Seems stress is a top instigator impacting health care costs for organizations, and it’s showing in the numbers of our work life experience. Not surprisingly, Buck Consultants, a division of Xerox, released that finding after conducting a survey at the WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference.

The report, “Stress in the Workplace,” identified stress points within organizations and the strategies that companies are using to combat the problem. The survey examined responses from 250 attendees at the conference whose company representation spanned many industries.

In the report, health care costs topped the workplace issues impacted by stress, followed by absenteeism and workplace safety. 78% of the respondents said that Employee Assistant Programs (EAP) are the most common resource used to handle stress. Flexible work schedules were the second most cited implemented strategies.

Here is the top ten list of strategies taken directly from the WorldatWork website.

• Work-life balance support programs (46%)
• Leadership training on worker stress (45%)
• Online healthy lifestyle programs (45%)
• Onsite fitness centers (43%)
• Physical activity programs (38%)
• Stress awareness campaigns (35%)
• Financial management classes (30%)
• Personal health/lifestyle management coaching (29%)

I’d like to point out Buck Consultants Blog,  Bucks Blog – this is going to be a new favorite playground. Great current information and analysis.

So,  attention to stress in the workplace is once again is backed by numbers. (Also check out the work at the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program for reams of information on this topic. ) Why do you think it’s still not being addressed across the board in corporate America? What stress-busting strategies does your company use? If you are an entrepreneur, what are you doing differently to handle the problem. Please share!

My friend Reta’s husband, Tommy, has a brain tumor.  They choose to have faith in miracles, as hospice has now stepped in. Their love story is one for the books. But now, in what may be their final journey together, they choose to share about their life and a few common threads.  They lived full lives of love – with a lot of work hours in between.

Reta and Tommy spent most of their adult lives working in management. 75-110 hours a week for the better part of three decades. Friends were made, but so much time was spent doing business, hammering away on the computer,  and navigating corrections in the markets. Still time was also found for serving others and family. One wonders though. Could time have been spent a little differently? Could their striving for work life balance have played a more significant role? Reta tells me in retrospect, yes.

It’s all food for thought to share with others they hope. Here are some excerpts from a letter Reta wrote to Tommy’s children that she asked me to share. She humbly asks for good thoughts and hopes that in sharing this, it will inspire others to focus more on love and life, rather than those extreme work weeks. It’s simple: it’s ok to work to live, just don’t live to work. It’s a deep conversation for this Father’s Day.

Following is a video from the song Rent, Seasons of Love. Today, take a break and let this all sink in. Take the time to breathe and watch. How do you measure a year? How do you measure a lifetime? Are we conditioned as a society to live to work?

A letter from Reta to Tommy’s children:

Hello Children…

Just a note  to let you all know that Tommy is not eating too well. Just some fruit and I am now juicing for him daily a few times. He appreciates the juice, food is not possible to get down.  He hates taking pills, but now he needs them for the pain. He still has a sense of humor and that is great. The upside is he is doing what he can, and he is in decent mood overall.  He just has love in his heart for the Hospice folks, but prefers to just be alone with me most of the time.

On Love and Cuddling

We speak of love each day several times. I assure him I am not upset with him, as sometimes he thinks that I am. I tell him “no absolutely, not upset with you… just “life” some days,”  but never have I been upset with Tommy.

Our best moments are in bed snuggling and sharing our thoughts… he loves to cuddle up and touch… we both are snuggly bears.  Through the years when we went to bed, we always had the best conversations in bed. Sometimes we did not want to go to sleep as we had so very much we wanted to share with each other.

On Being a Good Person

He does communicate with me still, fairly well, overall. Your father is an amazing human.  He is the best person I have ever known. After being in the business world for nearly 30 years and working 75-110 hours per week and being around so many men through work – I have known lots of people. Tommy/your Dad is a tremendously powerful and kind and loving man.

On Perfection

I have never known anyone with such a pure heart.  It does not matter that no person is perfect… it matters how they live each day,  what they say about others, when they cannot be heard.  Your father never spoke poorly of others, not even when they spoke less then kindly about him.  He turned the other way.  He only had love for people. For life. for animals and nature.

May you each walk in beauty this day, and trust that Tommy’s/your Dad’s  path is good and strong. May you remember all the good and send him love from your mind’s and from your hearts that he feel it now while he battles to get through this.  Send him love, send him courage. Send him the peace that surpasses all.   Love, Reta

The debate of whether work life balance really exists, essentially hangs in the balance, especially when you’re a parent with a full time career. I’m not a firm believer in the “work life balance” phrase, but I am a proponent of giving it your best darn shot!

Such is the case with my colleague and friend, Danielle Campbell. This mother of four is a television anchor who took up yoga about 20 years ago in her quest for work life balance. In 2009 she opened Harbor Lights Yoga in Huntington, New York. I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions recently. For her, the merge of the working and living experience is a journey – not a destination. It’s an evolving process of self growth and sinking her teeth into a vocation that’s giving back to her family and community.

Judy: You’ve been in broadcasting for more than two decades which is quite demanding  emotionally and mentally. Why did you choose Yoga to wind down?

Danielle: I began my practice when I became a Mom for the first time.  My role as an on-the-go reporter changed drastically and I found yoga helped me better balance my new role as a mother – with my career. Yoga helped me work on keeping my body and my mind fit all at the same time. And Moms know it’s all about using your time wisely and efficiently!

Judy: Why did you decide to take on the challenge of opening a Yoga studio?

Danielle: Frankly it was a life decision that was made without too much hesitation. I re-mortgaged my home. It was either spend 23 thousand on new windows and other needed – but could live without – home improvements, or take that money and invest in life giving living! I have taken a gamble and my bet is on life giving! I have an opportunity to help heal bodies, awaken minds, connect hearts and serve others. I put all my winnings on that!  And so far it has been a risk worth taking!!

Judy: How does running a Yoga studio infuse your life with more meaning?

Danielle: My children, my mom, my Dad, my sisters , my friends, my neighbors, my community now have a safe place to give this ancient healing practice a try–Wow!  I have parents coming in with their kids, and the whole family is stretching and growing and meditating together!  I pray everyday the studio will offer a path for others to help bring balance, peace, sanity and health to families.  Families need a place to heal and reconnect. Families need to be considered sacred, and their time together is as well!

Judy: A yoga studio that is family friendly. That’s a different approach.                                                                                   

Danielle: I truly want families, teens, college students, and grandparents to come and discover a practice for health of mind and body that everyone of all ages can participate in!  Yoga means union–and that is what I want to bring to the family unit. I can’t tell you the joy I have teaching a class with Mom, Dad and their 7 and 9 year olds–empowering this family as a whole–teaching them how to keep their minds and their bodies healthy, strong,  and focused!!

Judy: Work Life balance is often an elusive quest in our 24/7 world. Is is really about balance or integration in your opinion?

Danielle: Balance is a tricky word because nothing is ever balanced. Certain aspects of our life do not deserve to have a fair share of our time. Of course there are things we must do, but I think  it is about give and take -  and sacrifice.
Most of all,  know what is worth your precious time. Be ruthless with your time, like a business manager of a major corporation. Are you giving your time to the never ending pile of laundry and chores–or instead choosing to really sit down and be present to loved ones. You have to pick, choose and delegate.  Yes, we have to do the dishes–but they can sit for awhile.  I’ve missed many a beautiful summer day trying to get everything in order before I brought the kids to the park, the beach, out for a walk etc.  I can’t get that time back–it is gone.

Judy: What does a semi-normal day look like for you?

Danielle: Speaking of delegating and using my time wisely, efficiently and in a life giving way! Ahh –Well up at 5am–happily cleaning, preparing my home, my children for the day–at work by 6:45Am. Anchor the news at 8am, and then spend the rest of the day cover news stories, writing, returning emails etc. I head over to the Yoga studio by 4:15pm and teach two classes. I usually pick up some of my kids and they stay with me at the studio –taking a class–doing homework–or helping me in some way. Then we head home–have dinner–time to laugh and share {some of the nights} –prepare for the next day and then off to bed! Most of all I am grateful for every moment!!

