According to new research we are happier on weekends because we meet our needs for relatedness and autonomy.

“Why weekends are better are the two factors of automony and relatedness,” says co-author Richard Ryan, a psychologist at the University of Rochester, N.Y. “There’s more connection with other people and more self-direction. Wherever you don’t have autonomy or don’t feel relatedness, your well-being will be lower.”

Just listened to this broadcast of Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO, who talked about the middle-class, jobs and health care.  Unions have such an important history in this country and it will be interesting to see the impact they have in a future of more American job-loss.  In recent news the AFL-CIO in Minneosta is pushing for an ambitious jobs bill:
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The Minnesota Workers Compensation Court Of Appeals has established that employees who develop depression as a result of stress at work cannot get their psychiatric and medication paid by workers compensation because there is no “physical” injury.  These are called “mental-mental” cases.  However if a physical injury (for example, a low back injury) causes pain and disability that contributes to the cause of a psychological condition, the psychological condition is then covered.  These are called “physical-mental” cases.

I recently attended a meeting for lawyers who represent employees. One of the lawyers reported that he had a decision from a lower level judge, that is, not the Workers Compensation Court of Appeals, awarding payment for depression in a “mental-mental” case.  That case was won on the argument that there are actual physical changes in the brain caused by the depression, therefore making it a “physical” injury.  New research adds proof to the argument that a psychiatric diagnosis, specifically PTSD, changes the brain structure. Such evidence would support a claim for a “mental-mental” injury.

To see related posts on workers compensation claims and depression check out here and here.

Like food and sex, helping others, charity and being a part of something larger than yourself feels good:

So at a time of vast needs, from Haiti to our own cities, here’s a nice opportunity for symbiosis: so many afflicted people, and so much benefit to us if we try to help them. Let’s remember that while charity has a mixed record helping others, it has an almost perfect record of helping ourselves. Helping others may be as primal a human pleasure as food or sex.

Minnesota ranked number one in civic engagement according to the Center for Democracy and Citizenship.

According to the report, Minnesota had the highest voter turnout of any state in 2008, with 77.8 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots. Additionally, 60.5 percent of Minnesotans volunteered last year; the national average was 39.9 percent. More than 25.2 percent of Minnesotans participated in a community project, which was more than the national average of 18.5 percent.

1. Report the injury to your supervisor.

If the employee does not give notice within 14, 30 or 180 days (six months) after the injury, then the workers’ compensation may be delayed until notice is given. Failure to give notice within 180 days of an injury may be a total and complete bar to any workers’ compensation benefits.
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The single event that may have expedited the passage of workers’ compensation legislation in the United States was the March 25, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City. The company employed
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Tips for reducing workers’ comp costs

One way to reduce your workers’ compensation costs is to encourage employees to return to work as soon as they are able. For example, you can make available light-duty positions for injured employees who may not be ready to return to more demanding jobs. Work with your insurance carrier to develop a light-duty program.
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Virtually all Minnesota businesses must carry workers’ compensation insurance. Employers that wish to self-insure must apply to the state for permission to do so. Partners and sole proprietors are not required to carry workers’ comp coverage but may opt in to the program.

What if the employee was drinking or using drugs when the injury occurred?
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