Sick but at work? Study finds it's worse in the long-run

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) – Sick but still going to work? You'll probably end up taking more sick days in the future than colleagues who stay at home when unwell, according to a Swedish study.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet of Stockholm found that employees who often go to work feeling sick -- termed "sickness presenteeism" -- have higher rates of future work absences due to illness.
Gunnar Bergstrom, who led the study, said these findings suggest that measures attempting to decrease work absences could inadvertently have the opposite effect and show that taking sick-leave when appropriate benefited the workplace.
"Discouraging workers from staying home when they are sick could lead to increased sickness presenteeism, and thus inadvertently increase sick leave," Bergstrom said in a statement.
"This underscores the importance of sickness presenteeism in the evaluations of such interventions and considering the effects from a long-term perspective."
The study, published in the June issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, was based on research involving two groups of workers -- about 3,750 public sector employees who were mainly female, and 2,500 private-sector employees who were mainly male. In the first year of the study, 19 percent of public sector workers and 13 percent of private sector workers had more than five "sickness presenteeism" days.
For these workers, the risk of having more than 30 days of sickness absenteeism the following year was 40 to 50 percent higher that for employees who had less days sick in the office, after adjustment for other factors.
Bergstrom said recent studies have shown that sickness presenteeism is common, with most employees saying they go to work sick at least sometimes.
Poor health is one likely risk factor for sickness presenteeism, but other job-related and personal factors could also play a role, according to the researchers.

Obama declares that it's time to fix health care

President flies to Wisconsin to host town hall meeting on industry reform

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Surrounded by supportive citizens in the heartland, President Barack Obama challenged lawmakers back in Washington who criticize his proposed health care overhaul. "What's the alternative?" he said Thursday.
A dispute over Obama's desire to create a new government-sponsored health plan to compete with private insurers is forming a major obstacle to bipartisan consensus on health reform.

OFFICIAL:CRISTIANO RONALDO to MADRID

There has been a world record, unconditional offer after the player asked to leave. Now all will be concluded by the end of the month.

EPL: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United v Arsenal (PA)Manchester United have confirmed they have accepted a world-record bid from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo after he once again asked to leave the club.Madrid have been courting the Portuguese international for two seasons after he stated it is his dream to play for the Spanish giants, but United had rebuffed a series of overtures made by former Madrid president, Ramon Calderon.Now, Los Galacticos mastermind Florentino Perez has retaken office at the Santiago Bernabeu and vowed several star signings and having already begun with Kaka coming from Milan on Monday for around €65 million, the second highest transfer fee of all time behind the €73m paid by Madrid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.With a world record fee in the region of €94m agreed, it is widely expected that negotiations with the player - who asked to leave, despite promising to stay all season - will not be protracted.The deal is expected to be concluded by the end of the month, if not sooner.An official Manchester United statement read, "Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.""At Cristiano's request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player."Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice."

Jackie O's Half-Brother Under Investigation ..

The black sheep half-brother of Jackie Kennedy Onassis is at the center of a scandal that has stunned his illustrious clan.
Police in Ashland, Oregon raided the home of 62-year-old Jamie Auchincloss and allegedly found child pornography.
"I don't think I've done something that harmed anybody. I don't think I'm that type of person," he said.
Following his sister Jackie's death in 1994, Auchincloss spoke with INSIDE EDITION. The two share the same mother but had different fathers. "Those who don't know, tell and those who tell, don't know," said the glamorous former First Lady's brother.
When Jackie married John F. Kennedy, her little brother carried the train of her wedding dress. He was just 6-years-old.
She also asked him to walk close to her in JFK's funeral procession.
However, a rift opened when the very private Jackie accused him of divulging family secrets. "I had talked fairly freely about different things," Auchincloss told INSIDE EDITION.
After his sister's death he left behind the social whirl in New York and Newport, Rhode Island to start a new life in the small town of Ashland.
Police raided the Auchincloss home nine months ago but the story leaked to the media just this week. No charges have been filed and Auchincloss says he was wrongly accused by a disgruntled former employee.

Singing Anthem Girl Breaks Losing Streak

She's done it again! 7-year-old Gina Marie Incandela is one lucky charm. Every time she sings, her team, the Orlando Magic, wins!Tuesday night, the Magic needed her more than ever. Down two-nothing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, they called up their go-to girl. Gina, who was born with a speech impediment and is autistic, raised the roof with her rousing rendition of the National Anthem and broke the Magic's losing streak! They won!After her performance, Gina ended with a big finish and blew kisses to her fans.

A Presidential Pool Party!

Some eye-popping photos featuring former President George H. W. Bush are burning up the internet! The elder Bush is seen in one photo with a bikini clad woman sitting on his lap. In another, his wife Barbara poses with a chiseled hunk in a Speedo.
So who are the sexy citizens hanging out with the former President and First Lady?
They're actors from the traveling production of A Chorus Line, starring Lorenzo Lamas.
After seeing the show in Maine the Bushes invited the whole cast to their compound at Kennebunkport for a pool party to celebrate Barbara's 84th birthday.
INSIDE EDITION obtained home video of the cast serenading the former First Couple. At one point Lamas cozies up to the birthday girl while singing her a song.
With the whole country now talking about the presidential pool party, the Bush family is said to be "not thrilled" that cast members chose to post the photos on Facebook.

Oil Rises Above $71 As Inventories Fall

NEW YORK -- Crude-oil futures rose to end above $71 a barrel Wednesday for the first time in more than seven months after government data showed a surprising decline in last week's inventories, as imports fell and gasoline demand picked up. Crude inventories fell by 4.4 million barrels in the week ended June 5, the Energy Information Administration reported. Analysts surveyed by energy information provider Platts had expected an increase of 800,000 barrels. July crude rose $1.32, or 1.9%, to end at $71.33 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, closing at the highest level for a front-month contract since Oct. 20.