Tim's Talking about GINA, Swine Flu and Last Month's Poll Results

DON'T LOOK NOW ...

Just when you thought you've experienced everything in the world to worry about complying with in operating your business you get GINA!
 
The Genetic Information Non Discrimination Act (GINA) will go into effect on November 21, 2009. 

This law will prevent discrimination against individuals based on genetic tests.  It of course requires a new poster.
 
This is good news for the poster companies.

DARN THAT SWINE....

Can you operate with 25%-50% of your employees off work with the flu?  That's a worry of the H1N1 crowd.  But did you know that absences due to seasonal influenza may qualify for unpaid leave under FMLA?  And that making inquires about an employee's health condition or that of a family member can cause ADA legal problems?

So what's the answer?
 
The pros say encourage employees to stay home if they are sick;  leave work and go home if they get sick;  wash your hands a lot;  sneeze in your armpit;  cross train employees;  and minimize face to face contact.

Feel better?

MANUFACTURING MYTH...

America no longer makes things.  You hear this all the time.  In a previous "Corner Stool" we put some numbers together to dispute this myth.

Now consider these: According to the 2009 Economic Report of the President:

1. Total manufacturing output in the U.S. hit and all time high in 2007.
2. 2007 output was 8% higher than 2000,  69% higher than in 1990,  81% higher than 1987,  184% higher tan in 1980 and ...
3. Manufacturing output as measured by the
   Industrial-Production Index was 213% higher in 2007 than it was in 1967!      
   

The lesson here is that manufacturing as a share of gross domestic product is down 30% since 1987 not because of less manufacturing but because of substantial growth of construction and services.

OVERLOAD IMPACTS OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY...
The average worker that sits in front of a computer all day will:

• Check e-mail 50 times
  
• Instant message 77 times
  
• Visit 40
  web-sites
  
• Take 24 minutes to get back to work after checking e-mail
  
• Score 10
  points lower on IQ test
  

They call this person an "electronically distracted worker" I call it crazy.
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Editor's Note: While those procrastination statistics may be alarming, there are two sides to the argument.

This column in Wired magazine argues that people actually are problem solving when they mindlessly wonder the Web.

Now I don't know about the statistic with the IQ test, I can't find where Tim got that one, But there's at least some food for thought.