News and Press Releases
Working Nights profiled in American Society of Safety Engineers Product Pulse! See the ASSE’s monthly magazine information on the Working Nights Calendar – click here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Working Nights Weighs-in on Health Care Reform
BOSTON, MA (November 10, 2009) — Circadian Age, Inc. – ‘Working Nights’ – a company dedicated to helping shift workers and their families adjust to their unique lifestyles, is concerned with making sure that any health care reform will benefit the 25 million Americans working shifts. These workers represent 10% of the insured population, but incur 17% of the health care costs.[i]
“Shift workers are impacted by chronic, costly health conditions, and these folks need additional help to address the challenges they face,” reports Betsy Connolly, President of Circadian Age, Inc. “Sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal ailments, musculoskeletal complaints, and mental health issues are all more prevalent among people working shifts than those working during the daytime.” As an example, when surveyed, workers on shifts cited moderate or severe fatigue problems at nearly 70% of facilities with shift work operations. Fatigue leads to accidents and injuries and chronic health issues resulting in increased health care and workers compensation costs.[ii]
To read the entire release click here.
[i] Financial Opportunities in Extended Hours Operations; Managing Costs, Risks, and Liabilities (pg 71); Circadian Information LLP.
[ii] Shift Work Practices, 2007 (pg 46); Circadian Information LLP.
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Click below to listen to Working Nights President, Betsy Connolly, interviewed on WBZ 1030 radio. It will take just a moment to load so please be patient.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Circadian Age, Inc. Announces New Spanish Working Nights Calendar
BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE – October 7, 2009)–Circadian Age, Inc. – ‘Working Nights’ – a company dedicated to helping shift workers and their families adjust to their unique lifestyles, is announcing a new Spanish calendar. The 2010 Working Nights Spanish Calendar offers organizations with Hispanic workers the opportunity to show added concern about the health and safety of this group of employees, by providing them with educational material in their own language, to use at home.
“Hispanic shift workers face the same circadian rhythm and biological clock challenges that all 24/7 employees do” says Betsy Connolly, President of Circadian Age. “But often, language barriers make an already difficult situation worse. Spanish speaking workers are often less knowledgeable about chronic health conditions and safety prevention at work, which may result in more accidents and errors and increased health care costs.”
For the full release please read here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Circadian Age, Inc. Announces Launch of New 2010 Working Nights Calendar for Health Care Workers
Boston, MA – (September 9, 2009) – Circadian Age, Inc., – ‘Working Nights’ - specializing in helping managers and employees of organizations with round the clock operations adjust to their unique lifestyles, announces its new 2010 calendar for health care workers. The calendar helps workers in hospitals, assisted living facilities, ambulance units, nursing care facilities, and health clinics face the work/life challenges they encounter as a result of their unusual, and often variable, work schedules.
“Medical workers experience tremendous stress on the job which can lead to fatigue and sleep impairment,” reports Betsy Connolly, Working Nights’ President. “Our calendar provides workers with meaningful tips about health and safety and an opportunity to better manage their lives when working shifts.”
The topics highlighted in the calendar all focus on related health and safety education and prevention for medical workers. February’s topic is Reducing Ergonomic Risks. According to a recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.5% of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants experienced Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) – injuries or illnesses that affect the connective tissues of the body such as muscles, nerves, joints, tendons, cartilage, or spinal discs. This rate is more than seven times the average national rate of MSDs for all occupations. According to the report, almost 30 percent of all days away from work were related to MSDs. Preventing MSDs requires work scheduling that reduces the time of exposure to demanding work conditions and promotes healthful work–rest patterns.
With the increased use of on-line shift scheduling by health care employees, workers need to make sure that the shift schedules they sign up for maximize sleep opportunities to prevent fatigue related errors, provide adequate recovery periods to limit personal injury risk, and provide time for social activities with friends and family members. Other calendar topics include, Men and Women and Sleep, Managing Hazardous and Toxic Substances, Lowering Stress and Anxiety, New Tips about Caffeine, Restless Leg Syndrome and Vitamin Tips. The calendar incorporates color-coded stickers to help workers and their families manage their day-to-day lives.
For the full release please see Working Nights Calendar for Health Care Workers
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 11 2009: Circadian Age, Inc. Announces Certification in the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Circadian Age, Inc., – ‘Working Nights’ – a business specializing in helping shift workers and their families adjust to their unique lifestyles, received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Center for Women and Enterprise, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Center for Women and Enterprise has a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women.
By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations, and government agencies demonstrates their commitment to fostering diversity and to continued development of their supplier/vendor diversity programs.
