APG Newsletter March 2024

HUMAN RESOURCES

REMINDER OF UPCOMING COMPANY HOLIDAYS

MEMORIAL DAY

Monday, May 27, 2024

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Thursday, July 4, 2024

LABOR DAY

Monday, September 2, 2024

How can I do a better job delegating tasks at work?

Many supervisors adhere to the adage, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” However, no one person can do everything. Supervisors who try to do everything themselves are not really managing and they risk losing their focus at work. Yet some managers hesitate to delegate tasks, even if relinquishing smaller duties allows them to give attention to bigger projects. This may be due to inexperience with delegation.

Delegating tasks helps with time management, eases stress, improves productivity and encourages cooperation between colleagues. Here are tips to help with the process:

• Be positive and upbeat: Employees will be motivated to take on the work when supervisors have a good attitude about the tasks and the abilities of the individual or team trusted with the project.

• Apply the Golden Rule: Treat those who are getting assignments the same way you would like to be treated. Use courteous words like “please” and “thank you.” Offer praise when a job is done well. Studies show many employees feel unappreciated at work. Simple words of encouragement help return positive results and help retain employees.

• Plan ahead: Determine what tasks can be delegated. Take into consideration time constraints, a person’s abilities to do the job and whether an individual or group would better handle the assignment.

• No employee is a mind reader: If the supervisor does not know what he or she wants, the person getting the assignment will not know either. Be clear about the vision of the project, goals, timeline and specific tips or instructions that are helpful. Make sure all expectations are spelled out and that the employee understands before beginning the task. It is more difficult to fix something that was done incorrectly than to be clear and have it done correctly from the start.

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• Do not micro-manage: A supervisor needs to trust the employees. If not, he or she will constantly worry about tasks getting done appropriately. Supervisors need to understand that people have different ways of working. Allow employees the space to complete tasks in their unique ways to meet deadlines. Some employees may show creative or leadership qualities that were not apparent before.

• Do not abandon them: Just because work has been delegated does not mean the employees should be left alone until the project is complete. Let employees know it is acceptable to come back and ask questions as the task moves forward. Follow up to make sure employees remain on task and everything is going smoothly, but allow for ownership. Giving employees ownership of a project allows them to take responsibility for completing the job. Simply, they will be more passionate about what they do.

• Keep track and give feedback: Offer insight for improvement if necessary and acknowledge a job well done when it is due. Keep a log of delegated tasks, how well they were completed and how well the deadline was kept. This will help you delegate tasks in the future and know which employees to turn to in the future for specialized duties.

Eyestrain – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Eyestrain is a common condition that occurs when your eyes get tired from intense use, such as while driving long distances or staring at computer screens and other digital devices. Eyestrain can be annoying. But it usually isn't serious, and it goes away once you rest your eyes or take other steps to reduce your eye discomfort. In some cases, symptoms of eyestrain can indicate an underlying eye condition that needs treatment.

EYESTRAIN SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

• Sore, tired, burning or itching eyes

• Watery or dry eyes

• Blurred or double vision

• Headache

• Sore neck, shoulders or back

• Increased sensitivity to light, called photophobia

• Difficulty concentrating

• Feeling that you cannot keep your eyes open

COMMON CAUSES OF EYESTRAIN INCLUDE:

• Looking at digital device screens

• Reading without pausing to rest your eyes

• Driving long distances and doing other activities involving focusing for a long time

• Straining to see in very dim light

• Having an underlying eye problem, such as dry eyes or uncorrected vision, called refractive error

• Being stressed or fatigued

• Being exposed to dry moving air from a fan, a heating system or an airconditioning system

HOW IS EYE STRAIN TREATED OR MANAGED?

You can usually treat eye strain with lifestyle changes. These may include wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses for certain types of activities. Taking breaks from reading, writing and driving can also help reduce eye strain.

One main suggestion for reducing digital eye strain is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. This rule says to take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away from you every 20 minutes.

Other treatment (management) tips for eye strain include:

• Using lubricating eye drops.

• Adjusting your lighting based on your activity.

• Using a humidifier.

• Quitting smoking. Smoking is harmful to your eyes.

What

BlueCard Worldwide®

Healthcare Coverage when you are traveling or living abroad.

Health Care Coverage Wherever You Go

When you are a Blue Cross member, you take your health care benefits with you when you are abroad. Through the BlueCard Worldwide program, you have access to medical assistance services, doctors and hospitals around the world.

To take advantage of the BlueCard Worldwide program, whether you are traveling or living abroad, please follow these steps:

Before you leave, contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota for coverage details. Coverage outside the United States may be different.

Always carry your current member ID card

In an emergency, go directly to the nearest hospital

If you need to locate a doctor or hospital, or need medical assistance services, call the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center at 1-800-810-BLUE (2583) or call collect at 1-804673-1177, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An assistance coordinator, in conjunction with a medical professional, will arrange a physician appointment or hospitalization, if necessary.

Call the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center at 1-800-8102583 or collect at 1-804-6731177 when you need inpatient care. In most cases, you should not need to pay upfront for inpatient care at BlueCard Worldwide hospitals except for the out-ofpocket expenses (noncovered services, deductible, copayment and coinsurance) you normally pay. The hospital should submit your claim on your behalf.

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In addition to contacting the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center, call Blue Cross for precertification or pre-authorization. Refer to the phone number on the back of your member ID card. Note: this number is different from the phone number listed above.

To learn more about BlueCard Worldwide:

• Call Blue Cross

• Visit www.BCBS.com/bluecardworldwide

• Call the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center at 1-800-810-2583 or collect at 1-804-673-1177

You may need to pay upfront for care received from a doctor and/or hospital. Then complete a BlueCard Worldwide International claim form and send it with the bill(s) to the BlueCard

Worldwide Service Center (the address is on the form). The claim form is available from Blue Cross, online at www.BCBS.com/ bluecardworldwide, or the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center.