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WINTER
KEEPING WARM AND WELL AT HOME THIS WINTER • Stay one step ahead of the weather. Tune in to the Met Office forecasts on the radio, TV and online at www.metoffice.gov.uk, or you can ring the 24/7 Weather Desk on 0870 900 0100 or 01392 885680.
MAKE THE FESTIVE SEASON YOUR OWN So it’s that time of year again. We’re bombarded with images of children frolicking in the snow, huge families laughing around a festive table and smitten couples exchanging gifts in front of the fireplace. The pressure is on to make these images come to life, or else! What about those of us who aren’t included in these snapshots? What if you’re single or without little ones to decorate the tree? More and more people are divorced and part of blended families who are dealing with multiple traditions and religions in the same home. There’s only one thing to do if you don’t belong in a traditional portrait: Make the festive season yours by creating your own traditions.
• Get your free flu jab if you are aged 65 or older, pregnant, have certain medical conditions, live in a residential or nursing home, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person.
WORK OUT WHAT YOU WANT. Set aside a couple of days early on to examine what you’re really looking for. If you had it your way, how would you paint the festive picture? Is the season about extended family or about solitude? Is this the time to explore cultural roots and reconnect with your beliefs or a chance to reach out to those who may be on their own? Forget about what everyone else says or what your mother has always done: What do you want your traditions to be?
• Set your heating to the right temperature – 18–21°C (65–70°F) – this way you can keep your home warm and your bills as low as possible. Set your heating to come on just before you get up and to switch off after you’ve gone to bed. If it’s very cold, set your heating to come on earlier and to turn off later rather than turning the thermostat up.
GOING IT ALONE, OR NOT. If you’re single, you might look into volunteer work at a local food bank or homeless shelter. Conversely, maybe you want to do something totally self-indulgent. What’s stopping you from spending time relaxing at a spa, hiking or biking, or hopping on a train somewhere else? Rely upon friends who may have all sorts of interesting things going on. Find the people who’ll welcome a guest, and then ask what you can contribute. Maybe you’ll help them fulfil their new traditions too.
• Keep the heat in. Fit draught proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors. Make sure that your loft has at least 10–11 inches (270mm) of insulation. If you have wall cavities, make sure that they are insulated too, and insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes. Draw your curtains at dusk and make sure that your radiators are not obstructed by curtains or furniture. continued on page 2
BLENDING A FAMILY MEANS STAYING FLEXIBLE. Blended families are faced with a particular challenge during the holidays. For children and adults, thinking about past celebrations inevitably brings back memories, good and bad. It’s important to talk about what each side of the family used to do and what the new family can do now to make things special. Be flexible – it may mean combining traditions or starting afresh. Planning can get complicated if the holidays are divided between families, but children often don’t mind celebrating more than once, in a different way in each home, no matter what date the celebration happens to fall upon. MAKE A LIST OF NOS. Just as important as your wish list is pinning down what you don’t want. Come up with a list of all the things that are not part of your ideal holiday, even if you may not be able to realistically eliminate them. Do you really want to deal with expensive gifts this year? Must you make an appearance at your neighbour’s annual party? Do you have to invite your husband’s ex-wife over for dinner? Include everything that makes you nervous just thinking about it. Call it a ‘stress list’. Then practise saying no. It may sound silly, but practise it in front of the mirror. You’ll probably find it works remarkably well when the time comes. TIMING IS EVERYTHING. If you decide to shake things up a bit, start planning early. Don’t ambush your loved ones at the last minute by opting out of the family meal and announcing a solo trip to Lapland, or throw a new tradition at the children on Christmas Eve. You may have shifted your outlook, but it could take some time for the rest of the world to join you. Adapted from Workplace Options. (Revised 2012). Make the holidays your own. London: Author.
WINTER • W ear lots of thin layers to keep warm – clothes made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres are particularly good and help to maintain body heat. Wear shoes with a good grip to prevent slips and falls when walking outside. • U se an electric blanket as instructed, and get it tested every three years. Remember never to use an electric blanket and a hot water bottle together. • A void catching colds or flu. Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw away used tissues as soon as possible, wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and use a hand sanitiser gel when you’re out and about. Stock up on over-thecounter cough and cold remedies. • F ood is a vital source of energy, which helps to keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day and keep active in the home, if you can. Stock up on tinned and frozen foods so that you don’t have to go out when it’s too cold or icy.
KEEPING WARM AND WELL AT HOME THIS WINTER continued from page 1
• Wise up on your finances. There are grants, benefits and information available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. It’s worth checking to see if you’re entitled to things like the Winter Fuel Payment, Warm Home Discount or Cold Weather Payment before the winter sets in – go to www.gov.uk or your EAP for more information. Compare and switch energy suppliers – switching to the cheapest dual-fuel, direct debit accounts could save you hundreds of pounds, and savings could be even higher for customers who switch from standard credit or pre-payment meters. If you use heating oil, LPG or wood products as the main heating source, you might be interested in joining a local delivery club to save money.
• H ave any cooking and heating appliances which burn carbon-containing fuels, flues and chimneys serviced at least once a year by a suitably trained, reputable, registered engineer. Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm that meets European Standard EN50291. Keep rooms well ventilated and stop using an appliance if you think it may be giving off carbon monoxide gas. If you suffer from repeated or severe headaches, or symptoms similar to those of food poisoning or viral infections, flu or simple fatigue and think that they could be caused by carbon monoxide, see your doctor at once. • M ake sure that open fires are properly ventilated. Use safety guards and don’t hang your washing near the open flames. If you use a fire or heater in your bedroom at night, always keep a window and the door open. Do not use a gas cooker or oven to heat your home – it is inefficient and there’s a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Public Health England. (Updated 4 November 2013). Keep Warm. Keep Well. Information for over 60s, low-income families and people living with a disability. Retrieved 27 November 2013 from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/254859/Keep_Warm_Keep_Well_2013_ WEB_FINAL.pdf
PG 2
WINTER
HERO, OUTLAW, STORYTELLER, WHISPERER…which role do you play at work? Practically every workplace is populated by people playing distinct roles. Each role has its own function in the organisation’s culture, and the roles fit together into an informal network which controls the company’s unplanned activities. Here are some of the different roles that may be in play at your workplace and some of the pros and cons: THE HERO. Heroes are larger-than-life figures who stand for the organisation’s cultural values. They demonstrate the behaviours that are valued in a workplace, and they do so much more effectively than any e-mail or training programme. Long-standing heroes are held in awe and are the focus of epic stories about going that extra mile again and again. Temporary heroes are role models du jour. They might be an employee of the month or someone who otherwise has been recognised for embodying the organisation’s values. IF YOU’RE A HERO: Your reputation precedes you. Everyone knows your name and most people like you. You have a leg up before you even start a project because everyone’s convinced you always do stellar work. However, people might be reluctant to criticise your ideas, and unless every idea you have is perfect, that could interfere with getting constructive feedback. THE OUTLAW. These brilliant performers ride the edge of what’s acceptable in corporate cultures. Corporate leaders tolerate them because of their outstanding performance. Smart leaders cultivate outlaws, recognising that change comes from the fringes. They do the outlandish things that take chutzpah, such as wearing shorts to a board meeting or taking parts from other areas of production to develop a new prototype. They often relieve tension with outrageous acts that become corporate legends.
IF YOU’RE AN OUTLAW: You express your individuality by walking on the wild side, providing vicarious thrills for your more sedate colleagues. Most likely, someone higher up protects you, so your outrageousness doesn’t harm your career. However, you can make people so nervous that they might be afraid to work too closely with you and, though it probably doesn’t bother you, you always run the risk of going too far. THE STORYTELLER. Storytellers bring context to the organisation’s twists and turns by sharing legends and stories with the uninitiated. The stories guide others on how they should behave to succeed in the culture. IF YOU’RE A STORYTELLER: You are the glue that keeps people holding onto the corporate values. You’re well liked, and you probably have a following to protect you in a crisis. However, the power of a storyteller lies in the spin. If you spin a story too much, you’ll lose your credibility and be seen as manipulative. THE GOSSIP. The gossip’s role is to circulate the daily news. Gossips keep everyone’s information fresh, although they’re not always serious – or accurate. Gossips have a nose for news, so you may see them sniffing around in the canteen or wherever people congregate. Although information may be power, as the saying goes, gossips typically don’t have much formal authority. IF YOU’RE A GOSSIP: You’re popular with people who want the inside scoop. However, expect some people to look down on you for being such an eager rumour-monger. There’s professional danger here too because your superiors might be angry if you spread news that’s inaccurate or supposed to be confidential, or if you announced it to everyone in a staff meeting. In addition, gossiping can be mean-spirited and sneaky. THE CONFESSOR. Confessors invite people to share confidences. They know the company history, and they’re accessible, mature and willing to help. They can fulfil some of the more senior staff’s responsibilities by serving as mentors and coaches. Confessors help keep the faith by offering guidance on how people should act. IF YOU’RE A CONFESSOR: Colleagues – including those higher up – confide in you, plugging you into the latest happenings. However, sometimes you hear things you’d rather not know and it can be frustrating to do all this listening without the authority to make changes. continued on page 4
PG 3
WINTER manipulate you because of your relationship with the boss. In addition, a change in management could see you floundering. THE TOXIC HANDLER. In times of upheaval, toxic handlers defuse anger and stress. They soften unpopular decisions so employees will accept them. They defend colleagues and listen to frustrations, such as those that stem from workplace change. This role is usually temporary and ends after the organisation recovers from its state of stress. People often gravitate to this role because of deep-rooted feelings about what the organisation stands for and about doing things the right way.
HERO, OUTLAW, STORYTELLER, WHISPERER… continued from page 3
THE WHISPERER. The Whisperer has the boss’s ear and possibly a large network beyond that. Whisperers can be visible or behind the scenes; they can be team players or self-serving. They can be intimidating, and the worst ones make powerful enemies. To bosses, their loyalty makes them indispensable. IF YOU’RE A WHISPERER: Access to those in charge is a powerful position to be in, but some people will fear you, and others may attempt to
IF YOU’RE A TOXIC HANDLER: You help people get through tough times and they appreciate it. You can take more risks than the average employee because you’re respected. However, it’s a stressful role – you strive to make everyone happy, and often you can’t. Be sure to take care of yourself. Don’t ignore the informal power structure at your workplace – like it or not, it’s how a lot of things get done! If you find that people often consult you for information or opinions, chances are they see you in one of these roles. If so, keep in mind that each role has the potential to do harm as well as good. And no matter what role you play at work, remember to treat everyone, regardless of their position, with respect. Adapted from Workplace Options. (Revised 2013, 11 October). Characters in the corporate culture. London: Author.
Workplace Options (WPO) has endeavoured to ensure that the information compiled for this edition of Lifelines is accurate. Notwithstanding this, WPO stresses that the information contained is in no way intended to be a substitute of any kind for medical, financial and/or legal advice given in the context of an individual professional consultation. WPO makes no representations whatsoever, either expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy of the information or its fitness for purpose.
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