If doctor's note is unclear, insist on a properly completed FMLA ...

Some employees and their treating doctors seem to believe that as long as a medical professional says an employee can?t work, that?s enough to justify FMLA leave. That?s not true.

If the doctor?s note is vague and doesn?t spell out the start and expected duration of the employee?s serious health condition, you?re entitled to send the standard FMLA certification form provided by the Department of Labor (DOL) and expect an answer.

If it isn?t forthcoming, you can deny FMLA leave.

Recent case: Following an alleged sexual assault, Kim stopped coming to work. Her doctor sent a note saying she had post-traumatic stress disorder, but it didn?t explain when the condition began or how long Kim might be expected to be out.

The employer then sent the doctor a copy of the DOL?s FMLA certification form, requesting that he fill it out and provide the details listed on the form. The employer wanted to know when Kim?s serious health condition first developed and how long the doctor thought she would be out. The doctor never returned the form and Kim was terminated.

She sued, alleging that the initial note was good enough to qualify her for FMLA leave.

The court disagreed. It said that if an employer receives an incomplete certification, it can and should send the official form. If it doesn?t come back, it can deny FMLA leave and terminate the employee. (Miedem v. Facility Concessions, No. 11-20580, 5th Cir., 2012)

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US cancer screening rates decline over the last 10 years, finds new study

Dec. 27, 2012 ? The rate of people who seek preventive cancer screenings has fallen over the last ten years in the United States with wide variations between white-collar and blue-collar workers, according to a University of Miami Miller School of Medicine study published on December 27 in the open-access journal Frontiers in Cancer Epidemiology.

While earlier diagnoses and improved treatments have increased the number of survivors, cancer remains one of the most prominent chronic diseases and, last year alone, claimed the lives of more than 570,000 people in the U.S.

"There is a great need for increased cancer prevention efforts in the U.S., especially for screening as it is considered one of the most important preventive behaviors and helps decrease the burden of this disease on society in terms of quality of life, the number of lives lost and insurance costs," said lead author Tainya Clarke, M.P.H., research associate in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.

"But despite this," Clarke continued, "our research has shown that adherence rates for cancer screenings have generally declined with severe implications for the health outlook of our society."

For their NIH-funded study, Clarke and her team evaluated the cancer screening behaviors of the general public and cancer survivors to see if government-recommended screenings goals were achieved.

The study looked at cancer screening adherence rates for colorectal, breast, cervical and prostate cancers and compared the screening rates among the general public to all cancer survivors and to the subpopulation of employed survivors.

Results showed that the general public did not meet government recommendations for cancer screenings for any cancer types except colorectal cancer. About 54 percent of the general public underwent colorectal screenings, exceeding the 50 percent goal of the government's "Healthy People 2010" national health promotion and disease prevention initiative.

By contrast, cancer survivors, who are at an increased risk of developing the disease, had higher screening rates and underwent the recommended cancer screenings for all types except cervical cancer, which decreased to 78 percent over the last decade. The study also showed a decline among cancers survivors who sought cancer screenings over the last three years.

The researchers used the recommended cancer screening rates set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and looked at data from the National Health Interview Survey between 1997 and 2010. In total, 174,393 people were included in the study analysis, with 7,528 employed cancer survivors and 119,374 people representing the general population.

In addition, the study showed that among survivors, white collar workers had higher screening rates than blue collar workers -- a crucial discovery that Clarke hopes will help change current job-related policies and overcome disparities within different professions of working cancer survivors.

The researchers speculated that ongoing disagreements among the United States Preventive Services Task Force, American Cancer Society and others over screening guidelines, as well as the decrease in worker insurance rates over the decade may have influenced the decline in screening rates.

Clarke hopes that more comprehensive research will assess the combined factors affecting screening rates and lead to more effective workplace interventions and increase screening within each occupational sector.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Frontiers, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Tainya C. Clarke, Hosanna Soler-Vila, Lora E. Fleming, Sharon L. Christ, David J. Lee, Kristopher L. Arheart. Trends in Adherence to Recommended Cancer Screening: The US Population and Working Cancer Survivors. Frontiers in Oncology, 2012; 2 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2012.00190

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/0xGCgb7eTeM/121227080108.htm

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Expert Advice on Reinventing Your Professional Career | Business ...

Rare is the person today who earns a degree, is hired by a big company, and works there for the entirety of his or her career. According to data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people change jobs around 11 times over their working lifetime. It is not unusual today for workers in their 30s or 40s to go back to school and change professions altogether.

Business.com spoke with Amy Hannington, editor of TotalProfessions.com, about reinventing a professional career, and where to start when making that change.

