25 signatures reached
To: Walmart and Sam's Club
WALMART: HAVE A WORKPLACE CHAPLAINCY: CHAPLAINS IN ALL WALMART AND SAM'S CLUBS
Have chaplains in all Walmart and Sam's Clubs. The problem is that Associate's health does have an effect on the bottom line. Life happens. And as it does, it has a profound impact on an individual, their work, and their workplace.
Why is this important?
Associate's health does have an effect on the bottom line. Life happens. And as it does, it has a profound impact on an individual, their work, and their workplace. The workplace chaplain may serve in various settings, providing the benefits of spiritual care ministry to people of many professions and occupations.
Most people spend more hours at their workplace than in any other single location. It seems reasonable then, that when people face crises or significant changes in their lives, their work will be directly impacted. Distress and emotional upheaval affect concentration, productivity, or working relationships. Some unique issues workplace chaplains face include layoffs, restructuring, buyouts and mergers, retirements, downsizing, and difficult deadlines. They may deal with changes in supervisors or management, revisions to mission statements, policies, and procedure, updates in technology and equipment, and shifts in the economy, which influence organizational targets and goals. Chaplains also deal with conflict resolution, cultural and religious accommodations, and even workplace ethics
Workplace chaplains provide spiritual care for employees during working hours and, when necessary, during off hours too. People seldom compartmentalize their problems. Work problems are taken home, and domestic problems are taken to work. The workplace inevitably benefits when employees are valued as human beings, not just "bottom-line" producers. Work relationships become more cooperative, and employers see a decrease in absenteeism and health claims as well as general increase in workers' spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. There are benefits at home also, where families are less affected by workplace stress if an employee lets off professional steam before getting on the train or in the car to go home.
Chaplain ministry in the workplace offers the additional benefits of feeling "safer" for employees and executives than traditional employee assistance programs. Programs for such issues as anger management, substance abuse, domestic violence, or gambling are often perceived as having a greater possibility of negative career impact. Workers know that admitting to an emotional problem, health concern, family crises, or moral and ethical failure could result in career development stalls, relational fragmentation, or even termination.
Employees can feel confident that in the chaplain they have an advocate who is neutral to the corporate structure who could listen, give honest feedback, and clarify in confidentiality. They need someone who listens without justifying the bottom line. They need to be affirmed in their feelings of doubt, frustration, and loneliness. When workplace chaplains can identify the need for employee affirmation and encouragement, they can become the advocates who comfort and support employees during times of stress without compromising the employee's position, reputation, or perceived emotional status.
During times of layoffs, failing economy, and budget cuts, business leaders are especially susceptible to discouragement and stress. They need hope. Without hope, there is no good reason to keep on keeping on. When leaders are hopeful, they give courage to their followers, enabling them to wade through anxious situations and persevere in times of uncertainty. Chaplains are very often ministers of hope.
In fact, chaplains act as mentors in the workplace - guiding, enabling, and modeling healthy living and healthy working. Mentors are different than business coaches who focus on the external qualities of performance and presentation. Chaplains are mentors who focus on the interior world of feelings, emotions, and values - those qualities that make us human - bringing light to issues and conflicts, clarifying values, and confronting immorality and unethical behavior. Chaplains join employees as they participate in the journey, not just the "event." Employees in the workplace need relationships with people of character, competence, and courage - filled with God's love and demonstrating God's presence - and a chaplain should be that kind of person.
Workplace chaplains provide many services. Some of these services are typical in most chaplain settings. Other services performed by workplace chaplains offer more unique opportunities for ministry. Chaplains may assist with employee orientations or even help the company president or CEO with dealing with drafting special communications such as a "letter of condolence" or a "letter of concern." Chaplains may also serve as the company "expert' or consultant on matters of religion, morality, ethics, morale, and accommodation as these issues affect the company or the employer.
Overall, workplace chaplaincy provides continuity for people's lives. It facilitates mental, physical, and emotional well-being as a priority for living and working.
Most people spend more hours at their workplace than in any other single location. It seems reasonable then, that when people face crises or significant changes in their lives, their work will be directly impacted. Distress and emotional upheaval affect concentration, productivity, or working relationships. Some unique issues workplace chaplains face include layoffs, restructuring, buyouts and mergers, retirements, downsizing, and difficult deadlines. They may deal with changes in supervisors or management, revisions to mission statements, policies, and procedure, updates in technology and equipment, and shifts in the economy, which influence organizational targets and goals. Chaplains also deal with conflict resolution, cultural and religious accommodations, and even workplace ethics
Workplace chaplains provide spiritual care for employees during working hours and, when necessary, during off hours too. People seldom compartmentalize their problems. Work problems are taken home, and domestic problems are taken to work. The workplace inevitably benefits when employees are valued as human beings, not just "bottom-line" producers. Work relationships become more cooperative, and employers see a decrease in absenteeism and health claims as well as general increase in workers' spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. There are benefits at home also, where families are less affected by workplace stress if an employee lets off professional steam before getting on the train or in the car to go home.
Chaplain ministry in the workplace offers the additional benefits of feeling "safer" for employees and executives than traditional employee assistance programs. Programs for such issues as anger management, substance abuse, domestic violence, or gambling are often perceived as having a greater possibility of negative career impact. Workers know that admitting to an emotional problem, health concern, family crises, or moral and ethical failure could result in career development stalls, relational fragmentation, or even termination.
Employees can feel confident that in the chaplain they have an advocate who is neutral to the corporate structure who could listen, give honest feedback, and clarify in confidentiality. They need someone who listens without justifying the bottom line. They need to be affirmed in their feelings of doubt, frustration, and loneliness. When workplace chaplains can identify the need for employee affirmation and encouragement, they can become the advocates who comfort and support employees during times of stress without compromising the employee's position, reputation, or perceived emotional status.
During times of layoffs, failing economy, and budget cuts, business leaders are especially susceptible to discouragement and stress. They need hope. Without hope, there is no good reason to keep on keeping on. When leaders are hopeful, they give courage to their followers, enabling them to wade through anxious situations and persevere in times of uncertainty. Chaplains are very often ministers of hope.
In fact, chaplains act as mentors in the workplace - guiding, enabling, and modeling healthy living and healthy working. Mentors are different than business coaches who focus on the external qualities of performance and presentation. Chaplains are mentors who focus on the interior world of feelings, emotions, and values - those qualities that make us human - bringing light to issues and conflicts, clarifying values, and confronting immorality and unethical behavior. Chaplains join employees as they participate in the journey, not just the "event." Employees in the workplace need relationships with people of character, competence, and courage - filled with God's love and demonstrating God's presence - and a chaplain should be that kind of person.
Workplace chaplains provide many services. Some of these services are typical in most chaplain settings. Other services performed by workplace chaplains offer more unique opportunities for ministry. Chaplains may assist with employee orientations or even help the company president or CEO with dealing with drafting special communications such as a "letter of condolence" or a "letter of concern." Chaplains may also serve as the company "expert' or consultant on matters of religion, morality, ethics, morale, and accommodation as these issues affect the company or the employer.
Overall, workplace chaplaincy provides continuity for people's lives. It facilitates mental, physical, and emotional well-being as a priority for living and working.
How it will be delivered
The petition, signatures, and proposal will be e-mailed and delivered in person to Samuel Robson Walton, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and James Carr Walton, Chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank Group, Inc. and to stage a press conference afterwards.
