This Week's Herman Trend Alert Navigating the Next Year

The Herman Trend Alert May 21, 2008 Secondhand Smoke Injures Heart Cells Whether you live in the United States, Brazil, or China, study after study has documented the negative effects of smoking; a just-published study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) documents the seemingly permanent adverse effects of secondhand smoke. For a while, we have known that the children of smokers are one-third more likely to develop serious lung disease. (In high school, Joyce was the victim of her mother's secondhand smoke.) However, this recent study confirms "brief exposure to secondhand smoking increases the risk of vascular [fluid carrying systems in the body] disease and [should be] a major public health concern". The increased risk of heart disease is significant. The study followed a group of healthy nonsmokers (average age of 30.3 years) who were exposed to 30 minutes of secondhand smoke on two separate days. The levels of smoke were gauged at the same levels commonly observed in passive smokers. For the non-secondhand smoke environment, researchers simply used smoke-free air. Measurements were taken before exposure (baseline), immediately after (0 hour), and at one hour, 2.5 hours, and 24 hours after. Findings were startling. Only a 30-minute exposure to secondhand smoke resulted in indications of heart cell damage and decreased blood flow. Twenty-four hours following exposure, though normal blood flow resumed, there was continuing evidence of heart cell damage. Our forecast: all insurance companies will begin to ask prospective policyholders if any member of the family is a smoker. (Some already do.) There will be greater discrimination against smokers and their families. Hopefully, more smokers will be encouraged to quit, based on research like this study. In addition, wise employers will extend their wellness programs to the families of employees to eliminate this risk for their workers. In the short term, there will be an opportunity for marketers to capitalize on this addiction by offering "smoking vacations" and other social opportunities for smokers to be with other smokers in an inclusive environment. More countries around the world will choose to isolate smokers. Special thanks to Ernie Clevenger who publishes MyHealthGuide, one of my sources for staying up-to-date on development in medicine. (www.MyHealthGuide.com). © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." RESOLVE TO ADDRESS EMPLOYEE TURNOVER IN 2009 If you knew just how much money turnover is costing your company, you would have handled it ages ago! Turnover costs A LOT and it comes right off the bottom line. Let The Herman Group and its team of very experienced consultants help you address your turnover issues right away. We have an impressive track record and stand ready to help you. Call Carol at 800-227-3566; international, call 336-210-3547 for a no-obligation conference call. EMPLOYEE RETENTION BEGINS WITH GOOD SELECTION If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. To read this Herman Trend Alert on the web: http://www.hermangroup.com/alert/archive_9-24-2008.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. 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