‘Health & Wellness’ Category
Monday, January 11th, 2010
by Patrick Gaul
Building and maintaining a board of directors can be a challenge for many organizations. Ideally the motivation for a potential board member should be passion for the service your agency provides. It is also important to have the right mix of board members. “Diverse boards are better able to expand capacity and weather tough times” according to the article Board Diversity: Your Biggest Challenge in the May/June 2009 issue of Nonprofit World.
If you are looking at ways to improve development, why not look at the things you highlight when recruiting employees? Are there any benefits that can be efficiently extended to board members?
I recently had a conversation with an administrator at a non-profit Ease@Work customer. She had been telling a board member about the new fitness coaching service we had recently added to our program. This board member was interested in this service because, like most of the US population, she was looking for help with weight loss.
She called us to ask if they were allowed to include board members in the census of covered employees. My immediate answer was yes, of course she could. When I checked their contract I learned she could even do so without incurring any additional cost because adding their board members would not increase their numbers beyond the maximum allowable under our agreement.
Ann Kent, the Non-Profit Services Director at Business Volunteers Unlimited told me, while there are no laws against offering something of value to a volunteer board member, our customer should check her organization’s bylaws. In this case, since this agency can offer our program to their board at no cost, it is highly unlikely that the bylaws will forbid it. In most cases our agreements are based on a per employee rate. Even then, at approximately $2 per employee per month our program should be well within any limits set in the bylaws.
In many cases the benefits offered by your organization will be too costly to extend to your board members and may not be needed by the board member. Health insurance comes to mind. Your board members probably already have access to an EAP as well. However, if they work for a large national company they probably do not have an EAP that offers as many high quality local resources like in-person fitness or nutritional consultations. When they find out how inexpensive it is, they’ll applaud you for making such a wise benefit choice.
Tags: board benefits, board development, board diversity, board member recruiting, fitness coaching, nutritional coachig, wellness
Posted in Health & Wellness, Management Support | Comments Off
Friday, January 8th, 2010
By Valerie S. Nosek, Ease@Work EAP Coordinator
As a business owner, manager or human resource (HR) professional, have you noticed a rise in employee use of sick time? Or, have you seen an increase in employees and their family members using health care benefits? Has there been a spike in employees accessing your employee assistance program (EAP) benefit?
If so, you’re not alone. According to a report published by the Associated Press, “Growing worker stress reflected in benefits use, Watson Wyatt survey says,” more and more employees are calling in sick and using their health-related benefits.
Not surprising during a down economy, said Shelly Wolff, a representative with Watson Wyatt. “Wolff said sick day increases are often tied to job stress, which can trigger health problems. Companies that cut jobs frequently heap more work on remaining workers.”
The Watson Wyatt survey supports Wolff’s conclusions, with 78 percent of those surveyed saying that “excessive work hours” were a leading cause of stress for them.
As for increased health care usage, the cause may be two-fold. One: job stress can trigger or exacerbate health problems, resulting in a need for professional medical care. Two: the employee may feel that they and their dependents need to use their healthcare benefits while they still have them. (I know I have personally heard employees say they were going to have some procedure done that they had been putting off, just because they were uncertain about the security of their job and wanted to make sure they had their medical issues taken care of before a possible reduction in force.)
Sometimes a lay-off or reduction-in-force is the only fiscally responsible decision for an organization. Most of the time, the focus is on the employee being laid off or terminated – after all, their world is being turned upside down. But after the dust settles, what happens to the employees who are left behind?
Managers and HR professionals need to be tuned-in to recognizing signs of employee stress after a major change to the work environment. While organization leaders are not expected to be mental health professionals, they should have access to expert advice. Managers and HR can call their EAP at any time for a management consultation if they want help with dealing with a stressed-out employee. The EAP should also provide onsite management training for dealing with behavior issues.
Understand that any type of relevant change may cause a grief-reaction in employees. Change can be painful and disruptive and there can be an element of loss for “what was.”
- Employees may be in denial – “I can’t believe this is happening.”
- They may resist change – “They don’t know what they’re doing.”
- They may think or say – “I was fine with the way things were before, so I’m just going to keep doing things that way.”
Employers should also recognize many employees experience emotional issues with major changes at work, home or when combined. Management can help employees move through adjustment phases and return to high levels of productivity more quickly if they help employees navigate the process. This may mean acknowledgement of the feelings and grief they may be experiencing.
