2022 October Articles Archives

Armour yourself against workplace harassment/bullying

What is bullying?

Bullying usually involves physical or verbal violence that could psychologically or ‘mentally’ hurt or isolate you in the workplace. This impacts your confidence and can cause mental or physical health problems. It is usually done to someone in a less senior position.

Bullying can be face-to-face, in writing, over the phone or by social media or email, and occurs repeatedly, over a period of time. Some indications that you may be bullied:

You are unfairly blocked from leave, promotion, or denied training opportunities
intentionally excluded or isolated
responsibilities are removed without cause or you are underworked, creating feelings of uselessness
given impossible deadlines or pressure that set you up to fail
your opinions are belittled
you are physically or verbally abused
yelled at or criticized constantly
blamed for problems caused by others
humiliated in front of colleagues
regularly threatened
gossiped about

If you are not sure whether an action or statement could be considered bullying, you can use the “reasonable person” test by asking the question: Would most people consider the action unacceptable?

What should you do?

Keep a written record or diary: Write down details of every incident and keep copies of any relevant documents.
Discuss the situation with someone you trust. Sometimes what feels like bullying may not be. For example, you may be overwhelmed by work due to a change in organisational processes, and with the right kind of support, the problem may be resolved.
Try to solve the issue informally by talking to the bully directly, or get someone to do so on your behalf. Decide what to say beforehand. Describe what’s been happening and why you object to it. Stay calm and polite; and avoid yelling or threatening the person yourself or you may end up looking like the bully.
If the behaviour does not change, make a formal complaint through HR who will support you in this process. If you are worried that you may be further bullied by lodging a formal grievance, or are afraid to do so if your boss is the bully, please share your concerns with HR or Life Assist who will guide you.
The important thing is to believe in yourself and your worth. Every company in SA has a duty of care to their employees and you have a right to work in a bully-free, safe, and productive environment.

LifeAssist does not get involved in labour law, or mediate on your behalf, but can support you emotionally and confidentially.

zara2022-09-30T07:43:20+00:00

Spot the signs of a stroke and know what to do

World Stroke Day is observed on October 29 annually to highlight the grave nature of strokes and raise awareness about its prevention and treatment. About 90% of all strokes can be prevented by addressing risk factors such as an unhealthy diet, obesity, smoking, lack of physical activity, stress and blood disorders, and hypertension.

CVA (Cerebral-Vascular Accident) is the medical term for a stroke, which is essentially a brain attack. It is a serious life-threatening medical condition, and is also known as a stroke. Urgent treatment is essential to reduce the chances of brain damage, disability, or even death.

Use the FAST test to check for the most common signs of a stroke in yourself or others.

Face: Smile. Does one side of the face droop.

Arms: Raise both arms. Does one arm drop down?

Speech: Say a short phrase and check for slurred or strange speech.

Time: If the answer to any of these is yes, call 112 for an ambulance right away and write down the time when symptoms started. Minutes matter in treating strokes as brain tissue and millions of neurons begin to die.

Other symptoms include:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking, or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance
Sudden severe headache for no reason

Sometimes strokes develop slowly, but more often the symptoms are rapid.

Be prepared

Strokes can happen to anyone at any age or at any time. Planning for an emergency can make a big difference.

Learn the warning signs of a stroke and let your family and friends know, too.
Wear a medical bracelet or other identification that any conditions, allergies or medications you take.
Teach your children the FAST test, plus how to call 112, give your address, and describe what’s happening.

These are some of the more common factors that increase your chance of having a stroke. Chat with a health coach at LifeAssist during business hours to get advice on ways to reduce your chances and live a healthy lifestyle, at no cost to you or your family.

zara2022-10-11T08:53:37+00:00

Be kind to your Spine

World Spine Day on 16 October highlights the need for us to take care of our spines. An estimated 540 million people worldwide suffer with spinal pain, which is the biggest single cause of disability on the planet. Back pain, specifically lower back pain, is suffered not only by the elderly, but also young people.

Read through this checklist and see where you can affect change.

