Health in the Work Environment

I've been thinking about a lot of things lately and this week's entry is about work space and health.

Today I went out to coffee/dinner with a friend I used to work with. I have realized a few things not only thanks to the chat we had but over the past few weeks just things that have happened at work that have pushed me to breakdown and even cry. My work space or work environment overall is not a good one. It has stifled my creativity for near three years now. I have put projects and even my own site on hold due to being mentally,  physically and emotionally exhausted by the time I get home.

Don't get me wrong, for those who know me and where I work currently, it's not the job itself that is frustrating so much as the environment where there is no room for growth or advancement, there is a lot of negativity among my peers about the job and a lot of pressure to do things in an unreasonable amount of time or expectations overall that we are going to be there for longer periods of time as if we have no life! So that being said a lot of us are not only sitting on our butts for 8 hours or longer and eating bad cafeteria food that sometimes turns out it has mold on it, but also we are sitting in a negative area where we have no windows, with re-filtered air, dust bunnies and what looks like mold/dust in the vents. 

Needless to say my coming cartoon that I have thought up thanks to my dad, which I have every intention of doodling out, is not far off of my cats taking calls and walking into the call center with gas masks and dust bunnies lurking around every corner and coming out from vents from the ceiling in the masses. Not only this but I don't know how many times I've caught people not washing their hands and just using sanitizer after using the restrooms or eating and the lounge computers that people actually eat at are not wiped down proper or cleaned either. The carpets look like they've been tramped on so much that no amount of cleaning or vacuuming is going to clean them. They use too much bleach which is overwhelming when mopping down the cafeteria floors, enough to make someone like me feel nauseated and I'm allergic to the stuff on top of it!  Also too they do not use sanitizing sprays that are good for the environment but are more chemical which I too am allergic to.

I also note that we do not have proper ergonomic set up for everyone that sits at the computer, this should be mandated and should be critical to those that are old and young alike that have arthritis issues etc. or even just in general, because let me tell you typing is hell! and even holding the mouse...talk about  the beginnings carpal tunnel!! My hand has frozen up like a charlie horse 3 times in the past 2 months and both my hands feel like they're going to fall off! 

I'm just waiting for my hand to freeze up in front of them so that I can say look at what is happening! However after my talk today I am going to go to the doctor, unfortunately it will have to wait until next week because I can't take time off, talk about pressure and you could lose your job after 4 points with no fed days left. I'm sorry I used my 10 designated days which by the way according to government these are not supposed to be used as "sick" days but family emergency days/bereavement days, because I had legit family issues and legit health issues that required, by doctor's note, to actually stay at home and rest. 

The majority of people who work where I work have stress/work related health issues, including anxiety such as myself, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, carpal tunnel, arthritis, asthma, viral infections, pneumonia etc. And I was even told by the doctor that my breathing issues, have to do with where I work. In fact right now as of yesterday I have a really scratchy and very sore throat and I just got over a cold, so I thought !!!

So after this talk, though I really want to wait until next year after my taxes are done, which I may still, I'm going to get my eyes and teeth done, use my benefits and find another job even if it means doing 2 part time jobs and quitting because it's affecting my health so much that I feel mentally, emotionally and physically like I just can't do it anymore. I'm barely keeping afloat when it comes to my health. Luckily I get a reset on those fed days starting in January and if I can just hold out until perhaps November then I just might be able to not be fired with getting hit with maybe a half a point or something. 

Sorry about the rant, I needed that but the point is that if you're in a work environment that you don't like and can't stand and health wise it's affecting you negatively, get out or make plans to do so! Also if you can't or are say in a job that you like but it is affecting your health such as sitting at a computer all day, try to make adjustments with the bosses or some how make accommodations using ergonomically set up keyboards and mice with wrist pads and chairs. Do stretches and try not to eat deep fried foods from a cafeteria or not to eat out if you can help it and make your own lunches. It'll be healthier in the long run!

Next week should have some new recipes and by the way as promised, though it's not super healthy, I did make a nicely flavored lemon meringue pie from scratch using natural lemon and probably less sugar than the store bought preserved ones. :) Here is a picture.. and that's only because this coming week is our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend :). I will probably gain a bunch but that will not stop me from trying or even attempting to work out! So without any ado here is a pic of my first ever lemon meringue pie, thanks to help from my awesome parents who assisted in putting it together! :)

Have a great week everyone and enjoy your holiday to all my fellow Canadians!