Month: September 2020

What the High-Value Companies Know

The Importance of Professional Development

Comparably launched in March 2016 as a compensation data and culture platform with the mission of “making workplaces transparent and rewarding for both employees and employers.”

Comparably ranks companies on their culture, based on a variety of factors, as contributed by real employees.

A key factor for culture is professional development. Says Comparably CEO Jason Nazar, “Professional development serves a vital role in companies, improving employees’ productivity and attitudes.”

Nazar also noted that professional development is important for gender and racial equity within the workplace. “One of the most important things we can do to level the playing field is to focus on professional development.”

The list of brands that rank high for professional development is a who’s who of high-value companies:

Best Large Companies for Professional Development (500+ employees)
Top 25, in alphabetical order

1. Aflac, Columbus, Ga.
2. Amazon, Seattle.
3. Bank of America, Charlotte, N.C.
4. Costco, Issaquah, Wash.
5. Ernst & Young, New York City.
6. Facebook, Menlo Park, Calif.
7. Fanatics, Jacksonville, Fla.
8. Fuze, Boston.
9. Google, Mountain View, Calif.
10. HubSpot, Cambridge, Mass.
11. Indeed.com, Austin, Texas.
12. Insight Global, Atlanta.
13. International Flavors & Fragrances, New York.
14. Intuit, Mountain View, Calif.
15. LogMeIn, Boston.
16. Microsoft, Redmond, Wash.
17. Nevro, Redwood, Calif.
18. PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y.
19. Starbucks, Seattle.
20. T-Mobile, Bellevue, Wash.
21. The Home Depot, Atlanta.
22. The Walt Disney Company, Burbank, Calif.
23. Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas.
24. Workfront, Lehi, Utah.
25. Zillow, Seattle, Wash.

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RESOURCES:
USA Today, “Facebook, Starbucks, Ernst & Young are among top U.S. companies for professional development,” June 7, 2018, Ben Tobin.

Change Your Habits

WAYS TO PREVENT DEMENTIA BEFORE IT STARTS

Early signs of dementia include having a difficult time remember a recent conversation, names or locations. Patients may also experience apathy or depression. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Dementia is progressive, which means it can worsen over time. But new evidence suggests that if you change your habits, you can stop dementia from occurring or becoming more severe.

1. Quit smoking.

It’s never too late. 90% of people quite cold turkey, but other ways are available, according to WebMD. There are also herbs and essential oils that can support your efforts.

2. Be physically active.

30 minutes three times a week. Walk around the neighborhood. Bring a friend, so you can catch up. Dance in your living room.

3. Make sure you get enough Vitamin B.

Adequate levels of B vitamins (folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12) slow down brain atrophy in patients with mild impairment. Foods high in B vitamins include:

Salmon
Leafy greens
Liver and other organ meats
Eggs
Milk
Beef
Oysters, clams and mussels
Legumes
Chicken and turkey
Yogurt
Nutritional and Brewer’s Yeast
Pork
Fortified cereal
Trout
Sunflower seeds

4. Make sure you get enough Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is crucial for mental health. And the good news is easy to come by. When you walk outside, expose your skin to the sun (no sunscreen) for at least 15 minutes.

5. Train your brain.

When you learn new things, your brain has to work to reorganize, creating new neural pathways. Consider:

Taking a class
Learning a new language
Doing crossword puzzles or sudoku
Playing scrabble or chess

6. Increase your social interaction.

Humans are social creatures, so spending too much time along can wear down your brain. Combine some of the habits above by walking with a friend or meeting new people at a class.

By changing your habits, you can not only stop dementia but improve your overall health, increasing your quality of life. What’s stopping you? Start today.

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The Wisconsin Caregiver Academy offers two courses, designed to prepare caregivers for the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Completion of both courses earns a digital badge that can be displayed on a resume, social media or an email signature to demonstrate ongoing continuing education.

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Lifelong Learning Institute is a unique program for retired or leisure adults to take up to 20 classes a semester for a low membership fee. No tests, no grades. Just learning for the fun of it.

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RESOURCES:
Daily Health Post, “9 Habits You Need to Adopt Today to Stop Alzheimer’s or Dementia Before It Starts,” March 19, 2020

A Bold Promise to the Nation

IN PRAISE OF THE CDC

Because of the pandemic, representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC are in the news almost daily.

It feels important and right to take a moment to recognize and praise their unique mission in all its complexity.

The CDC is a unique agency with a unique mission. The CDC works 24/7 to protect the safety, health and security of America from threats here and around the world.

The CDC leverages its scientific expertise and data analyses to develop strategies that are a bold promise to the Nation in support of these priorities:

  • Securing global health and domestic preparedness
  • Eliminating disease
  • Ending epidemics

Within these broad stroke priorities, the CDC galvanizes against many important healthy living initiatives, which get less publicity and cover concerns across all stages of life.

For example, the CDC has launched a Healthy Brain Initiative to improve our understanding of brain health as a central part of public health practice. The initiative was designed as a countermeasure to the impending public health burden of dementia, as evidenced by the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is:

  • One of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.
  • The 6th leading cause of death among US adults.
  • The 5th leading cause of death among adults aged 65 years or older.

In 2014, an estimated 5 million Americans aged 65 years or older had Alzheimer’s disease. This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060.

The Healthy Brain Initiative creates and supports partnerships, collects and reports data, increases awareness of brain health and supports populations with a more pronounced burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

In addition, the CDC has developed Healthy Brain Road Maps to enable state and local public health agencies and their partners to chart a course for action and change.

New initiatives like the Healthy Brain Initiative demonstrate CDC’s commitment to a “new level of preparedness” in the US and global health community, and we can be thankful for their 24/7 stewardship.

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The Wisconsin Caregiver Academy offers two courses, designed to prepare caregivers for the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and can contribute to the knowledge needed at a specialized provider. Completion of both courses earns a digital badge that can be displayed on a resume, social media or an email signature to demonstrate ongoing continuing education. Learn more.

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RESOURCES:
“A Bold Promise to the Nation,” https://www.cdc.gov/about/24-7/index.html.