Employees are more than just the people who show up to get a job done. Outside of work, their personal lives – where they live, their family roles and their access to healthcare and healthy food – can greatly impact how they feel and how productive they are on the job.  

A recent report from Dayforce found that only 56% of full-time workers in the U.S. are making a living wage in today’s economy. Food insecurity has increased over the last year, and most parents are spending 20%+ of their household income on child care. Furthermore, studies have shown that higher financial worries are significantly associated with higher psychological distress and inadequate food access can lead to anxiety and stress. 

Many employers feel they can’t make a difference, but that’s untrue. Social determinants of health (SDOH) can play a significant role in mental health, but employers can offer support through comprehensive benefits plans that proactively address these issues. CuraLinc’s Work-Life Team supports overall employee wellbeing by providing tailored resources and personalized navigation related to financial assistance, transportation, child care, elder care, retirement coaching, financial consultations and more. These services are all part of a well-rounded program to help address issues that can affect an employee both personally and professionally. 

Meet Kimesha, the leader of CuraLinc’s Work-Life Consultant Team. Today, we’ve asked her to share more about how her team supports individuals who utilize our work-life services, including identifying social needs, providing consultation and connecting participants to helpful resources.  

As a Work-Life Consultant for CuraLinc, I often speak with people who are looking for resources beyond mental health support. They’re struggling with finances, housing, child care or other common life challenges often related to SDOH. These economic, environmental and social factors greatly impact their personal lives, mental and physical health health, and their focus and performance at work. When participants are experiencing a work-life need, it’s my job to provide personalized support and navigation to the best available resources.  

Screening for work-life needs  

While I do receive direct calls and requests for support from our participants, CuraLinc Care Advocates also screen for various social, economic and environmental needs that the Work-Life Team can assist with. For example, a person may initially reach out because they’re experiencing anxiety or depression, but there could be other factors that are contributing to, or single-handedly responsible for, those mental health concerns. If we’re only addressing their mental health concerns and not the root cause or contributing factors, we’re really missing an opportunity to support someone more holistically. We’ve found that the majority of our participants who report 1+ SDOH need didn’t initiate care to address that need. They were reaching out for another reason. By screening for SDOH during our telephonic and digital assessments, Care Advocates help us identify and support significantly more employees with additional needs related to social, economic and environmental factors.  

A seamless transition from request to support 

Typically, once a participant speaks with a Care Advocate, the Care Advocate learns about their needs and sets up a case so I have a better idea of how I can help. From there, it’s a warm handoff. I use the information I’ve received to begin the conversation and work towards connecting them with the right resources.  

We understand it can be frustrating to feel like you’re being shuffled around from one person to the next. That’s why our process is really focused on empowering Care Advocates to learn as much about the situation as possible before opening a case for a Work-Life Consultant. It really helps give me a head start in understanding how I can help. 

 We also have special procedures in place for participants who are experiencing a high level of emotions when speaking with the Care Advocate. In that case, the Care Advocate can provide in-the-moment support as they always do, in addition to gathering information to begin a work-life request. I can begin researching the appropriate resources and options for the participant without them ever being transferred. 

Tailored resources and outside-the-box opportunities 

Approximately 80% of the requests I receive are related to financial assistance. A participant may need support with rent or making an upcoming utility payment. After learning more about their needs, I look for community-based resources that may be able to assist them. One of the things we do that I’m really proud of is looking outside of the more traditional big-box nonprofits that people think of. Many people who need help may not meet the requirements of larger nonprofits, but there may be smaller resources nestled within their community that they aren’t aware of. We make sure to look for those as well.  

Personalized consultations to meet individual needs 

I also receive requests for support in locating affordable child care and housing. In these cases, oftentimes the participant has already learned they aren’t eligible for government assistance. My job is then to learn more about what they need and try to provide some alternative resources. For example, if they can’t find an affordable home that meets all of their requirements, maybe they’re in a situation where they can rent a room for the time being. Or, if they’re looking for child care, it may be cheaper to hire a nanny a few days a week than to pay for weekly daycare. It’s really important to address their individual needs and circumstances and then walk through potential solutions they may not have known about or considered yet.   

Follow-through and case management 

Regardless of why a person calls in or what kind of support they need, our team follows up two weeks after providing a participant with resources. Both Work-Life Consultants and Care Advocates provide participants with direct contact information so they can reach out earlier if they need additional support or resources. We will continue working a case until it’s resolved. And if a participant needs additional support after those two weeks, they still have direct contact information. That way they can reach out without worrying about explaining their situation or unique needs all over again. 

Work-life services can help proactively address employee needs  

Work-life services are often overlooked or viewed as a lower level of support and care. However, when properly integrated into a workplace mental health program and promoted to employees, these services can make a significant impact. Taking a proactive approach to identifying employees who need additional resources and consultation can help prevent or reduce the risk of developing mental health challenges. 

Additional resources 

Blog Post - How Social Determinants of Health Impact the Workplace and What Employers Can Do To Help