Vol. 38, No. 18

11-19-2008
By: Adam King

Does the economy have you singing the blues? OSU's got resources that can help

As the economy has continued to show signs of being in a recession, the University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program has seen more and more employees turn there for help in managing their stress and anxiety.

Since the end of 2006, there has been a 50 percent increase in faculty and staff who have used UFSAP’s individual and group services. The last time Director Robert Meier saw a similar uptick was in 2001 just after 9/11, which was quickly followed by the stock market crash and America going to war.

But UFSAP and other entities on campus, such as the Office of Human Resources and OSU Extension, are here to help employees weather the current financial storm with assistance programs, access to community resources and counseling expertise.

“What we’re seeing is a tremendous increase in people seeking services and trying to figure out which way to turn,” said Meier. “There are two different groups of people we’ve noted. One is a group that is generally anxious. There is nothing specific stressing them out. But they’re worried what might happen if a spouse gets laid off, if they can’t get credit or if the funds they put away for their kids to go to college don’t recover. They are tangible things but not solid.

“For the other group, those ‘ifs’ have happened and they’re trying to figure out how to cope with those situations.”

When UFSAP promoted its group stress management workshop in the summer issue of Netwell, all the sessions filled up by noon the day the newsletter hit campus. So UFSAP added more sessions to take care of those on the waiting list. Meier said the program is likely to keep the extra sessions into the next quarter.

“However, if you’re unable to get into the group workshops, schedule an individual session with a UFSAP counselor,” Meier said. “We can get folks in to see a counselor within 72 hours.”

OSU employees can see UFSAP counselors up to six times before they are referred to a private practitioner. But the counselors try to find the core issue and give the employee the resources to address it successfully over an extended period.

“Stress is a part of life,” Meier said. “A situation with no stress is probably what happens after five days on the beach. It’s nice to lie on a hammock, but it isn’t reality for most of us. We give lessons on simple things people can do every day to manage personal stress and give them a defined list of resources.

“If you have stress because of financial issues, there are resources in the community and we can direct you to them. Not getting along well with others at work? Here’s how we can help you. Not getting along well with others at home? We have resources to help them, too. We can give them some basic advice and some easily adopted strategies and resources if they need further work.”

For more information on UFSAP, call 292-4472 or (800) 678-6265.

OSU Extension can help
OSU Extension offers resources for those feeling the monetary effects of the economic pinch — from managing income better to how to get back on solid financial footing.

“OSU Extension offers resources and educational programs in all 88 Ohio counties,” said Cynthia Renn, OSUE program manager. “We are part of the outreach of the university and are available to all Ohio citizens.  If you are traveling for the holidays and you find your dinner conversations with family and friends are filled with questions about what to do in this economy, you can direct them to their local county OSU Extension office or extension.osu.edu for help.”

The Family and Consumer Sciences program (fcs.osu.edu/cs) provides resources and teaching tools on building adequate savings to meet long-term financial goals and obligations, such as retirement and long-term care.

Another interactive Web tool, eXtension Personal Finance (extension.org/personal_finance), allows consumers to ask questions of Extension personal finance experts. It also lists 1,200 frequently asked questions on such topics as estate planning, saving, investing and consumer credit.

Searching “Managing Money in Tough Times” yields strategies and tips in articles such as “Managing Stress,” “Keeping a Roof Overhead” and “Deciding Which Bills to Pay First.”

For faculty, staff or anyone in Ohio who finds themselves unable to pay their debts, OSUE created the New Start for Financial Success program (newstart.osu.edu or Sharon Seiling at 292-4424), a two-hour financial management class offered in 44 counties, including those in and around OSU’s campuses. Spending plans, money management, wise use of credit and insurance and how to access consumer information are the topics covered.

Ohio Saves lists low- or no-cost financial products, offers how-to seminars on financial products as well as wealth-building workshops and one-on-one mentoring and support with a volunteer coach.  Susan Shockey leads the local effort, Columbus Saves, and can be contacted at 866-6900, ext. 206 or shockey.3@osu.edu.

What Human Resources can do
The Office of Human Resources’ Financial Planning Series has seminars throughout the year that touch on different topics, such as managing credit and debt, retiree money mistakes, fundamentals of banking and how to lower taxes.

While some of the seminars aren’t repeated, many can still be viewed online. The archive is at hr.osu.edu/finseries.aspx.

The final seminar for the calendar year is long-term care insurance on Dec. 16 in Suite 430 at 1590 N. High St. Attendance to any seminar is free, but attendees must register at hr.osu.edu/ohrc/ld_customizedtraining.aspx or by calling OHR at 292-1050.

“The university is concerned about how the current economic climate is impacting faculty and staff,” said Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human resources. “We take pride in the fact that our benefit programs have remained very strong, where some employers have reduced their support, and we have great services like the University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.”

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