Q. The progress report by the Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility and Child Poverty states that in the UK, having a job in ?the professions? ? forms of work requiring training and formal qualification ? is a key to social mobility. Yet many people can feel overwhelmed at the prospect of, say, giving up their hourly job and going back to school to train for a professional career. How can a person decide if it?s finally time to take that big step?

A. Yes it is true that being a professional involves training and qualifications. However, luckily, there are many other ways of taking ?that big step? without having to give up your paid work. Many professional bodies offer qualifications that can be studied for on a part-time basis, and others will take people on that are working at a lower level and let them train towards professional status while they work. Take a look at?http://totalprofessions.com/career-development to find out more.?We at TotalProfessions.com are working with professional bodies to encourage more of them to operate in this way, so that it?s not just a select few that are able to train for a professional career.?Fair access to the professions is background to all of our work.

Q. When a professional is downsized out of their job, what is the first step they should take toward finding a new one? Asking for references? Writing a new resume? It?s not easy to know what the next step is in a difficult situation like losing a job.

A. Unfortunately, in recent years, many people have been through experiences like this. First of all, it?s important to make sure that before this stage, you make sure you are part of a professional body or union. Also ensure that you are up to date in your profession and have proof of your achievements. If it does come to someone losing their position, then yes I would certainly recommend making sure that person gets references before beginning to work on updating their CV and looking for work. Networking with others in their field via social media and professional body events and the like is a great way to find new work.

Q. When making a career change, how can a person draw on their work experience and bring it into an entirely new profession?

A. In today?s job market, it is becoming more and more accepted that the majority of people out there have a diverse range of work experience from different fields. There are transferable skills in whatever kind of work experience a person has, but it?s important to give clear examples rather than talk vaguely about communication skills and so on. For example, if someone has taught English to children in Thailand, they have experience not only of teaching (for a career in teaching back home) but of working with children (maybe they fancy trying some youth work), linguistics (perhaps getting trained up as a translator), or leading activities (which might be useful for project management). You can see how those looking for work in a new field need to break down their experiences according to the most important skills for the profession they are aiming for.

Q. If a person is part of a professional organization, such as the American Bar Association or the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, what can he or she do to encourage young people to invest the effort and money required to become qualified for a profession, particularly with the cost of college so high?

A. Almost all professional bodies offer student subscriptions ? check out our Profession Finder to see specific examples. The requirements for student or associate members are also far less than those for full members, and professional bodies will support young people to work their way up the ladder, with the help of mentors, ?online resources and much more. Most professional bodies are incredibly proud of their younger members and will publish their stories of success widely.

Q. What are some signs that it may be time for a different career altogether? It?s tough in today?s economy to give up any paying job, but sometimes a career just isn?t a good fit. What are some signs that it may be time for a different career?

A. Although everyone has their bad days, it is important that people generally enjoy their jobs and find them rewarding. What this involves is different for everyone. I think gut feelings play a big part here, but sitting down and writing a list of pros and cons of your current career is not a bad idea if you?re feeling unsure. Sometimes, it might be that a change of employer, or going self-employed, is a better move for you than a change of profession. However, if you do feel that you?re just in the wrong field, you shouldn?t feel scared ? plenty of people are changing careers at many different times in their lives and there?s lots of support out there. The best people to turn to in this situation are the experts in your field (current or prospective) ? the professional bodies!

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Source: http://www.business.com/blog/expert-advice-on-reinventing-your-professional-career/

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CAR rebels say they don't intend to seize capital

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) ? A leader for the rebels seizing towns across Central African Republic says the fighters do not intend to advance on the capital.

Rebel Col. Djouma Narkoyo said Wednesday that his forces have continued taking control of towns in recent days because government forces are attacking their positions.

He says the rebels still remain open to dialogue with President Francois Bozize's government.

There is unease, though, in the capital of Bangui. Residents here say they're skeptical about the rebels' claim that they won't try to seize this city of about 600,000.

The rebels began their offensive earlier this month and already have gained control of at least 10 towns.

The alliance of three rebel groups is seeking to re-negotiate past peace accords with the government.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/car-rebels-dont-intend-seize-capital-151130464.html

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How to start your Day After on the BEST real estate foot-ing

Merry Christmas to All. ?Be Safe ? Enjoy the show showing 5 tips to being prepared in 2013 when it comes to buying a home.

We posted up a great article about if I only had 1 day to sell a home and if that day was Christmas.

How would you?

Top Tips for the Buyers in Real Estate:

Thanks for listening and reviewing our Santa Clarita radio show notes about First Time Buyer requests and needs.

Santa Clarita real estate and community events written about by Connor and Paris MacIvor with REMAX of Santa Clarita CA.? Turning to the most current real estate and housing market trends and news ? they release that information in the form of a Daily Santa Clarita real estate news update. They are also recognized authors on Google Plus and within the Santa Clarita real estate community.