Asking your EAP to conduct an on-site debriefing may be appropriate if you have a lay-off or staff reduction situation. This on-site program can help both those leaving and the employees who remain. And, while it may be more obvious as to why this type of session can help those being laid-off, what management often forgets is that those who remain to do the work also have emotional reactions that impact productivity the workplace – they may feel guilty about having a job when a long-time co-worker and friend is no longer there, they may feel stressed by having additional responsibilities, they may worry that their position is next to be cut.
Your EAP can also provide other seminars to assist employees negotiate through times of change, whether your concern is based in changes employees may be experiencing in the workplace or at home. Seminars on change management topics may be helpful, as may a seminar about managing stress or on a motivational topic such as how to rediscover passion for your work or optimism.
Tags: benefit utilization, excessive work hours, health benefits use, health benefits utilization, health insurance utilization, job stress, sick days, sick leave, sick time, stress, worker stress
Posted in Financial & Legal, Health & Wellness, Mental Health | Comments Off
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Don’t Be HoliDAZED by the Holidays!
By Valerie S. Nosek, Ease@Work EAP Coordinator
Stress enters our lives on almost a daily basis – deadline pressures at work, a less-than-perfect personal relationship, the honking horn behind you in a traffic jam…And most of the time, we manage the stress and move on. But the holidays seem to bring with them a heightened element of stress for many. Now, not only do we have to contend with all of our “normal” stressors, but we also have the added pressures that come from our own, and other’s expectations of us, regarding what the holidays should be like.
Just last weekend, my family and I went out to pick and cut our tree. (Yes, we celebrate the Christian holiday, but stress does not discriminate based on beliefs!) So, there were a number of families there – children romping between the trees, squealing in delight; a couple holding hands riding out on the horse-drawn wagon to choose their first tree together; multiple generations of families selecting trees for their homes. And then there was “the mean dad.” (That’s what my kids called him.)
This father was obviously on stress overload from the whole tree-picking process. He had just dragged his family’s tree back to the barn to pay and was waiting to have it tied onto his car. While standing in the haphazard line, you could see his impatience growing – shifting from foot to foot, anxiously looking at the tree farm workers to see which customer they were helping, frown on his face. Meanwhile, his wife and two children (which were about 5- and 9-years-old) were smiling and laughing…and yes, making noise.
He looked at them a couple of times, and said, “Shhh.” But they continued to play while waiting. When the children started tugging on his sleeve and asking if they were going to decorate the tree when they got home, he snapped.
“For crying out loud,” (he really used some other colorful language involving the Christmas babe’s name separated by the action version of a slang word that is forbidden in our house),”we just took two hours picking out this damn tree and we don’t even have it home yet, now you’re asking me if we’re gonna decorate it today.”
All of a sudden, everyone was looking at him like his head was spinning around like Linda Blair’s in the Exorcist. He had succeeded in quieting not only his kids, but everyone else around him. His wife, quickly and in hushed tones, herded the children into the car.
Certainly (and I’m not making excuses for his behavior), this man was probably dealing with other stressors in his life that resulted in an inappropriate reaction. The expectations of his family, perhaps combined with his perception of getting a tree as being his responsibility as a father, may have been the stress factor that put him “over the edge.”
Now, not all of us may be as stressed as that person was, but to varying degrees, most of us will feel a bit of holiday stress. Watch out for the following symptoms.
Physical Symptoms:
- Headache
- Sleep irregularities
- Rapid heart rate/chest pain
- Increased blood pressure
- Weight loss or gain
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue
- Reduce immunity /Resistance to illness
- Digestive problems
Emotional Symptoms:
- Irritability
- Nervousness/Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Trouble concentrating or problem solving
- Difficulty resolving conflicts
- Unexplained or irrational sadness or anger
- Excessive/Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Know your sensitive spots…in other words: What are the triggers that really get to you and elevate your stress levels? Some common ones during the holidays include:
- Family or certain family members
- Personal relationships
- Emotions surrounding the holiday
- Financial issues
- Overindulgence in food or alcohol
Once you are aware of the danger zones, you can take precautions to manage the stress, even if you can’t completely avoid it. Some suggestions might include:
- Manage the reality of the holiday and don’t buy into the fantasy promoted by popular media. It’s impossible to create the “perfect” holiday as portrayed on television, magazines or the Internet. Honor the traditions that you can and create new ones that fit into your lifestyle. Base your holiday on love and balance it with your responsibilities to work and family.
- Decide to set family differences aside, if only for the holiday. Try to accept family members and friends as they are.