I’ve been in what my good friends have come to know as “Judy Martin’s self induced boot camp.” That’s when projects seem to come of age at the same time, my work in tv, radio and blogging converge and my personal life is thrust into some sort of chaotic state. It’s actually a good time. Often quite creative, but it must be balanced with exercise and meditation to avoid burn out. This mode is likely to manifest when death comes knocking. It makes me think about work and life through a new lens. There’s a freedom in thoughts of : “what if it all ended tomorrow.”

The cream of significant, poignant and imperative concerns rise to the surface. My focus becomes laser-sharp and priorities make most other things irrelevant.  Death can do that. It’s not unusual as I’m Hospice trained and often find myself in the company of others who are somehow going through the experience. But when it’s a friend who is preparing to pass,  it’s a little different, and draws one into self-contemplation.

A friend who just turned sixty years old was just diagnosed with a brain tumor which is likely inoperable. She is a talented artist, a deeply spiritual person who despite her efforts, chose not to dive into the career she wanted. I’ll refrain from more details to keep confidentiality.

The point is that for years she spoke about wanting to take a different path.  Some days would be filled with research, and connecting with people in her field of interest – but she never took the necessary steps toward setting the foundation for radical change. Actually, she never chose to jump off the proverbial career cliff. It’s not a good or bad thing – it just is – was – her choice. She preferred to dabble in her passion instead of taking it to the next level. Again, not a good or bad thing. It just is – was – her choice.

My friend often incorporates her artistic skills into her daily life. She paints, cooks, writes and creates beautiful pieces of art. She is able to live her passion daily  - albeit aggravated that she isn’t making enough cash. Her home is always open to those who want to just dish on life, creativity and spiritual pursuits.

Generally happy, this woman had never strived for relevance in the art world, but she mostly loves her artistic pursuits, work and life. That, I suppose, puts her in a better position that most people struggling in jobs that they hate.

Now,  faced with death, she’s making more time to do more of what makes her happy. She’ll create artwork that she wants to create -not what others want her to design. She’ll spend more time with her dog even when she might be on deadline to get a project completed. She’ll take the time to make soup from scratch, instead of a can.

Pressure to perform has been tossed aside in favor of just living one day at a time, in a new state of awareness. No regrets, though some thoughts of what might have been. But they are rare. Every moment counts, every second counts, every relationship counts, every new batch of homemade soup counts. 

What’s a legacy after you are gone? What meaning does it really have? Note to self for today: Be happy now and figure out a way to make the living and working experience journey, a more peaceful, creative and meaningful one. Enjoy the fruits of your passionate work now. Don’t wait till you’re on top to take a breath.

When you drive toward success on a raceway, be sure to stop in the gas pit. Refuel. Don’t keep doing donuts on the raceway of life. Talk to the fans along the way. Engage in life, in love, in relationships. What’s the point in making it to the finish line if it wasn’t fun along the way. Don’t waste a moment.

“Take a deep breath and count to three,” I told a colleague who stormed into my office with a justifiable complaint about her manager. She answered, “It’s about respect, she’s not even giving me her ear.” Listening to her rundown of what had occurred, I suggested she speak with her manager after she blew off some steam to diffuse her anger.

It was one of those final-straw episodes where someones ego was about to be eviscerated. No telling at this point who’d be going down this time in an ongoing conflict between two strong personalities, which had erupted a number of times. After work however, these two well-mannered conscious beings talked things out. But it took that moment of chaos to address what had been months in the making; an ego battle which refused to die between two stressed-out talented colleagues who were also friends.

Sometimes the pinnacle of a chaotic episode triggers change for the better. In this case a stressful situation had been brewing for some time and these two colleagues chose to handle it in a polite manner.

Most inspirational or leadership philosophies teach us to look at the chaotic challenges around us at work and in business, as for opportunities for growth. But let’s take it a step further and look at them as opportunities to identify what triggers stress in our lives – and raise our “stress awareness” at work to better tackle it.

April is Stress Awareness Month. It’s time for spring cleaning, so it’s a good time to detox our working and business lives. I wrote about this in my post, Work/Life Detox helps to Cultivate Resilience.

Here are  a few ways to first identify the stressful elements so you can detox and face them head-on. It’s an opportunity to form some new healthy habits around managing stress.

