A No-Vacation Nation?

Recent studies have shown that America is on its way to becoming a “no-vacation nation.”  In "Save the American Vacation" from takebackyourtime.org, Jack Dickey points out that in 2013, only 19% of American workers used all their accrued vacation time and 3.2 vacation days per worker were left unused on average.  Essentially, according to Dickey, Americans “did $52.4 billion worth of work that year for free…”

Research has suggested that happier employees make happier companies.  Even among the responders who did take a vacation, many reported that they still engaged in work activities during their time off.  The questions must be raised: Are we becoming a nation of workaholics, and how will the effects of working ourselves so hard affect our future as a society?  Is work becoming a central time in more peoples’ lives?  Are more people able to work remotely, and if so, does this make us more inclined to work even when away from the office?

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Working a Job or Following a Passion

Do you view work as just a job or are you lucky enough to follow your passion?  In a recent article, Jason Powers, M.D., asserts that following your passion is a brave choice that pays back over the years with increased happiness and better health.

Powers references a controversial TED talk, Why You Will Fail to Have a Great Career, by economics professor Larry Smith.  As Smith later said, “We’re all worse for it if the person who should be an actor isn’t, or the person who should be an accountant isn’t.”  Following your passion isn’t just a smart career move; it leads to greater fulfillment and an increased sense of purpose.  Melding your passion into your career may not be the easiest task, but is worth it in the long run.  As Larry Smith wrote, “Some passions may afford a career and some may not.  But look for another passion.  Keep searching.  Don’t live for the weekend and hope that you can golf enough to get you through another week.”

Powers shares the experience of being chastised by a friend for “not bringing more cowbell,” referencing the classic Saturday Night Live sketch with Will Ferrell.  In other words, in order to make our work important and bearable, we must bring the maximum amount of character strengths and passion for life that we possess.  As many of us will be working later into our golden years, it is vital that we rekindle our professional passions and find our niche in the workforce.

Have you made the choice to follow your passion at work?

How can we follow our passion and still pay the bills?

Should we encourage young people to follow their passion when selecting a career?

Driving Us Crazy: How Long Commutes Decrease Employee Productivity

Many factors drive workers’ productivity.  Recent research from the U.K.’s Office of National Statistics found that people with a commute of 45 minutes or longer reported feeling less satisfaction in their lives and higher rates of anxiety.  They also rated their daily activities as less worthwhile than those who travel shorter distances to work.   The average worker spends five weeks per year commuting, which demonstrates that our daily commutes impact our everyday lives both in and outside of the workplace.  

The mode of travel utilized for commuting to work has a significant impact on how employees felt about their commutes.  Individuals who took the bus to work reported much lower levels of satisfaction with their lives than their non-commuting peers.  Those who took a train reported higher levels of anxiety.  Additionally, studies have shown that employees with long commutes cut healthful activities out of their lives, allowing exercise, sleep, and preparing fresh food to fall by the wayside.

Higher levels of stress can likewise increase individuals’ dissatisfaction with their jobs, which can lead to greater staff turnover.  As employees work with unhappy coworkers, they may internalize these feelings and choose to leave the company themselves.  A vicious cycle begins with decreased productivity among employees as staff turnover lowers the amount of productivity even further.

Should companies offer other options for employees with a long commute?
Can workers overcome the negative impact of long commutes through their own stress-relief practices?

What do you do personally to improve the experience of commuting?

Costa Rica- Leading the Renewable Energy Movement

 Costa Rica has managed an incredible ecological feat – it has been able to produce all of its electricity from renewable resources for 75 days straight!  So far in 2015, the country has not had to rely on burning fossil fuels to supply the grid with electricity.  To date, no other country has been able to rely strictly on renewable resources for its energy consumption for this long a stretch of time.

Costa Rica has been able to accomplish this milestone largely due to the fact that heavy rains have allowed its hydroelectric power stations to produce a bumper crop of electricity, which has led to almost all of their 2015 energy demands being met.  The remainder of the country’s grid requirements have been met through the use of wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy programs. Costa Rica has been committed to the use of greener energy sources and is determined to become a carbon-neutral country by 2021.  They currently supply 94% of its power from renewable resources, with 68% sourced from hydroelectric power plants.