Source: http://blog.paris911.com/2012/12/25/how-to-start-your-day-after-on-the-best-real-estate-foot-ing/

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How to make a website - Jojet - Internet Strategy blog - South Wales

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Recently I read a thought provoking post from Seth Godin titled ?How to make a website: a tactical guide for marketers?; it didn?t sit comfortably with me so after letting it stew for a while I decided to make a rebuttal.

The aim of Seth?s article was to help business marketers communicate their website vision better so that the whole process went smoother and, ultimately, the website appeared quicker. Fair enough. However, there were some flaws in his advice.

Be careful what you wish for?

The gist of Seth?s advice was this:

Let?s make the process take less time and be less hassle. Browse other websites and find the tech elements you want for your website (a shopping cart like this, a homepage like that), mockup the website in Keynote or Powerpoint and use that as your specification.

However, I have some issues here.

In my experience of designing websites, you have to be mindful of reaching for the tech too early. It?s all too tempting to be lured in and to spend time ?researching? what the competition are doing, and mistaking that for a strategy for deciding what your website needs (?ooh! look, their pages fip like a book..WE NEED THAT!?). What is right for one company and one website is not right for another. And who?s to say that the websites you are looking at are any good?! You could be copying poor websites & poor techniques; this is hardly laying the foundations for online success.

Where you should start

Competition research is fine and has its place but, in my experience, it is more important that the client brings the following to the table:

  • A clear idea of who they are & what their brand is
  • Who their audience is and what motivates them to buy
  • What products/services are they offering to their audience
  • The buying process of that audience

This is stuff which marketers should know really well (but don?t always).

And this is a gold mine of information which savvy website design companies will use as a starting point so that collaboratively we can create a highly polished piece of online marketing collateral.

Straw Man

If you have established the above information then, by all means, go further and map out how you think this experience should manifest itself online (e.g. a sitemap or mocking something up in Powerpoint). BUT treat this as a straw man only.

And use your straw man to communicate your vision to your web design team but the conversation should not be ?this is how it should look? or too prescriptive full stop. A good web design team will work with you on what you are trying to achieve and, armed with that, they can advise you on how that may be best achieved online. Brow beat your web design team at your peril.

Seth says ?Virtually all websites are not on the cutting edge of technology.? true, but that?s like saying ?Virtually all recipes can be made using ingredients you can buy down a local supermarket?; the skill is in understanding what ingredients to bring to bear for the end result; the magic is not so much in the ingredients; it is in the knowledge of how to bring it all together using a creative process.

Collaborative

I don?t want to start every paragraph with ?Seth says? but?

Last step: Hand the Keynote doc to your developers and go away until it?s finished

This is dangerous, dangerous advice.

Online success is rarely achieved by business stake holders and design creatives working in isolation; it is more likely that it is achieved by working collaboratively to bring your vision online. The process is iterative. And it needs input & ideas from various business stake holders along the way. Web design companies do not possess a crystal ball and if you want to avoid that awful moment when the curtain gets pulled back on the project and you start finding fault then I would advise you to be part of the process (yes, design has a regimented process) from day one. Design process is what achieves results; the design is just an output.

What you should concentrate on?

A word not mentioned once in the post is something which I would consider critical: content.

Without good content a website is dead in the water. And by cherry picking the process and trying to decide on (for example) what navigation system you think you need on your website, we run the risk of not concentrating on what we DO need to focus on. And that is the actual content of the website.

  • What content does the website need?
  • What form will that content take? (text, video, audio, infographic etc)
  • What content do we have already? (and what shape is it in?)
  • What new content do we need? Who will create it?
  • How will our content work on mobile?
  • How will we measure the effectiveness of our content?

Indeed, some website companies will push clients to create the content first before any further web design is done; concentrating the mind of the client on creating top quality content to engage their audience. Once we understand the message we can see how it needs to be applied to the medium.

Cutting corners

Seth suggests that in following his advice you will achieve results with ?less time and less hassle?. However, be careful on the corners you cut, quality results require time & effort.

Perhaps I misunderstood the advice offered in his article but, if I did, my concern is that other people will have misunderstood as well.

Joel

p.s. one good bit advice from the post was ?Don?t do any coding.?, however, to me this is self evident. It?s like saying ?Unless you are a qualified dentist, don?t perform your own root canal work?.

p.p.s part of me suspects that Seth knew his article would raise eye brows in certain quarters; perhaps he is not adverse to link bait ;)

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Source: http://blog.jojet.com/2012/12/24/how-to-make-a-website-could-seth-godin-be-wrong/

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Some see opportunity in baby boomer retirements - Charlotte ...