1. WorkLife Flexibility Patterns: Keep a daily log of the places where your working situation intersects with your family needs. Examine the conflicts that arise and your solutions to them. Is there a plan B in place when things don’t go as planned? It may be as simple as adapting new protocol to getting the kids off to school, helping them with homework or making arrangements to come to work earlier  - to leave later. If your work/life flexibility practices are causing you stress, is there a solution that you and management can agree upon?
2. Working Relationships: Do an inventory of your relationships at work or in business. Have any of them reached a boiling point? Grab a piece of paper and draw two columns. In the first column write down the names of the colleagues who you find to be most supportive at work. These are the people who you view as generally positive and energizing. In the second column, write down the names of the people who are not positively contributing to your working experience. Everyone has a bad day, but you’ll start to see patterns. Consider the people in column two. Are any of those relationships triggering stress for you? Only you can decide if that particular relationship needs work on your part, or whether you should simply detach as best as you can.
3. Work/Life Burnout: Many of us are burning the midnight oil to keep our jobs, or stand out in a challenging job market. There is an enormous amount of pressure to perform and produce efficiently. If the chaos of burnout is ignored it can lead to health issues. Keep a running log of your working hours and then examine them at the end of the week. Are you working more hours on certain days than others? If so, try to identify the days which appear to be most stressful and for what reasons. Try to schedule some downtime on particular days or at particular times throughout the day that are less chaotic, to help alleviate stress.
4. Information Vigilance: We’re bombarded by many mediums of information. Too much information can trigger stress. Sometimes we get caught in the loop of surfing the Internet or having to answer every email the moment it comes in. The e-mails count can be overwhelming and cause stress because we’re now living in a real time climate of instant gratification. Our clients and colleagues expect immediate responses. If you commit to checking and responding to e-mail that are not time sensitive – just a few times a day – be sure to let your clients and colleagues know of your patterns if you make a radical departure from the way you used to do things.

Huffington Post: Men and Women deal with Stress Differently

Reuters UK: Worker’s Tune out Stress with Music

 USA today: Donna Karan makes Room for Yoga at NYC Hospital

The U-S Government: A mental health guide to get through Recession Stress

The Evening Star, U-K: Workplace Stress in Spotlight

Tampa Bay: Walking to Reduce Stress

CBC News, Canada: Good Health is Good Business

The Guardian, U-K: Workplace Stress Management

The merging of the working and living experience goes well beyond our WorkLife Nation. A quick review of the global economy reveals that the quest for work life balance is a slamming debate no matter the continent. many fear burnout is on the horizon. So I took a quick journey to bring you a glance of what’s happening. Here’s Judy Martin’s Work Life Global Watch this Wednesday, March 25.

Singapore

Of all the places calling to shore up emotional resilience, Singapore would not have topped my list . Yet the country, where the U.S. Department of State warns jaywalking, littering and spitting gum can land you in the can or with a hefty fine, is concerned about its citizens’ stress levels. The country’s health minister is behind a new educational campaign called Optimism for Mental Resilience. The message – “bad times don’t last forever.”

Health Minister, Khaw Boon Wan wrote in a statement yesterday that, ““Promoting an emotionally-resilient society is one of our priorities whether in good times or bad.”  The country is upping its mental health education program “to help working adults manage day-to-day stress, and to recognize signs of depression and anxiety.” Hmmm – I don’t think chewing gum is an encouraged stress reducer here.

Canada

Canada’s Financial Post just named the Top 100 Employers. The key criteria included: “ physical workplace; work atmosphere as a social setting; pay and benefits; vacation and provisions for time off; communication to employees; performance management; training and skills development and community involvement.”

Among the employee benefits at many of these companies is extended maternity leave. One firm offered top-up benefits – up to 93% and 52 weeks for new dads and moms. (Practically unheard of) Other work life initiatives included phased-in retirement, relaxation rooms and flexible working arrangements which allow employees to leave for just a few hours to do personal errands. The one perk that stood out; one company ended every week with a beer cart pushed through the office. Hmmmm – not sure that will catch on the U-S workplace.

United Kingdom

Stress levels are soaring in the U-K, according to an article on the Institute of Leadership and Management website:

“Research by the Work Life Balance Centre and Coventry University revealed that four of the five health-related stress indicators it monitors rose in the last year. This means that there was a rise in the number of people reporting chronic fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability and headaches, while at the same time the fifth, lack of concentration, fell by less than one per cent.”

