Local 800: Holiday Joy – and Blues
Holiday Joy – and Holiday Blues …
and A Request to All Local 800 Members
(Our request comes at the end – so if some of this email about holiday joy and holiday blues doesn't apply to you: please skip to the last paragraph.)
This is the week of Hanukkah, and the Local 800 Executive Board wishes joy to those of our members who are celebrating. To those of you who are beginning to prepare for Christmas, we wish you a merry and meaningful holiday with family and friends. And all of us – whether celebrating one, both, or neither of these December festivities – will be marking (with or without fanfare) the turn from 2018 to 2019, and we join with everyone in hoping for a good year ahead for our loved ones and for our troubled world.
At the same time, we recognize that for some people the holidays do not feel joyous, but, rather, this season can be the most emotionally difficult time of the year. If you are alone and depressed by the holidays, you might wish to look at an article we found titled "A Griever's Pocket Guide to Spending the Holidays Alone,"and if you have friends or family but feel unable to respond to their holiday cheer, you might be interested in "What to do if you're struggling with depression this holiday season."
According to the EverydayHealth website:“Depression is a significant public-health issue. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people between ages 15 and 44.” Through the years there have been instances when a member has sought help from the union because of a disciplinary notice from management and we discover that the member's workplace problems stem from an unacknowledged emotional or mental difficulty. It is far better, whenever possible, to deal with these issues before they escalate to a workplace crisis. Many of the agencies that our members work for have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which includes free, year-round counseling by licensed professionals, who are available for any employee who wishes to talk with someone about emotional difficulties. (The EAP includes other services as well. The union is not involved with the EAP in any fashion; we are simply bringing this to your attention.) For the EAP available to employees of the Jewish Federation, JBBBS, BJE, JCF, and Westside JCC, see here for the flyer and here for the wallet card; JFS sent us a slightly different version of the wallet card for the same service, here. See here for the brochure for the EAP available to employees of JVS SoCal (including the GAIN unit).
Your health insurance plan may include mental health services, and there are also public crisis hot lines you can call. (Here is a web page, from MentalHealth.net,that discusses depression and its symptoms, and what to expect from a call to a crisis hot line.)
If you are struggling with substance abuse and are ready to enter a treatment program, you may be entitled to a medical leave of absence from your job; please consult with the union.
"A Griever's Pocket Guide to Spending the Holidays Alone" begins by reminding those of us alone and depressed at this season: "Though you’re alone, remember you’re not the only one ... it’s easy to feel like everyone has love and connection but you. The reality, though, is that you aren’t the only one spending the holidays alone and you certainly aren’t the only one feeling lonely ... It’s not that anyone wants other people to also be sad, but knowing that you’re not alone in the struggle can help you feel connected to others through the universality of difficult experiences."
AND NOW: A REQUEST, AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2019
Every two years we have elections to the Local 800 Executive Board. In January 2019 there will be elections for the officers (President, Vice-President, Chief Shop Steward, etc.) and in February there will be elections for representatives from the Federation, the agencies, the JCCs, and the Museum of Tolerance, and also for trustees. Everyone votes for the officers and trustees, and members at each agency vote for their agency reps. (It's a staggered process, because if someone runs as an officer and is not elected, he or she still has a chance to be elected as a representative.) Your basic responsibility as a rep. is to attend monthly Executive Board meetings (held at 6505 Wilshire, with dinner served – and those who cannot travel may call in by phone), bring news and feedback from your workplace, and participate in the discussions and decisions. We will be sending out further notices about the nominations and elections process. Please consider running and serving! Let us know if you have any questions.