FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles aiming to help Defense Logistics Agency employees return to the office in January. The articles will address several areas, providing tips and information to ease the transition.
A willingness to help others is a common trait across the Defense Logistics Agency workforce. At one point or another, we have gone out of our way to assist a coworker, a neighbor, or someone we just met who needed momentary help or advice. Knowing we made a positive impact on another person, whether it was short-lived or long-lasting, provides us all with a sense of pride and satisfaction.
But how often do we accept help when we need it?
Do we view needing help as burdening others with our problems? Do we think it makes us appear incapable or incompetent? Or maybe we equate needing help as a sign of weakness, said Donna Estep, acting deputy director of enterprise support for DLA Human Resources.
According to the American Institute of Stress (yes, that really exists), 55% of Americans are stressed at any given point during the day. As a matter of fact, Americans are one of the most stressed-out populations in the world. The current stress level experienced by Americans is 20 percentage points higher than the global average.
“Given how widespread this issue is, it’s safe to say we all have felt, and maybe even feel right now, a sense of being overwhelmed. There’s no shame in that,” Estep said.
Stress and anxiety come from many sources, from work, relationships and finances, to larger external factors like the recent COVID-19 pandemic, economic issues like higher mortgage rates, rent prices, and inflation, and rising military tensions around the world.
If left unresolved, stress and anxiety can have a long-term impact our physical health and well-being, Estep said.
“That’s one of many reasons why DLA’s Human Resources team is here to support everyone in the workforce. The HR team can help direct employees to the assistance they need whether their stressors are work-related or not,” Estep said.
DLA Human Resources offers the following resources to help with the transition back to the office.
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program exists to help employees and their dependents identify and overcome personal and professional causes of stress. Big or small, the EAP team can help work through problems or concerns related to mental and physical well-being, financial or legal matters, dependencies on alcohol or other substances, workplace conflicts, caregiving issues, illnesses, and personal relationships.
EAP services are provided by MagellanAscend. These benefits are free and confidential. Qualified counselors will listen and assess the situation to provide the best possible outcome. This service is available 24/7/365 by calling 1-866-580-9046.
Wellness/Fitness Time
DLA also provides employees with a wellness/fitness program to support their well-being and overall health. Whether its crossfit, yoga, Pilates, or meditation, full-time employees may be granted administrative leave up to a maximum of 1 hour per day, three times per week during duty time for qualified wellness or fitness activities. Part-time employees also receive this benefit on a pro-rated basis.
Learning and Development
The HR Training team has put together a wide array of online courses and in-person training sessions available in the Learning Management System (LMS).
In addition to courses that apply to on-the-job skills or building other professional know-how, there are an impressive number of courses designed to help identify underlying sources of stress, find ways to reduce or eliminate their impact, and provide sustainable solutions for positive growth.
Recently added courses like “Adapting for a Post-Pandemic World” are one of many opportunities to learn how to apply resiliency techniques in daily life and find ways to tackle the things that cause us stress.