While Mexico City is the most painful commute in the Index that ranks the emotional and economic toll of commuting, Indian cities didn’t fare well either.

Drivers around the world are unsettled and anxious

The respondents report that traffic negatively impacts their stress levels, physical health and productivity. In fact, 70% in New Delhi report traffic as a key inhibitor to work or school performance. And 63% decided not to make a driving trip in the last month due to anticipated traffic.

In it’s official release Naveen Lamba, IBM’s global intelligent transportation expert, said: “Commuting doesn’t occur in a vacuum. A person’s emotional response to the daily commute is coloured by many factors – pertaining both to traffic congestion as well as to other, unrelated, issues. This year’s Global Commuter Pain survey indicates that drivers in cities around the world are much more unsettled and anxious compared with 2010.”

How to reduce commuter stress

You might think the daily office commute might not cause any noticeable problems to your body, life or lifestyle.

But then again there have been numerous studies – national and international – that claim that a commute can lead to not only stress but also physical ailments.

Driving ‘em crazy

According to a September 2011 city survey by a Pune spinal injuries hospital, 93% of the surveyed commuters complained about neck or backaches, 31% were diagnosed with combined neck and back problems moderate to severe in nature. Among those surveyed were banking, software, call centre, sales/marketing professionals as well as homemakers, pensioners and students.

According to a study conducted at the University of California, Irvine, researchers found that commuting has direct physiological effects of raising blood pressure and releasing stress hormones into the body. Not only that, long commutes (more than 27 km one way) may also increase the likelihood of having a heart attack due to exposure to high levels of air pollutants.

Extended commute saps the body, leaves little time for rejuvenation

“Continuously sitting in a state of stress leads to increased contraction of muscles and stresses the back and the neck. And if you use public transport, your body should be prepared for long hours of standing by exercise,” says Dr Harshwardhan Hegde, director, orthopaedic and joint replacement at Fortis group of hospitals.

Dr Bhavna Barmi, a senior clinical psychologist and corporate trainer says an extended commute saps the body and leaves little time for rejuvenation. “Although, you aren’t working, they are additional working hours. So you find yourself dealing with psychosomatic pains, chronic fatigue, heaviness in the head and a general lack of energy,” she says.

Commuting affects women more than men

Mentally, commuting affects women more than men, as a University of Sheffield, UK, research shows. The stress adds to the dual pressures of managing the household and office. Read a quick guide on de-stressing on the way to work.

For starters, check for city-specific smartphone apps that can help you in negotiating traffic.

                                      

The list includes replenishment of cover, lifelong renewal, two-three policy terms instead of one-year, and so on. Here’s a snapshot of five such novelties:

Restoration of cover

The last few months have seen a spate of products with this feature, which is being promoted heavily across the print and television media. While companies like L&T General and Apollo Munich have introduced entirely new products on these lines, with some variations; Star Health has incorporated the replenishment facility in its existing product.

This is how it works: If you happen to use up the entire cover amount in a year, the provider undertakes to restore the amount, subject to conditions. Under Apollo Munich’s product, the replenishment will kick in for any unrelated illness or in case of a family floater policy for any other family member.

Popular family floater policies

“This has been offered keeping in mind the popularity of family floater policies and for those policy holders who use up their entire amount within the year and have no coverage for the rest of the year, or for the remaining family members,” says Antony Jacob, CEO of Apollo Munich.

Star Health’s health plan offers to restore 50% of the sum insured while in case of L&T General’s product, the reinstatement facility is extended only in the event of accident-related treatment. The latter also promises double the sum insured if the treatment pertains to a critical illness.

The restore option

Remember, the restore option gets triggered only after the entire sum insured is exhausted. “So if your cover amount is Rs 5 lakh, and you make one claim ofRs 2 lakh, and another of Rs 6 lakh, the policy will pay Rs 2 lakh in the first claim and Rs 3 lakh in the second claim. Since the sum insured was exhausted in the second claim, the restore option begins and can be used only for a third claim,” points out Mahavir Chopra, head, e-business, medimanage.com.

