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Commissioners vote to try out a new employee program
By Heather M. Smith, Staff writer
After much debate, Collin County commissioners agreed to “try out” a new employee care program during their regular meeting on Monday.
Representatives from Marketplace Chaplains pitched the program to the commissioners. The program consists of brief, regular visits to the worksite by Chaplains. Once there, they interact with employees and build a relationship of trust and friendship. The service provides round the clock service nationwide to employees dealing with an emergency or family crisis
“The strength of a county is in its employees,” said Jason Brown, vice president of marketing for Marketplace Chaplains. “Locally, Huffines Chevrolet, OnCor Herbs Paint and Body all use our services. The purpose of the program is to extend and broaden benefits given to employees. This is not a religious organization. The program is all voluntary on the part of the employees.”
Through the program, the Chaplains can also participate in new employee orientations to explain the Employee Care Program and the role of the Chaplain Care Team, which is the round the clock team. More than 450 companies use Marketplace Chaplains. At this time, the company has 2,600 Chaplains ready to help employees and it currently works with 9,000 civilian workers in Collin County.
Brown said companies that use the service can expect the following increases within the company: employee retention, employee productivity, employee commitment to company goals, employee loyalty to the company, employee attitudes and employee morale and teamwork. In addition, Brown said there will be a decrease in employee absenteeism, stress and employee conflicts. Overall, the program should improve workplace safety and make employees feel valued.
“I’d like use this program, but what concerns me is the cost,” said Commissioner Matt Shaheen. “I’d like to figure out a way to do this.”
Part of the commissioners concern with the price of the program is that Collin County already has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The current EAP is offered through United Health Care. It offers services to employees, such as counseling. Employees can access EAP by calling a phone number where the conversation will remain confidential.
“This is a hand and glove thing. I think we’ll balance each other well,” Brown said. “Our program can work with the current program.”
If implemented, the Marketplace Chaplains will cost the county $160,000 a year. Right now the county is looking toward a flat budget. Cuts will most likely be made to make room for the program.
“We’d probably look at individual projects to cut or we might make cuts across the board,” said Bill Bilyeu, county administrator. “We’d have to look at all options to cover the costs.”
Judge Keith Self said he worried about the effects of using the program would have on tax payers.
“We have 406,000 civilian workers in Collin County, who don’t have this service, but now we’re talking about offering it to county workers,” Self said. “We are in a down economy. This is how government gets in trouble with its taxpayers. We don’t want to look “gold plated” to our tax payers.”
Self also said the county employees’ 401K match program is five times what the average civilian employee receives. Commissioner Kathy Ward echoed his thoughts. She said $160,000 is a lot of money to spend. Self also said the county has churches across the area that offers the same services that the program will offer.
In an effort to try out the program, Commissioner Jerry Hoagland suggested reducing the scope.
“Why don’t we try out the program with just the Sheriff’s department,” Hoagland said. “It makes it easy to find the budget cuts if one department hosts this program.”
In a four to one vote, Judge Keith Self voted against, the commissioners decided to try out the program under Hoagland’s and Shaheen’s watch.
For information visit http://mchapusa.com.
Contact Heather Smith at HSmith@acnpapers.com.
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