May 26, 2004

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Mediation Services for Faculty & Staff: An Update
by Sally Johnson, Mediation Services

If you are receiving this newsletter, chances are good that you are familiar with Mediation Services for Faculty and Staff. But here are some things you probably didn't know:

  • In a survey of 12 large universities, conducted last year by Ohio State, our Mediation Services ranked first in the number of cases handled each year – in fact, our average 177 cases/year was more than twice as high as the school in second place!
  • We now have twelve professionally trained and experienced mediators, holding various positions throughout the University, who are on call to provide mediation through this office. Three of them are members of the faculty, and nine are staff members; there are five women and seven men, and they represent a broad cultural spread. They make it possible not only to respond to customers quickly, but also to provide the option of co-mediation.
  • We can usually schedule initial contacts with clients within 24-48 hours, and to set up a joint meeting within a week.
  • Of the mediation cases we have conducted and completed in the last three years 82% succeeded in reaching an agreement.
  • With very few exceptions, we will assist with any work-connected concern for anyone who works for the University, on any campus, in any capacity. The exceptions are – we can't mediate faculty tenure, and we won't mediate about serious misconduct (such as theft or violence.) We will assist a student employee with work-related concerns, but not, for example, grade concerns.
  • Recent cases have ranged from helping faculty members get past grudges with each other, to opening up communication between a staff person and his or her supervisor, to assisting in negotiating a needed job change.


Here are ways you can help to promote “peaceful resolution” on campus:

  • Keep copies of our brochure in your office to hand to colleagues when needed. If you don't have any, just contact us at mediation.services@umich.edu .
  • Remember to suggest our services whenever they are relevant. Word of mouth helps!
  • Help colleagues in a dispute to understand the value of a third party, especially at earlier and less contentious stages. For most people, turning to an “outsider” seems like “escalating” the dispute, but in reality, the presence of a neutral, listening party is actually a wonderful way to de-escalate the situation.
  • Ask us to bring one of our brown bag presentations about handling conflict to your office group. Just call the office at 936-8660. Topics include:
    • Conflict 101:  Understanding how individuals respond to conflict
    • Conflict Competent Teams:  How the best teams handle it
    • Cross-cultural Conflict in the Workplace
    • Handling Confrontation and Conflict
    • Understanding Different Generations in the Workplace
  • Did you know that we sponsor a UM Campus Conflict Resolution Network? If you'd like learn more about it, call Fernando Caetano, 615-8412, or Sally Johnson, 647-1056.
  • Let us know if you think we could improve our services in any way!

 

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Length of Maternity Leave Affects Depression


A recent analysis of data collected by the National Maternal and Infant Health division survey found that mothers who were in relatively good mental health who took maternity leaves of from eight to twelve weeks, reported substantially less symptoms of depression compared to those who took only six weeks leave.

The length of leave for severely depressed women seemed to make little difference.

National Bureau of Economic Research, April, 2004

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Extroverts find Balance Easier


No surprise: Neurotics like Woody Allen or Jerry Seinfeld are most likely to be distracted and stressed, bringing work problems home and vice versa. But extroverts (outgoing, sociable and talkative) had the most positive work/family relationships, according to a study by Wake Forest University .

Extroverts were most likely to say their job made them better companions and more interesting at home. And those who felt work had a positive influence on their family lives were more satisfied with their jobs and more likely to put more effort into them.

Using a large national sample, the study also found people who were conscientious had less conflict between work and family. The researchers speculated that these people may be better organized and use time more efficiently.

Work & Family Newsbrief, March, 2004

 

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HELPING MOM OR DAD FROM AFAR – A true story
by Leslie de Pietro, Work/Life Resource Center

Justine sounded a bit nervous when she called me the week before Thanksgiving. She was going to visit her father who lived in a rural section of Pennsylvania . She was worried about his increasing forgetfulness, but he was staunchly independent and he maintained every time she phoned that he was getting along just fine.

Justine called the Work/Life Resource Center to get advice on resources and services for her dad in Pennsylvania . She expressed some apprehension about his condition. We advised her to try to set up an appointment at a geriatric center while she was there. I was able to find one in a city about 45 minutes from where he lived. We also steered her to some home health care agencies in case she felt he might need it.

We made a follow-up call to her about a week after Thanksgiving. She had an amazing story to tell. It seems she had called her dad the night before and told him (as she had repeatedly) that she would be flying down the next day and that she would get a cab to take her to his house. He insisted that he could come to the airport and pick her up, but Justine had a bad feeling about that. When she arrived on his doorstep, after an hour cab drive, she found that neither her dad nor his truck was there. She was able to get in the house, expecting that he had run an errand and would be back soon. She slept very little that night, worrying about his safety.

The next day, she called the hospitals and sherrif's offices in the surrounding towns. No luck. She even went back to the airport to see if he might have gone there to pick her up. Finally, she called her own phone in Michigan to see if he might have tried to call her. Instead, she had a message from a motel owner in Ohio saying that someone who claimed to be her dad had driven in to the motel and was obviously very confused. They put him up for the night, and found her number in his wallet. It seems that he had gotten it in his head that he was supposed to drive to Michigan to spend Thanksgiving with her. He had his dog with him, and a wallet with ten dollars in it.