This apart, you need to bear in mind the fact that the additional benefits will come at a higher cost compared to a standard product. Whether or not the extra premium is justified will depend upon your expectations and need assessment.

Life-long renewals

Thanks to Irda’s insistence on elimination of the exit age clause, all new products launched henceforth will have to promise life-long renewability. For long, senior citizens have complained that after collecting premiums when they were young and healthy, companies turn their backs on them as they cross the age of 60 by declining renewals.

Irda’s directive to health insurers will ensure that customers buying health insurance in future will not be subjected to such gross injustice.

Zero sub-limits

Most health insurance-seekers today are aware of the fact that their policies come with sublimits, that is restrictions on admissible expenses, pertaining to room rents, doctor’s fees, operation theatre charge, etc. However, some companies have done away with the ceilings.

“This year has been positive for customers as many providers, mostly the specialised health insurers, have removed sub-limits, allowing policyholders to enjoy policies without the hassles of worrying about what rooms they must occupy while in a medical emergency,” says Jacob.

Discounts for deductibles

Then, there are insurers like Bajaj Allianz who offer a discount if you voluntarily sign up for certain deductibles. In simple terms, it refers to the part of the claim – a pre-fixed amount, not percentage – you agree to pay before the company chips in with the balance. In case of Bajaj Allianz, the product promises a concession of 10% in premiums, if your chosen deductible amount is Rs 10,000.

“This is a good way to maintain budgets and plan on your mediclaim premium. Insurance is generally for expenses you cannot manage, and hence, there is a demand for deductible-based discounts. This is prevalent in the western countries,” says Chopra.

Retention benefits in focus

Emphasis is also being placed on no-claim bonus and other customer-retention features. In Apollo Munich’s product, with the restore benefit, for instance, the no-claim bonus can go up to 50%.

Another standalone health insurer, Max Bupa, pays for policyholders’ medical check-ups if they have had a claim-free year.

Premium for small cities

PSU general insurance major New India Assurance and smaller private insurers such as Bharti Axa and L&T General have introduced zone-based pre mium structure.

They have divided cities and towns into categories with those residing in smaller cities having to pay lower premiums. The rationale behind this structure is the variance in healthcare expenses across the country.

                                      

Anand Altekar, ET Bureau

You love the job you’re doing, but dread going to work every day. After all, there isn’t much value attached to your views or methods of working: your boss makes it very clear that it’s his or her way or the highway.

There’s no point in trying to talk to such bosses either: as far as they’re concerned, communication is a one-way street.

And they always know best. You have frequent thoughts of quitting, but the work is good, and so’s the pay. You needn’t give up hope – you can manage the authoritarian boss and even learn a few things along the way.

 Establish your credibility

Earn respect. Stay focused at all times. Do not beat around the bush while making a point.

“This will result in your boss trusting you more. Stand up to the boss, politely but firmly.

If you are convinced that your boss will not listen to you, find someone he or she is willing to listen to,” says Anupam Sirbhaiya, regional director India, Center for Creative Leadership.

Build a relationship

Everyone values relationships and this does not change in a professional environment. Focus on building a long-term relationship with your boss.”There are simple things that you shouldn’t forget. In a situation where the solution has multiple alternatives, always consider your bosses’ alternative.Make sure you do not reject authority. Do not oppose the boss in a public setting, do it in person if you have to,” adds Anupam.

Adapt to your boss’s style

Remember, your boss deals with different people differently.”Every boss has a different style. Authoritarian with some and communicative with others. Know where you fit. Work so that you enable this style to change.Give regular feedback even if it is met with a negative reaction from your boss.You will realise that it is surprisingly easy to get into the inner circle of an authoritarian boss,” says Ravi Saxena, founder and CEO, MISB Bocconi.

Learn from your leader

“When I was starting my career, my boss made me do things in a specific manner. Looking back, I think I wasn’t mature enough to appreciate what he was trying to do,” says Alap Mehra, deputy manager actuarial, Bajaj Allianz.Your boss has reached a certain level because he or she has done some good things. Keep your eyes open and learn from them.”Authoritarian bosses can sometimes be insecure. When you follow their methods and achieve success, let them know. Your boss is a person at the end and will appreciate it, which in turn will improve the communication. But make sure you don’t follow blindly,” adds Saxena.