Costa Rica is not the only country to maintain a green focus.  The European Union has put forth renewable energy goals for 2020, but Sweden, Bulgaria, and Estonia have managed to meet these goals eight years ahead of schedule.  One would hope that the U.S. would be inspired as a leading nation to make a commitment to a greener focus.

Should the U.S. attempt to foster programs to increase our use of renewable energy resources?

How can we as individuals lower our overall energy consumption?

What is the best way to raise awareness about renewable energy resources?

Something for the Pain

The recent indictment of a Philadelphia pain management practitioner has placed the issue of opioid addiction and dependency at the forefront of local news. This doctor has been accused of prescribing and/or dispensing oxycodone and Xanax to his patients, generally without the requirement of a physical examination. As a result of this irresponsible behavior, he currently faces over 200 counts of distributing oxycodone. If convicted, he could anticipate a punishment of decades in prison, substantial fines, and criminal forfeiture.

Unfortunately, this case is not unusual in our society, and it will likely not be the last of its kind. According to drugabuse.gov, the amount of prescriptions for opioid medications has rapidly escalated from approximately 76 million in 1991 to almost 207 million in 2013. The United States is the largest global consumer of opioids, accounting for nearly 100 percent of the world’s supply of hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin) and 81 percent of the world’s supply of oxycodone (e.g., Percocet). The New England Journal of Medicine notes that 60 percent of opioids that are abused are directly acquired through a doctor’s prescription.

These statistics raise the daunting question of what alternatives can be utilized to more effectively help those in pain. It is also worth questioning if the dissemination of addictive medications is the most responsible and humane way to treat pain. For more information, we recommend that you read A Nation in Pain: Healing Our Biggest Health Problem, written by Judith Forman.

Do you think there should be a system in place to better control the prescription of opioids?

As a society, are we less able to effectively handle pain?

How do we prevent the unnecessary dispensing of prescription drugs?

What do you think about the legalization of medical marijuana?

Spilling Danger

CEC continues its concern for the environment in 2015. In addition to being green efficient internally, we believe it is important to share information to keep ecological awareness alive and positive change happening.

In order to keep up with our country’s need for fossil fuels, energy companies have resorted to the use of oil pipelines. Two spillage incidents occurred on January 17, 2015 leading many to question the safety of this method of obtaining and transporting oil.

A recent article from The Huffington Post states that residents of Glendive, Montana were alerted that high levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical, were found in their public water supply following a spill that occurred in the Yellowstone River.  The CDC stated that although the benzene levels did not pose any long-term health risks, they were not safe for short-term consumption. Government officials and Bridger Pipeline Company leaders (the owner of this portion of the pipeline) have yet to effectively recover the crude oil, most of which appears to be trapped beneath the ice-covered river.

The second incident was discovered near Williston, North Dakota, where 3 million gallons of brine leaked into the water system.  Brine is an unwanted byproduct of drilling that is much saltier than seawater and may contain petroleum and residue from the fracking process.  The full environmental impact of this spill may not be realized for months.

It is worth noting that the steps taken during the refining process of converting crude oil to usable fuel have many concerned as well. If a similar leak were to occur at one of the many refineries along a pipeline’s route through our country, there could be further consequences.

It is clear that if we are going to rely on pipelines as a method of obtaining and transporting fossil fuels, we need to be more responsible in their usage, starting now.  As larger pipelines are considered, it is imperative that we develop environmentally conscious methods to monitor the safety of these devices or our waterways will continue to be contaminated.

How has your office been able to lower energy consumption?

Have you contacted your government leaders regarding your concerns?

Should we be spending more time and money on alternative methods of energy development?

Technology and the American Workforce

It is a well-accepted fact that technology impacts nearly all facets of our lives. New research from the PewResearch Center posits the idea that technology, namely the Internet and cell phones, have transformed the American workforce. For most American workers, “…life on the job means life online.”

Through use of an online survey, data was gathered via a sample of working Americans who answered questions regarding the role of technology in their work. One of the main findings of the survey was that technology has changed the ways American workers communicate. E-mail has become the primary method of communication, in spite of the potential threats of spam, hacking, and phishing.

