OCCUPATIONAL SOCIAL WORK

(i) Concept
Occupational social work deals with all the practice and policy issues that link social welfare to the world
of workfrom unemployment to stress on the job, from policies on fringe benefits to efforts to establish
an inclusive, balanced work force, and from programs that are designed exclusively for employees at a
specific work site to service delivery systems that are based on partnerships between the world of work
and community resources to provide facilities for child- and elder care. Occupational social work involves
assisting employees, their families and management with challenges that relate to social functioning and
human relationships in the workplace.
The challenges emanating from human and social needs have a direct or indirect impact on individual
employees, the workplace as an employer and the environment. The occupational social worker is
required to develop and facilitate relevant intervention strategies and programmes to assist meeting the
service demands identified in the workplace. Social work services in the workplace can help to manage
change that may be occurring can be used when risk is anticipated and can help to respond to legal actions
taken against employees. Occupational social work together with other professions deals with employee
wellness in the workplace
(ii) Objectives
a. Enhancing the peoples capacities to resolve problems, cope, and function effectively
This goal of social work focuses on enhancing peoples capacities to resolve problems. A problem is a
difficult situation that is hampering the peoples effective social functioning. There can be psychological
problems, economic problems, social problems, physiological problems, family problems, relationship
problems, interpersonal problems, health problems etc. The goal of social work is to enhance peoples
capacities to resolve these kinds of problems.
b. Linking clients with needed resources
On one level, achieving this goal means helping clients locate the resources they need to deal more
effectively with their situations. Social workers do link clients with the needed resources available within
the society. The resources are available in the society. However, people lack the information regarding the
availability of the resources. For example, when poor people go to the hospital and they cannot afford the
cost of medication or treatment, it does not mean that the hospital has nothing else to offer such poor
patients. The problem is created when people do not know whether there are any of such resources
available.
c. Improve the social service delivery network
This goal means social workers must ensure that the system that delivers social services is humane and
adequately provide resources and services for participants, i.e. the clients. if the families are experiencing
serious difficulties in gaining access to the aid provided through BISP, it is the job of social works to
improve the programmes structure. So that the access to the aid is made easy to the clients. Secondly,
social work also needs to ensure that the aid is provided humanely. There will be no verbal abuse or
stigma attached to the aid beneficiaries. The aid will be provided in a humane way.
d. Promoting social justice through the development of social policy
With respect to developing social policies, social workers examine social issues for policy implications.
They make suggestions for new policies and recommendations for eliminating policies that are no longer
productive. With respect to developing social policies, social workers examine social issues for policy
implications. They make suggestions for new policies and recommendations for eliminating policies that
are no longer productive. With respect to developing social policies, social workers examine social issues
for policy implications. They make suggestions for new policies and recommendations for eliminating
policies that are no longer productive.
Promotion of physical, mental and social health;
Attainment of satisfying relationship and raising up of the standard of living;
Elimination of social injustice and poverty;
Gradual rehabilitation of weak, infirm, disabled, and anti-social elements of the society
through social services;
To look after health, education, welfare and recreation of children, which are being neglected
by the family;
Provide for adequate educational facilities and opportunities for social development, national
services and development of leadership qualities; and
Eradication of social problems and vices such as crime, prostitution, delinquency etc by
social legislation and community control.

(iii) Scope
Occupational social work is the practice specialization in which programs and interventions are targeted
specifically to the population of the workplace. In terms of opportunities for innovative research,
intervention, and program development for the future, occupational social work is as boundless as the
global economy. Arguably the professions youngest practice domain, occupational (also called
industrial) social work may look like other specializations in social work, all designed to remedy gaps
in human and social needs, except for the unique focus of its client population: people in the workplace,
including employees, job seekers, labor union members, and retirees.
Todays occupational social workers are challenged to meet the social welfare needs of workers and work
organizations on multiple levels of practice and to fulfill multiple roles, often in innovative but fairly
small service delivery models. Occupational social workers are expected to comply with ethical practice
standards and to be familiar with fundamentals of social policy (such as employment, unemployment, and
marginal or underemployment); the cultural value of work (or its absence) within ideological
frameworks and human development; the structure of work-based social service programs; the
significance of substance abuse, mental illness, gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation, and
ability as workplace variables; and the historic centrality of work organizations and labor unions in the
lives of clients and their families.