The daughter called the motel immediately, and to her relief found that the owners had talked him into not driving any further. She explained what had happened, and flew to Ohio and they had Thanksgiving dinner, courtesy of the kind motel owners.

Soon after, with our help, she located an Assisted Living facility about 15 minutes from where she was living, and within a month had brought him to the Ann Arbor area and saw him safely settled in. He also got a neurological examination, confirming that he did have dementia. Justine visits often, and says that the Work/Life Resource Center was a “lifesaver” helping her through the crisis.

“Lock up your daughters, Ma—the old goat's loose again” was all he had to say about it.

 

Call WLRC if you are struggling with a similar situation to consult with one of our staff

 

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Skills to Improving a relationship
by Tom Waldecker, Faculty and Staff Assistance Program

Relationships between humans are very complex and frequently are taken for granted. When we relate to another we bring our past experiences with us. And the other party does not have the same experience as we do. So, in order for us to really relate with another individual, a partner, or a co-worker we need to improve our skills of “understanding” and “listening.”

To understand another we need to continuously ask questions to hear their viewpoint. When the other individual we are trying to strengthen a relationship with hears us (or experiences us) inquiring about their life experiences and point of view they will share more. In addition, their belief that you care about their feelings and point of view will also strengthen. One way to ask questions that will solicit more knowledge and understanding is to ask an open-ended question.

Some examples of open-ended questions are:

  • What are some of the thoughts and feelings that you are experiencing today?
  • Tell me some ways you have thought about approaching this issue.
  • Could you tell me more about that?

An additional tool to improving a relationship is to “listen first.” Listening first is the practice of focusing on hearing and identifying what the person is feeling and saying first before we come up with our answer to them. One way to practice this is to use a reflective statement as our first response to them. For example: It sounds like you are a little anxious and excited about the new project you are taking on.

Relationships are ever evolving and changing. To keep them meaningful to us they take a little work and nurturing. Remember it is always a great opening to people to say to someone, “I've got time to listen and share today.”

FASAP counselors are available to discuss and strategize tools to improve a relationship you want to strengthen. For an appointment call (734) 936-8660.

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STAFF PROFILES

Tom Waldecker, FASAP

Tom Waldecker has been the Director of the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program since 1998. Tom was born and raised in Monroe County , Michigan where he still lives with his spouse. They tend almost a three acre spot with about a hundred evergreens, fruit trees and a large garden. Tom is a 1976 graduate of the University Of Michigan School Of Social Work , and he has a Bachelors Degree from Eastern Michigan University . In addition, he attended Monroe County Community College , where he is now a member of their Board of Trustees.

In his free time Tom enjoys volleyball, tennis, biking and collecting 50's and 60's Blues, Jazz and Rock and Roll music . Prior to coming to U of M Tom worked for a behavioral health company as their regional manager. He administered the employee assistance program for over 33,000 FORD Motor Company staff, the Stroh Brewery Company, Rouge Steel, Cranbrook Schools and several other companies. In addition, he has extensive experience in providing educational presentations on emotional health topics.

In Tom's role at the University he focuses on overseeing the counseling and consultation services that FASAP provides. He has assisted with the development of a detailed client satisfaction survey regarding FASAPS services and has worked diligently to promote and market the services of the office in a very positive manner.

 

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Amy Marcinkowski Work/Life Resource Center


Amy Marcinkowski joined the Work/Life Resource Center in January 2003 as a resource and referral specialist. She did her undergraduate and some graduate work at EMU, and brings with her over ten years of experience in child care, counseling/family services, and program management, mostly in the non-profit realm.

A favorite aspect of her work is making connections between child care providers and UM families in need of child care. Last month, she assisted an employee/single mother of a newborn in finding overnight care and a reduced rate with a provider who was eager to fill a long-time opening in her licensed home setting. And she recently received a note from another employee which stated that not only was she “so happy” with her son's new provider, but that the provider has become one of her best friends!

Amy lives on the north side of Ann Arbor with “a few” formerly homeless but now very pampered cats, and plans to create some gardens and spend more time reading and relaxing in the coming months.

 

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Campus-area Wellness Services for Faculty and Staff

Looking for resources near work to improve health and well-being? FASAP and the Work/Life Resources Center have created a new online guide to help faculty, staff and the UM community find these resources. The guide covers a wide variety of information including parenting/childbirth, health education, emotional wellness or exercise and nutrition services to name a few. General descriptions of services, how to access them and any related fees are provided and all services are within close proximity to campus. .

To determine available smoking cessation or weight management programs, it is advised to explore your UM health insurance provider for details.

Thanks to graduate student intern, Beth Czischke, for her help in collecting this information.

Click here for the Online Wellness Services Guide http://www.umich.edu/%7Efasap/health/wellness.htm

If we have missed something your department offers, please let us know. Contact: Leslie de Pietro 936-8677 or Karen Semenuk at 936-8660..

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resolutions is published in January, May and September of every year. To obtain additional information regarding our services contact FASAP/Mediation Services at (734) 936-8660.

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