Do I Have A Case? Contact Us Toll Free 24/7 (888) 460-4878

Or Fill Out the Form Below
For A Free Case Evaluation

Enter text from image below
Captcha Image
Get Help Now

Illinois Work Injury Blog

Illinois Work Injury Blog - providing information and resources regarding work injury and workers compensation issues in the Chicago, Illinois area.

The Down Side of Telecommuting

 Monday, January 30, 2012
While telecommuting has become increasingly popular over the past decade, a new report indicates that telecommuting may have hit a wall.

"It's true that telework reduces pollution, improves productivity, and cuts real estate costs for employers while increasing retention and employee loyalty. But no matter how advanced the technology, something is lost when face-to-face contact disappears. Indeed, a new report found that the number of teleworkers declined in 2010 for the first time since data collection began nearly a decade ago. While there's no denying that telecommuting can provide tremendous benefits, organizations are finding that virtual collaboration has its limits," reports CNN Money.

Those who have experience telecommuting sometimes feel disconnected from coworkers, particularly if they have never met their coworkers in person. It does not feel the same to introduce yourself via email or webcam as it does to meet in person. As a result, you may not build a working relationship with others as quickly or as solidly as if you were physically in the same place.

Part of the reason for the disconnect is that coworkers in a traditional office setting often meet needs not related to work - friendship and socializing. You may have a coworker or group of coworkers who you go out for coffee or lunch with, strengthening your relationship in a way that you would not if you were co-telecommuters.

One way you can try to combat the isolation that you may be feeling is by coming into the office from time to time. It will help you introduce yourself to new faces and reconnect with coworkers. It can also be a nice change from the monotony of telecommuting.

Additionally, there are some industries that are not conducive to remote work or telecommuting. However, to try to meet employees needs, they are flexible in ways they can be. For example, allowing employees to choose their own hours or even work days and job sharing are two ways to offer workers some flexibility around when they work if they can't control where they work.

Regardless of where you are putting your time in every day, it is important that you are following all safety standards and practices - especially ergonomics - to prevent against work injury. You should also take regular breaks to avoid stress or injury from repetitive motion. This is an additional benefit to working in an office setting, as employers are more likely to remind employees of safety standards and procedures in an office or physical company-operated facility.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Dworkin & Maciariello shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon. To find out more about our disclaimer click here.
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Company Wants Employees to Stay Home, Telecommute

 Monday, January 23, 2012
Electronics company Plantronics wants their employees not to come into the office. Why? Because the headset manufacturer believes that telecommuting can provide flexibility and productivity benefits over coming into the office each day. As a result, they have designed their new corporate headquarters around the idea that the majority of their employees will be out of the office - working from home - more days than not. In fact, they do not even have enough desks for every employee to be there at the same time.

Fast Company reports,"Plantronics is hardly the first company to encourage its employees to telecommute, but it’s still rare to find an organization that’s so dedicated to the idea. It might be a little bit of an adjustment to people used to sitting at work all day every day, but the generation just coming out of school–the one that’s used to having instant access to people through cell phones, Skype, and email–expects nothing less. With gas prices steadily climbing, the prospect of working remotely three days a week seems especially attractive.

And Plantronics has no limits on how often employees work from home–it just asks that they make sure their home workplaces are ergonomically safe."

More and more companies are trying out telecommuting, and with good reason. The two primary reasons telecommuting is gaining popularity are:

1. Workers' Wants: As the aging baby boomers are eased out of the workforce and replaced by Gen Y and younger generations, expectations about telecommuting are changing. The new generations of workers have always had computers and cell phones, and are used to being mobile and "plugged-in." Many prefer to telecommute as a result.

2. Travel Expenses: The cost of commuting is rising with energy costs. If energy costs do not stabilize, employees who are not able to work from home at their current job may look for jobs closer to home or with more flexibility. It is likely that any pay cut will be at least partially offset by the savings in commuting costs.

In spite of concerns about employee productivity, studies show that workers feel empowered by the freedom to complete work tasks where and when they choose. By enabling them to work in a comfortable environment and time frame, employers are reaping the benefits of maximum productivity and at the same time eliminating costly overhead for maintaining physical office space for all employees.

One important factor that is largely overlooked with telecommuting, however, is ergonomics. When a company controls employees' working enviroment, they can ensure that each employee's workspace is ergonomically correct to avoid work injury. With telecommuting, it is important for the employee to understand the importance of setting up their home office with ergonomics in mind to prevent work injury. For example, an ergonomically correct home office requires

• Proper height and distance of the computer monitor to avoid neck pain and eye strain.
• Adjustable chair with attention paid to the correct chair height and angle from the floor and work top.
• Keyboard placement and support to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Dworkin & Maciariello shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Moms Who Work Are Happier, Healthier According to Study

 Thursday, January 19, 2012
A new study whose findings were recently published reports that working mothers are happier than their stay-at-home counterparts - and it does not appear to matter how many hours they work.

"According to the study, 'Mothers' part-time employment: Associations with mother and family well-being' (which was published recently in the American Psychological Association's 'Journal of Family Psychology'), being employed has multiple benefits for moms -- and for their families. After interviewing hundreds of mothers repeatedly over the course of a decade, the researchers found that those who worked 32 hours per week or less were more sensitive to their kids' needs, less likely to have symptoms of depression, and more likely to split household duties with their spouses than mothers who were not employed. And, the researchers found, even going to full-time status didn't adversely affect working moms' well-being," reports Yahoo Shine.

