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Seven of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States are due to chronic diseases and treating these accounts for 86 percent of our nation's health care costs. The workplace offers an environment to implement chronic disease prevention strategies, such as worksite wellness programs, due to the large amount of time spent at the worksite daily by employees. As a result of COVID-19, many organizations began to change their workdays (i.e., working from home). This research sought to understand what, if any, implications the COVID-19 epidemic had on worksite wellness programming. Semistructured interviews were employed and recorded via Zoom conferencing to gather qualitative data. Four themes were identified: (a) relationship building among remote employees, (b) creativity in how to carry out program components, (c) increased physical activity and work-life balance, and (d) increased knowledge of health issues and mental health resources. Both challenges and successes were reported within themes. The main finding from this research indicates a mostly positive experience for worksite wellness programs during the COVID-19 epidemic. Many organizations have continued nontraditional work environments and the lessons learned from this study can both encourage and provide ideas for how to create and continue a worksite wellness program outside of the normal face-to-face working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: COVID-19 has changed work conditions and instilled fear. However, research overlooked the contributing factors to fear of COVID-19 and its impact on well-being. We addressed this research gap and focused on the es-sential workforce of child care. Methods: Three samples of early childhood professionals (ECPs) (NT1 = 423, NT2 = 142, NT3 = 584) were gathered in Germany between June 2020 and May 2021. We tested via path analysis whether (1) fear of COVID-19 relates to well-being. (2) COVID-19-related work stressors relate to fear of COVID-19, and (3) fear of COVID-19 mediates the relationship of work stressors and well-being. Results: Findings of NT1 and NT3 lent support, while results of NT2 differed. Conclusions: This study under-lines the importance of adapting the work conditions during pandemics to re-duce the fear of infection and thus preserve ECPs' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In general, companies with trade unions perform better in occupational health and safety, therefore, we assume that these companies should have performed better in transition to healthy and safe telework if compared with other companies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the role of company trade unions on the implementation of telework arrangements in Latvia during the 1st emergency state in spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A web-based survey based on snowball sampling method and social media advertisements was used to gather information from teleworkers. After data cleaning, answers from 422 teleworkers reporting having (wTU) or not having trade unions (nTU) in their companies were included in the analysis. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher percentage of workers with teleworking experience in companies with no trade unions (37.4% nTU versus 18.1% wTU). More respondents from companies with trade unions reported buying a new computer and headphones which means that more persons had to invest their finances to be able to perform their work. Workers from companies with no trade unions were more often advised on home office ergonomics (21.2% wTU versus 28.1% nTU). The odds of all analyzed health problems (pain, sore eyes, and anxiety) were increased in workers who reported having trade unions. CONCLUSION: Companies with trade unions were less ready for the forced transition to teleworking. These results contradict the traditional understanding of trade unions as a promoting factor for a healthy and safe working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What nurses need to know as hospitals institute COVID-19 vaccine mandates. AJN 's legal expert answers several timely questions of concern to nurses, including can employers require their employees to be vaccinated and terminate those who refuse? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) experience disproportionate infection, severe disease and death from COVID-19. This report describes an innovative process to address the safety of MSFW that utilized cohorting that eventually allowed for safe release to work in the fields on a large family farm in Iowa. Methods : Upon worker departure from Mexico, the employer arranged for bus seat assignments, mask use, and hand hygiene practice during the 3-day trip to Iowa. Upon arrival at the farm, surveillance testing and low-density housing cohorting based upon travel seat assignments allowed for early identification of infected workers and appropriate quarantine as per CDC guidelines. Upon completion of isolation or quarantine as appropriate, workers were released to congregate housing and work in the fields. Findings : Compared to a migrant farmworker COVID-19 outbreak without travel pre-planning, the cohorting process produced a 3.5% positivity rate compared to an earlier season July farmworker group on the same farm with a 12.7% positivity rate. Conclusions/Application to Practice : The success of this model points to the power of collaboration between farm employer, health care providers and workers to minimize worker infection and enable safe work in the fields. Increased state and federal support for MSFW protections could support infrastructure to proactively plan for prevention mechanisms to prevent the spread of known communicable disease. With support in place from the top down, employers, workers, and health care providers will be able to prioritize the management of infectious diseases and the needs of essential workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses encounter unique and substantial challenges in professional practice. Nurses remain at the forefront of care but struggle with work-related fears and risk exposure. These challenges have significantly increased during unprecedented social unrest and the global pandemic making nurses less safe than in previous years. Nurses' fears and risks include patient harm, changing healthcare environments, and psychological and physical harm. This study reveals nurses' fears and highlights the significance of fear on the individual nurse and the profession. Healthcare leaders, administrators, educators, and practitioners must work on creating a culture of preparedness, support, and protection for healthcare workers in all areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent correspondence, the author discussed the issues of 'no-jab, no job' policy, which is planned to be implemented by governments and companies in many countries. This paper highlights the business sectors' initiatives in ensuring the implementation of health and safety protocols and vaccination program among employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]