Although many people assume that technology may prove a distraction to workers, just 7% of workers feel their productivity has dropped because of the internet, e-mail and cell phones. In fact, 46% of workers say they feel more productive through the use of technology.

As a result of the prevalence of the use of the internet and e-mail, employers find themselves adapting to changing times as well. 46% of those surveyed mentioned their employers blocking access to certain websites and limiting what content their employees are allowed to post online. Despite this change in the rules surrounding the use of the internet, it is interesting to note that these rules appear to apply more to those in Office-Based positions. In contrast, among those employed in service, skilled and semi-skilled positions, many workers reported not being sure if employers controlled website access or enforced rules about what workers are allowed to do online.

How has technology changed your workplace?

How do we decide the “rules” surrounding the use of technology in the workplace?

Is e-mail a tool to facilitate communication or a block to authentic connection at work?

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” -Paul McCartney

If the commonly held belief that we get what we give holds true, there are an abundance of reasons to give of ourselves to our communities. However, a recent article in The Huffington Post reveals that volunteer rates have currently hit an all-time low in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that 2013 saw the lowest percentage of people volunteering since 2002, the year in which the Bureau began tracking such information. Statistics have not yet been published for 2014.

Now is the perfect time to begin a tradition of compassion and service. Although there has been a decrease in the amount of people who volunteer, there is not likely a correlated decrease in the needs of others who would benefit from such help. As individuals, volunteer service provides social (and some studies have suggested health) benefits to those who give their time and skills to help better their communities. 

As we approach the holiday season and the new year, perhaps we can all aim to find new ways to pay it forward. As individuals and as workplaces, we could affect real change in the lives of others and ourselves if we each make a commitment to give back. 

Will you be engaging in volunteer service in the new year?

Do you believe in giving back? If so, how?

Adopting an Attitude of Gratitude

During the holiday season, many of us find ourselves focusing on the idea of gratitude. However, many experts have found that cultivating an attitude of gratitude all year is much more beneficial in the long run.  Said quite simply, “Gratitude is the best attitude!”

According to psychologist and social scientist Dr. Robert Emmons, people who make gratitude a part of their daily lives report physical, social, and psychological benefits, including stronger immune systems; better sleep; lower blood pressure; higher levels of positive emotions; and being more helpful, generous, and compassionate.

Emmons believes that frequently focusing on what we are grateful for keeps us in touch with the good aspects of our lives, leading us to more positivity and resilience even in times of difficulty. Additionally, gratitude helps us to celebrate the present and helps positive emotions last longer.

The University of Pennsylvania has developed a gratitude survey that quantifies a person’s capabilities to experience gratitude. Whether journaling or meditating about gratitude, or just keeping it at the forefront of our minds, being grateful adds benefits to our everyday existence.

What can you do to adopt an attitude of gratitude?

What are you thankful for? 

How can you express your gratitude so that you can pay forward the benefits you have received?

Do We "Like" to Communicate Honestly?

At CEC Associates, we focus much of our efforts on human ways to make the new technologies work, which often involves examining the ways in which these new technologies don’t work. A recent article in CounselingToday by Jennifer L. Cline explores the ways that Facebook actually disconnects us socially, despite its self-proclaimed mission statement to “give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.”

In her efforts to understand the “plugged in” generation, Cline met with 55 college students, a demographic which makes up the bulk of Facebook’s users.  Through her conversations, she learned that the students preferred open, face-to-face communication experiences.  However, the students also noted that they felt pressured by the spontaneity associated with embodied conversation and felt socially vulnerable when engaging with someone face-to-face.  Using social media is a convenient way to bypass these everyday challenges while still having their interpersonal needs met.  Cline noted that some of the subjects would use social media to “appear occupied” and unavailable for live conversation.  Additionally, even though the majority of members of the group claimed that they preferred live, open dialogue, many people admitted that they would still use social media to resolve conflict, even if the other person was in the same room as them.

