Workplace Matters

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, diversity, 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. about safety culture and how to develop it within a workplace. Guest: Kirk Deighton Host: Michael Guhin

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 Dobblare Host: Michael Guhin

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 policies. Guest: Dr. John Gaal Host: Michael Guhin

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 others within his workplaces. Guest: Eric Cohen Host: Michael Guhin

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-health.uiowa.edu/young-worker-safety-health-and-wellbeing/ Guest: Dr. Diane Rohlman Host: Michael Guhin

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

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 could be done to improve the situation. Full transcript available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/workplace-matters-protecting-worker-well-being-in-immigrant-populations/ Guest: Dr. Athena Ramos Host: Michael Guhin

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 Safety Council. We talked to Angie Kaiser, the safety lead at Parker Hannifin, about their approach. Full transcript available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/workplace-matters-successful-safety-culture-at-parker-hannifin/ Guest: Angie Kaiser Host: Michael Guhin

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 transcript available here: https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/workplace-matters-gratitude-in-the-workplace/ Guest: Dr. Nicole Del Castillo Host: Michael Guhin

EAP Utilization Description 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. Guests: Alyssa Divjak and Gail Sutter Host: Michael Guhin

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.public-health.uiowa.edu/workplace-matters-the-value-of-eap/

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://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/workplace-matters-leadership-behaviors/ Host: Michael Guhin Guest: Colonel John Bolduc

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: Eean Crawford, Joe Hetrick, Marcus Seaton

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 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, Dan McGehee

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/

This episode of Workplace Matters centers around mental wellness and how to support workforces both on-site and remote. 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. Host: Michael Guhin Guests: Saba Ali

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. Host: Michael Guhin Guest: 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.

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. Host: Michael Guhin Guest: Nancy Bird and Sam Jarvis

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. Host: Michael Guhin Guest: Dr. Amany Farag; Dr. Elizabeth Ablah

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

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. Host: Michael Guhin Guest: Dr. Saba Ali

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. 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.

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

This episode of Workplace Matters focuses on a project improving correctional officers’ health through a Participatory Approach. This is about involving employees in the creation of changes to the workplace. We’ll take a look at a St. Louis project on rural and urban jails, and how their Participatory Approach had long lasting positive effects on a stressful workplace. Host: Michael Guhin Guests: Dr. Lisa Jeagers, Superintendent Jeffery Carson, Correctional Officer Patryce Jackson, and Correctional Officer Ian Spooner

This episode of Workplace Matters focuses on Mod Factors and what employers can do to improve them. These factors can lower insurance premiums and save money. More importantly, a good mod factor is often the direct result of a safe and healthy workforce. Host: Michael Guhin Guests: Lisa Henning, Dan Krick, and Amanda Adam.