Posture Productivity in the Workplace

The WMWO Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a lunch and learn with Dr. Daniel Steffins of the Spinal Health Center in West Monroe as the guest speaker.  Dr. Steffins presented “THE POSTURE-PRODUCTIVITY LINK!” and provided attendees with a host of interesting current absenteeism statistics and how posture effects work productivity. 

According to statistics provided by Dr. Steffin, approximately 31 million work  days were last year lost due to problems such as low back and neck pain as well as headaches. This is a cause for concern considering that the most common reason given for taking a day off sick in 2013 was the common cold, and this led to only 27.4 million days off work.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 650,000 work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), resulting in costs to employers of over $20 billion . These costs include Worker's Compensation and medical expenses, the latter of which are increasing 2.5 times faster than benefit costs.

Musculoskeletal disorders account for 34% of all lost workdays, and account for $1 of every $3 spent for workers’ compensation, resulting in a total direct cost of $50 billion annually.

Worker's Compensation claims per injury equal $29,000 - $32,000 per year.  Medical bills for the average shoulder injury (excluding surgery) are $20,000 per year.  Indirect costs are 3 to 5 times higher, reaching approximately $150 billion per year.  Cost of hiring replacement staff is between $130,000-166,000 per year.

Poor ergonomic practices or work stations can play a significant role in the development of many preventable musculoskeletal disorders including neck and back pain, shoulder and arm pain, headaches, or occupational overuse syndrome (previously known as RSI). Many of these injuries are avoidable by implementing correct ergonomics within the workplace.

Sustained sitting places increases pressure through the intervertebral discs in your spine.  A poorly adjusted chair will change the posture of your spine resulting in sore lower back muscles, and if your upper back posture in impacted you may sit with your head poking forward to see the monitor.  The average head weighs between 9 to 12 lbs and sitting in a forward head-on-neck posture for extended periods is very fatiguing to your muscles, contributing to headaches.

The National Headaches Foundation noted that half of 400,000 respondents of a 2008 survey stated they miss 1-3 work days per month due to headaches, and headaches cost companies nearly $17 billion annually due to absenteeism, lost productivity and medical expenses.

A recent article in the American Journal of Health Promotions, stated that for every $1 spent on a corporate wellness program, a return of $2.13 to $10.10 can be expected through lower medical claims, reduced absenteeism, improved productivity, and other factors.

Dr. Steffins and his team at Spinal Health Center are able to provide basic services including onsite workstation ergonomic assessments, employee lunch and learn workshops focusing on topics appropriate for your company, and/or onsite 10-minute “stress break” chair massages for employees with zero out-of-pocket expense for your company. Please give them a call today, at 318-322-2250, to schedule a complimentary consultation. They can quickly customize a solution for your company!

Celebrate National Small Business Week May 4-8, 2015

The U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes National Small Business Week May 4-8, 2015.

Across the nation and in Louisiana, small businesses have a huge impact on the economy.  The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) reports there are more than 424,000 businesses in Louisiana, employing more than 892,000 people.  Small businesses make up more than 97 percent of Louisiana's employers, providing more than half of the state's private workforce in 2012.

The Small Business Administration reports most of the employment from small businesses come from firms with 20-499 employees.  Most of Louisiana's small businesses are very small as approximately 80 percent of all businesses have no employees and most employers have fewer than 20 employees.

The West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce applauds these small businesses for their hard work and dedication and the value they bring to our local economy.  Small businesses create jobs for our residents, and sales tax generated by these businesses help fund schools, parks, roadways and other amenities that keep our community strong and healthy.

The WMWO Chamber has signs posted at small businesses in West Monroe this week reminding the public to support small business and shop local.  To learn more about the impact small businesses have in this country, please visit www.sba.gov.

Excellence in Customer Service: Creating the Right Environment

Think back. When is the last time that you received excellent customer service? Not the expected service or decent service, but that above-and-beyond service that makes an organization or business really stand out in your mind.

Now, who performed this feat of excellence? I’m willing to bet that it was the front line staff of the organization – the cashier, switchboard operator, waiter, hostess, order-taker or receptionist. Most of a company’s impressions are made by the individuals that many times are in entry-level positions with limited experience and training.

When was the last time you had terrible service? Odds are that the poor service was delivered by front line, entry-level staff. Why did one person or one organization succeed when others often fail? The key to having consistently good, if not excellent service, is in creating an environment that clearly defines the expectation of service and provides the resources for staff to deliver.

Creating an environment of excellence starts at the top. Management must be the models for all other levels, but it must also specifically define the expectations. This means writing policy, procedures or guidelines that are specific to each position.

Once guidelines are in writing, it is up to management to ensure understanding. Providing mentoring and evaluations of performance are both excellent tools to determine if staff members understand the expectations. Do not be afraid to revise policy regularly in order to make your vision clear.

Now comes the really hard part. You have to enforce the rules, consistently and with everyone. This is easier if you take the time to write position-specific guidelines. This allows for flexibility since you may require some actions by one position while other positions have different expectations or even limitations. For instance, a cashier may be instructed never to leave a specific post, limiting their ability to provide hands-on help to a customer. It is up to you to provide an alternative if you want this level of service to be provided by your business.