Keep moving

A slouchy lifestyle puts too much pressure on the spinal discs and back muscles, which causes long-term complications. Exercise helps restore fluidity of our muscles, joints, and spinal discs, thereby preventing pain. Easy-to-do, but effective exercises include: partial crunches (keep the small of your back on the floor), bridges, hamstring stretches, knee-to-chest, cat stretches, shoulder and neck rolls. Stretch before doing physical activities such as gardening and other forms of exercise to prevent injuries.

Maintain a healthy weight

Excess weight puts pressure on the spine. Eat a wholesome diet and exercise to keep your weight at a healthy level to avoid unnecessary pressure on the spine.

Good posture

Maintain proper posture by standing and sitting up straight. People who work on their computers usually slouch a lot, or lean forward, which puts pressure on the neck, back muscles and spine and causes pain. Maintaining an upright posture by aligning the neck and the lower back can prevent damage.

Avoid sitting for long periods

Sitting in one position for extended hours is unhealthy and leads to back pain.Get up to stretch and walk around at least once an hour, try working at a stand-up desk for some of the day, and pace while talking on the phone. Taking short, frequent breaks reduces the stress on our spines.

Take care with heavy lifting

Use your leg muscles to lift heavy objects. As you stand up while holding the object, do not bend forward. Try to keep your back straight and do not twist while you’re bending to reach for the object, lifting it, or carrying it.

Check your shoes

Good shoes provide a supportive base that helps the spine and body remain in alignment. Make sure the area of the shoe that fits the back of your heel is snug, but not overly tight. A good fit prevents too much rolling of the foot to the outside or inside.

Sleep on firm or medium-firm mattress

Most people benefit from having a mattress that’s firm enough to support their spine, rather than an old or soft mattress that allows the spine to sag.

LifeAssist has specialised Biokineticists that can assist you with a stretching program to help you with backache – call LifeAssist at no cost to you or your family.

zara2022-10-11T07:40:40+00:00

Retirement planning: from an emotional perspective

Many of us spend years picturing our ideal retirement. We dream about not having to get up early, spending more time with family and friends, enjoying hobbies, or simply having the freedom to relax. We know we must plan our finances for retirement, but often ignore the emotional challenges. Preparing for your retirement can help you embrace this new life stage bravely and with excitement.

Common challenges of retirement include:

Losing your identity. If you’re no longer an employee, who are you?
Feeling anxious at having more time on your hands, but less money to spend.
Finding it difficult to fill the extra hours with meaningful activity.
Feeling isolated without your co-workers.
Feeling less useful, important, or self-confident.
Feeling lost and unsure how to adjust your routine

Tips to help you prepare

Plan what you’re going to do with your extra time and how you’re going to structure your days. When you’ve been working very hard, you’ve probably not had any time for hobbies. Start thinking about a hobby or interest for your retirement. It’s important to keep routines so decide in advance what time you’d like to rise, have meals etc.
Set new exciting goals so that you are not just retiring from something, but to something as well. Consider volunteering or studying. Donating your time and effort means that you can pass on some of the skills you’ve learnt. You may even consider doing a part-time job to bring in extra income and meet new people.
Many of us define ourselves by what we do for a living. How can you define yourself in a new way? If you were once a bookkeeper, for example, you could now be a mentor, grandparent, student, artist, or chef.
Start strengthening your social network because your social circle gets smaller when you leave work. Research clubs, evening classes, or list people you’ll invite for coffee.
Make sure your family is on the same page with your retirement. For example, agree in advance how many times a week you get to see your grandchildren, ask your spouse about their expectations for time alone etc.
Keep your brain sharp by doing the daily wordle (www.nytimes.com), learning how to play bridge, chess, or a musical instrument. Try new things with the activities you enjoy. For example, experiment with new plants or growing methods if you like to garden.
Caring for a pet can also help you to maintain a sense of purpose and make you feel less alone.

Chat with a counsellor at LifeAssist to help you map out the transition into your golden years. There are legal advisors that can give you advice on your will and estate.

zara2022-09-30T09:05:08+00:00