The Performance Group Safety Consortium met on Thursday, February 21 2008 at Kalas Manufacturing to address The Essentials of Wellness in the Workplace, presented by Cheryl Harsh, Wellness Coordinator at Kalas Mfg. Cheryl’s credits include a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education and a Master’s in Health Promotion, 7 years of Corporate Fitness experience, 12 years as a motivational speaker & lecturer, as well as impressive personal fitness achievements. The presentation highlighted the benefits of a program that incorporates workplace safety with healthy lifestyle choices, acknowledging the overlap between ""work" and "life", and helping to further a safety and health oriented culture that applies in both arenas. The program explored the benefits of a successful wellness program, for both the business and the individual, including decreased healthcare and Workers Comp costs, increased employee recruitment and retention, improved employee health and job satisfaction, increased productivity, and decreases in absenteeism. Strategies for implementing and managing a successful wellness program were also discussed, including working with insurance providers and other vendors, providing support resources, involving non-employee family members, demonstrating top-down leadership and buy-in, and working towards redefining company culture.

To request a copy of Cheryl's presentation, or for more information about The Performance Group Safety Consortium, please contact Todd Hollinger at thollinger@ppstaffing.com.

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The Performance Group held its 2nd Quarter Safety Consortium Meeting on May 17th at Anderson Bakery in Lancaster.  The meeting featured two speakers, Dr. James Rochester, Medical Director of Worknet Occupational Medicine, and Natasha D'Orazio, Language & Diversity Training of TPG.

Dr. Rochester presented on America's Aging Workforce, highlighting issues that all employers will be faced with as the baby boom generation (the disproportionately largest percentage of the workforce) approaches its 40's, 50's, and beyond.  With the average retirement age becoming later and later (79% of baby boomer plan to continue working past 65) and the current population patterns as they are, it is predicted that the number of workers age 55 and older will have increased 52% by 2010.  Dr. Rochester also outlined many of the physical changes associated with aging, including: reduced strength, flexibility, grip, postural steadiness,and range of motion; issues with eyesight and circulation; slowing of reflexes, tactile response, and mental processing; and increased potential for problems associated with extreme temperatures.  He walked through some of the job-related challenges associated with each of these changes for both the individuals and their employers, as well suggestions to help prevent or lessen the impact of these changes, through job modification, lifestyle changes, and wellness programs.

Natasha D'Orazio presented on the relationship between Language Diversity in relation to Safety, providing statistics to illustrate the rapid rate at which America's workforce is diversifying, and the census projections that anticipating these trends to accelerate.  She discussed some of the potential safety hazards associated with language barriers in the workplace, including orientation and training deficiencies, problems with safety signage, and the inability to understand direction from supervisors.  Ms. D'Orazio outlined a number of approaches to tackling these issues, including ESL classes for employees, industry-specific instruction in other languages for supervisors, and various translation services, many of which are offered by The Performance Group.  Attendees offered examples of challenges presented by the diversity that exists within their own workforce, and benefits of language training and translation were discussed, including more growth opportunities for employees with improving English abilities, better production with increased communication between employees and supervisors, and a safer environment for all to work in.

For a copy of either of these presentations or for more information about Performance's 3rd Quarter Consortium meeting (tentatively scheduled for August 16th), please e-mail thollinger@ppstaffing.com.