WASHINGTON With millions of baby boomers reaching retirement age, fears are mounting of the economic impact if they follow the pattern of previous generations by curbing spending and draining Social Security and Medicare benefits.

But the 78 million boomers ? born from 1946 to 1964 ? have always broken the mold in terms of setting trends, and some investors and business and community leaders see their retirement as no different. They see an unprecedented, multi-billion-dollar opportunity to offer new products and services to an active demographic group that?s expected to live longer than previous generations.

When Elizabeth Reighard started her fitness training business in Myrtle Beach, S.C., four years ago, most of her students were in their mid-30s. But now her client list is made up mainly of boomers, such as Mary Smith, 58, who hired Reighard to help her ?keep up with the grandkids.?

The demand for fitness trainers such as Reighard is expected to jump 24 percent over the next decade, largely because of baby boomers who want to stay healthy longer, according to the Department of Labor. ?I?m seeing it more and more. Seniors know they have to be in better shape to have less aches and pains,? said Reighard, who?s also a boomer.

The Census Bureau projects that Americans 65 and older will make up 19 percent of the population by 2030.

Community and business leaders in places such as the coastal towns of Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and Bluffton, S.C., are looking to the growing retirement community to help rekindle local economies. They?re rethinking sporting and shopping developments, as well as art centers, to attract on-the-go retirees looking for an array of activities.

Impact on the labor market

On the labor front, the health care industry is the most obvious benefactor of a longer-living active community. Demand for home-health aides is expected to grow 70 percent over the next decade.

Demand also will be high in less obvious fields, such as for architects, who will be called on to build senior-friendly communities; financial advisers, to help boomers plan their retirements; recreation workers, who?ll lead boomer-tailored excursions; and job trainers, who?ll teach the new workers called on to replace retirees.

?It?s only in Washington that 100 million people are viewed as an unaffordable cost and financial burden,? said Jody Holtzman, a senior vice president at AARP. ?In the private sector, 100 million people are called a market and an opportunity.?

Concern about a drain on entitlements from retiring baby boomers has increased as talks intensify over avoiding the fiscal cliff. The Congressional Budget Office warned in June of a shortfall for entitlement programs, as aging boomers would consume a ?significant and sustained? share of benefits from Social Security, Medicare and long-term-care services financed by Medicaid, the health care program for the poor.

Those projections fail to take into account that boomers are expected to work longer and they?ve never followed in the footsteps of previous generations, said Matt Thornhill, an author of ?Boomer Consumer,? a book that examines marketing to the baby boomer generation.

?We became the generation of consumption and personal gratification,? Thornhill said. ?Boomers are not going to spend at all like the prior generations did at 65. They?re going to spend at boomer levels. And there?s millions more of them.?

Jeet Singh, who helped develop e-commerce software used by online retailers such as Best Buy and J. Crew, said retirees hadn?t been treated with respect in terms of offering them well-designed high-quality products without announcing their ages.

?You just can?t fight the numbers,? said Singh. ?All these people are out there. They have needs. Whether it?s what they eat, what they buy, where they shop, how they vacation.?

?What?s your 50-plus plan??

Sam Farber created Oxo Good Grips in 1990 when he noticed that his wife had trouble holding kitchen tools because of arthritis, according to the company?s history. Farber saw a business opportunity in creating more comfortable cooking tools. Oxo now makes more than 850 products that appeal across generations.

Holtzman of AARP likes to share that story when he?s trying to inspire entrepreneurs. He?s met with hundreds of venture capitalists, encouraging them to ask one additional question when entrepreneurs are seeking startup money: ?What?s your 50-plus plan??

?The one question a startup doesn?t want to get from its board of directors is this one: ?Why did you leave money on the table by ignoring a market of 100 million people with $3.5 trillion to spend???? he said.

Source: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/12/24/3745104/some-see-opportunity-in-baby-boomer.html

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Happy Holidays Giveaway for Cats | Krazy For Pets Blog

Home ? Giveaways ? Happy Holidays Giveaway for Cats Cheer Deer

Cheer Deer

Since we have a give away for dogs, we don?t want any feline to miss a thing! We are?also giving away four (4) Cheer Deer cat toys by West Paw Design.??This adorable kitty toy is filled with USDA certified premium organic catnip and a tantalizing bell to ensure your cat will prance with joy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

  • Giveaway ends December 29th at 11:59 PM CT.
  • Open to Residents of the US only.
  • Prizes are West Paw Design - Cheer Deer.
  • Prizes cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
  • Four?(4) winners will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email.
  • Winner have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.
  • By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to Krazy For Pets alone. We do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner?Good Luck!!

Source: http://blog.krazyforpets.com/2012/12/24/happy-holidays-giveaway-for-cats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=happy-holidays-giveaway-for-cats

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