- Keep up your healthy habits during the holidays. These will help you keep a routine, which helps with balance and stress. Set aside time for yourself to relax and exercise.
- Set a budget before you go shopping and stick to it. Plan ahead financially for party and travel expenses. And, if your stuck in a money crunch this year, don’t be afraid to cut back on spending for gifts. Don’t go into additional debt now that will add to financial stress in the new year. Instead, get creative with either homemade gifts or the gift of expertise in a particular area, for example: offer to paint a friend’s kitchen, mow an elderly relative’s lawn for the summer, or put up items to sell on craigs list or e-bay for someone who does not have a computer or is not computer saavy.
If despite your best efforts, you still find yourself feeling stressed or sinking into a holiday hole – don’t be afraid to ask for help. Seek support from those around you – friends, relatives, religious or social services. And remember, many employers will have an employee assistance program (EAP) that is there to help you with exactly this type of situation.
If you don’t know who your EAP is or how to contact them, ask someone in your human resources department for that information. You don’t have to tell your HR person why you are calling the EAP, as EAPs operate as a confidential benefit service for employees.
Tags: christmas expectations, eap and stress management, employee assistance program and stress management, healthy habits during holidays, holiday expectations, holiday spending, holiday stress, holiday stressors, managing holiday stress, managing stress, stress symptoms, stress triggers
Posted in Health & Wellness, Mental Health | 1 Comment »
Friday, November 13th, 2009
 Starting a fitness program doesn't have to be complicated...it can be a "walk in the park" with a little guidance from a good fitness coach.
The Best Time to Start a Fitness Program
By Valerie S. Nosek
When is the best time to start a fitness program? Whether you’re talking about diet or exercise, people often vow to start health and wellness activities at particular times…how often have you heard:
“I’m starting my diet on Monday.”
“After the holidays, I’m going to start eating better and exercising.”
“When I get back from vacation, I’ll work on getting in shape.”
But really, the best time to start a fitness program (if you don’t already have one in place) is right now. Unfortunately, procrastination is often used as an excuse for putting off the positive action that could be taken immediately.
One person who has been successful at lifestyle change put it this way:
“Your body does not know what day it is…Procrastination leads to a cycle of days, then months, then years. If you are thinking about starting a fitness program or a diet, put down your Twinkie and start now, not tomorrow!”
The article, “Procrastinating Health & Fitness,” went on to point out “not many people procrastinate brushing their teeth, using toilet paper, or combing their hair before going out. Most people consider this personal hygiene as a non-negotiable part of life.”
Shouldn’t diet and exercise be on this list as a non-negotiable? We think so.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
When Benjamin Franklin made the remark above, he could have been talking about what we know about disease prevention and wellness today. Health care professionals agree that the majority of chronic diseases are preventable (or even reversible in some cases) when people make healthy lifestyle choices.
“Nutrition, smoking cessation, substance abuse prevention, stress reduction and exercise are all modifiable lifestyle risk factors,” said Stephanie Patek, an Ease @Work acccount representative and certified fitness coach.
Getting Started
Employees should always check with their doctor. It’s always important to start with the healthcare provider in order to find out if there are any current health risk factors that would impact an exercise plan. (However, even with certain health issues, a fitness plan is not out of the question. It just has to meet the criteria or limitations your employee’s doctor specifies.)
Encourage use of available resources. “Insurance usually doesn’t cover preventative wellness services, such as nutritional or fitness coaching, until problems surface or symptoms show,” Patek says. So “think outside the box” on how to access needed information and/or support.
Libraries offer a wealth of educational resources on health, wellness and fitness…at no out-of-pocket cost! Use library resources to develop a “get started” plan, or step-up a plan already in place.
Suggest employees find a mentor in a friend who is practicing a healthy lifestyle.
Explore programs at the local community center, church, YMCA/YWCA or other fitness center. Watch for free informational wellness-related seminars at hospitals or healthcare centers.
Wellness committees and human resource professionals. Many employers have already implemented wellness initiatives in the workplace; others, aware of the need for a healthier workforce, are in the process of developing programs. Find out if your employee assistance program (EAP) is a comprehensive provider. Does your EAP offer nutritional coaching, smoking cessation, fitness coaching along with stress management?
And don’t forget…awareness is key. Your EAP should be your partner in promoting awareness of available wellness programs by providing flyers, employee newsletters, on-site visibilities and seminars.
Call us, we can help…Ease@Work offers comprehensive and fully integrated EAP services. We also offer assistance with developing or expanding your organization’s wellness program.
