While the holiday season may be a time of joy or rest for some, it can also be a time of extreme stress and busyness for employees and companies, a trend visionary CEOs are now addressing with the use of Marketplace Chaplains in their companies.

Just as employees get no holiday break because of the nature of their business, workplace chaplains do not take a break from their rapidly growing service either.

Marketplace Chaplains now serves in 2,809 service locations with more than 12,200 chaplain worksite visits made in October alone, many in companies which are gearing up for another frenzied holiday season.

“Regardless of the need, place or season, GSC Enterprises Inc. can count on a Marketplace chaplain to be there for employees and their families,” said John Prickette, Grocery Supply’s division manager, who supplies convenience stores on a 24-7 basis around the country and is especially busy when people take time off during the holidays. “GSC is fortunate to have this service to benefit our employees and family members,” continued Prickette.

Austaco, Ltd. (a franchise of Taco Bell), operates more than 60 fast-service Mexican food restaurants in Texas which are open almost every day of the year. Burdens and stresses of employees tend to increase and become more pronounced during the holiday season, which in turn increases their need for chaplains.

“During this time of year, when many needs are exposed, I join with others in our organization as we feel so fortunate to partner with our chaplains to make those needs less traumatic and thus ensure holiday situations are more hopeful,” said Don Barton, Vice President HR for Austaco, based in Austin, Texas.

Marketplace Chaplains came onboard as part of an Employee Assistance Program and since then, Austaco has seen an overall decline in worker turnover from 300% to 100% and has been named an elite franchise by Taco Bell’s Corporate Office in Irvine, California.

“Our company motto is, ‘Here to Serve,’ which means we serve people on both sides of the counter, a two-phase approach to how we see our business,” Barton added. “Our chaplains also have a two-phase approach in helping our employees, addressing both their physical and emotional needs.”

More than 2,700 Marketplace Chaplains now work in 44 U.S. states, 4 foreign countries and 1 commonwealth across 23 different industry types including many where the holiday season is anything but a break or a vacation.

To supply its thousands of stores and locations, GSC drivers must work overtime during the holiday season because of the increased demand with many people off from their regular jobs.

“Our drivers cover a great distance this time of year and sometimes have needs while on the road,” said Ryan McKenzie, President of GSC Enterprises Inc. “Because of Marketplace’s extensive network of chaplains, they’re ready to serve anytime and at any location.”

“Just like many of our client employees who don’t get a break during the holiday season, neither do our teams of dedicated and caring Marketplace Chaplains,” said organization’s President and COO Dick De Witt. “Problems and needs in the workplace never take a break and just as these CEOs have found, neither do the chaplains.”