sonofsanta Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Caffeine could limit damage of chronic stress | Ars Technica Chronic unpredictable stress alters neural circuits in the hippocampus. It dampens mood, reduces memory performance, and increases an individual’s susceptibility to depression. The researchers studied this phenomenon in mice... Just like humans experiencing chronic stress, the mice showed weight loss and memory deterioration. The mice also demonstrated helplessness and loss of interest in stimuli, which are markers of depression in mice. After being chronically stressed, the mice were exposed to caffeine in their drinking water. As expected, caffeine reduced the mice’s depressive symptoms. Additionally, it improved the memory impairment in these mice. Does this mean we should be able to claim tea & coffee back as a healthy & safety expense, like we can with eye tests? 1
halbaradkenafin Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 I've had memory problems for years (I think) but don't drink coffee, maybe I should start and see if that helps the memory problems. Then again my gf drinks a few cups a day and still have memory problems so maybe not.
RichCowell Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 We can claim eye tests?! I never knew this! Yes, for users that use computers / display screen equipment for 4+ hours day... it's always been the case... I've not looked to see if it's changed recently, but they should also cover the cost of the lenses, and a basic frame IF you need them for computer use. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf MSD - FAQs - Display Screen Equipment - HSE
HarryMonkey Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 That is correct, I just had my test paid for as well as £40 towards the cost of glasses. (I think you only get the contribution towards glasses if your optician states that you need them for computer use, rather than just needing them generally). We have to get a form filled in at the time of the test which has a tick box that states that you need the glasses for VDU use and so the optician always ticks that and I get the £40 back. I bought some from Specsavers for £85, got a free pair as well, and so only paid £45 for two really nice pairs of specs
halbaradkenafin Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Going in for a test myself at the weekend, I'd arranged it myself but I'm going to contact HR and see if I can get them to pay for it and glasses (last test was 10 years ago and they said I needed them for computer use then so I doubt it's changed).
RichCowell Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Going in for a test myself at the weekend, I'd arranged it myself but I'm going to contact HR and see if I can get them to pay for it and glasses (last test was 10 years ago and they said I needed them for computer use then so I doubt it's changed). There's probably a form you need to get from HR that the optician will need to complete or sign for you to be able to claim, so make sure you hear back from them before the test as you probably won't be able to claim after the fact...
halbaradkenafin Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 There's probably a form you need to get from HR that the optician will need to complete or sign for you to be able to claim, so make sure you hear back from them before the test as you probably won't be able to claim after the fact... That's what I thought, I know I'd had a special form in the past when I was a student but this is information I just got back from HR: There is no corporate procedure for claiming back the fees for eye tests or contributions for glasses. Please note that the DSE Regulation guidance advises that employers are only required to pay for glasses if the eye test identifies that they are required solely for DSE use. Employees should seek advice from their manager to ascertain how this is applied in their service area. A copy of the eye test is required along with a certificate stating that corrective lenses are used for DSE/VDU use only. The fee for reimbursement is taken from guidance in form HC12 which is at the following link: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Documents/HC12%20April%202013.pdf Which is pretty easy to get an optician to sign for as I know some of the staff at the place I'm going to, just seems odd they don't have an actual procedure in place for this as I'd imagine it's something quite a few staff would need to use due to how many people work with computers for 4+ hours a day.
XiJ Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 With this, two bars of chocolate per day and staring at boobs adding 5 years to your life, I'm pretty much immortal.
RichCowell Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) That's what I thought, I know I'd had a special form in the past when I was a student but this is information I just got back from HR: Which is pretty easy to get an optician to sign for as I know some of the staff at the place I'm going to, just seems odd they don't have an actual procedure in place for this as I'd imagine it's something quite a few staff would need to use due to how many people work with computers for 4+ hours a day. Get back to them and let them know it does say they are obliged to provide / pay for the eye tests, but it doesn't say solely it says: "Your employer will only have to pay for spectacles if the test shows you need special corrective appliances (normally spectacles) that are prescribed for the distance the screen is viewed at. If an ordinary prescription is suitable for your DSE work, your employer does not have to pay for your spectacles." So it's not solely for DSE use, it's you need them for reading at that distance... Which is quite different, and they shouldn't get away with their interpretation... Edited June 18, 2015 by RichCowell 1
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