Short takes: Political change, social media, wellness incentives and disincentives, gender identity, work-life

Change is in the air – Michael at Human Race Horses tells HR managers that, “Your world is going to change one way or the other. Get ready!” Check out his must-read post about 7 People Who Will Change Human Resources in 2009.
To tweet or not to tweet? – Melanie Holmes of Contemporary Working has some interesting statistics about the prevalence of social networking tools. But should we be concerned about the ubiquity and 24/7 nature of work communication that these new tools afford? Are social networking tools addictive? Jeffrey Hirsch of Workplace Prof Blog raises the issue of whether employers could have any liability for technology addiction. Related: Charlotte Huff has an excellent article that discusses Staying Afloat in a Digital Flood at Workforce.
Wellness incentives – Fiona Gathright of Corporate Wellness Insights looks at a recent study on the use of incentives in wellness programs. She also reports that there is some political support for incenting employers to enact wellness programs, but notes that it will be important to set the right tone for such programs. David Williams of Health Benefits Blog talks about the flip side of the coin in his post on the ethical considerations of financial penalties for unhealthy behaviors.
Gender identity – Michael Fox of Jottings by an Employers Lawyer posts about transgendered workers in the mainstream press, citing a statistic that 322 major companies have added gender identity to their diversity programs.
Work-life balance – Thoughts from Training Time reports that a fear of layoffs is affecting employee vacation plans – many are deferring because they fear a temporary absence from the workplace could lead to a permanent one. The post suggests several tips for managers to help their employees allay their anxiety and avoid burning out. Related: Freek Vermeulen makes the case for work-life programs in Harvard Business.
Longevity – There are about 250,000 centenarians alive today, including several hundred “supercentarians” aged 110+ years. Find out your chances of reaching 100.