Workplace Matters

This episode of Workplace Matters looks at how employers can help keep their drivers safe. What causes driver distraction? What are the important aspects of a driver safety program? How does workplace culture affect driver safety? We asked Dr. Dan McGehee from the National Advanced Driving Simulator at the University of Iowa and Karen Rehm from the Nebraska Safety Council about how employers can keep their drivers safe.

Full transcript available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/driving-safety/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guests: Karen Rehm, Dr. Dan McGehee

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

In this episode of Workplace Matters we look at diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace; the key elements in creating an environment where everyone feels represented, accepted, and has access to opportunities. Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield of Washington University in St. Louis has studied Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. We asked her to define the problem, and to offer evidence-based recommendations for workplaces to address these important issues.

Full transcript available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/dei-podcast/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guest: Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield

This episode centers around facing stress and adversity in more productive ways and how to support workforces, both on-site and remote to be more resilient. A system of support for employees give them the ability to better cope with negative experiences when they arise. But what is the best way to go about that and how can you tell when employees are in need of help? We once again talked with Dr. Saba Ali from the University of Iowa College of Education about how employers can best support their employees as we transition into the winter months.

Full transcript is available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/mental-wellness-podcast/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guest: Saba Ali

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

This episode of Workplace Matters is a companion to our earlier episode “Marijuana and the Workplace: Introduction”. In this episode we look at what factors should be taken into account when revising or creating marijuana policies for a business. How should policies reflect or not reflect the changing litigation around marijuana, and what factors should be taken into account when making those decisions.

Full transcript is available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/marijuana-and-the-workplace-policies/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guests: Jeffery Meyers, Allison Wright, and Matthew Pappas

Note: These interviews were recorded before December 4th, 2019 when the Illinois Recreational Marijuana Law was amended clarifying that employers may conduct pre-employment tests for marijuana use and may impose disciplinary action against employees for failing.

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

This episode of Workplace Matters will look at health and safety measures and resources available for restaurants and retailers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Businesses that need to interact directly with customers have needed to make many changes to operate safely, and they have been some of the hardest hit businesses in the nation. We talked with Sam Jarvis from Johnson County Public Health and Nancy Bird the executive director of the Iowa City downtown district about what they can do.

Full transcript is available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/opening-during-covid-19/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guests: Nancy Bird and Sam Jarvis

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

This episode looks at how fatigue affects workplace safety and health. Sleep is a necessary part of safety in the workplace and can be affected by many factors including workplace policies like shift work. Dr. Amany Farag discusses how fatigue and shift work effects nurses and the importance of emphasizing that all employees get their recommended amount of sleep each week as well as the cost employers face when their workforce is fatigued.

Full transcript is available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/new-podcast-available-fatigue/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guest: Dr. Amany Farag; Dr. Elizabeth Ablah

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

In this episode of Workplace Matters we talked with Rich Gassman, director of Safety and Compliance for Engineering Services and Products Company in Dyersville, Iowa. Rich’s business was able to remain open during the pandemic, however they had to change many of the ways they work to keep employees safe from COVID-19. We asked Rich about what they did to protect employees and the challenges and lessons which came with those decisions.

Host: Michael Guhin

Guest: Rich Gassman

Resources:

CDC Resuming Business Toolkit:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/resuming-business-toolkit.html?deliveryName=USCDC_10_4-DM29483

CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html?deliveryName=USCDC_10_4-DM29483

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

This episode of Workplace Matters looks at what employers can do to better their employee’s mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress has always been present in the workplace, but for many this time is especially stressful. How can employers ease that stress for their employees? We talked with Dr. Saba Ali, professor of counseling psychology in the College of Education at the University of Iowa about what employers can do.

Full transcript is available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/mental-health-during-covid-19/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guest: Dr. Saba Ali

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

This episode of Workplace Matters is the first of two about marijuana in the workplace. With more states choosing to alter marijuana laws and regulations despite federal laws, the discussion surrounding marijuana and the workplace is changing. How should businesses respond or not respond to these changes? This first episode focuses on educating employers about marijuana’s attributes, the litigation surrounding it, and how both of those relate to the health and safety of the workplace.

Full transcript is available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/marijuana-and-the-workplace-introduction/

Host: Michael Guhin

Guests: Dr. Brian Kaskie, Jeffery Meyers, Allison Wright, and Matthew Pappas

Note: These interviews were recorded before December 4th, 2019 when the Illinois Recreational Marijuana Law was amended clarifying that employers may conduct pre-employment tests for marijuana use and may impose disciplinary action against employees for failing.

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

This episode of Workplace Matters focuses on the vital role of leadership in the workplace. We talked with Chris Overman from Nebraska Public Power about how they have incorporated Safety and Health into the foundation of their business through visible felt leadership. Chris and Nebraska Public Power leadership have created an environment where worker wellbeing thrives.

Host: Michael Guhin

Guest: Chris Overman

For more information about the Center and to access free resources, visit us at www.HealthierWorkforceCenter.org

The Healthier Workforce Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement No. U19OH008868 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.