It is no surprise that many of the students interviewed acknowledged that they wished they were more adept at relating to others face to face.  The reluctance to engage in open, authentic communication seems to drive people to rely on using social media instead, which in turn causes them to feel less able to converse using face-to-face conversation.  This cycle impacts our ability to truly understand each other on a daily basis.

How do you use Facebook to communicate?

Do you feel that you use Facebook to communicate effectively or does it provide a roadblock for authentic communication?

How can we communicate better with each other while remaining in touch with social media?

The Value of Distraction

It is well known that the success of any business is contingent upon employee production. The amount of focus and attention employees “put in” to work assignments directly affect the quality of and the efficiency in which work products are “put out” from the business. In light of this, the question every employer might ask is, “How can I maximize production from my employees?”

A recent study led by University of Illinois psychology professor Alejandro Lleras suggests that increasing attention and focus is not merely a matter of simply trying harder or not allowing oneself to become distracted. Instead, his team found that the ability to focus is not a voluntary action but a biological mechanism. Over time, the brain begins to associate the constancy of any single task with that task becoming unimportant and consequently, erases it from awareness. When this happens, it is not that you stop paying attention; it is that you start paying attention to something else, according to Lleras.

So how can you counter a phenomenon that is ingrained in your natural, biological makeup? The answer: Distract yourself. Lleras’ research reveals that "even brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve one's ability to focus on that task for prolonged periods."

What do you do to stay on task?

How do you handle interruptions?

Can you find value in "created distractions?"

Good News for the Humanities

Choosing a college major is an important decision for any student. The selection of a college major dictates not only what a student will study for at least four years, but will also affect future levels of income and potentially future job satisfaction. Students interested in the humanities have long been faced with the decision of choosing between majors that will land them a good job (i.e., finance) or feed their intrinsic passion (English, philosophy, and history are the top three choices). Until recently, the two paths have been considered mutually exclusive. Many humanities graduates can recall being asked the question, “What do you do with a degree in…?”

A recent article in The Huffington Post calls this dichotomy into question. Research from the American Association of Colleges and Universities suggests instead that over the course of a lifetime, graduates with degrees in the humanities earn similar amounts of money compared to students with pre-professional degrees. Furthermore, it has been shown that there is fulfillment in focusing your career on what you are passionate about. Students are more motivated to learn what they enjoy and excel in. If a course of study is not enjoyed, it becomes tedious or frustrating and may lead students to take extra time completing a degree, which is an expensive prospect these days.

Many people point out that graduating humanities students lack skills needed to enter the workforce, but these so-called missing skills are commonly taught on the job. However, the critical thinking skills most humanities majors hone in college are invaluable. Moreover, when you are able to become immersed in what you do every day, it ceases to be just a “job” that you do from 9 to 5 and ventures into the idea of a career and perhaps a calling, allowing for a much greater sense of personal fulfillment and greater job satisfaction over the course of your life.

At CEC Associates, we meet many people who have yet to find their niche in the world of work. Please see our Career Assessment page for assistance on finding your calling.   

How Did We Get So Busy?

People work in order to earn enough money to buy what they need (food, shelter, and clothing).  But what is left over is disposable, to be used to pursue and purchase one's individual interests.  Of course, this disposable aspect of income and its importance varies dramatically from country to country.

Americans lead all nations in the percentage of disposable income.  While countries like England, France, and Italy put in as many regular work hours as those in the U.S. do, Europeans do not work as many hours for discretionary income as Americans choose to.  Instead of quitting while they are ahead, Americans find new things to need. 

Most types of material consumption (i.e., anything beyond subsistence) are strongly habit-forming.  That is, the consumer grows accustomed to what he has purchased, and is ready to continue buying.  For example, the more technological pieces we buy, the more we need, etc. 

Joseph Stiglitz, of Columbia University, argues that people’s choices are molded by society and become self-reinforcing over time.  We “learn how to consume by consuming,” he wrote, and how to “enjoy leisure by enjoying leisure.”

The average employed American now works roughly 140 hours more per year than the average Englishman and 300 hours more than the average Frenchman.  Current French law mandates that workers get 30 paid vacation days per year; British law enforces 28; and the U.S. requires zero paid vacation days for their workers.  As a result, Europeans are predicted to reduce their work hours and become more skilled at taking time off for leisure, while Americans, who have become master consumers, will continue to work long hours to buy more things.

