Focus Group benefits from free employer seminars
Everyone will have stress in their life; the key is to recognize it and learn to manage it.-- Mike Neel

In honor of American Heart Month, WorkForce Solutions held a networking seminar last week for local employers on managing stress in the workplace. Mike Neel, president of the Jasper Ministerial Alliance presented the program.

"Stress is a natural part of life," Neel said. "It is the way our body reacts to the unknown, and it can be a good thing leading to heightened awareness. But if it is mismanaged it can lead to health problems."

Neel said everyone will have stress in their life; the key is to recognize it and learn to manage it.

"If you know that long lines cause you stress," Nell said as example, "Avoid it. Don't try to shop at 5 p.m. when the lines are longest- shop at 5 a.m. if you're a morning person like me, or whatever time works for you."

Neel also advised that talking is a release that helps you deal with stress; and expecting perfection either from yourself or others is a recipe for stress. Laughter, exercise, good nutrition and adequate sleep are all important to counteracting stress.

The WorkForce Solutions office offers seminars like this to the Employer Focus Group. Most people attending this seminar were managers or human resources people.

At the end of the meeting the team of WorkForce business specialists, Arlie Reynolds, Kim Brown and Jennifer Gobert, discussed how they are working to bring more and better jobs to Jasper. The team's goal is to hold 120 face-to-face meetings with employers each month. They also help expedite training programs through the incumbent worker grants, which help small businesses upgrade the skills of their employees by paying for classes and workshops.

For more information on what the WorkForce office offers employers, call 384- 9031 or visit the office at 710 S. Wheeler in Jasper.