The commentary in the article from experts warned that higher stress can impact career goals and an employers bottom line –  inevitably leading to more absenteeism, lower productivity and more mistakes made by employees.

New Zealand

An article in The Nelson Mail on Work-Life Balance, brings to light union concerns about the countries Holidays Act which mandates 4 weeks vacation time. There is a brewing debate caused by suggestions that employees might prefer to cash in on that fourth week, instead of taking the time. The fear is that employers which have suffered layoffs with other employees fearing job losses, might be pushing workers to put in more time which would impact work life balance.

Australia

In a site called SmallBusiness, Josh Gordon and Annie Lawson write that the economic woes might trigger more discussion about flexible working arrangements. In their article, Can a downturn give you better work life balance,?  - they suggest that many companies are reducing worker hours and encouraging employees to use up their holiday leave – instead of sacking their skilled workers.

The writers say that the trend is driven by two items – which for some reason is not generating the same response in the U-S.

1. Altruism: Companies trying to look out for employees with families and mortgages.
2. Optimism: When the economy turns around, these employees will be grateful, more engaged and loyal.

“You need to be top of mind, cause there’s so much noise out there,” said Successfool.com blogger Alejandro Reyes on his Successfool TV live streamed program Wednesday night. But how one accomplishes that feat is a matter of great debate.

This brought to mind the conundrum of balancing the work/life scenario with maintaining a solid career path in a sensory overloaded environment; one which exalts the Tweet. It came up during a lunch meeting today with a colleague.

” Judy Martin, seriously, how important is it for me to tweet?” she asked with a little tone of synicism. 

“If you don’t Tweet, you’ll be left behind at the station, ” I said, to which I received a look of puzzlement with a little touch of shock. Actually, I think she thought I was a little intense in my opinion. But I truly believe that social media is the single most important way to market yourself whether you work for yourself or someone else.

I think about it as expanding the viewer base of those looking to do business with you – or those keeping track of your influence in a given career or niche – in an unobtrusive fashion. Through the portals of social media, people, companies, and business  - will find you. That is, if you have a unique voice that differentiates you from the rest of the pack. 

Bowing to the altar of the personal brand is all abuzz in the blogosphere right now, but you have to define your skills, voice, and value in laser-sharp talking points to be heard above the rest. That doesn’t happen overnight and can eat into your personal life.

Just tossing random thoughts on Twitter  without a consistent and concrete message, will have you drowning in a mushy sea of sycophants.  If you’re burning the midnight oil just to stay on top of Twitter, you can crash, which is what my colleague was concerned about.

So in the interest of better balancing the great work-life merge in our WorkLife Nation, with forging ahead into the social media landscape on Twitter to further your career, here are a few suggestions. I call them suggestions because some believe Twittering should be a more spontaneous organic process. 

1. Create your Twitterfield of expertise: You can tweet about anything you want, but if you’re trying to establish your voice or brand, stick with twittering useful information that others in your niche would consider valuable. This will enhance your reputation and give others a look inside your brain and business acumen. 
2. Limit your Twittertime, within reason: I post at certain times of the day, generally on material that I have bookmarked. But if I am inspired in any given moment by something I have read or heard, I might be compelled to Tweet. In a seriously compelling moment of Twitteritis – I limit myself to one post and one Re-tweet. Set your own rules of discipline.
3. Drink water and take deep breaths during Twittersessions: Heading into the Tweetisphere can easily suck the life out of us due to info-overload. Drinking water slows things down a bit as the rapid fire of Twitter pummels your brain and body. It’s a stimulator and provides an adrenalin rush. Promise yourself a tall drink of water during a session and a deep breath every time you Re-Tweet.
4. Beware of following –  everyone who follows you. Tweeting is not all about you, but it is about your interests or niche. While Twitter is a relationship building community, if you follow everyone,  it takes a heck of a lot longer to sift through all the tweets for the ones useful to you. Some might argue – the more followers – the more exposure. My feeling is that having solid followers who you can identify with is more productive. I feel this allows a for deeper experience, more twitter face-time to get to know your niche community.
5. Think before you Tweet : If you’re having a rough day – think twice before tweeting. You might want to vent elsewhere. The 140 characters that you divulge might do you harm and create more angst. If you can’t tweet something nice- don’t tweet at all. Emotional tweeting can hurt your credibility. 