This brief summary comes from a recent article, “No Time,” by Elizabeth Kolbert, which appeared in The New Yorker of May 26, 2014. Her article offers a new way to look at what American workers do with their earnings.

How do you side on the question of more free time for the important things of life versus more income for non-essentials? Are the French happier than Americans because they are not as addicted to material goods as we are?

Circles of Safety

As most of our readers are undoubtedly aware, strong leadership in any business is essential for the company to thrive and evolve. What is often less discussed, however, is what makes an effective leader. How do strong leaders think, act, and communicate?

Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, believes that one leads by implementing a sense of trust, cooperation, and perhaps most importantly, care. Using the example of U.S. Army Captain William D. Swenson, whose column was ambushed in Afghanistan in 2009, Sinek reveals that a great concern for any leader should be for those below him/her to feel safe, as it is only when they feel safe that they will fully trust and cooperate. In the midst of a changing economy and inevitable competition from other companies, the only variable that can truly be controlled “are the conditions inside the organization. There’s where leadership matters, because it’s the leader who sets the tone. When leaders make a choice to put the people first, remarkable things happen.”

Of course, one doesn’t have to be an army lieutenant or CEO to lead. Each member of a company, regardless of rank, has the volition to make sacrifices that lessen the burden on other employees, while simultaneously benefitting the company as a whole. The “natural response,” as Sinek articulates, is for others to make sacrifices in return.

As an example, imagining walking into your office early one morning and witnessing your boss standing on a stepstool replacing light bulbs, as a large circuit had blown the night before. When asked what he is doing, your boss informs you that he is replacing all 28 light bulbs in the lobby area and has replaced five thus far. He does not ask you for help or suggest that you take over, but simply continues the task. It is likely that you will offer to help him and perhaps even more likely that you will insist on taking over the job. Your recognition, whether conscious or unconscious, of your superior’s sacrifice will lead you to want to remove some of his burden. Without even knowing it, you have followed the leader.

Consider:

How do you demonstrate leadership within your company?

What do you believe makes someone a strong leader?

For information on leadership and Sinek’s “circles of safety,” view his TED Talk, How great leaders inspire action.

Full STEAM Ahead

"...Leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today – especially in science, technology, engineering and math." 
– Barack Obama

In November 2009, President Obama launched “Educate to Innovate,” a program designed to move American students from the middle tier to the top tier in global math and science achievement. One of the main components of the initiative was an emphasis on “STEM” (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) courses in school curriculums.

Recently, we have become aware of a related movement championed by the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), “STEAM,” which advocates for adding art to the national STEM agenda. At a briefing on Capitol Hill earlier this month, RISD interim president Rosanne Somerson stressed that the U.S. needs “an educational system that prepares students to manage change and uncertainty, and to thrive in ever-changing conditions. To meet the needs of industry and ensure that this country leads in knowledge creation and innovation, we need the kind of education that encourages fresh thinking, bold ideas and the ability to communicate and collaborate across disciplines.”

When it comes to the workplace, creativity should be welcomed rather than suppressed. In a constantly changing global economy, the ability to adapt and think critically are essential qualities for new hires. While the perception might still exist, to some degree, that large corporations seek robot-like personnel that can be “plugged-in” to their company scheme, the presence of representatives from Intel, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin at this month’s STEAM briefing suggests otherwise.

Undoubtedly, all employers interested in prevailing into the future will have to, at some time or another, embrace divergent thinking skills and creative expression as part of their company culture. While the importance of STEAM courses may not seem relevant to every business, their value will prove surprisingly essential and applicable in the long run.

Does your company value new ways of thinking and bold ideas? Do you believe innovative thinking to be critical in order to compete in a changing global economy?

Who Says Climate Change Is Real?

Who Says Climate Change Is Real?

