Volume 10 Number 1 December 2012 Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay current. Lead Story Inside this month’s Dealing with bullies issue of Comfort Zone: (Click on the page numbers to go directly to the section) BY KATE VAN HOOF - PEEREN Making Headlines COMFORT ZONE EDITOR Pages 2-3 ullying can happen at any stage n Goals for the workaholic of someone’s life. While many n Tips for winter health Bmay think this type of n Internet security facts disrespectful treatment stops after high n Safety tips for online school, it doesn’t. Adults may be more likely to use verbal bullying as shopping opposed to physical bullying but it is bullying just the same. Working Safely Being on the receiving end of a bully’s taunts can be devastating. For Pages 4-5 those who think the person should just n Keep entrances ice-free “suck it up, buttercup”, have probably n Stay sharp with cutting tools never been under a prolonged attack n Dangers of distraction from a bully before. n Stay safe and sober What one might perceive as “a little bit of teasing”, is actually a constant onslaught of insults to the intended Health & Safety Round up victim. Who wants their weaknesses to are not interested in working things Page 6 be pointed out every day? out and they are not interested in n And the stakes are getting higher. Tips for a safe Christmas tree compromise. Rather, adult bullies are n Social media is now being used for more interested in power and Ways to avoid back pain bullying attacks where hundreds of domination. They want to feel as thousands, if not millions of people though they are important and enjoy the humiliation of others with preferred, and they accomplish this by Your Healthy Lifestyle one simple click of the mouse. Victims bringing others down. There is very are fighting back, and not just with little you can do to change an adult Pages 7-8 words, but with violence. bully, beyond working within the n Tips to help your teen sleep Workplace bullying, for example, confines of laws and company n How to ensure your kids have can make life quite miserable and regulations that are set up. The good a positive internet experience difficult. news is that, if you can document the n Tips to clean food Supervisors should be made aware bullying, there are legal and civil n Ways to exercise indoors of adult bullies, since they can disrupt remedies for harassment, abuse and n productivity, create a hostile work other forms of bullying. But you have Pedometer helps achieve environment and reduce morale, but to be able to document the case. fitness goals according to bullyingstatistics.org, Adult bullies were often either there is little you can do about an bullies as children, or bullied as Safety Meeting adult bully, other than ignore and try children. Understanding this about to avoid, after reporting the abuse to a them may be able to help you cope Pages 9-11 supervisor. This is because adult with the behaviour. Avoid Horseplay bullies are often in a set pattern. They Please turn to page 3 www.skilven.com page 2 Making Headlines Goals for the workaholic to think about for the new year (NC)—The pressure to pay the bills and learn to decline extra tasks if and prove your worth at a company is possible. something many people can relate to. You should also talk to your In fact, a third of us identify employer in case he or she doesn’t ourselves as “workaholics”, realize the true extent of your according to Statistics Canada. workload. A good employer doesn't Workaholics find it hard to strike want staff to work excessive that perfect work-life balance, overtime. observers say, and may sacrifice their health, social networks, and time Get enough sleep. It’s hard to focus with loved ones in order to make when you’re sleep-deprived and even ends meet. harder to control your mood. Spend time with loved ones. Book If you consider yourself a Colleagues may see you go from a “date night” with your spouse. workaholic, it’s time to make some content to cranky in a matter of Catch up with an old friend over major changes and bring back some minutes. Aim to get at least seven to coffee. Take your kids to the zoo. joy to your life. Committing to these eight hours of sleep each night. Your loved ones will be glad to have five resolutions can provide a good you back. start to the year: Take care of yourself. Eat nutritious meals, stay active, and Help the less fortunate. Get Know your limits. If you’re make use of your gym membership. involved with a local soup kitchen or seriously considering bringing a And don’t be afraid to book sponsor a child. Helping others will sleeping bag to your office due to appointments with your doctor or energize your soul and will provide countless nights of staying late, you dentist. The work can wait. perspective on what’s important in may need to adjust your priorities life. Quick tips for your best winter health (NC)—Winter in Canada is hand sanitizer nearby when a sink is not invigorating indeed, but it is also a available. challenging change of pace. This is the n Don’t overdo it – resist the urge to time to trade in the baseball hats for attend every social function and late night toques, say goodbye to our summer tan in out. exchange for a warm parka—and for n Do keep your living environment some of us, it’s also time to battle that clean. This includes your physical space annual cold or flu. While it might feel and the air quality in your home. inevitable to cash in a sick day or skip a n Don’t over indulge – during the holiday party, there are lots of ways to holiday season it is easy to let your health give seasonal illnesses like the common routines slide. Keep in mind that just cold a run for their money. because you're celebrating doesn’t mean According to a recent poll, 65 per cent way to keep control and enjoy every all your routines should fall to the of Canadians are most likely to activity with family and friends, without wayside. experience symptoms of a cold or flu in having to reach for tissues and cough n Do take your well-deserved “me” the winter months, making this the time drops. Take a look at a few helpful dos time - a hot bath or relaxing massage can to focus on prevention. Taking the and don’ts: really help to keep your body (and necessary precautions now is the easiest n Do wash your hands often and keep immune system) in tip top shape. The information presented in Comfort Zone has right to make periodic changes, additions,and President & CEO: Chris Skilton been compiled from sources believed to be deletions to these publications, and the products Sales: Art Hamilton • Alan Haycroft • reliable. However, it cannot be assumed that all and programs described in these publications Liz Slobodin • Carol Wilkinson acceptable measures are contained in this article without notice. Kevin Harvey • Champagne Choquer nor that additional measures may not be required Comfort Zone is published monthly by Skilven Editor: Kate Van Hoof - Peeren under particular or exceptional circumstances, or Publications Ltd. www.skilven.com. All rights Contributing Writer: Bryden Winsby your own company procedures, or by federal, reserved. © 2012. No part of this publication is to TOLL FREE: 1-888-655-4800 • Fax: 1-250-487-2104 state/provincial and local law. Local, be copied without permission from the publisher Mailing Address: 101-196 Wade Ave W state/provincial and federal regulations take with exception to the safety meeting contained Penticton, British Columbia V2A 1T6 precedence over this material. We reserve the herein. www.skilven.com • [email protected] page 3 www.skilven.com Making Headlines Workplace bullies devastating Continued from page 1 recommends tending to your Because workplace bullying can mental and physical health while be devastating to employees and on leave, and beginning research companies, many companies have into your legal options. During this instituted zero-tolerance policies time you should also gather toward workplace bullying. In statistics: how much has this bully these companies, if an employee is cost the business in turnover rates, being bullied he or she needs to absenteeism, lost productivity, Safety tips for document the bullying and present etc.? Also, consider searching for a the problem to the proper person new position, as victims of online shopping in the company, usually someone workplace bullying have a seven in in human resources or upper 10 chance of losing their job either (NC)—There are many reasons why management. The following three by choice or by termination. This Canadians do holiday shopping online, steps are most effective when it is a sad, but true, fact. including slippery roads, long lineups, and that sinking feeling when a stressed out comes time to confront a Confront the Bully. Approach shopper yanks the last item from a display in workplace bully, according to "The the highest level person in the front of you. But with this convenience come Bully at Work," by Gary and Ruth company possible, and present, certain risks. Cyber criminals do not take a Namie. from a factual perspective, your holiday and are always looking for ways to Acknowledge, and Name, the case for why the bully should nab personal information through fake e- Abuse.