I wish you could send all CEOs and Human Resource Directors two lead articles in the April 19 Enquirer that could improve the health of their businesses and their employees. The front page article "Healthy living, lower premiums?" gave hope to workers that at least some companies are interested in encouraging improved health regarding weight loss and anti-smoking campaigns. In Peggy O'Farrell's Tempo cover story "Stressed at work?", many readers recognized their work environment or that of a loved one. O'Farrell did an excellent job in explaining basic problems - "fewer people are doing more work" and technology requires faster response time to questions and problems.

Due to this increased techno-time-speed factor, most projects also demand improbable, if not impossible, deadlines on the fewer over-loaded employees. Technology also has a nearly impossible learning curve as newer hardware and software make what one learns almost outdated before it can be implemented.

Stress also causes anxiety disorders and depression that nearly (or completely) debilitates some workers from being effective on the job. (It's not a stretch to believe that such stress contributes to weight gain and smoking - or at least the inability to do something about either.)

Smart companies will offer quality stress management classes for their entire staff. Many companies do offer mental health benefits but that doesn't change the work environment. Most people have a hard time admitting they have a serious enough emotional or mental problem to see a professional. Others don't want the stigma. Choosing the right counselor, making the appointment and going for the visits takes time and effort that a person who is truly "stressed out" is nearly incapable of handling.

Companies need to be proactive. My husband's boss recently began "Walk and Talks." Instead of sitting at a desk for weekly staff meetings, the group talks about projects and problems as they walk for half an hour (outdoors when possible). To help people who suffer Seasonal Affective Disorder (during dreary winter months or in offices where there are no windows), installing lights with brighter lumens could be very important. (It won't hurt anyone.)

Professionals can offer other creative ways to improve the workplace environment to benefit employees' personal stress level. Workers' health should improve (saving companies the cost of sick days and insurance company payouts). More effective workers mean better health and profits for the company as a whole. It's a win-win situation.

---

Rita McKenzie Fisher of Milford is a homemaker and an author of Christian books.

---

Want your voice here?

Send your column or proposed topic, 400 words or fewer, along with a photo of yourself, to assistant editorial editor Ray Cooklis at rcooklis@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8525.