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Home > FAQs (FAQs) How does a chaplain program differ from a traditional Employee Assistance Program? There are at least three fundamental ways the chaplain Employee Care Program differs from an Employee Assistance Program: It is personal, with male and female chaplains regularly interacting and building personal and worksite relationships with employees through visits to their work place. It is proactive, with chaplains taking the initiative to meet and be available to all employees and their families; it is not just a “crisis response” program; many problems are much more effectively dealt with in their early stages, thereby reducing the possibility of a serious crisis. It offers a much broader range of services, such as hospital visitation, home, jail, personal encouragement by phone or mail, conducting weddings and funeral services and much more. Employee Assistance Program services are available for all employees, immediate family members, customers and suppliers. What return can be expected on an investment in a chaplain program? Human Resource industry statistics indicate the return on a dollar invested in employee care ranges from $5.00 — $16.00. Although it may not be possible to exactly quantify program impact, positive results will be seen in a number of areas important to every company: Improved employee attitude, morale and teamwork; Increased loyalty and commitment to company goals; Reduced employee conflict; Improved workplace safety; Decreased fraud; Decreased absenteeism; Increased productivity; Reduced turnover cost. More on the benefits of Maketplace Chaplains Employee Assistance Program Why should company management be involved in employees’ personal lives? Company leaders do not need to be involved directly in their employees’ personal or family lives. They do need to recognize the majority of problem issues for their employees stem from things outside the work place, but come into the work place with the employee and have a negative effect on attendance, attitude and productivity on the job. The voluntary, neutral, confidential services provided by corporate chaplains offer company leaders a way to express interest and concern for employees and give them a resource to help resolve problem issues without getting directly involved. In so doing, the individual employee gets help, their family gets help and the company “bottom line” gets help. How much will a client company have to do to oversee and manage the chaplain program? Marketplace Chaplains USA staff will manage all aspects of the Employee Care Program. Optimally, there will be a specific company contact person with whom chaplain and leadership staff can communicate when necessary. Company leaders are given regular, written and verbal reports of all services provided to the company via scheduled meetings. Don’t chaplains in the work place interfere with employees getting their job done? The amount of time each chaplain spends at a given work site varies based on the number of employees he/she is trying to see at that location and the physical layout of the facility. The regular chaplain visit to the work place is designed to be very brief and to not interrupt employee job performance. Typical chaplain/employee conversations are only a couple of minutes. If the employee would like more time to talk to or seek help from the chaplain, other arrangements outside the workplace (such as a phone visit, a meeting at break time or lunch time, a meeting at a neutral site or employee’s home) are made. Only in times of severe crisis, and only with supervisor approval, would a chaplain spend a prolonged period of time with an employee during their work time. Frequently, during a less–than–five–minute conversation, a chaplain can offer help, hope and encouragement to a struggling employee. Of utmost importance is the fact that there is always a chaplain available to help an employee or family member regardless of time, place or nature of need. More Employee Benefits Is there a legal risk bringing a faith-based program into the work place? Marketplace Chaplains USA provides an Employee Care Program, based on the military chaplain model – a neutral, always available caregiver – which focuses on helping employees and families better manage basic personal life and work issues. It is not an organized religious program, and therefore nothing is done that violates religious discrimination, civil rights or privacy laws. Employee participation is voluntary and all personal issue conversations are confidential. Since beginning service January 1984, there has never been a lawsuit filed against Marketplace Chaplains USA, an individual chaplain or a client company as a result of the provision of our chaplain program. How do chaplains help employees of all faith groups? As a 501 (c) 3 non–profit Christian organization, Marketplace Chaplains USA maintains relationships with clergy of other faith groups. In the rare instance a request is made by an employee or family member, or recommended by a chaplain, someone from the employee’s or family member’s faith is called upon to meet the person’s specific need. Does the chaplain do anything to help company management? The company’s chaplain team, along with the leadership team and resources of Marketplace Chaplains USA, is available to serve company leaders as much as the rank–and–file employee. In addition to being available to help executives and managers resolve personal problems, chaplains also serve as a resource for company leaders in the areas of religion, morality and ethics in the work place. Marketplace Chaplains USA staff are always available to respond aggressively to any special request by company leaders for any type of assistance. Are current client program results available for review? Detailed service activity reports provided to client company leaders are not available for public viewing. General program results and statistics can be provided by Marketplace Chaplains USA staff. Also, contact information for many current client company leaders can be provided, and they are available to discuss the positive impact of the chaplain program in their company. Is Marketplace Chaplains USA affiliated with a specific denomination? Marketplace Chaplains USA is a cross-denominational Christian organization. Within our total staff of over 2,400 there are over 80 different denominations represented. Because Marketplace Chaplains USA provides an Employee Care Program, and not a religious program, we do not represent any specific denomination or local religious body. Home About Us Services FAQs Clients We Serve Marketplace Media Contact Us © 2004, 2009 Marketplace Chaplains USA, a 501c(3) non-profit organization 2001 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 3200, Plano, TX 75075 Phone: 972-941-4400 FAX: 972-578-5754 nhq@mchapusa.com All rights reserved. Member Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability