Why losing your sense of smell in old age is a major red flag

Why losing your sense of smell in old age is a major red flagWhy losing your sense of smell in old age is a major red flagLosing your sense of smell might be an early predictor of death, according to a new study.While a humans sense of smell dissipates with old age, elderly adults who had trouble identifying common scents are apparently knocking on deaths door, having nearly a 50% likelihood of dying within the next 10 years, according to a new studypublished in Annals of Internal Medicine.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe findingsResearchers examined more than 2,200 participants between ages 71 and 82 where they were administered a smell test of a dozen common odors that are experienced in daily life.Participants were given multiple choices and were asked to identify the scent, where they were then classified by a ranking system as either good, moderator, or poor based on the ir responses.Researchers found that those with poor olfaction had a 46% higher mortality at year 10 compared to those who were deemed to have a better sense of smell. The study also said those who scored poorly had a 30% more likely chance theyd die after 13 years.It tells us that in older adults, impaired sense of smell has broader implications of health beyond what we have already known, said Honglei Chen, an epidemiologist at Michigan State University. Incorporating a sense of smell screening in routine doctor visits might be a good idea at some point.When analyzing the data, researchers concluded that having a poor sense of smell was linked to deaths from Parkinsons disease, dementia, and chronic kidney disease.The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders claims smell disorders are caused after recent illness or injury. Common causes of smell disorders include smoking, dental problems, and chemical exposure.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 r ituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

5 Ways to Promote Happiness at Work

5 Ways to Promote Happiness at Work5 Ways to Promote Happiness at WorkI started Monday morning by going to fill my water bottle in the break room. Someone had placed a Post-it note on the water cooler that read You matter Id never seen anything quite like it at the office. I couldnt help but smile. Someone had brightened my day near the finance department where I sit, and I didnt even know who to thank for this inspirational message of happiness at work.When was the last time you made an effort to improve the workplace happiness of your finance kollektiv? Happy employees are good for business. They are mora engaged, loyal and productive.Report shows finance professionals could be happierIts an area finance managers shouldnt neglect. In fact, they have room for improvement, according to a new Robert Half report, ITS TIME WE ALL WORK HAPPY. Accounting, financial services and finance professionals scored fairly low in their levels of happiness at work, compared with employees in other f ields.Happiness comes from more than providing a foosball table in the lobby, collaborating with a colleague on a successful project or doling out bonuses. And you dont have to break the bank to make it happen.Find out more about how to build a happier workforce, one job at a time. GET THE REPORTHere are five of my favorite tips finance managers can use to improve happiness at work and make their teams feel appreciated1. Put it in writingA handwritten thank-you to your direct reports, colleagues or boss can be more meaningful than an email. Such an effort requires some stationery, a little extra time to craft and deliver, but is often appreciated by the recipient. Employers need to promote a positive culture that includes recognition and feeling appreciated to attract and retain great people.Fostering positive emotions through gratitude is easy and powerful, says Dr. Christine Carter, author and senior fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. The science on this is blazingl y clear. There are loads of research studies that show how much higher functioning people are when they feel appreciated by their teams and their manager.Takeaway Feeling appreciated is the biggest driver of happiness in the workplace for accounting professionals, according to the report.2. Conduct a teambuilding vorstellungIt could be a friendly Academy Awards or March Madness competition, an off-site volunteer event, or ropes course. Such activities can help staff learn more about their coworkers and boost morale in the workplace. Make sure its presented as optional or that theres something for everyone not everyone may be a movie buff or sports fan.Takeaway Workers who have a sense of camaraderie at work are 2.5 times more likely to be happy on the job than those who do not get along well with colleagues.Learn more about the anatomy of a happy employee in the infographic, below.3. Have a partyCelebrating coworkers milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers or good work can build comradery and bring employees together, especially if its for a good cause. Be clear that contributions are voluntary, and remember that happiness comes from more than just a free lunch or annual holiday party. If people dont feel valued by your firm, these perks wont make much of a difference.The key for managers is to express gratitude and to be really specific about the particular effort the employee made, Carter says, because thats when people feel seen and recognized.Takeaway Eighty-nine percent of managers in another Robert Half survey said their organization is good at showing appreciation to employees, while 30 percent of employees gave their firm low marks for it.4. Ask for inspirationTheres no secret ingredient to increasing happiness levels in the office. What works for a small CPA firm might not fly at a larger organization. Sure, you have to pay people well, but creating a great place to work where employees have pride in what they do begins with you.Un less youre a mind reader, youll never know what instills pride and motivation in your employees, until you ask. Then, follow through. Follow-up on that feedback and empower your employees to create a better workplace.Takeaway Salary benchmarks for finance and accounting positions in your city are available at Robert Halfs Salary Center.5. Give them a sense of empowermentEngaging your staff by giving them a chance to make decisions on their own, or with minimal direction, improves workplace happiness by making them feel more valued. Let them flex their creative muscles and influence important decisions in their jobs.Takeaway Only 47 percent of women in the happiness research say they exert influence on the job, compared to 55 percent of men who say the same. At large companies, 35 percent of workers say they have influence.As Todd Henry, founder of Accidental Creative and contributor to the Robert Half report, says, People are most invested in their work when they feel like they are part of something larger than themselves.Most studies show that happiness positively impacts the quality and quantity of work - and when you make employee happiness one of your top organizational priorities, its good for your business.If youre still not sure where to start to give your finance team a happiness boost, try a Post-it note, and be happy- Lisa Amstutz Lisa Amstutz Lisa Amstutz is the public relations manager for Robert Half Finance Accounting, the worlds first and largest specialized financial recruitment service. In her role, she translates key business needs and messages into communications strategies and develops the companys thought leadership. Shes a master collaborator, storyteller and former journalist. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives with her family.

New Jobs Posted Now as USPTO Gears Up for an Onslaught by Nicole Schultheis

New Jobs Posted Now as USPTO Gears Up for an Onslaught by Nicole SchultheisNew Jobs Posted Now as USPTO Gears Up for an Onslaught by Nicole SchultheisNew Jobs Posted Now as USPTO Gears Up for an Onslaught by Nicole Schultheisby Nicole Schultheis, Attorney-at-LawOn September 16, 2011, President Obama signed the America Invents Act, overhauling our patent system in order to stimulate our nations economic growth. At the same time, he announced new initiatives designed to help entrepreneurs create jobs. binnensee whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/16/president-obama-signs-america-invents-act-overhauling-patent-system-stim.The historic patent reform legislation is intended to speed the patent process so that products can be brought to market faster. Among other things it provides a fast track option for patent processing within 12 months, cutting the average wait time by a factor of 3.Although the legislation is intended to spur future jobs in the private sector, it is creating jobs in the public sector now. The new law provides additional resources allowing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to continue to combat a backlog of nearly 700,000 patent applications.On USAJobs.gov today, there are dozens of jobs posted for USPTO, representing approximately one in five of all jobs posted for the entire Department of Commerce. Posted positions include four for patent judges, two of which are in cutting edge fields (biotechnology and IT). Two are Senior Executive Service (SES) positions, including a new Director of Planning and Budget and a senior level trademark attorney. All posted positions are graded at GS-11 and above, covering broad areas of expertise, among other things, public affairs, security, engineers, economists, educators, and document management specialists.The new law provides additional incentives to help move ideas from bench to bedside. NIH, for example, will establish a new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). NCAT S will help biomedical entrepreneurs develop ways to reduce the costs and time needed to develop new drugs and diagnostics. An initial project involves partnering with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to hilfe development of a chip to screen for safe and effective drugs far more swiftly and efficiently than takes place now.In a related development, USPTO will collaborate with the National Science Foundation and Small Business Administration to help emerging technology companies take advantage of the USPTOs small business programs and resources. The USPTO pilot will support 100 grants, with more expected as the program takes off. This is designed to fit hand-in-glove with the accelerated examination process provided under the new America Invents Act. Again, this suggests additional federal jobs will be created as well.Those who wish to apply for current openings need to act swiftly. As has been widely reported, USAJobs is about to undergo its long awaited overhau l. Scheduled to be offline from October 6 to 12, 2011 (although they have been cagey about the precise dates until recently), USAJobs postings now all reflect closing dates of October 3 or sooner. Since new or unfilled positions will not be posted until some time later this year, prudence dictates applying for these positions now. Although avuecentral.com will continue to post jobs for their agencies Peace Corps, Forest Service, US Marshalls Office, Millennium Challenge, etc., and other agencies may accept applications via email, fax, and even the US Postal Service, all announcements for USPTO positions state prominently that applicants must apply online, meaning, through USAJobs.gov. In other words, if you are interested in a USPTO job, youve no time to wasteRead More About the USAJOBS 3.0 SystemLearn how The Resume Place can help you with your Federal Resume Writing every step of the way