Workplace

Researchers from UCLA and the State University of New York-Stony Brook found that out-of-work Americans face [discrimination] that is unrelated to their skills sets or to the conditions of departure from their previous jobs.

"We were surprised to find that, all things being equal, unemployed applicants were viewed as less competent, warm and hireable than employed individuals,"

"We were also surprised to see how little the terms of departure mattered. Job candidates who said they voluntarily left a position faced the same stigma as job candidates who said they had been laid off or terminated."

"To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the psychological stigma of unemployment,"

An Arab waiter at the famed Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, is suing the establishment because he says he was forced to wear different name tags to keep from frightening guests. Mohamed Kotbi and his attorney, Joseph Killada join msnbc’s Thomas Roberts to discuss.

The world is faced with stigma and [discrimination] that can lead to violence and block the AIDS response. This impacts the lives of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - People, especially men, who feel any kind of discrimination, are likely to see their waistlines expand, according to research from Purdue University.

"This study found that males who persistently experienced high levels of discrimination during a nine-year period were more likely to see their waist circumference increase by an inch compared to those who did not report discrimination," said Haslyn E.R. Hunte, an assistant professor of health and kinesiology. "Females who reported similar experiences also saw their waistlines grow by more than half an inch. This shows how discrimination hurts people physically, and it's a reminder how people's unfair treatment of others can be very powerful.

Challenging traditional views of workplace anger, a new article by a Temple University Fox School of Business professor suggests that even intense emotional outbursts can prove beneficial if responded to with compassion.

Washington (CNN)– President Barack Obama has ordered the Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as only between a man and woman, according to a statement Wednesday from Attorney General Eric Holder.

"The president has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny," Holder said.

The key provisions in the law "fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional."

"Given that conclusion, the president has instructed the (Justice Department) not to defend the statute" in two pending cases in New York state, Holder said. "I fully concur with the president's determination."

With 11 police officers shot this week, one expert calls it "the most dangerous 24-hour period I've ever seen."

Psychological Harassment and Discrimination:

"The theme for Human Rights Day 10 December 2010 is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination."

"Human rights defenders speak out against abuse and violations including discrimination, exclusion, oppression and violence.  They advocate justice and seek to protect the victims of human rights violations.  They demand accountability for perpetrators and transparency in government action.  In so doing, they are often putting at risk their own safety, and that of their families."

Discrimination falls under workplace psychological harassment similar to sexual harassment.

Workplace psychological harassment and criminal psychological harassment can involve  psychological abuse and violence, discrimination, exclusion and isolation, oppression and subjugation, and torture.

Patterns and Trends of Human Rights Violations:

"Complaints to the Commissions focus on more systematic patterns and trends of human rights violations and may be brought against any country in the world."

A 31-year-old man dies in police custody after being Tased four times. HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell reports.

Police say two female postal workers have been shot and killed in a Tennessee post office shooting.

One possible hidden cause in some cases for people going "berserk" or becoming enraged is psychological harassment or criminal psychological harassment.

- Provocation can quickly lead to anger or the fight-or-flight syndrome.
- Humiliation can lead to rage. (rage shootings)

In Session's Vinnie Politan reports on a vicious teen trend in Florida.

Mobbing in Modern Society

Homelessness and cancer are 2 methods of getting rid of someone in an invisible fashion by organized crime and linked to suffering or setting an example.

A 22-year-old Kentucky beauty queen has been arrested, accused of stabbing a gas station attendant and biting a woman.

- In the video substance abuse, alcohol is said to be the cause.

Substance abuse can lead to violence but another possible hidden cause in some cases for people going "berserk" or becoming enraged is psychological harassment or criminal psychological harassment.

Many people were killed in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood. CNN's Ed Lavendera reports.

http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2009/11/06/lavendera.ft.hood.shootings.cnn.html

"Ask the Doc" investigates how many calories are being burned using an exercise ball in place of a chair.

KFOR takes a look at what two Oklahoma companies are doing to get their workers to lose weight.

- overall wellness knowledge will bring long term results at a cost saving perspective and also better health for the employees.
- seeing changes in employee health, you have to create the environment for the employee to be healthy.

- sitting on a ball is called active sitting and works the core muscles.
- sitting on a ball "demands good posture".

The doctors of Charity Hospital reflect on the struggles they faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The struggles or nightmare that hosptial staff and patients faced after Hurricane Katrina.

- A song "we are all a part of God's body".

- 36% didn't completely agree that it was their responsibility to report these colleagues in every case.
- 17% of doctors said they had known of a colleague who was impaired or incompetent in the last three years, but 1/3 of those did nothing about it.
- The American Medical Association (AMA) has a policy stating that doctors are ethically bound to report colleagues they believe are unfit to practice.

Metabolic syndrome refers to a collection of risk factors for diabetes, heart disease and stroke -- including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides. -- The syndrome is typically diagnosed when a person has 3 or more of those conditions -- found that it can double the risk of heart attack and stroke.

- For the transportation industry the work itself remained linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.
- The finding is in line with past studies, higher rates of heart disease and stroke among transportation workers.
- Factors such as irregular work schedules, poorer sleep habits, job stress -- might explain the link between transportation work and metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome overall U.S. risk 22%; Writers, artists, entertainers, scientists, engineers 8-9%; doctors, health professionals 12%; Transportation industry, construction 25%; Farm industry, food service 30%.