Go on... gossip! It's good for you!

Inside this issue...

- Rumour has it!
- Your week in review

Dear health and safety reader,

Only yesterday our resident-weather-watcher, Kerusha, chatted to you about the strange weather we can expect in the coming months. And look at what happened? Rescue missions, warnings, chilly weather, and a new report that suggests that the Amazon basin is becomming a carbon admitter due to deforestation! 

As another week draws to an end, I'd like to remind you of all the interesting articles the Health and Safety Bulletin provided for you this week!

But first...

Rumour has it!

A little birdy told me that a recent study at Berkeley University suggests that gossiping is good for your health. Of course gossiping can lead to all kinds of scenarios, and linked to politics, office dynamics, family rivalries, and nasty intentions, it should therefore not actually be advocated... 

This study shows, however, that spreading rumours is therapeutic and has positive results, such as: policing bad behavior, lowering stress levels, and preventing exploitation.

A social psychologist at Berkeley, Robb Willer said: “Spreading information about the person whom they had seen behave badly tended to make people feel better, quieting the frustration that drove their gossip.”

So go on... gossip!

Your week in review

- What's your HSE Officer worth to you? Being responsible for health and safety is a demanding job. By its very nature it’s stressful: you have to worry about the safety of each and every employee 24/7. When other people forget to perform a certain task, it’s the difference between rand values. When you slip up it could be the difference between life or death!

- When Disaster strikes… are you prepared? Emergency evacuation planning is essential in preventing injuries and ensuring the safety of your employees in emergency situations. Can you imagine what would happen if a fire extinguisher isn’t working when there’s a fire, or an emergency door is locked when there’s an actual emergency? In this bulletin, Kerush tells you HOW to be prepared for emergencies.

- Attention small business owners: Do you want to pay 43% less in taxes? Look at what my colleague Lenell says about saving money on taxes! It’s no secret that taxes form a huge chunk of your business’s expenses. A chunk you would rather see in your bank account, I’m sure! You can’t avoid the taxman... But you CAN make the most of tax loopholes and systems that shrink your tax liability!

- Break a leg and claim! We’ve had quite a few questions on the subject of workmen’s compensation so I thought I’d share some of them with you. Some of these might even hit home for you and shed some light on your situation so read on!

That's all for this week! I hope that you have a fantastic weekend!

Stay safe and healthy,
Liana Meadon

FSP Business: Workplace Safety