Allow people the opportunity to learn about other areas within an organization. This creates a team that understands, respects and can assist one another. Recognize the good as often as you correct the bad and make sure that examples of excellence are celebrated by everyone.

Last but certainly not least, give staff the flexibility and support needed to go the extra mile. A perfect example comes from Zappos, an on-line shopping outlet that has limited personal contact with customers. Consequently, they try to maximize these opportunities. They have empowered their customer service representatives with a limited budget to provide the extra as determined by the REPRESENTATIVE. Sometimes this is done in the form of an upgrade in customer status, but it is not limited to in-house perks. A Zappos representative sent a customer flowers on behalf of the company after learning about a recent illness. That is excellence – all because the company voiced its expectation and then supported its staff as they strived to deliver more than just the expect! 

This article was written by Denise Calhoun with the City of West Monroe. Denise recently led a customer service workshop for WMWO Chamber members. To learn more about customer service, please call the WMWO Chamber at (318) 325-1961.

Chamber presents Shotgun Shells and Crawfish Tails

The WMWO Chamber will present Shotgun Shells and Crawfish Tails, our annual spring fundraiser, on Friday, May 1 at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office Rifle Range in West Monroe.

The event will feature a crawfish boil and new to this year's event is a 5 Stand Skeet Tournament. Live music will be provided by The Waterboys!

The Skeet Tournament begins at noon and will end at 4 p.m. with the announcement of winners. Crawfish will be served from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Crawfish tickets are $25 per person which includes five pounds of crawfish, vegetables, dessert and unlimited beverages. Registration for the 5 Stand Tournament is $250 for a five-person team. Prizes will be awarded to the top shot and top teams.

The event will be a great time for networking and relaxing. Several wonderful prizes will be raffled off to attendees.

To learn more about the event or to purchase tickets, please call the WMWO Chamber at (318) 325-1961 or visit: http://westmonroechamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/shotgun-shells-crawfish-tails-2015-chamber-crawfish-boil-5-stand-skeet-tourney-presented-by-cooper-veterinary-hospital-2055 

Parish-wide cleanup set for March 28

Across the country, the spring season is know as the time for the "Great American Cleanup," where residents, business leaders and civic groups come together to clean their individual communities.

The Great American Cleanup will be observed locally in Ouachita Parish on Saturday, March 28. The cleanup is hosted by Ouachita Green, a non-profit organization made up of three Keep Louisiana Beautiful affiliates - Keep Monroe, Keep West Monroe and Keep Ouachita Parish Beautiful.

Members of the community are asked to put teams together to clean a portion of Ouachita Parish this Saturday. Whether it's a park, neighborhood, playground or roadway, your efforts can make a difference in improving the appearance of our community.

Did you know the state of Louisiana spends nearly $40 million a year picking up trash? Just think how much money we could save if we took individual responsibility for picking up litter we see every day - even if we were not the ones who put it there!

Please consider taking time on March 28 to be a part of the Great American Cleanup in Ouachita Parish. If you cannot take part this Saturday, consider organizing your own cleanup anytime this spring.

To learn more about the cleanup or to register online, please visit www.ouachitagreen.org. Participants will also find a list of supply pick up locations. Several sites throughout the parish will have supplies ready for pick up on Saturday including orange safety vests, litter grab it tools and trash bags.

WMWO Chamber to offer Colors of New England tour this fall

The WMWO Chamber of Commerce has partnered once again with Collette Travel and the Ruston-Lincoln Parish Chamber of Commerce to offer group travel this fall to New England.

The "Colors of New England" trip will take place October 6-13, 2015, journeying through New England's charming and vibrant northern states. Highlights of the trip include tours of Boston, Massachussetts, Woodstock, Kennebunkport, Lake Winnipesaukee Cruise, Quechee Gorge and a tour of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. Travelers will even be treated to a lobster dinner and will be able to watch apples transform into cider the old-fashioned way using a rack and cloth press.

Check out the link below for a video describing the Colors of New England trip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evhegWkb4yo

To learn more about this unique trip opportunity, you are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the WMWO Chamber of Commerce office at 112 Professional Drive in West Monroe. Call the Chamber at (318) 325-1961 for more information or to reserve a seat.

WMWO Chamber announces release of 2015 Member Directory and Relocation Guide

The West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the recent publication of its 2015 Membership Directory and Relocation Guide.

The guide, published by Innesto Marketing, features a listing of WMWO Chamber members (as of this fall) and several articles about the region including education, healthcare, attractions and amenities. This information can be extremely beneficial to visitors who are considering moving to this area and our newest business owners and residents.

Copies are currently being mailed to every WMWO Chamber member. This annual publication is free of charge to the public. Copies may be picked up at the Chamber office, located at 112 Professional Drive in West Monroe.

An online version of the directory will also be made available in the near future on the Chamber's website at www.westmonroechamber.org.