Stand your ground

Even after trying everything, your boss is probably still being unacceptably authoritarian. But don’t quit just yet.”Bosses come and bosses go. Keep your eyes on your career and not your boss. If the boss is going wrong, then the management will notice it quicker than they notice your mistakes and appropriate action will be taken,” says Ravi.

                                      

Know your Strengths

“Don’t try to be everything for everybody. The last thing employers want to hear is someone is good at everything”, says Joy Nandi, client partner and practice lead at Korn/Ferry International. On occasion, though, being able to do many things at a time helps.

“Since companies are trying to reduce costs, there will be some positions open where a person is required to do two or three people’s jobs. A networking job is a typical example”, says Sanjeev Srivastava, president, Emerging Business Group, CL Educate.

Hone your skills

As a job seeker, a slowdown basically means your competition went up. Know how to beat it. “During a slowdown, companies will sharply cut their intake. But they will not stop hiring. Candidates should not only better their existing skills but also add more skills to their resume”, says Sujitha Karnad, senior VP, HR, Tech Mahindra.

Focus on Specific Cos

Even in a slowdown, some companies perform better than others. Focus on the better-performing ones. “Identify what about that company interests you – their product or service spread, their positioning, or something unique they are doing in the market,” says Nandi.

Try Other Avenues

Tough times call for tough measures.You may need to take a cut in salary, but you can do it in a smart way.

“If you are going to take a cut make sure you don’t lose out on deferred bonuses, employee stock options etc. Your take-home will take a hit but the wealth creation should not subside”, says Srivastava.

Don’t be Shy

Humans are social animals and there is no substitute for networking, “Posting your profile on every job portal out there won’t help.

Based on your target companies, figure out who in those companies should get to know you. Find ways to network with them.

Find their connections on LinkedIn and get an introduction. Meet over coffee. Interact during an industry networking event,” says Nandi.

                                      

Text: Sreeradha D Basu, ET Bureau

If there is one problem managers would love to avoid, it is dealing with employee mistakes. In an ideal world, everybody would do their work flawlessly and everything would proceed without a hitch.

But sine it isn’t a perfect world, managers may as well gear up for the challenge.

The idea is not to demoralise the employee, but to help the person use the situation as a learning opportunity. Here are some tips on how to get it right.

Don’t Make it Public

“The adage, ‘Praise in public, reprimand in private’ holds true,” says Meenakshi Roy, senior vice-president, HR, Reliance Broadcast Network. Never criticise in front of others.

If you want employees to be open to criticism, don’t alienate them by embarassing them. “You would do well to respond with this in mind,” she says.

Keep an Open Mind

There are always different sides to every story. Keep that in mind and get a 360-degree perspective of the situation. It may happen that extenuating circumstances have a role to play in the mistake.

“Once while confronting a junior about a mistake, it came to light that there were certain issues beyond his control. And others were affected as well. We fixed the loopholes, and that mistake was never repeated,” says Salil Seth, senior sales manager in an FMCG firm.

Don’t Lose your Cool

There may be times when the employee’s mistake is big or serious enough to make you want to blow your top.

Wait till you’ve calmed down enough to tackle the situation in a professional way, without losing your cool. Yelling and screaming is definitely not the way to go.

Look for the Solution

Get to the root of the problem, and do whatever is necessary to fix it. Sometimes, an employee who is otherwise efficient and enthusiastic, may lack knowledge or skills.

Provide the person with training. “Respond with an attitude of eliciting learning from the situation and course correction, rather than who, what, why etc,” says Roy.

Drive Home the Lesson

If you come down too hard on a person for the first mistake, it puts others in risk-averse mode, says Ma Foi Randstad MD & CEO E Balaji.

That way, people become very cautious and are loath to try something new. “A good organisation allows a mistake once.

But no manager should allow the same mistake the second time,” adds Balaji. “The manager needs to sit down with the individual and discuss the problems and its learnings.

It’s important that the lessons are learnt and communicated down the line, so the same mistake is not repeated.”

                                      

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