Tags: eap and wellness, employer wellness committee, fitness coaching, health and wellness, human resources and wellness programs, nutritional coaching, wellness initiatives, worplace wellness
Posted in Health & Wellness | Comments Off
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
The latest victim of the economic recession could be your health. According to a recent AARP survey, Impact of Economy on Health Behaviors, one in five adults ages 45 and older are suffering health problems due to financial stress. The survey details the health care problems and challenges many Americans are facing because of the current economic situation.
“Right now people are increasingly concerned about their jobs, retirement savings and simply being able to provide for their families and it’s taking a major toll on their health,” said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director. “It’s a harsh irony that worrying about being able to afford health care is actually causing health problems.”
Key findings from the AARP survey include:
- 20 percent of people 45 and older reported health problems due to financial stress.
- About one fifth, 22 percent, have delayed seeing a doctor due to cost.
- 16 percent had to use retirement savings or other savings to pay for medical care.
- 21 percent have cut back on other expenses in order to afford their medical care.
- One in six, 16 percent, are not confident they will be able to afford health care this year.
The survey also found that health problems due to financial stress is having a greater affect on individuals 45-54 and 55-64, than on those ages 65 and older (22 percent and 25 percent vs. 13 percent, respectively).
Insurance Premiums on the Rise
Mounting health care costs are contributing to the financial woes felt by many. Over the last five years health insurance premiums for families have increased by 65 percent. The average cost of health insurance for an American family now exceeds the yearly income of a minimum wage worker. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, insurance premiums have increased 119 percent from 1999 to 2008, while workers’ earnings have risen just 29 percent.
With increasing premiums and deductibles, preventative care is more important than ever. Staying healthy is one way of keeping dollars spent on medical care in check.
Ease@Work can help your organization develop an employee wellness plan and we can help you in promoting existing wellness initiatives. In addition to traditional EAP services, Ease offers nutritional coaching, legal and financial consultation and resources to employees – giving individuals a full compliment of employee assistance services for better health and well-being.
Tags: financial health, financial stress, health and wellness, wellness initiatives
Posted in Financial & Legal, Health & Wellness, Mental Health | Comments Off
Friday, August 21st, 2009
By Kelly Satola, MS, RD, LD and a contracted dietitian with Ease@Work
How would you rate your nutrition knowledge and food choices? Registered Dietitians (RD) are food and nutrition experts trained to help you take the science and put it into action. Dietitians can help you to:
Although sometimes called “nutritionists,” true nutrition experts are required to obtain a degree from an accredited university or college, complete a supervised internship, become registered, and maintain continuing education. In Ohio, dietitians must also be licensed (LD).
Eating Healthy on a Budget
Especially through tough economic times, it is important to eat healthfully. Added stress and long work days can lead to weakened immune systems and even weight gain. Dietitians are experts at working with your schedule, budget, and lifestyle, allowing you to make beneficial changes without unrealistic expectations or spending a fortune at specialty food stores.
Ease@Work offers Nutritional Coaching as part of the employee assistance program’s full compliment of Work-Life Services. Keeping organizational wellness in mind, the addition of Nutritional Coaching as an expanded EAP benefit offers employees access to the preventative healthcare assistance of a registered dietitian, a benefit not covered by traditional health care plans. This may not only help keep healthcare costs down for the organization, but it also supports wellness programs for a healthier, and more productive, workforce.
Tags: dietitian, employee nutrition, employee wellness, nutrition, nutritionist, registered dietitian, wellness
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
By Valerie S. Nosek
Anyone who has ever smoked knows how difficult it is to quit. I know because I smoked all through college and well into my adult life.
As I got older, and was well-hooked into the habit, I thought about quitting almost everyday. But then I’d feel stressed and felt I needed a smoke, or worst yet, I just wouldn’t even think about what I was doing and light up.
At the time, if you wanted to quit smoking, you basically went cold turkey. The gums and medications we have today weren’t available then to help smokers quit. (OK, I’m dating myself!) The point is, I can understand how smokers today, who want to quit, look to anything that will assist them.
But a recent article from CNN highlighted concerns about two drugs commonly prescribed to assist those who are trying to quit smoking. The article, Two Anti-Smoking Drugs to Carry Mental-Health Warnings, pointed out that while we know “smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death,” those using prescription medications Chantix and Zyban need to be aware that the medications have been reported to cause changes in behavior, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
The article quotes Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research as saying, “The risk of serious adverse events while taking these products must be weighed against the significant health benefits of quitting smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States, and we know these products are effective aids in helping people quit.”