Catherine’s Creative Job Transition

Catherine Wright is the membership director for the National Association of Mothers’ Centers. She, along with the rest of the planet is in great transition. It’s a similar challenge working for non-profits in our chaotic economy. It requires a certain amount of faith and commitment,  especially as non-profits are fledgling under slashed philanthropic generosity. That result, courtesy the recession and Bernie Madoff – not necessarily in the order.

“We rely a lot on individual and private foundation monies,” said Wright in a phone conversation this morning. “No ones investment has been safe, so everyone is re-evaluating how much they can give and where they will give, so we have to find alternatives to cash flow and cutting costs.”

The challenges that NAMC is battling mirror Wright’s personal experience. She went on to tell me that her job wasn’t safe either. She had to re-evaluate how she was spending her time and figure out a way to bring revenue into the organization to keep her job.  But in all the chaos, she says had an edge.

“Because I was so passionate about the mission of the organization, I became even more committed to make it work,” said Wright who realized that it was time to look for new opportunities for NAMC where she had never looked before, which included examining completely new partnerships in uncharted waters.

“I was seeing that the doors were closing, but I was not buying it. Instead I made a new commitment to the organization and somehow that faith started opening new doors,” said Wright who by chance had a sudden opportunity to take a workshop on building business partnerships. She said it lead to something right away, a new perspective on the way she would approach prospective strategic partnerships. Armed with new knowledge, “We came into new negotiations at a higher level than where we started in the past, at a faster pace,” said Wright. 

Catherine Wright took a leap of faith financially to take the course on her own and  jumped on a plane to California from New York. From the chaos of the economy, emerged insight and a new vision not only of how to bring in more business to the non-profit, but how she would manage her career and hang onto that paycheck – at least for now. 

The Career Chaos Economy

In this sudden Career Chaos Economy, being laid off or in fear of it occurring,  seems to be sparking creative and innovative approaches to reinventing ones career and/or heading into entrepreneurship. 

Last week a New York Times’ article, Weary of looking for work, some create their own, explained the venture into sudden career transition and personal job creation. Here’s a telling excerpt:

“Economists say that when the economy takes a dive, it is common for people to turn to their inner entrepreneur to try to make their own work. But they say that it takes months for that mentality to sink in, and that this is about the time in the economic cycle when it really starts to happen — when the formerly employed realize that traditional job searches are not working, and that they are running out of time and money.

Mark V. Cannice, executive director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of San Francisco, calls the phenomenon “forced entrepreneurship.”

Call it what you will, it’s upon us. This time is calling upon people to dive a little deeper into what makes them tick, and to take a surgical knife to the inner workings of personal passion and joy. Some are digging out the real passionate enterprising gusto that may exist below the surface fear of the current stagnation. For others, it’s getting back to the basics of whatever brings joy from past experiences or our own personal narrative.

Still, this self-contemplative mode promises no guarantees except the building of personal courage to weather the storm. It’s that accumulated inner gutsy strength that can either build mountains, or lead to yet another lesson in life. Either way, if you’re unemployed can you really lose by doing an inventory of what drives you and makes you happy?

Here are two recent posts that might provide some inspiration along these lines:

5 Tips to Organically Discover your Passion, While Rewiring your Career

Successfully Aligning your Passion with your Personal Brand

In an exceptionally healthy workplace  in the 90′s,  an on-site gym, cleaner organic food in the company cafeteria, and the occasional chair massage might have been the norm. These days, since workers are more concerned with keeping their jobs than putting on a few extra pounds, it’s a different story. One could argue it ‘s just as important to feel good – as to look good – mentally and physically.

Progressive companies, fully aware of our 24/7 stressful work environment, understand burnout is not sustainable for workers or their careers. In fact, some have found that Employee Assistance Programs that support policies such as flexible working arrangements, skills training, leadership development and programs that promote healthy lifestyle and behavior choices – will lead to more productive and mentally healthier talent. 

This week the American Psychological Association honored five companies for “their comprehensive efforts to promote employee health and well-being while enhancing organizational performance.”

According to the American Psychological Association, psychologically healthy workplace practices fall into five categories: employee involvement; health and safety; employee growth and development; work-life balance and employee recognition. Chosen for the APA’s 2009 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award:

1. W R Systems, Ltd. – Engineering Services Division (Virginia), 
2. Replacements, Ltd. (North Carolina), 
3. Teledyne Brown Engineering – Huntsville Headquarters (Alabama), 
4. WorldatWork (Arizona) 
5. Sandia Preparatory School (New Mexico)

These companies were not targeted for their feel-good approach to mental health, but instead on the return on investment. When big business can look at the numbers or concretely understand the philosophy behind what makes these companies tick, it makes for a better case to keep funneling money toward EPA’s.

Let’s deconstruct:

1. These 5 organizations reported an average turnover rate of just 11% in 2008, compared to the national average of 39% (Dept. of Labor)
2. Employee surveys from these companies showed 25 % experienced chronic work stress, compared to 39% nationally.
3. 85% of employees reported being satisfied with their jobs, compared to only 61% nationally.

Efforts to promote employee well-being cannot simply fall under the auspices of physical health. You can’t measure how happy someone is, or their mental stability, by taking their blood. If you’re going to do that, you may as well test for cholesterol. It’s a better indicator of an impending stress attack from burnout.

In this 24/7, high-tech, global marketplace, the elusive quest for work/life balance can be a tumultuous journey, as many have the added responsibility of looking for work or just trying to hold onto the job they have. As unemployment numbers rival anything we’ve seen since the Great Depression, the working and living experience has merged by default.

As I’ve written before, we have essentially become a WorkLife Nation. A new perspective on work/life culture is emerging. It’s a new, multi-faceted vision of how we work, live and thrive in a world that is presenting difficult challenges, forcing us to embrace more flexibility at work and in our family lives. The working and living experience, separated for so long, has merged due to three dominant themes.

First, we are working hard to secure our good standing at work, thus the lines tend to blur between work and life as overtime becomes the norm.

Second, due to layoffs, some (many of whom are boomers) have chosen to take control of their own lives by becoming entrepreneurs. This group is working hard and putting in long hours to gain market and brand strength in a weakening economy. They are often rewiring their careers and taking more risks.

The third theme is the growing interest in social capitalism; doing work that is closely aligned with one’s life passion, core human values and service. The blurred lines between work and life are fueled by a passion for a career infused with meaning and purpose.

The great WorkLife Merge is happening whether one likes it or not. How it is handled is a matter of choice: To come from a place of fear, or proactively take personal responsibility. Several concise tips offer an alternative to burnout so that one can not only survive, but also to thrive in a chaotic job market and slumping economy.

1. Give yourself permission to take a break. We are our own worst critic at home and at work. Give yourself permission to wind down, even for a few minutes a day, with a walk, exercise, a good book or a movie.

2. Explore your own brand of creativity. If you like to write, speak or have another artistic bent, think of ways to incorporate those skills in the workplace or in your family life.

3. Journal on a consistent basis. In times of frustration, saying what you want, when you want, regardless of the consequences, may create conflict at home and in the workplace, but venting your soul to your eyes only might give you a new perspective.

4. Take joy in accomplishing small tasks. Even if it’s just the laundry or making a phone call, set a few goals for yourself each day. This can be an enormous help to alleviate anxiety. Procrastination makes it difficult to move forward.

5. Embrace a personal identity independent of your business image. When we become too identified with our job or a position of power, anything that challenges may cause anxiety. Put more effort into hobbies outside of work; explore volunteering outside of the sector in which you work; spend more time cultivating relationships; and expand your skill base into other sectors.

6. Design your own program to cultivate resilience. Think about what brings you to a place of calm, and take time out of your day to slow the wheels of the mind. Whether it’s meditating, playing tennis or reading, out of silence comes creativity and vitality. That small break just might be the catalyst for a great idea.

7. Remember to breathe. The interaction of activity and paying attention to how you breathe requires concentration and will keep your mind focused on what is in front of you. Breathing is the healing elixir of life and is the greatest tool to calm the mind and body.