The most authoritative word on climate change and its consequences is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international body established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme.  Under the advocacy of the United Nations, the IPCC strives to inform policymakers about the impacts of climate change, future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

The IPCC recently published its Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. With contributions from a total of 837 coordinating lead authors and 1,729 reviews by experts and government officials, the latest report indicates that when it comes to climate change, the worst is yet to come. According to the AR5, “Throughout the 21^st century, climate-change impacts are projected to slow down economic growth, make poverty reduction more difficult, further erode food security, and prolong existing and create new poverty traps, the latter particularly in urban areas and emerging hot spots of hunger.”

Still, while greenhouse gas emissions are rising faster than ever, there is time, albeit little, to prevent the worst from arriving. With sustained global efforts to utilize renewable energy, which is becoming more and more affordable, and a continued pattern of countries prioritizing the effects of climate change, perhaps we can avert a potential crisis.

However, there cannot be any passengers. Gas emissions in rising economic countries such as China have been counterproductive to efforts by other nations to decrease their own gas emissions. A new White House report released this month confirms that the rapid warming of the past half-century is due primarily to human activities. We aren’t simply passengers when we harm our planet; so how can we be as we attempt to heal it? Are we being melodramatic, or are climate change and the human contribution to global warming alarming enough for us to act?  

EHR Manners

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and How Doctors Use Them:

“Human Ways to Make the New Technologies Work”

In a recent email, we addressed the need to be cognizant of how technology can ride roughshod over the “human ways” of relating to one another.  A recent article we became aware of was addressed to physicians as they apply a relatively new technology, i.e., Electronic Health Records (EHRs), to patient sessions.  The article is entitled, “Do Your EHR Manners Turn Patients Off?”

The article speaks to an AMA policy to “make physicians aware of tips and resources for effectively using computers and…EHRs in patient-physician interactions.”  The issue is that physicians are so engaged with the computer that they don’t make eye contact with the patient, which leaves patients feeling disconnected.  In fact, the original AMA report specifically urges physicians to set up the examination room so that one can make eye contact with patients while working on the computer.  The article goes so far as to encourage physicians “to put questions about EHRs into patient satisfaction surveys.”

When CEC Associates Incorporated began more than 30 years ago, we were determined from the outset to create our professional services within a strict framework of concern for our injured worker clients, and we have demanded that same level of concern from all of our associates in their work.  We have worked hard to subordinate all of our uses of technology (i.e., computer applications) with our primary responsibility of developing injured worker assessments and forensic testimony in a manner that assured our understanding of the, almost always, difficult realities of our examinee’s lives.

We are heartened to find the AMA validating our insistence on care and understanding for clients by urging the same care and understanding on their professionals. Human Ways to Make the New Technologies Work!

• What is your perspective on how electronic record taking/keeping has affected your relationship with clients?
• How do you ensure that your clients receive the personal service they were accustomed to before the new technologies evolved? 
• How would you rate the effectiveness of your communication when simultaneously taking electronic notes and conversing with your client?

The “Culture” that Defines Your Company

Essentially any group that has been cohesive and active for some time, say more that two years, has developed a uniqueness, which can be identified as a “culture” – a company culture.  Even by doing nothing overtly to create and nurture a company culture, it evolves on its own.  The foremost values of the dominant personalities prevail.  And in doing so, these values define that specific culture.

The culture assumes the composite values of the people who make up the company.  In the long-run, everything in a given culture boils down to the values the group believes in, sometimes referred to as “shared values.”  These can include:

• interest in the work-life balance of the employees,
• commitment to the health and wellness of the employees,
• active, ongoing interest in community betterment (especially ecology),
• firm commitment to employee involvement in the functioning of the group, and
• consistent fostering of trust and autonomy.

It is possible to shape the behaviors of individuals in a company, thereby changing the culture.  Some practices employers and employees can engage in to add to the existing culture include:

• fostering individual resilience,
• practicing participation in the ongoing shaping of the culture,
• encouraging self-expression,
• having the passion for staying engaged, and
• contributing something.

What else should be considered in terms of creating an effective work culture?  Has your company articulated or documented what it understands to be its unique culture?  If so, would you consider sharing that document?

12 Green Tips for the Holidays

It’s that time of year again… the holidays, when everyone is thinking about presents and decorations and more presents. Well, in keeping with the holiday spirit, we want to share with you some green tips to keep the Earth a priority during this time of giving.