I know people who have used Chantix when they were quitting smoking. One person did very well with the prescription, the other did not. The person who did not do well with the medication was fortunate in that she was tuned in with her emotions and moods, so that she immediately recognized changes in her own behavior and feelings. She reported these to her doctor, who then took steps to take her off the prescription.
Recognizing that quitting smoking is the best thing that smokers can do for their health, the FDA does not say that these prescription aids for quitting should be avoided. But they do emphasize the importance of being monitored by your physician.
If you or someone you love is thinking about quitting, gone are the days of the solo mission. There is help available.
Look to:
When I quit smoking, I know the company I worked for offered an employee assistance program (EAP), but I never thought to go there for help. The EAP was promoted basically for those needing coping or mental health assistance. Now that I work for an EAP, I realize that a comprehensive EAP offers so much more to employees and their families.
Counselors skilled at helping people with other habits and addictions can be just as helpful when used for smoking cessation. And, if smoking is related to stress, counselors can help to develop a smoking cessation plan that starts with stress coping techniques.
Believe me, anyone who smokes knows that it is bad for their health. Often, it’s not a matter of the “want” to quit, but it’s really about how hard… really hard… it is to quit. Find the support you need to do it.
And if you are a former smoker, or a company who has promoted a successful quit smoking initiative, we’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments section here.
Tags: employee wellness, nicotine, nicotine cessation, nicotine cessation program, quitting smoking, smoking, smoking cessation, wellness
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
By Stephanie Patek, Ease@Work Account Services
Employers have jumped on the health and wellness wave, understanding that keeping their employees healthy helps their bottom-line. These days, it’s an oddity if an employer hasn’t encouraged participation in a wellness program, encouraged employees to eat less trans-fat, eat more whole foods, exercise thirty minutes a day, take time for relaxation, etc.
Yet with all of our efforts, it is often that we see the same health-conscious group participate, while the rest opt out. You see, ultimately, most adult Americans don’t get their 5 to 9 servings of fruits or veggies, or 30 minutes of daily exercise. So we watch as disinterested employees continue with unhealthy habits – our hands tied as not to be the “acting physician” and overstep our boundaries.
As Managers, Supervisors or HR professionals, confronting an employee with our opinions about their unhealthy habits is out-of-line. However, we may have an avenue to get them turned around if, and only if, those habits are impacting their work performance.
Often, Supervisors ask:
“I know I can make a referral for absenteeism or anger management, but what if one of my employees has high cholesterol or blood pressure and I want them to see the dietitian?”
Or,
“I have an employee whom I am concerned about. He’s rapidly dwindling away and I’m not sure what health issues he’s dealing with. Can I refer him?”
The short answer is that if there is nothing performance related and the employee appears to be just plain unhealthy, then the answer is “no,” a formal management referral would not be appropriate.
However, if the employee has been missing work, requiring “down time” on the job as a result of feeling fatigued, or you are noticing lack of attention to detail, less productivity or anything else performance related, we may suggest that you consult with our Clinical Manager.
Americans are experiencing self-induced disease and mortality at an all-too-early age, and this directly effects the workplace. We care for our employees and want them around as long as possible. With that, even if there is resistance, we encourage you to continue to put healthy practices and initiatives into place.
But, for those instances when performance suffers due to poor health, possibly then, it may be appropriate to move forward with a “healthy” referral. Ultimately, a referral to the EAP may give the employee the resources to get them back to health… and back to working productively.
Ease@Work employee assistance program services can help HR professionals and managers/supervisors decide if a management referral is appropriate. A dedicated account manager offers personal and highly qualified consultation for your most difficult, and sensitive, employee issues.
Tags: employee health, employee wellness, health and wellness, management referral, Management Support, wellness initiatives
Posted in Health & Wellness, Management Support | Comments Off
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
By Valerie S. Nosek
EKGs, EEGs, MRIs… most of us have had personal experience or at least, heard of, these types of tests. All are part of a host of measurable electromagnetic fields, or energies, that medical professionals use on a regular basis to assist in assessing health. Yet, for many from other cultures and those involved in alternative healing methods, these measurable methods only focus on one aspect of energy in the body.
Participants in Energy Medicine Workshop
Recently, the Ease@Work staff participated in an Energy Medicine workshop with one of our contracted counselors, Suzanne Stewart-Palmisano, a Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor. Stewart-Palmisano, who has studied with Donna Eden, author of Energy Medicine and a pioneer in the field, explained and demonstrated the concept of “subtle” energies.
