Managing debt was among the top New Year’s resolutions this year.
Family Service Thames Valley counsellors Wendy Pearson and Reinhold Hemrich offer Western employees advice on how to balance work and life through the Employee Assistance Program.
With many individuals and families facing economic uncertainty and feeling stress or anxiety, The University of Western Ontario is encouraging employees to seek the professional assistance that is readily available if pressures get difficult to manage.
This help isn’t new – it has been available for years – but it becomes more valuable when personal circumstances or outside forces, like the economy, get in the way of a satisfying lifestyle.
Western provides its full-time employees and their immediate family members with free counselling and the shelter of anonymity through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at Family Service Thames Valley to help with personal and work-related issues.
In addition to financial consultation services and credit counselling, EAP offers help for psychological, emotional or relationship concerns of all kinds.
About 10 per cent of faculty and staff and their families currently use the services provided at Family Service Thames Valley.
“If you have a concern about something in your life, it’s better to call or come and talk to us before it becomes a crisis,” says EAP director Richard Lyke. “It’s better to catch things early on.”
Employees don’t have to wait until the situation becomes unbearable before contacting the counsellors. Family Service Thames Valley offers several preventative workshops and services, including those for managing finances.
“Time-to-time we all feel overwhelmed. You will feel better to manage it,” says Lyke. “It is useful to go and talk to somebody as reassurance and get some skills that are helpful.”
Employees don’t have to worry about bumping into their co-workers or managers, because they are seen away from the university and the records are kept offsite, he says, adding contact with the university is at arm’s length.
“It helps people maintain anonymity,” he says.
The economy certainly isn’t the only trigger heightening stress levels at home and at work.
Family Service Thames Valley also offers support to employees and their families for relationship issues, depression or anxiety, conflict, separation and divorce, parenting, eldercare and childcare, and addictions.
Every employee that qualifies for EAP is permitted 12 counselling sessions per year and the same number is allocated to each immediate family member. Family Service Thames Valley offers short-term, confidential counselling on a variety of issues, but if a longer commitment is necessary, Family Services Thames Valley will make a referral to another resource in the community.
In the case of an immediate concern, employees are encouraged to contact Family Service Thames Valley’s 24-hour helpline to speak with a counsellor.
“We have a real understanding of the specific issues people face in their working lives,” adds Lyke. “If you feel you are ready to use this tool, we are here to help you.”
Increased stress levels often affect work performance. Jane O’Brien, Associate Vice-President (Human Resources), says the counselling program benefits Western by keeping employees happy and healthy.
“This is a benefit that employees have been provided with at Western for a long time and it is there as a support for personal, family and professional issues,” she says.
“During these times, families are experiencing lots of change and also, because of the age of the population, losses, and speaking with a counsellor can be extremely helpful during these times.”
Face-to-face counselling appointments are scheduled within three business days. Telephone and web-based counselling sessions can also be arranged. “It supports the whole family and that in the end supports the employee,” she says.
Employee assistance
Information about Western’s Employee Assistance Program can be found at www.uwo.ca/humanresources/facultystaff/comp/benefits/eploy_assist_idx.htm.
To book an appointment, contact Family Service Thames Valley at 519-433-0700 or e-mail fseap@fseapthamesvalley.com.