Getting back to work with Shepell-fgi

By Michelle Jondreau

jond0001@algonquincollege.com

Nobody has felt the end of summer vacation quite like the students have, except perhaps for the college employees who can freely take advantage of Shepell-fgi’s services to get them back to a working routine.

Since 2006, Shepell-fgi has become part of the college staff’s Employee Assistance Plan and provides services “ranging from counseling to child care services and there is even help for people with nutritional problems,” said client care representative Chanbi Desai.

“Our goal is for our clients to have a healthy personal life so they can function better at work,” said Desai.

At this time of the year, according to the Aug. 15 Shepell-fgi newsletter, employees have a hard time making the adjustment from the relaxed state of summer to the stresses of work.

“I have noticed that sleeping can be a real problem for employees who jump right from vacation back into work,” said the manager of compensation, pension and benefits, Connie Powers.

The newsletter stated that for many employees, the transition from vacation to the working world is often filled with anxiety and disorientation.

“This is especially true of our full-time employees, who are the ones targeted for the services,” said Powers.

Powers explained the services of Shepell-fgi are a part of the benefit plan for all full-time employees, which means they get them for free. Since the services of Shepell-fgi can be found all across Canada, part-time employees and other types of employees can easily access their services anywhere and at any time.  Shepell-fgi even has affiliates in the United States who can provide services to the people who need it there.

“After having their services for just about two years now, we have nothing to complain about,” said Powers.

Shepell-fgi also offers a vow of confidentiality and expert opinion in their services, which was very important to the employees at the college. This confidentiality extends even to employees families.

“This was really the key to the whole thing,” said Powers.

Before Shepell-fgi, the college received services like these from Employee Assistance Plus, but their range of services were not as extensive, and their services were more costly.