News and Ideas
Currently Viewing: Fall 2007
News
Employee Assistance Office offers help to employees
Dedicated. This describes Mike Hallenbeck of the Employee Assistance Office in both his new role and his old one.
What's new is that Hallenbeck now works exclusively for UW Colleges and the UW-Extension. Previously, he was also available to UW-Madison staff.
Creating respectful workplaces
What's unchanged is that he's doing the same thing he's been committed to since coming to the UW-Madison in 1994: helping create workplaces where people are treated respectfully.
Employee Assistance offers options
Hallenbeck counsels employees coping with personal issues and work-related problems, as well as polarized and dysfunctional work groups.
"Employee Assistance is a 'can do' office," he explains. "We can always come up with options." By coaching and teaching people new strategies for dealing with conflict, Hallenbeck says, "We can help them get going again." And if none of the options work, he says, "We'll come up with more."
Knowing when to get help
When should individuals contact the Employee Assistance Office? "Really, as soon as they think of it," says Hallenbeck. He suggests asking yourself some basic questions:
- Is the environment unstable?
- Are you feeling unsafe?
- Do you dread coming to work?
- Do you feel a sense of relief when you hear that someone will be out of the office?
Answering yes to these types of questions helps you determine whether to take action, he says.
Appointments to talk with Hallenbeck are confidential and free of charge, and can take place in person or via the office's toll-free phone line.
For more information:
www.uwex.uwc.edu/eao
Michael Hallenbeck
Consultant
Employee Assistance Office
(608) 265-5127
(800) 385-8511
michael.hallenbeck@uwex.uwc.edu
By Meg Gores, senior editor, Cooperative Extension
Mike Hallenbeck of the Employee Assistance Office counsels UW Colleges and UW-Extension employees coping with difficult workplace issues.
Photo by Jim Gill
About News & Ideas
News & Ideas is distributed via e-mail to University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension employees.