Workplace Counseling

7/29/2019 Workplace Counseling

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THE HISTORY OF WORKPLACE COUNSELING

If modern counseling started during the Reformation Era in 1900 then when did workplace

counseling started? Counseling in the workplace actually has existed about the same time in the

early 1990s although it is uses a much different format than the ones we use today.

In brief, there are three stages or eras in the history of corporate counseling. The three eras are:

1. Human Relationship Era2. The Alcohol Awareness Era3. Internal and External Counseling Provision Era

(Michael Carroll 1996)

THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP ERA (1900s-1940s)

Where did it started? It began in the US and is intertwined with the arrival in industry of

medical, psychiatric and social work provision (Michael Carroll 1996). The first era in employee

COUNSELING emphasizes on human resources and human relations.

1913- By this year, there were about 2000 welfare workers in the industry (Carter, 1977)

1914- First counseling program in industry was initiated by the Ford Motor Company

1920- A survey commissioned by the Engineering Foundation of New York found out that 62

percent of employees where discharged sue t social problems than occupational incompetence.

1922- Metropolitan Life Insurance employed full time psychiatrists.

1924- R.H. Macey employed full time psychiatrists. Anderson, the first psychiatrist for Masey

provided the first book connecting psychiatry with industry entitled Psychiatry and Industry

(McLean et al.,1985)

1948- It was only until this year the first training program in occupational psychiatry was

introduced. (McLean et al., 1985)


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THE ALCOHOL AWARENESS ERA(1940s-1960s)

What happened during this era?

During this era a new phase of interest emerged directed at employee health and growth.

However, alcohol concerns pretty much dominated much of the counseling provision from this

stage until the 1960s. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism introduced

the term EAP (Employee Assistance Program) as a way of widening the counseling provision

to include other than alcohol.

During this era, a whole range of people became involved with employees: ex-alcoholics,

psychiatrists, social workers, psychologist and personal officers. Counseling covers a variety of

approaches from job testing to alcoholism and family problems.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COUNSELING PROVISION ERA

What happened during this era?

The third phase in employee counseling move beyond dealing solely on alcohol issues. Still with

an emphasis on drink and drunk problems, corporate counseling move swiftly to encompass a

range of services, legal and financial help, stress management, telephone counseling and face-to-

face counseling. The numbers of EAPs grew quickly and were set up as either:

1. Internal servicesas a part of the organization2. External Services- a service specializing in providing EAPs to a number of organizations

Apart from internal and external EAPs, in-house counselors, counselors hired by companies to

work with their staff, began during this era.

TRADITIONAL AND COMTEMPORY EAPs

What is the difference between corporate counseling now and in the past?


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Traditional Programs Comtempory Programs

Emphasis on alcoholism Broader approach: Any issue appropriate for

service

Problems identified at late stage of

development

Problems identified at earlier stage of

development

Services offered by medical and alcoholism

specialist

Services offered by counselors

Focus on employees with work performance

problems

Focus on work and non-work related problems

e.g. family problems

PROBLEMS AT WORKPLACE.

Nowadays, there is a lot of pressure at our workplaces. This leads to stress which then leads to

diseases and health complications such as hypertension, high blood pressure, asthma, stroke and

heart attacks. Stress also cause employers and employees to resort to negative activities to

release their daily tension such as smoking, taking drugs and alcohol. Among problems that arise

at workplace include:

Work-Related Problems Non-work Related Problems

a) Low motivation a) Family problemsb) Demanding Employer b) Addiction e.g. alcohol, drugsc) Peer pressure c) Personal problemsd) Sexual harassment d) Financial problemse) Low pay e) Health problems

Problems at workplace will result low productivity, financial cost and slow growth. How can we

tackle these problems? This is where corporate counseling comes in.


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SURVEY

1. Do workers think counseling is important?

2. Do workers think that counseling helps them in their working life?

68

12

yes

no

26

44

82

0

80

strongly agree

agree

nither agree nor disagree

disagree

strongly disagree

total


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WHY WORKPLACE COUNSELING?

Why do employers and large organizations are turning to corporate counseling?

Overall, workplace counseling is pivotal to ensure that a company is able to succeed.

REASON 1

Employer's responsibility

It is the responsibility of the employer to lookafter the welfare his/her employees. More andmore employers are realising that a healthyworkforce produces.

REASON 2

Legal Action

There has been a lot of cases employees sueingthe company or employer because ofnegligence of duty. In the US, 5-15%compensation claims are for work-relatedstress. In Australia, it is reckoned that 35% ofcompensation pay-outs to governmental aredue to stress claims. Counseling is a way toanticipate risk and provide relief to employees.

REASON 3

Managing Changes

Employers are turning to counseling to managebig changes taking place in organizations likereducing workers due to economic recession.Change is never easy : it disrupts, cause grieve,stress and takes time. Support is needed foremployees to cope with transitions inorganizations.

REASON 4

Mental HealthCounseling is a way to improve mental healtEmployees usually bring their problems to wthus disrupts work performance.

> One in five of the working population suffesome form of mental ilness.> Some 90 million working days are lost eachyear due to mental ilness>Between 30-40% of all sickness fromworkplace some form of mental ilness oremotional stress

REASON 5

Preventive Service

Counseling is also seen as a preventive servCounselors, from their work with clients, gaan overall view of the ills and problems in thorganization and can create training packagto forestall further injury to employees.

REASON 6

Cost-Effective

In a long run, counselling is cost effective.Through counseling, hidden cost due toabsenteeism, stress, day-by-day emotional amental problems faced by employees can bminimised.

Documents

Workplace Counseling