Helping Employers help their staff
No-one knows what’s round the corner, it would be wonderful if we could prepare for every event but life doesn’t always allow us that luxury. What we do hope though is that if we were to suffer a life changing event that throws us off kilt our Employer would support us entirely. Helen Nixon, from Elddis Transport is one of those Employers.
Angeline Brown, Employer Consultant with DET said “I met Helen through our partnership work with key HR people of local businesses and it was obvious from the beginning that Helen has a genuine interest in the welfare of her employees, she understands that her staff may go through difficult times in their personal life and will sometimes need additional support to get them through it”
Angeline went on to say “Often during vulnerable periods in someone’s life their performance at work suffers and in some cases the employee takes time off without recognising that work could be the only stability in time of chaos. What DET offers is additional support to carry someone through this rocky patch with the help of our partners to prevent long term absence”
Jane Strickland of ‘Positive Footsteps’ specialises in behaviours in the workplace and is one partner who provides that support on behalf of Derwentside Employment Team, she explained “Throughout my working life, I’ve always enjoyed assisting people in making positive changes to move forward in their lives and, for this reason, I’m very happy to be working with Derwentside Employment Team” She added “My training in co-active coaching encourages clients to step out of feeling stuck or confused and to discover what it is they truly want.”
This partnership work has prevented employees leaving work in all of the cases we have dealt with so far and DET will continue to offer that support as long as there is a need.
HR Manager, Helen Nixon describes what the support has meant to her as an Employer.
"Without the intervention of Derwentside Employment Team, it is more than likely several key employees would have either joined the ranks of the long-term sick or left the Company altogether. The practical support offered by the Team was instrumental in ensuring not only the retention of the staff involved but also a marked improvement in their confidence and ability to cope with the responsibilities of their role on a day to day basis".
Positive Footsteps: Tel 0845 643 4189/E-mail: positivefootseps@gmail.com
Angeline Brown: Tel: 01207 693 815/ email: employmentteam@derwentside.gov.uk