So here it goes… "Twelve Green Tips for the Holidays"

1. Have you ever heard of “treecycling” your tree? Once your decorations are off and you’re trying not to get too many pine needles in your carpet, think “what can this tree do next?” How about using it for mulching or composting? Click here for more information on where/how to recycle your tree. Be sure to check with members of your community solid waste department to find out if they collect and mulch trees.


2. Fiber optic trees and decorations are the ultimate in energy efficiency. In most cases, they use a single light bulb located in the base of the unit to light the entire decoration – now that's energy smart and budget smart.


3. Limit the time holiday lights are on. Wait until dark to turn on your Christmas lights and turn them off before you go to bed. Make your goal six hours or less of daily use. Afraid you’ll forget? Set a timer & forget about it!


4. When ordering merchandise online or for shipment, request the use of recycled packaging material (recycled paper, bamboo, or corn plastics) – these products biodegrade when composted. Specifically request no Styrofoam, which is made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting product. If you receive a gift stuffed with Styrofoam, find a company that will reuse it.


5. Having guests? Turn down the heat a little. Encourage layered dressing and let your guests know that you’re green conscious. Remember, by changing the temperature by 2 degrees all year, you can save about 2,000 pounds of CO2 a year.


6. Plan your shopping trips carefully. Make one trip to the mall instead of three, which will save gas. Walking to stores or carpooling with friends is even better. Another way to reduce fuel consumption is to buy locally; shopping in your hometown supports the local merchants and strengthens the community, and it cuts fuel use if you walk to town.


7. There’s no way you can reuse holiday cards, right? Wrong! Remove the back and create a postcard. Or, use the card as a gift tag for gift giving next year.


8. Take your own bags on shopping trips. Keep them in the car so they’re ready whenever you stop at a store.


9. Need party snacks and beverages? Buy in bulk to avoid extra packaging.


10. Turn it off! Common misconceptions sometimes account for the failure to turn off equipment. Many people believe that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off. This incorrect perception carries over from the days of older mainframe computers.


11. Have a large family with a lot of gifts to wrap? Try creating a treasure map for the kids to find their gifts.


12. Green your holiday travel! If you are one of the many people planning to log a lot of travel miles this holiday season, don't forget to look into green options for getting around.

A Key Decision on SSA Disability Determination

On June 21, 2013, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division affirmed a trial judge’s decision to preclude reference to a Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination during a personal injury trial.  The decision states, “An SSA disability determination is of dubious probative value in a personal injury action” because:

• With “due regard for the beneficent purpose of the legislation,” Administrative Law Judges in SSA disability claim hearings are advised to show leniency in establishing the claimant’s disability (whereas a personal injury matter requires the plaintiff to bear the burden of proving his/her disability);
• The jury could give inappropriate weight to the SSA disability determination, due to the SSA’s being a government agency, despite the questionable efficacy of that determination with respect to causation; and
• SSA disability determinations are periodically reviewed and subject to overturn, but a jury cannot be asked to reverse its decision years later based on these SSA reviews.

In short, the processes for determining disability for the SSA and in a trial are fundamentally different, and therefore, the conclusions from the former are unreliable in context of the latter.  A key difference is the attribution of disability to a specific accident.  The trial judge responded to the plaintiff’s appeal by aptly noting:

And what this case involves is plaintiff’s claim that she suffered a permanent injury as a result of this accident that resulted in her inability to work.  Those are the issues that this jury needs to determine based on the evidence presented here, not evidence of determination that was made by…[the SSA] that did not have the benefit of the evidence that might have suggested that this disability is not – or was not caused by this accident [emphasis added].

It is important to understand that “disability” can be defined differently depending on the venue in which one finds oneself.  Plaintiff’s counsel in the above matter stated that “the best evidence” that the plaintiff couldn’t go back to work was that the SSA had decided she was disabled; but is the SSA’s process the “best” way to determine disability?  Who can best determine whether an individual is disabled, or unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to impairment?  Does the SSA or others determining disability do enough to distinguish between impairment, a medical concept, and disability, a largely psychosocial concept?

For more on this critical distinction, visit our CEU articles on disability vs. impairment.