“You may have heard of subtle energy through such terms as life force, chi, meridians, chakras, biofields or auras,” Stewart-Palmisano said. “These energies are called ‘subtle’ because they are not easily detectable and scientists have not been able to develop instruments to reliably measure them. However, many people for centuries and across cultures have described seeing or feeling subtle energies to varying degrees.” And indeed, there are many alternative health methods that are designed to influence subtle energy in the body…think acupuncture, acupressure, yoga, Reiki and tai chi.
While Stewart-Palmisano continues to practice what could be considered “traditional” counseling, she also offers Energy Psychology as another mental health tool. “As part of my practice, I incorporate methodologies that appear to have promising mental health benefits, but have yet to be fully researched by the academic community,” said Stewart-Palmisano. “The prevailing premise of Energy Psychology is that the flow and balance of the body’s electromagnetic and more subtle energies are important for physical and emotional health, and there are energy-based methods that help in fostering that well-being.”
Stewart-Palmisano further demonstrated how there appears to be a connection between our emotions, biochemistry, thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, electromagnetic and subtle energies, images and bodily sensations. All interact and influence each other, either to our detriment if out of balance, or to our benefit in promoting health and well-being.
“By affecting electromagnetic and more subtle energies, there can be a shift in emotions, thoughts and behaviors,” said Stewart-Palmisano, explaining how Energy Psychology can compliment traditional counseling.
If you’re interested in an Energy Medicine workshop for your employees, Ease@Work would be happy to coordinate a program for your group. We offer educational programs designed to meet various client training needs – including leadership enhancement workshops, soft skill development, and a wide variety of health and wellness topics. We’ll be happy to send you our most recent catalog!
Tags: alternative healing, Donna Eden, energy medicine, subtle energies, traditional counseling
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
If you were experiencing frequent migraines or dizzy spells, you would seek medical help. When we notice symptoms of a physical problem, most of us don’t hesitate to see a doctor, undergo tests and start treatment.
When financial health is suffering, however, most people generally hesitate to seek help, even though current research shows that financial stress significantly can affect physical – and emotional – well-being.
For example, one study conducted by four professors, “Negative Health Effects of Financial Stress,” found the following:
- More than half of respondents (51%) reported moderate financial stress
- 23% reported severe stress
- 12% were experiencing overwhelming financial stress
Although nearly one-quarter (23%) of respondents earned above $50,000.
In addition, the same study showed 82.5% of the sample said financial stress was affecting their health, citing ailments including depression, headaches, insomnia, digestive problems, high blood pressure and appetite disorders.
But often, people don’t realize that their physical problems are caused by stress from financial issues.
Integrated Treatment
With financial and physical/emotional health clearly linked, treating problems in both areas should be linked as well.
There are employee assistance programs to assist you with mental and behavioral health issues, and a trained counselor can help you untangle a complex web of emotions regarding money and spending and point ways to ease the emotional and physical manifestations of financial stress.
Receiving financial counseling can be just as important.
A good financial counselor will be credentialed and have years of experience with all kinds of financial situations. An experienced financial counselor can also help you take an honest look at a particular situation in order to figure out the causes of financial problems.
Some financial problems are situational, such as a divorce, a death in the family, unexpected health care expenses, job loss or identity theft. Others are behavioral, meaning they are rooted in other problems and require a change in thinking and action to fix the problem.
Many are a combination of both that feed on one another, such as a layoff leading to inappropriate use of credit and unhealthy coping behaviors, such as excessive eating or drinking – yet another reason to combine your employee assistance services with financial counseling.
Effective financial counseling can help you sort through your financial situations and coach you toward making better day-to-day choices — which leads to long-term financial health.
Research by Virginia Tech personal finance professor Thomas Garman shows that employees who take advantage of financial counseling get results: 75% reported making better financial decisions; 56% said their financial situation improved.
Using both a behavioral/mental health counselor and a financial counselor can save you from financial, physical or emotional crisis, improving your overall health, happiness and productivity.
The employee assistance program offered by Ease@Work assists employees with financial issues by providing a 60 minute consultation with a credentialed financial specialist as well as a variety of online information and resources. Employees may use a combination of counseling and our financial resources to get them back on the road to financial health and peace of mind.
Tags: budgeting, financial coaching, financial counseling, financial health, financial stress
Posted in Financial & Legal, Health & Wellness, Mental Health | 1 Comment »
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