From pension buyouts to PTSD, how America’s veterans are faring on Veterans Day
The federal government doesn’t always adequately protect the military veterans who protected their nation. The Center for Public Integrity has held the government accountable over the years for treatment of veterans. For Veterans Day, the Center has compiled some of its coverage of soldiers and veterans.
http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/11/10/7374/pension-buyouts-ptsd-how-americas-veterans-are-faring-veterans-day
Sick days are long gone for US office workers
As flu season approaches, nearly 70% of employees admit to coming into the office while sick, a habit that may increase the spread of illness in the workplace. Even with heightened preventive measures at businesses across the country, this finding from a recent survey by Staples Advantage confirms that office workers continue to stick to old habits. While nearly one-third of respondents’ companies have sick day policies, more than 60% of employees felt compelled to go into work because there was “too much going on” or felt the need to “tough it out.”
http://www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog/2011/11/sick-days-are-long-gone-for-us-office-workers.html
Nearly quarter of workers are depressed
Today’s economic situation is depressing. Literally. As if we needed proof, a recent survey found that nearly a quarter of workers around the world are depressed, a diagnosis the survey reaches based on respondents identifying with five or more of the key adjectives laid out by the World Health Organization. The report found that only 12% of the global workforce feels optimistic. Only 14% of workers find their leaders inspirational.
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/11/11/nearly-quarter-of-workers-are-depressed/?mod=e2tw
A flood of harassment horror stories after the Herman Cain allegations
The Herman Cain furor has prompted many women to share their long-suppressed sexual-harassment stories. Sharon Bialek is facing what many precisely women fear: an attack on her character.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/11/11/a-flood-of-harassment-horror-stories-after-the-herman-cain-allegations.html
Fightin’ words: Docs show senator tried to intimidate NLRB to block Boeing ruling
New documents released yesterday raise troubling questions about how the Republican Party and Boeing both tried to intimidate the National Labor Relations Board to stop the federal agency from ruling that the company illegally moved work from a union Washington plant to a nonunion South Carolina plant. Ironically, the documents were obtained from the independent agency, which enforces federal labor law, as part of a subpoena issued by House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darell Issa (R-Calif).
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/12265/documents_show_senator_tried_to_intimidate_nlrb_in_boeing_trial/
Firefighter injuries down eight percent from 2009: NFPA
Firefighters suffered 71,875 injuries in the line of duty in 2010, an eight percent decrease from 2009 and a two-decade low, according to the new report, “U.S. Firefighter Injuries” issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The report takes a look at the number of 2010 firefighter injuries, injuries by type of duty, exposures to infectious diseases, and how a community’s size affects the number of injuries within a fire department.
http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/11/11/firefighter-injuries-down-eight-percent-from-2009-nfpa.aspx
Making sex workers visible in the Village Voice media ad controversy
In a perfectly “free” labor market, everyone theoretically has the right to exchange work for commensurate compensation. But a free market is not necessarily a just one. And when the commodity is sex, how free is too free? Sex work, and its attendant culture wars, have moved over time from traditional brothels of urban lore to online marketplaces, raising new questions about private and public freedom. In the digital world, how should trust and power be negotiated between provider and client, both encircled by systemic gender and economic inequities?
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/12273/making_sex_workers_visible_in_the_online_ad_controversy/
Man pleads guilty in nuke worker health care scam
A Palisade man has pleaded guilty to health care fraud and money laundering after swindling millions from federal programs meant to compensate sick nuclear weapons workers and uranium miners, authorities said.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/29740892/detail.html
What do you think of OPM’s snow policy? Here are your answers.
Earlier this week we asked readers what they thought of the new federal snow policy that will require federal employees to “shelter in place” at their office unless they leave immediately when dismissed due to inclement weather. And boy oh boy did you have answers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/what-do-you-think-of-opms-snow-policy-here-are-your-answers/2011/11/11/gIQAjuY4BN_blog.html
