Hand hygiene, which includes washing your hands with soap and water and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, like PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer, is one of the most important measures we can all take to reduce the spread of germs that can cause illness. Yet, oftentimes, questions may arise around using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. With that in mind, we have taken the most common questions and answered them for you.

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1. Is it safe to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers?
   PURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer is safe and effective. Ethyl alcohol, the active ingredient in PURELL Hand Sanitizer, has been used safely by the public for decades and is one of the safest and most effective antimicrobial ingredients known.
   
   
2. Can I use hand sanitizer safely multiple times a day?
   Yes. Numerous studies support the safety of long-term, repeated use of PURELL Hand Sanitizers. It is critical to practice good hand hygiene at key moments, such as before eating, after using the restroom and after touching objects that are frequently touched by others.
   
   
3. Is it better to use plain soap and water?
   Both handwashing and hand sanitizing are effective measures to help prevent the spread of germs that may cause illness. What has been proven in hospitals is that well-formulated alcohol-based hand sanitizers are better than plain soap and water at reducing bacterial counts on hands and are less drying and irritating.
   
   
4. Do alcohol-based hand sanitizers cause supergerms?
   Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill germs in a different way than antibiotics, and they are not left behind to let the germs either become resistant or become what some people call “supergerms.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no chance for the germs to adapt or develop resistance to an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, even with frequent use.1
   
   
5. Do all hand sanitizers work the same?
   No. When it comes to hand sanitizing products, formulation matters. The active ingredient is important but the total formulation affects the product’s effectiveness. The product also has to deliver good skin care performance and be likeable to use.
   
   
6. Does PURELL Hand Sanitizer really kill 99.99% of illness-causing germs?
   All PURELL™ products are tested against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms and have resulted in more than 99.99% reduction of those organisms.
   
   
7. Is it safe to use PURELL Hand Sanitizer for my children?
   Yes; PURELL Hand Sanitizer is safe and effective for everyone. It is important for all of us to practice healthy behaviors and hand hygiene, which includes using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, like PURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer, is one the most important measures we can all take to help us to stay healthy. Children under 6 years of age should be supervised when using any PURELL product.
   
   

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. Retrieved June 2, 2016, fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/science/index.html

Guest Blogger:
Samantha Williams
Director of Public Relations, GOJO Industries

Here are five tips on ways managers can create a more engaged work environment, while still remaining work-appropriate, during football season:

1. Show personality—especially management.
   If your organization is hosting an off-site event or giving you the opportunity to talk about personal interests, don’t be afraid to be yourself and share anecdotes or stories. If you’re passionate about sports, share that with your work team. Bosses may feel like they have to remain professional—which is not a bad thing—but that shouldn’t mean bosses can’t participate in the fun.
   
   By opening up and connecting with your team over a common interest like sports, you will build their trust and be able to better relate to employees and colleagues.|
   
   
2. Organize internal fantasy leagues.
   Fantasy football can be made into a fun, competitive team activity, which can boost teamwork and improve morale. Don’t try to control employees’ use of the Internet for fantasy football; instead, embrace the fact that employees will find a way to play fantasy football, so why not include the whole office and use it as a chance to de-stress and connect?
   
   
3. Host off-site events.
   These outings allow employees to get to know each other outside of the workplace and connect over a shared interest. Be sure to choose a venue that caters to multiple interests, such as a restaurant where coworkers can chat, eat and hang out in addition to watching the game, so less-sporty employees don’t feel excluded. Fostering strong friendships among employees is a proven indicator of higher retention.
   
   
4. Talk about personal interests or activities.
   Allow time in meetings for everyone to share something personal, such as what employees did over the weekend or an update on their favorite gridiron team’s progress. This is a way for colleagues to feel connected to each other’s lives without being invasive.
   
   
5. Encourage fun.
   Don’t discourage employees from spending a few minutes watching a YouTube clip or discussing a recent game. Employees shouldn’t feel pressured to work every second of every day. Knowing they can let loose and discuss personal interests in the office every now and then can reduce burnout and create a less stressful workplace.
   
   If companies really want to retain their best workers, they should train themselves to embrace some of the personal interests of their staff. Any effort to outlaw such interests, like the use of company computers for fantasy football, is shortsighted. People will always find moments to sneak in football conversations or manage their fantasy football teams on their smartphones, so organizations should instead embrace football season and reap the benefits of increased employee engagement.

Guest Blogger:  Halley Bock

Adjustable Desk Riser
This riser gives any desk or table sit-to-stand flexibility, so you can take advantage of the health benefits of actively standing throughout the day. There's even an adjustable keyboard tray that moves with you to make typing more ergonomic!

Monitor Desktop Mounts
These mounts attach to your desk or table with clamps and easily adjust to the perfect angle, thanks to the gas spring counterbalance arms.  They feature USB ports for connecting and charging your devices.

Adjustable Height footrests
Three different settings offer maximum support and comfort for your feet!

