Marantha News - Canada's Christian Newspaper
Workplace Chaplains Doling out Emotional Dividends - Toronto, ON
Aug 28, 2010
There’s an old adage that says, “a happy employee makes for a productive employee”. Industry stats however across the board conversely suggest that companies and businesses are dealing more and more with issues of absenteeism, employee conflict and turnover, all contributing to decreased productivity. Even with many of these companies offering employee assistance plans (EAP’s) which cover an assortment of health related assistance benefits. These stats again are indicating that their utilization is on a declining trend across the board however there’s another trend that’s rapidly filling the vacuum and picking up speed – Workplace Chaplains.
David Smith, Ontario Director of Corporate Chaplains of Canada says, “What most people don’t realize is that in the US alone there are over 5000 registered chaplains working throughout the American workplace landscape from small Mom and Pop shops to fortune 500 enterprises and it’s a trend that some are estimating will swell to over 30,000 chaplains within the next decade.” Now that may suit our good old American cousin but certainly not here in Canada. Right? Wrong.
On a recent field trip Smith embarked together with his team to All Weather Windows to visit the Mississauga plant and meet with Brian the newly installed resident part-time chaplain and his immediate supervisor Cyril Gowler, who flew in from Calgary to spend a day or two with his new recruit.
Both Smith and Gowler’s team spent the better part of the day touring the facility and discussing the dynamics of a typical day in the life of a corporate chaplain.
So what role does a corporate chaplain fill? Well, in a nutshell they build rapport with the staff and employees by coming along side them and lending a sympathetic ear offering them permission based spiritual guidance, compassionate care and assistance dealing with common personal challenges including addictions, bereavement/grief, family issues, legal issues, and crisis intervention. They’re on call 24/7 to the immediate employee and their families.
The overriding benefits of these face-to-face encounters include improved morale and loyalty, which translates into greater productivity and a healthier and more robust bottom line. Corporate Chaplains of Canada has had chaplains serving in Alberta and B.C. since 2005 and is now positioned to serve the Ontario workplace market.
Spirituality makes office call
Corporate chaplains help employees with
personal struggles
March 23, 2008
“If you had a need for a chaplain, it’s probably something to do with your spouse, or your kids or an addictions problem or your finances. Whether you’re a Jew, a Muslim, atheist o New Ager, it really wouldn’t make any difference,” says Mitchell, calling the workplace “the best point into a person’s life to provide support.”
Spirituality Inc. April 21, 2008
Israel Balter, a Toronto employment lawyer with Lang Michener who specializes in human rights issues, views corporate chaplains as a "positive development" in the workplace. "The fact someone is religious should not disqualify them from providing counselling in the workplace," he says. "Employers are recognizing that employees are spending an increasing amount of time in the workplace, so [employees'] ability to tap into spiritual resources is limited. Affording that access in the workplace is convenient."
Corporate culture: A faith lift July 21, 2008
Chaplains aren’t out to preach, says Alison Johnson, the Ottawa regional director, and the proactive element of the program sets it apart from traditional employee assistance offerings. Chaplains drop by every week to check in with employees. “Often people would not call a counsellor until they have a serious problem,” Johnson says. “Hopefully, we’re starting a lot earlier in the process, before the crisis comes.”
Corporate chaplains serve as ‘life coaches’
September 28, 2008
Every week, employees in a number of Alberta and B.C. companies receive a brief visit from a 'company chaplain.' For the chaplains, those brief weekly visits are intended as confidence builders -- opportunities to learn where the employees might benefit from the chaplain's services. Mitchell chooses the term "life coaching" to describe the empowering process he hopes chaplains and employees experience."