Workplace Matters

What does it actually take for an employee to feel financially secure? On this episode of Workplace Matters, we’re diving into financial well-being. We break down how workplace policies work with compensation and comprehensive benefits to help workers feel financially stable. Guest Shelly Freemole from Hills Bank shares how they help businesses empower their employees through financial education a...

In this episode of Workplace Matters, we examine hearing loss and the workplace. What are the causes, risks, and long-term impacts of noise-induced and chemically-induced hearing loss on worker health, safety, and well-being? We spoke with Kellsie Busho, an audiologist and a Director of Clinical Programs in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa, about why...

In this episode of Workplace Matters we are looking at multiple generations of individuals in the workplace along with strengths and challenges of having different age groups working together. We spoke with Dr. Cal Halvorsen from the Washington University in St. Louis Schools of Social Work and Public Health and Harvard Center for Work, Health, and Well-being Project Lead and Investigator. Dr. Hal...

In this episode of Workplace Matters we talk about Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs. Musculoskeletal disorders are common, chronic health conditions which impact workers. Ann Marie Dale, a retired professor of medicine and occupational therapy at Washington University in St. Louis Missouri, spent years treating workers with Musculoskeletal disorders and researched how the workplace can play a rol...

In this episode of Workplace Matters we are discussing psychological safety. Psychological safety is a key contributor to successful teams, and benefits extend to leadership, mental health, and more. We spoke with Rong Su from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business about how to develop psychological safety within the workplace. Guest: Rong Su Host: Michael Guhin

In this episode of Workplace Matters we are discussing safety culture. A key determining factor of injury rates and employee retention is the culture around safety in a workplace. Leadership and employee engagement, how the workplace responds to incidents, and includes worker input all define the safety culture. We spoke with safety manager and safety consultant Kirk Deighton from D.C. Taylor Co....

An employee’s recovery journey does not stop once they enter the workplace. This episode focuses on the needs of employees in recovery, and how leadership and the work environment can have a positive impact. Guests: Sarah Swearingin & Christina Bravata Host: Michael Guhin

In this episode of Workplace Matters we are discussing how recovery friendly workplaces can retain employees with substance use disorders (SUDs). We spoke with Tim Dobblare, safety director of Tower Rock Stone in Missouri, who is committed to retaining highly skilled employees. Retaining these workers through recovery friendly workplace policies became critical to their workplace. Guest: Tim Dobbl...

In this episode of Workplace Matters we are discussing the lifesaving drug that temporarily stops an opioid overdose, Naloxone. In the first quarter of 2023 the FDA approved naloxone to be sold over the counter. Dr. John Gaal is the director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative and is an advocate for supporting workers with substance use disorders and recovery friendly workplace po...

In this episode of Workplace Matters we are discussing an important part of Recovery Friendly Workplaces, Peers in Recovery. A peer in recovery is a co-worker who has been in recovery and is willing and able to support others who struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs). We spoke with Eric Cohen from Ace Pipe in Kansas City, Missouri about how his own recovery journey has allowed him to help...

In this episode of Workplace Matters we are talking with Healthier Workforce Center Director, Dr. Diane Rohlman about the health, safety, and well-being of young workers. Dr. Rohlman explains why youth are vulnerable, and how employers can effectively train and communicate with young workers to protect their health and ensure a safe workplace. Full transcript available here: https://hwc.public-hea...

This episode of Workplace Matters looks at the research of the Healthier Workforce Center's Dr. Jon Davis. Jon utilized the National Violent Death Reporting System to look specifically at work-related suicides. The findings provide insight into why work-related suicides happen and how the workplace can make a positive impact. Host: Michael Guhin Guest: Dr. Jon Davis Links: 1) https://www.apa.org/m...

This episode of Workplace Matters looks at Latino immigrant and migrant populations working in meatpacking and cattle feed yards. Dr. Athena Ramos from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha led teams to examine the health outcomes of these populations. In this episode we look at hazards in these industries, try to understand why they are experiencing these hazards, and discuss what co...

This episode of Workplace Matters focuses on Parker Hannifin, a hydraulic and industrial hose manufacturer in Alliance, Nebraska. They implemented changes through policies and practices to improve their workplace health and safety culture and to protect worker well-being. Their success earned an award from Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest, the Nebraska State Chamber, and the Nebraska Safe...

This episode of Workplace Matters looks at gratitude in the workplace. Gratitude can be a low-cost solution to many workplace issues today, ranging from productivity to mental health. We talked with Dr. Nicole Del Castillo from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine about the positive effects gratitude can have on a workplace, and different ways to ingrain it into a workplace. Full tran...

This episode of Workplace Matters is the second focusing on Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs); this episode being focused on EAP Utilization. We again spoke with an EAP vendor and a multi-national company about how to view utilization rates, how workplace culture affects them, and 4 strategies to improve a workplace culture for EAP utilization. Full transcript available here: https://hwc.public-...

This episode of Workplace Matters is the first of two addressing Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs); this episode being focused on the value of EAPs. We talked with an EAP vendor and a multi-national company who has a strong relationship with their EAP provider to ask about its benefits, the return on investment, what programs can be provided, and more. Full transcript available here: https://hwc...

On this episode of Workplace Matters we looked at how managers and employers engage their workforce. Especially with remote workers, engaging employees has become more difficult. So what about engagement should change regarding remote work, and what can stay the same? We talked with University of Iowa experts and staff to discuss employee engagement. Host: Michael Guhin Guests: Dr. Eean Crawford,...

This episode of Workplace Matters looks at the specific behaviors that effective leaders need to have to enable success in their workplace. Colonel John Bolduc is the Superintendent of Law Enforcement and Public Safety for the Nebraska State Patrol. He leads a massive group of officers and shared six behaviors he has found effective for leading employees. Full transcript available here: https://hw...

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 k...

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....

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 deci...

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...

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 emplo...

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 le...