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Hammermill has donated more than $1.7 million to support St. Jude. In 2016, we will do more by donating a minimum of $250,000 to their life-saving mission.

As you know, medical care is expensive. It costs $2 million dollars per day to operate St. Jude. We ask you to consider joining us in supporting St. Jude. Together we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and their families. If you want to do more, by purchasing Hammermill paper you support St. Jude!

During the month of September, Twist is raising awareness and partnering with International Paper. Our drivers will be wearing Hammermill shirts and hats to support the cause.  We will be passing out samples of Hammermill paper.  Help Twist make a difference and raise awareness for childhood cancer.

The workplace has changed radically in the past few decades. It’s hard to believe that my father had a huge roll-top desk in his office. It was as big and as hard to move as a piano! He knew he would work at that desk in that office for his entire career. Same job, same office, same desk. Imagine?

Today, people switch career streams and employers regularly. Most people work in a variety of locations. I am self-employed and am regularly on the road for speaking engagements and workshops. I work from home, on commuter trains, in hotel executive business suites, at off-site office pods, and even from my car. As a society, we are always on the move with laptops, smart phones and data filled USB sticks.

This generation is also more likely to integrate our working hours into our personal life. Who doesn’t take work home? And that means we also integrate personal activities into our workday too.
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Keeping ourselves organized when we don’t have a “home base” can prove challenging, but I have created systems for myself that allows me to move information with me by using Post-it® Full Adhesive Notes which I can affix to the lid of my laptop and the back of my phone. The full adhesive surface means they won’t peel off when I pull my computer in and out of its case, or when I toss my phone in my purse.

The great thing about Post-it® Notes with adhesive backing is that I can grab the grocery list that is stuck on the fridge and stick it on my computer so I remember to stop at the store on the way home. I then grab the list from my computer and re-stick it to the handle of my grocery cart. The note goes where I go.
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Thanks to hands free technology, I use my driving time to return phone calls. I write the names and phone numbers on a full adhesive Post-it® Note on back of my phone. Today I had a call that I knew I needed to ask three specific questions so I scribbled those on my phone’s Post-it® Note and adhered it to my car’s dashboard as a way to jog my memory.

he great thing about Post-it® Notes with adhesive backing is that I can grab the grocery list that is stuck on the fridge and stick it on my computer so I remember to stop at the store on the way home. I then grab the list from my computer and re-stick it to the handle of my grocery cart. The note goes where I go.
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Thanks to hands free technology, I use my driving time to return phone calls. I write the names and phone numbers on a full adhesive Post-it® Note on back of my phone. Today I had a call that I knew I needed to ask three  specific questions so I scribbled those on my phone’s Post-it® Note and adhered it to my car’s dashboard as a way to jog my memory.

Guest Blogger: Inspiration That Sticks

Working in an office typically involves spending a great deal of time sitting in an office chair.  It is important to have an office chair that's ergonomic and that supports the lower back and promotes good posture.

You may ask yourself…What Kind of Ergonomic Office Chair is Best?
Well, we have an answer:  There are many types of ergonomic chairs available for use in the office. No one type of office chair is necessarily the best, but there are some things that are very important to look for in a good ergonomic office chair. These things will allow the individual user to make the chair work well for his or her specific needs.
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What Features Should a Good Ergonomic Office Chair Possess?
First thing fist, consider the "conventional" style of office chair, there are a number of things an ergonomic chair should have, including:

• Seat height. Office chair seat height should be easily adjustable.
• Seat width and depth. The seat should have enough width and depth to support any user comfortably. Usually 17-20 inches wide is the standard.
• Lumbar support. Lower back support in an ergonomic chair is very important. The lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting for long periods without support for this curve tends to lead to slouching.
• Backrest. The backrest of an ergonomic office chair should be 12 to 19 inches wide. If the backrest is separate from the seat, it should be adjustable in height and angle
• Seat material. The material on the office chair seat and back should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time.
• Armrests. Office chair armrests should be adjustable. They should allow the user's arms to rest comfortably and shoulders to be relaxed.
• Swivel. Any conventional style or ergonomic chair should easily rotate so the user can reach different areas of his or her desk without straining.

 

​A great way to start is treating yourself to a Delicious breakfast!  Do you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day!?!?  By eating breakfast you can:

1. Enhance your memory
2. Concentrate more
3. Get your daily intake of nutrients
4. Prevent cold & flu
5. Help with with gain

KIND snacks offers a healthy breakfast choice!  Check out this simple recipe that you can enjoy at work and at home:

Make Granola Grand!!
Create a breakfast parfait by layering yogurt, granola and fruit.
​It is a healthy combo that will keep you energized, thanks to its fiber and protein.

​Kinda funny how coffee - the #1 perk to keep office productivity percolating - is traditionally the biggest underachiever in the office.

Well, you don't need to be a barista to give your java some extra jump. Just a little thinking outside the coffee maker can take your brew from ho-hum to woo-hoo