An employee heads out for her busy commute to work when, suddenly, life happens through an unexpected text. It could be anything: the babysitter may be sick, her mom had another fall, or maybe her spouse’s business trip has been extended. One urgent text can throw her family’s entire week off-kilter.
Workplace Options’ Work-Life Consultation and Referral Service was created to support employees who already have too much on their to-do lists, even before life’s curve balls come their way. Work-life consultants have the understanding, tools, and connections necessary to help lighten the load for participating employees by making inquiries and doing time-saving research on their behalf. As a result, employees can give greater attention to their present tasks at hand, which can lead to increased productivity both professionally and personally.
Employees typically have access to work-life support through their organizations’ employee wellbeing program or Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Requests for support range widely. On any given day, work-life consultants talk with employees whose needs range from emergency housing to local adoption providers, retirement planning to parenting tips. The requests are always kept confidential.
When the employee mentioned earlier reads her text, she learns that her child care provider will be unavailable next week. With no backup in place, she reaches out to the work-life service for assistance. When she calls, an intake specialist gathers detailed information about her request, including any specific preferences she has. For example, perhaps she prefers a child care provider that’s located within a specific zip code or offers extended hours. Her budget and the times and dates that care is needed will also be discussed.
From there, a consultant on the work-life child care team begins researching options and identifying matches. The consultant contacts the potential providers and asks detailed questions, weeding out the ones that do not meet the specifications or do not have openings. When the research is complete, the employee is provided with information on three child care providers that have openings the following week, in addition to a tip sheet with information regarding evaluating child care providers.
This same care and attention to detail is also provided by the work-life elder care team, which specializes in identifying resources for seniors, including assisted living, in-home care, post-surgery needs, and transportation. This is especially helpful for employees with loved ones living out-of-state or in another country, which can make finding care more difficult. Elder care consultants also do research related to the needs of employees or family members with disabilities.
The work-life program also offers a financial wellbeing team to help employees identify their financial goals, better understand their spending habits, and manage debt more efficiently. Financial counselors are also knowledgeable about identifying theft protection resources.
Assistance with child care, elder care, and financial wellbeing are just a few of the services provided by the work-life team. Consultants also have experience researching wedding venues, vacation rentals, and colleges, just to name a few.
A 2017 survey by OfficeTeam found that the employees surveyed reported spending almost five hours a week at work on non-work related tasks. This lack of employee engagement and productivity is costly to employers. Providing access to work-life services gives employees the option to delegate time-consuming personal tasks to professionals, allowing them to concentrate on their work responsibilities.
Workplace Options helps employees balance their work, family and personal needs to become healthier, happier and more productive, both personally and professionally. The company’s world-class employee support, effectiveness and wellbeing services provide information, resources, referrals and consultation on a variety of issues ranging from dependent care and stress management to clinical services and wellness programs. To learn more visit www.workplaceoptions.com.