It is likely that many mothers will find the results of this study both an encouragement and a relief - especially those who are not able to choose whether they go back to work but are forced to by financial constraints. Hearing that going back to work will make moms healthier and happier may be an unexpected benefit of re-entering the workforce post-baby.

It is also possible that moms who have to work after their children are born are able to take advantage of flex-time or telecommute, making it easier than ever to be a "work-from-home-mom." The time spent not commuting can be allocated to other pursuits - spending time with family and friends, working out, effectively reaching a favorable work-life balance.

A few other ways of striking a favorable work-life balance by decreasing stress and subsequently avoiding work injury include:

• Breaks: This goes beyond taking your allotted fifteen minute breaks and hour lunch break. It can also mean changing up what you are working on when you begin to feel tired and fatigued, or just stepping away for a brief moment to use the facilities or get a drink of water. Doing so can help avoid work injury, especially those caused by repetitive motion.

• Good Health: One of the best ways to avoid work injury is by taking care of yourself. This means maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and getting a full night's sleep. When you are happy, healthy, and well rested you are better equipped to perform your essential job functions.

• Support: If you feel overwhelmed by tasks at work or at home, ask for assistance from your spouse, boss or coworkers before you get overworked. Overworked employees are more likely to make mistakes or sustain a work injury.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Dworkin & Maciariello shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon. 
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

How Playing At Work Increases Productivity

 Tuesday, January 03, 2012
The Wall Street Journal reports, "Companies are trying to bring more play to the workday. Striving to make everyday business tasks more engaging, a growing number of firms, including International Business Machines Corp. and consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., are incorporating elements of videogames into the workplace.

They're deploying reward and competitive tactics commonly found in the gaming world to make tasks such as management training, data entry and brainstorming seem less like work. Employees receive points or badges for completing jobs or meeting time limits for assignments, for example. Companies also may use leaderboards, which let players view one another's scores, to encourage friendly competition and motivate performance, experts say."

This is just the latest way that employers are trying to motivate employees and up productivity utilitzing "outside of the box" thinking. Other examples of employers trying to add a little fun into employees' workdays include:

• On-site Fitness Centers: Most large companies have a fitness center on-site or offer a fitness benefit to employees. But many stop short of actually encouraging employees to utilize the facilities. Employers who take the next step and make physical activity part of the corporate culture will likely reap the benefits - healthier, more relaxed and productive employees.

• Flex-time: As we mentioned last month, many companies are now offering telecommuting and flexible hours to employees. And the results are positive.

• Community Outreach: Many companies have community service days or encourage some type of community outreach on the company's dime. It gives employees a chance to feel fulfilled and connect with their community without sacrificing time or their paycheck - which might otherwise be barriers to doing so.

• Free Food: Providing free good quality food to employees can make their lunch and coffee breaks that much more enjoyable.

• Travel Perks: As a reward for working hard, many companies offer perks or incentives that let employees play hard - utilizing company resources like corporate apartments or company transportation for their leisure time.

These are just a few examples of ways that employers can show their employees that they are valued and encourage them to take breaks and have fun to increase productivity. While not all of the above are feasible in all industries, the basic idea is the same: keep your employees happy and they will likely work harder.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Dworkin & Maciariello shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Workplace Flexibility and Gen Y

 Wednesday, December 21, 2011
"The traditional eight-hour workday may soon be the exception rather than the rule. New evidence shows that we’re reaching a tipping point in terms of workplace flexibility, with businesses seeing the wisdom of allowing employees — young ones especially — to work odd hours, telecommute and otherwise tweak the usual 9-to-5 grind.

One of the top 12 trends for 2012 as named by the communications firm Euro RSCG Worldwide is that employees in the Gen Y, or millennial, demographic — those born between roughly 1982 and 1993 — are overturning the traditional workday," reports Time.

As baby boomers retire and are replaced by Gen Y employees, expectations about work-life balance and workplace flexibility are shifting. Leading the charge is the flexibility with which many of us are already working, thanks to technology. We have become an entirely plugged in, global workforce where it is possible to have several employees working on the same project in different cities, states and even countries.

And if you are working across different time zones, for many industries it does not matter when you are working - as long as the work is completed on time and no one else on the team is waiting on you. Which leads many workers to wonder "why does it matter if I work 9-5 if I would prefer to work 12-8?"

Most Gen Y'ers want to know that their employer trusts their work ethic and choices. This applies to the hours they work and also what they have access to. Gen Y employees are more likely to be annoyed by strict controls over internet usage and social media sites. In fact, some young workers are opting for workplace flexibility over other traditionally more attractive deciding factors when accepting jobs - like ability to telecommute, flex time (being able to work your own hours) and free reign over the world wide web.

As a result, many companies are adopting workplace flexibility programs that give employees the perks that Gen Y'ers are looking for. They are taking a leap of faith that by giving workers the freedom to complete tasks where and when they want, they will see a bump in productivity that comes from a happy work force.

Workplace Flexibility and Work Injury

Another positive side effect of workplace flexibility may be decreased incidence of work injury. If employees are working in a culture that encourages meeting their individual needs for the greater good of the company, they are more likely to take care of themselves. They may go to the gym in the middle of the day - great for staying fit and managing stress, both of which help decrease the likelihood of work injury. They are also more likely to take breaks when they need to because they are not so conscious of punching the clock every time they step outside for some air and to stretch their muscles.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Dworkin & Maciariello shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

1