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First words

As I write, the country is snugÌýunder a blanket of snow andÌýwe are obsessed by newsÌýreports of Siberian weather frontsÌýstreaming in from the continent,Ìýtogether with associated traffic chaosÌý– lightened slightly by footage of theÌýodd car performing an unpromptedÌýTorvill and Dean number on anÌýungritted residential road.

Apparently some nine million people tuned in to the BBCÌýnews last night, no doubt oohing and aahing at countrywideÌýreports of this much snow here and that much snow there.ÌýAs I complain about this national preoccupation with theÌýweather, I realise I am happily colluding with it as I repeatedlyÌýinspect my outdoor thermometer with one of those niftyÌýindoor digital readouts that implies it is far too cold to doÌýanything other than repeatedly inspect my outdoorÌýthermometer. It reached -14.5°C last week.

But there always seem to be winners and losers. The winnersÌýseem to be the school kids ‘forced’ to stay at home, makeÌýsnowmen (or is it snowpersons?) and terrorise passersby,Ìýalready unsteady on their feet, with volleys of crunchyÌýsnowballs. The losers are possibly parents who need to takeÌýtime off to look after their kids. But maybe they are notÌýlosers. Perhaps their employers offer progressive flexitimeÌýoptions together with policies that advise on what to do inÌýthe advent of adverse weather, allowing those stuck at homeÌýto continue to contribute to work. And to those peopleÌýsuffering domestic strife from post-Christmas bickering partnersÌýand families, or pending laden credit card statements, thenÌýthere might be workplace counselling or EAP services availableÌýonce they do return to work, or as part of a rehabilitationÌýstrategy to facilitate a return to work programme.

Comfortingly, we hear of an increasing number ofÌýorganisations that are listening more closely to the needsÌýof their employees. And wellbeing in the workplace (bothÌý‘mental’ and physical) is getting more widespread recognitionÌýat board level. These debilitating weather conditionsÌýthemselves will test organisations and their ability to supportÌýtheir staff. If they get it right, the employer is likely to beÌýmet with a more engaged, committed, satisfied andÌýproductive workforce.

I am delighted to welcome back Dr Michael Walton who writes about harassment as a threat to wellbeing andÌýwhether it is generic or as a result of context. It gets youÌýthinking. Many of you will be familiar with Michael throughÌýhis seminal text (with Michael Carroll) Handbook ofÌýcounselling in organisations.

Thanks also to Fiona Gardner, Steven Coombs and formerÌýACW executive member, Amanda Larcombe, who joinÌýtogether to write a fascinating article on the value andÌýimportance of researching workplace counselling – andÌýwhich is specifically written for the practitioner. Not onlyÌýis this a personal perspective from the authors, writtenÌýin a way that peeks through the sometimes secludedÌýtherapeutic world, but it is also hot on the heels of a bookÌýthey have recently published.Ìý

In the most recent Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ Workplace e-bulletin, we sentÌýout a call for book reviewers for several publications. TheÌýGardner/Coombs book received by far the most numberÌýof offers from budding reviewers. Thanks to all who putÌýthemselves forward for this book and the two othersÌýfeatured. Please keep an eye out for future e-bulletins andÌýcalls for book reviewers – it is strictly first come, first served.Ìý

We also start the New Year with an introduction to theÌýhard-working volunteers who make up the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ WorkplaceÌýexecutive committee. Of course, many of them will needÌýno introduction but we wanted to formally profile the teamÌýso you can see who they are, their backgrounds, experiencesÌýand skills and how they are contributing to the division.

It is also great to forge links with our Irish counterpartsÌýand to welcome Maurice Quinlan who heads theÌýEAP Institute in Dublin. Maurice is a powerful champion ofÌýemployee support provision and his events attract delegatesÌýfrom all over the UK and beyond. Here, as a prelude to aÌýseminar on the same theme, he writes about how resilientÌýmanagers thrive during recessions. This notion is furtherÌýexpanded upon by Gill Thurgood and Karen CrampinÌýof empowerME² who introduce pressure in the workplace inÌýrelation to resilience. Many thanks to Gill and Karen.

And finally, as promised, we have the results of theÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ Workplace membership survey. This generated aÌýfascinating insight into the views and opinions of the membersÌýwho kindly responded. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ Workplace will spend timeÌýreflecting on the feedback and will endeavour to take actionÌýand respond to the results. It really does raise the temperatureÌýon what the division can do to better meet the needs ofÌýmembers, the wider workplace counselling community,Ìýusers, providers and funders.

Speaking of which, my thermometer is now reading aÌýpaltry -4.5°C. Tropical.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Rick Hughes
Editor

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