Blog

(Written by Emily Merritt, Director of Intergenerational Initiatives for the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities)

One in five Americans will be affected by a mental health condition during their lifetime, and nearly every American is impacted by mental health challenges faced by friends and/or family. As managers, we are well positioned to directly support our employees in managing their mental health. What are some of the resources available to employees who might need assistance? Is your work environment supportive of those who have a mental health condition? Read on to explore options for mental health, employee inclusion and wellness practices in the workplace.

This is part of a series promoting May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

(Written by Michael Bugenhagen, FEI Business Development Manager)

Organizations sometimes rely on groups of volunteers or customer service departments to answer calls from upset and traumatized callers during crisis events. This can bring varying levels of secondary trauma exposure to those receiving calls, and employers need to consider the advantages of outside partnership and the importance of training both volunteers and employees to be psychologically resilient when responding during crises.

This is part of a series promoting May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

(Written by Randall Kratz, FEI Senior Account Manager)

Believe it or not, emotions play a very important role in the workplace.

Emotional intelligence is the intentional and mindful use of emotions, and managers can use them as a guide for managing people. Opportunities for utilizing emotional intelligence in the workplace are everywhere, but you must first understand the different aspects of emotional intelligence and its relation to effective leadership.

(Written by Vivian Marinelli, Psy.D., FEI Senior Director Crisis Management Services)

April 30 has been identified as America’s PrepareAthon National Day of Action. With the current severe weather occurring in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma—along with numerous other states—hopefully you have reviewed your emergency response planning. If not, America’s PrepareAthon provides the perfect opportunity to jump into action and ensure you, your community and your family and friends are prepared to respond.

(Written by Amy Haft, FEI Senior Account Manager)

It is a long-held belief that workplace wellness programs make sense, and a well-designed and effectively managed wellness program benefits both employer and employee. But where do you begin?

Within the next few weeks, FEI will be announcing a new Wellness Consultation service to extend our ability to help organizations create an effective workplace wellness program.

(Written by Marcia O’Boyle, FEI EAP Services Center Manager)

Many businesses practice evacuation drills for specific emergencies so that all employees are familiar with what to do in case of an actual event, reducing confusion and the number of decisions an employee must consider in an emergency and allowing for quick, planned action.

Different circumstances call for different preparations, however, so being ready for the most likely emergencies while maintaining awareness of others can help an organization prepare more comprehensively.

(Written by Janice Lieber, FEI EAP Counselor)

When we think of “disruptive employees,” most of us imagine an employee who bullies their peers or who undermines the leader quietly. But what about employees who come back from breaks late, have bad attitudes and grumble and groan about work?

As team leader or manager, you must recognize disruptive employees and deal with their behaviors in constructive and goal-oriented ways. Your team will become more cohesive and functional when you address a disruptive employee early on.

(Written by Katie Moser, FEI Network Operations Specialist)

We here at FEI have been hearing stories of family homes that have caught fire over the past few months. These families lost their homes, their possessions and in some cases their family members. The following is a collection of safety tips and measures meant to keep you safe in the event of a fire—whether at work or at home.

FEI sends its support for those impacted by the terror attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, March 22. We've included a list of resources for those who wish to confirm the safety of loves ones in Brussels.

(Written by Michael McCafferty, FEI Senior Account Manager)

Stories of employees drinking or being intoxicated while at work are more common than many employers would like to admit. We’ve known for a long time it isn't safe to drink and drive, and the Drug Free Workplace Act has been in effect for over 25 years, yet the evidence is clear: workers continue to struggle with alcohol.

The good news is that employers have options. According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, establishment of an effectual Employee Assistance Program (EAP) “is the most effective way to address alcohol and drug problems in the workplace.”

(Written by James Pettigrew, FEI Program and Project Manager)

Think about your company’s Disaster Recovery plan. When was the last time you thoroughly tested restoring backups in a Disaster Recovery-type situation? Did the backup restore meet expectations? These are important questions to consider before using a Disaster Recovery plan.

Ensuring backups for the data critical to business operations is an important element of Disaster Recovery. When was the last time you tested your company's backup capabilities?

(Written by Gary Skaleski, FEI EAP Counselor)

Communication in the workplace centers on comprehending the individual differences in how people communicate, understand and learn. Determining which mode of communication people are most effective at will result in being understood and achieving results with the workers with whom you’re interacting.

Introverted employees can be essential to a company's bottom line, but how do you best communicate with those who are drained of energy in social situations like attending meetings or being surrounded by groups of people? Understanding introversion can help managers maximize the environment within which introverts thrive.