Risk & Business Magazine CEO/CFO Business Today Magazine Winter 2018 | Page 29

VACATIONS, UNPLUGGING AND BIOPHILIC DESIGN supported disconnecting while on vacation, 18 percent said the culture was unsupportive, and not surprisingly, they reported higher levels of stress than the group who felt their company culture allowed them to unplug. But both groups reported feeling stressed with the prospect of totally detaching from work. Merriam-Webster defines vacation as “a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation.” Reflect on your company’s culture regarding the use of technology to keep in touch with the office wherever and whenever. Do your employees have permission to spend time away from business? Consider how you could change that culture to give your workers the freedom to truly disconnect and refresh their minds and bodies. BIOPHILIC DESIGN health. Introduce biophilic design by creating an outdoor sitting area or walking path and encourage employees to spend their break time outside. If that isn’t practical, place plants and pictures of nature throughout the office. Even the sound of an indoor fountain, natural light through windows, and artwork and other visual depictions of nature can be calming and contribute to a feeling of well-being. + Green space and natural settings can have a profound positive effect on mental Carol Showalter has been with Snider, Fuller and Stroh since 1987.  She works with business clients on their group benefits by designing and implementing life, health, and disability programs, and assisting with interpretation of and compliance with governmental regulations.  Carol has been an independent certified Kolbe Specialist since 2004, trained to assist with employee hiring, retention, and team building. Carol works regularly with the CEO, CFO and the HR staff of our business clients to provide cost competitive and compliant benefit plans. Carol earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Rutgers University and a MBA from Ohio University.  She is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) qualifying as a fellow since 1989. Making Ohio smile since 1960. Delta Dental of Ohio has helped make smiles brighter and healthier across the state for more than 57 years. We are dedicated to using our experience and expertise to do dental better for you. Thank you for making Delta Dental of Ohio the top choice for dental benefits! Learn more at www.deltadentaloh.com. Kelly McClain Account Executive 614-776-2303 [email protected] BY: CAROL SHOWALTER