WorkLife Partnership works directly with employers to help address employee retention, productivity, and engagement issues. WorkLife Navigators help connect an employer’s frontline workforce to community resources to support them in overcoming real life challenges.

Employer Members receive value by having a trusted, compassionate, and impartial Navigator who works directly with their employees to help overcome obstacles that may impact their ability to be fully present and productive at work. WorkLife Navigators are community resource experts who provide one-on-one, confidential help to navigate solutions to work/life challenges. In addition to working with clients directly, WorkLife supports Employer Members by acting as a referral source for managers/supervisors or HR/benefits team members who are approached by employees in need of support and in circumstances in which assistance can be better provided by a confidential, third-party resource.

WorkLife works with employers across a range of sectors who share a commitment to their employees’ long-term professional success. Members have identified that their frontline or middle-skill employees often face significant challenges due to the reality of living expenses and low wages. They partner with us to complement their more traditional benefits. They understand that WorkLife can provide support to strategically address employee turnover, attendance issues, inadequate performance, disengagement, or a lack of focus.

WorkLife services complement and enhance an Employer Member’s EAP program. When approached by an employee seeking assistance with mental and/or behavioral issues, WorkLife will refer employees to existing benefits (like an employer’s EAP) and to community resources for professional counseling or therapy. Understanding that mental/behavioral concerns are often linked to other issues, Navigators help individuals address underlying challenges as they strive to develop a plan for long term stability. Oftentimes, these additional challenges cannot be addressed by a specialized EAP provider; although an EAP may provide the contact information for community resources, our Navigators are committed to developing working relationships with resource providers, enabling us to connect employees with familiar and trusted contacts. Navigators help employees to both find and navigate the resources needed to achieve stability.  

Our Navigators come from a variety of backgrounds and human service professions, averaging more than 10 years of human services experience. All Navigators possess a range of qualities and experience including customer service, relationship management, empathy, communication, facilitation of individual/group learning, adaptability, problem solving, initiative, goal setting, creativity, and community awareness. In addition, all Navigators are trained in Motivational Interviewing, Case Management, and in providing employees with basic household budgeting management and training.

Confidentiality is one of the foundations of WorkLife’s service. We stress the importance of our policy by explaining to all employees that any information they share will be held in confidence and not reported back to their employer. During any initial conversation, the Navigator will thoroughly review WorkLife’s Client/Navigator Agreement. The Navigator will only confirm to an employer that they have been working with an individual after the employee signs a release of information.

Asking for help is hard so we strive to make our services easily accessible and familiar. As part of our service, WorkLife presents directly to employees, managers and supervisors to explain how WorkLife Navigators can support with a variety of work/life challenges. WorkLife recognizes the importance of proximity in reaching your employees and will schedule times appropriate to your business to connect with your workforce. These may include new employee orientations, team/staff meetings, and company-wide events. In addition, WorkLife will provide marketing collateral that may be distributed among an employer’s workforce or posted in high traffic areas.

WorkLife also uses an email/text campaign which employees may opt in to receive notifications and reminders about WorkLife services directly. When an employee reaches out to WorkLife, the Navigator will meet them at a time, place, and via means (email, text, phone call) that is most convenient for them.We emphasize our commitment to providing a safe and nonjudgmental space where employees can share their concerns. While many employees self-refer to a Navigator, we encourage managers and supervisors to refer employees who may be showing signs of a work/life challenge, such as absences, attendance warnings, and/or performance concerns.

WorkLife’s Customer Success Manager (CSM) serves as the main point of contact for employers to ensure WorkLife services are being effectively used and marketed inside the business. All employers receive quarterly impact reports that highlight the value and impact of WorkLife services over time.

There is no time limit for services. We will serve employees until they feel confident they have reached stability and feel empowered to address any similar challenges in the future. Some employees report stability after only one or two meetings with a Navigator or after referrals to community resources have been made; others choose to participate in ongoing meetings for steady support as they work toward achieving personal goals. Although we strive to help employees develop long-term solutions, we recognize that work/life challenges are usually unanticipated. We will work with employees repeatedly when needed/requested.

We recommend that our services be available to all employees. While lower-wage workers will be most likely to engage our Navigators, our experience has shown us that employees at any wage level can experience work/life challenges and may benefit from additional resources and guidance.

WorkLife works closely with managers and supervisors to help them understand WorkLife services and to explain the process of making an informed referral to a Navigator. WorkLife recognizes that managers and supervisors may feel overwhelmed when employees discuss work/life challenges or may be unable to provide them with adequate resources or support. We strive to help managers/supervisors understand the warning signs of an employee in distress and provide them with a resource to support their team members. We request managers and supervisors stress that WorkLife services are free and confidential.

Our Customer Success Manager (CSM) will work with you and your HR team to determine the most effective way to launch the program to your managers/supervisors and frontline employees. In addition, WorkLife will help coordinate strategies to reach your entire workforce including virtual tools and/or scheduling of Navigator onsite hours.  Additional information about the launch process can be found here.

After an employee reaches out to a Navigator or a Navigator reaches out on behalf of a referral, the first step is to schedule an appointment. This meeting typically takes about an hour. During this time, the Navigator will review an employee’s questions and concerns and help them set goals that they will work on together. Navigators will meet an employee at a time and public place that is most convenient for them. In addition, Navigators are available to meet virtually via phone, text, email, or video conference. A Navigator may also meet an employee at their place of work after arranging a confidential meeting space with the employer. View our video on the navigator process to learn more.