Contact Information
Members of the media or interested trade association personnel seeking a free Working Nights 2009 calendar or more information, please contact:
Karen Stack, media relations
508-358-3380
kstack@workingnights.com
For the full release please see Women owned business full release
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Thursday, August 6 2009: New York Times supports napping, Working Nights agrees in letter to the editor.
Here’s the Working Nights letter to the Editor and the link to the original editorial:
August 5, 2009
To the Editor:
Re “To Nap, Perchance to Dream” (editorial, Aug. 5):
I agree wholeheartedly with the statements made about the positive effects of a good nap.
But as an expert in researching, writing and consulting with numerous companies regarding employees’ readiness for work, I know that many not only allow naps, they even provide napping facilities.
These businesses recognize just what the editorial pointed out, that “short naps enhance alertness and productivity.” Our work on how our bodies’ circadian rhythms affect workers’ abilities to focus and concentrate, particularly in businesses running 24/7, supports that even just a 20-minute nap can be highly invigorating.
Betsy Connolly
President, Circadian Age Inc.
Wayland, Mass., Aug. 5, 2009
A version of this article appeared in print on August 6, 2009, on page A28 of the New York edition.
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Contest Press Release (7/28/09)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calendar Contest Provides Healthy Benefits for Kids and Adults
BOSTON, MA (July 28, 2009) — Circadian Age, Inc. – ‘Working Nights’ – a company dedicated to helping shift workers and their families adjust to their unique lifestyles, is announcing an exciting new calendar contest. The 2010 Working Nights Creative Arts Calendar Contest offers organizations the opportunity to create a custom health and safety calendar incorporating winning illustrations or photographs submitted by company employees and their family members. Winners’ artwork and their names will be included in the calendar.
“Shift workers face special circadian rhythm and biological clock challenges,” says Betsy Connolly, President of Circadian Age. “Employers purchasing our products see fewer accidents and errors, reduced health costs and absenteeism rates, and improved productivity.”
Working Nights has specific goals in mind for those who participate in the Creative Arts Contest. In addition to increasing awareness of health and safety issues both at home and work, participation will provide an opportunity for kids and adults to show their creative side – qualities often neglected in today’s hectic and task oriented world. This is especially important for shift workers whose serotonin levels are often found to be low. Lower levels can result in sleep problems, anger, depression, and anxiety. People with normal levels of serotonin feel a sense of well-being, security, confidence, and relaxation, and a stronger ability to concentrate. Nurturing creativity can help provide the serotonin boost that many shift workers need.
A study by the University of Montréal, Quebec, Department of Psychology, revealed that self-induced changes in mood can influence serotonin production (participants recalled autobiographical memories to self-induce sadness, happiness, and a neutral emotional state). A study conducted by The Dana Consortium and released in 2008 concluded that creativity is beneficial for children. The study found that training in the arts can “influence other cognitive processes” through attention. According to the study, children’s ability to portray their creativity through art can positively help them in other aspects of their lives.
The Working Nights calendar incorporates color-coded stickers to help workers and their families manage their day-to-day lives. Health and safety tips specific to shift work provide a unique motivational tool for employees seeking to improve their security and wellbeing.
In an economy of uncertainty and volatility, as employers heighten their focus on health care prevention and cost reduction, the 2010 Working Nights Creative Arts Calendar Contest provides a great opportunity for businesses and employees alike. By staying motivated and having a positive attitude, employees can improve their health, enjoy a better work/life balance, and be more productive at work.
Contact Information
Members of the media or interested trade association personnel seeking a free 2009 calendar or more information, please contact:
Karen Stack, media relations
508-358-3380
kstack@workingnights.com
For factual information about shift work and health, and for specific information about the calendar contest, see http://www.workingnights.com/blog/about-us/news-and-press-releases/.
About Circadian Age, Inc. – ‘Working Nights’
Circadian Age, Inc. – ‘Working Nights’ – specializes in shift work, and in the circadian rhythm and biological clock challenges that shift workers face. Working Nights is committed to helping managers and employees working shift work improve work/life balance. Over 25 million people in the U.S. and 600 million globally, work outside normal daytime hours, including many working weekends and rotating shifts. Studies have indicated that shift workers are at greater risk for certain illnesses such as sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. For nearly 25 years, Working Nights has helped improve employees’ readiness for work and expand their knowledge of ways to minimize health and safety issues within shift work environments. Armed with this increased awareness, employees, their families and the organizations they work for benefit from improved health, lower health care costs and fewer safety incidents.
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Stats about health care and shift workers
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Stats About Health Care and Shift Workers
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