Compartmentalizing our lives is something we often wish we could do, but in reality, home life and work life often become intertwined. As small business owners, it can become a challenge when employees are often walking through the door each morning with family stress and other issues they may not talk about. Thinking about the whole person is necessary, not just the man or woman who clocks in each day.
You or your HR staff may not feel equipped to handle what may be going on in the lives of your employees. You may want to consider bringing in a corporate chaplain to help support the needs of your people. Providing a neutral and experienced person to talk to can help alleviate stress for the leadership as well as the workers.
Corporate chaplains can be brought in independently or from a program such as Corporate Chaplains of America (www.chaplain.org). Their role is to first introduce themselves to each person to become more familiar with how a chaplain functions in the workplace. He or she will then schedule regular visits to the workplace to check in with everyone individually to see how things are going, whether at work or home. This builds a relationship as people get used to a familiar face. This is done on a voluntary basis only.
Even though the chaplain only makes visits a few times a month, he or she is available 24/7 to you and your workforce should tragedy strike or the need arise. He does not provide counseling services but can connect you with a counselor if necessary. A corporate chaplain can assist in family challenges, making hospital visits, supporting families in crisis, stress management or relationship building in the workplace.
Corporate chaplains, while a part of the faith community, respect the boundaries and faith of others. Their goal is to provide care and support in a confidential, voluntary way, not forcing their faith on anyone.
Utilizing a corporate chaplain has benefits beyond emotionally, mentally, and spiritually supporting your employees during difficulty. Below are more ways having a Corporate chaplain benefit your company as a whole:
Referrals for Additional Support
Corporate chaplains can help guide employees to seek additional help, whether through professional counseling, addiction recovery, medical care, etc. Whether assistance is needed personally or with a family member, a Corporate chaplain can act as a liaison in taking much- needed steps in personal challenges. Someone might not know how to get help, and a chaplain can serve that purpose.
Improvement in Workplace Morale and Attitudes
When an employer makes it a priority to put a care program with a Corporate chaplain in place, it provides the emotional support many workplaces lack. When employees feel seen, heard, and supported, morale is transformed.
Lower Workplace Turnover
When employees feel supported, they are more loyal and likely to continue working longer. Employees who see the investment in their overall health want to return the favor. When they feel more valued at work and in their homelife, they want to continue to invest in their company.
Greater Productivity
As the workplace is cared for, attitudes are happier, relationships are healthier, and productivity rises. Working together as a team is a result of a supported workforce. As the morale increases, the company has a greater potential for growth.
Leadership Support
Corporate chaplains can assist company leadership in better communication, providing empathy, and organizing a care program for the workforce. As leaders, we can often get lost in focusing on the work and not the people behind the work. People who come in each day with stress and concerns from their own lives. A care program puts leadership more in tune with their employees and their families.
Employees often walk through the doors with an emotional weight they struggle to talk about. This affects the overall health of the employee as well as the company. Without a healthy workforce, company success cannot happen. Make sure you are supporting your employees at work and in their personal lives. Simply providing a trustworthy source for them to talk to can make a positive difference in their lives as well as in your business as a whole.
There are a variety of Corporate chaplain programs. A simple Google search can help you find programs in your area. You can visit Marketplace Chaplains at https://mchapusa.com/ or Corporate Chaplains of America at www.chaplain.org to inquire how a chaplain can benefit your workplace.
