If you have nothing else, breathe through a damp cloth over your mouth.

Stop smoking

   The air is polluted by the haze already – why send more hazardous particles into your lungs (and that of others too) by smoking?

See the doctor

   People with asthma should check with their physicians regarding any changes in medication that may be needed to cope with the smoky conditions. Consider seeing a doctor if you develop persistent coughs for more than three or four days or if you develop conditions that are out of the norm, such as itchy, inflamed or irritated skin.

Follow the news

   Keep yourself updated on daily air quality levels and air pollution forecasts in your area. This is so you are able to plan your daily activities accordingly.

Skin detox

 

   If you experience dry, itchy and inflamed skin, try detoxing it. Rinse thoroughly with water and use a skin-appropriate toner to ensure your pores are cleansed thoroughly. If you are at work and unable to give your pores a good scrub, get a skin mist or moisturizer to help dissolve any surface impurities and recharge overwhelmed complexions.

Contact lenses

   If you wear contact lenses and have developed an eye irritation, it is advisable to stop wearing them until your eyes have healed. Ensure your eyes are constantly hydrated as well as keep eye drops within easy reach. A dilute saline solution can also act as a natural tear supplement.