SOCIAL WORKER
The job of a social worker is often a challenging one, helping people with difficulty coping to find
mechanisms and skills which can better their lives and experiences. For many, assisting families and
individuals is only one aspect of the job, which can also include duties such as research, planning or
policy development and advocacy for services and underprivileged people. Social work can be the kind of
job that requires plenty of overtime, and separating the emotional aspect from the duties required can be a
difficult undertaking.

(i) Functions

a) Enabler:
In the enabler role, a social worker helps a client become capable of coping with situations or transitional
stress. A social worker conveys hope, reducing resistance and ambivalence, recognizing and managing
feelings, identifying and supporting personal strengths and social assets, breaking down problems into
parts that can be solved more readily, and maintaining a focus on goals and the means of achieving them.
b) Mediator:
The mediator role involves resolving arguments or conflicts micro, mezzo, or macro systems. At the
macro level, the mediator helps various subsystems within a community, or a community and some other
system, work out their differences. At the micro and mezzo levels, mediation is helps in such areas as
resolving divorce and child custody cases. A mediator remains neutral and does not side with either party
in the dispute.
c) Integrator/Coordinator:
Integration is the process of bringing together various parts to form a unified whole. Coordination
involves bringing components together in some kind of organized manner. A generalist social worker can
function as an integrator/coordinator "in many ways, ranging from, advocacy and identification of
coordination opportunities, to provision of technical assistance, to direct involvement in the development
and implementations of service linkages".
d) Manager:
Management in social work involves having some level of administrative responsibility for a social
agency or other unit "to determine organizational goals'. . . acquire resources and allocate them to carry
out programs; coordinate activities toward the achievement of selected goals; and monitor, assess, and
make necessary changes in processes and structure to improve effectiveness and efficiency".
e) Educator:
The educator role involves giving information and teaching skills to clients and other systems. To be an
effective educator, the worker must first be knowledgeable. Additionally, the worker must be a good
communicator so that information is conveyed clearly and is understood by the client or macro system.
f) Analyst/Evaluator:
Social workers with a broad knowledge base of how various systems function can analyze or evaluate
how well programs and systems work. They can also evaluate the effectiveness of their own
interventions.
g) Broker:
A broker helps link clients (individuals, groups, organizations, or communities) with community
resources and services. A broker also helps put "various segments of the community in touch with one
another "to enhance their mutual interests. In micro and mezzo systems, this requires that the worker be
familiar with community services, have general knowledge about eligibility requirements, and be
sensitive to client needs. A broker may help a client obtain emergency food or housing, legal aid, or other
needed resources.
h) Facilitator:
A facilitator is "one who serves as a leader for some group experience". The group may be a family
therapy group, a task group, a sensitivity group, an educational group, a self-help group, or a group with
some other focus. The facilitator role may also apply to macro practice. In this context, a facilitator
assumes "the responsibility to expedite the change effort by bringing together people and lines of
communication, channeling their activities and resources, and providing them with access to expertise" .
i) Negotiator:
A negotiator represents an organization, a group, or an individual that is trying to gain something from
another group or system. Somewhat like mediation, negotiation involves finding a middle ground that all
sides can lived with and achieving consensus whenever possible. However, unlike mediators, who play a
neutral role, negotiators clearly ally themselves with one of the sides involved.
j) Advocate:
Advocacy involves the act of directly representing a course of action on behalf on one or more
individuals, groups, or communities, with the goal of securing or retaining social justice. The advocate
role involves stepping forward and speaking on behalf of the client system. The advocate role is one of
the most important roles a generalist social worker can assume, despite its potential difficulties.
(ii) Tasks
a) Striving to ensure that the workforce reflects the diversity of the communities it serves;
b) Ensuring that policies, procedures and practices are applied fairly and consistently;
c) Ensuring that all members of the workforce are treated fairly and respectfully;
d) Ensuring that employees treat service users fairly and respectfully at all times;
e) Taking appropriate and immediate action to challenge and address any inappropriate
behavior or discrimination;
f) Ensuring that all of its workers include discussion about fair treatment and considering
individual needs during the annual Employee Performance and Development Review.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are worksite-based programs and/or resources designed to benefit
both employers and employees. EAPs help businesses and organizations address productivity issues by
helping employees identify and resolve personal concerns that affect job performance. Through
prevention, identification, and resolution of these issues, EAPs enhance employee and workplace
effectiveness and are a vital tool for maintaining and improving worker health and productivity, retaining
valued employees, and returning employees to work after illnesses or injuries.
EAPs have been shown to contribute to:
Decreased absenteeism
Reduced accidents and fewer workers compensation claims
Greater employee retention
Fewer labor disputes; and
Significantly reduced medical costs arising from early identification and treatment of
individual mental health and substance use issues
EAP services to individuals include:
Mental health-related services and referrals
Drug and alcohol-related services and referrals
Services and referrals related to personal issues such as divorce and parenting
Information on work/life supports, such as care giving for elderly parents and financial
planning
Wellness and health promotion services, such as smoking cessation and weight reduction; and
Work-related supports like career counseling.
EAP services to organizations include:
Education on handling mental health, stress, and addictions in the workplace
Addressing workplace violence
Safety and emergency preparedness
Guidance on communicating in difficult situations, such as mergers, layoffs, or when
employees die on the job
Absence management; and
Meeting needs of specific workers, such as returning veterans.


SPECIAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE ORGANIZATION
(i) CoCa Cola
Water Stewardship
To support access to clean water and sanitation, watershed protection in water-stressed
regions, utilization of water for production and or multiple use systems that do more than
provide clean drinking water, education and awareness programs that promote water
conservation within communities and industry
Healthy and Active Lifestyles
To support access to exercise, physical activity and nutritional education programs, programs
that motivate behavior modification, and programs that encourage lifestyle/behavioral changes

Community Recycling
To increase liter abatement efforts, advance recovery and reuse, increase community
recycling awareness, and support research and innovation

Education
To support scholarships, school drop-out prevention, access to education programs, and other
education initiatives, per local business unit priorities


(ii) Colgate

Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures
Reaching More Than Half a Billion Children around the World with Oral Health Education. As the
world leader in oral care, Colgate is committed to improving childrens oral health around the
world. So far, we've reached more than 700 million children in 80 countries with Colgate's Bright
Smiles, Bright Futures program. Children in need receive free dental screenings as well as
education to help build healthy habits, self-esteem and a foundation for success.

Colgate Women's Games
The Colgate Women's Games is the largest U.S. amateur track series for girls and young women.
For 40 years, this organized track program has helped girls and young women develop self-
esteem, value teamwork and discover the importance of education. More than 11,000
registrants compete in the Colgate Women's Games each year, beginning with preliminary
meets and semi-finals, followed by the event finals, where athletes compete for trophies and
educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive. Founded in 1973, the Colgate Women's
Games continues to promote health, well-being and academic success for girls and young
women.

Starlight Childrens Foundation
Starlight Childrens Foundation is a leading global health and education charity working to
embrace, empower and enrich the lives of children from illness to wellness. Starlight provides
ongoing support through programs both in and out of the hospital that:
Distract children from their pain.
Lessen the need for pain medication.
Help young people better understand and manage their illnesses.
Improve the health outcomes for sick children.
Enrich the lives of more than 4.5 million children globally.
Give Kids A Smile
Colgate-Palmolive partnering with the American Dental Association to provide education along
with preventive and restorative care to children from low-income families who do not have
access to dental care. Colgate supplied toothbrushes and toothpaste to participants nationwide.
A one-day event like Give Kids A Smile isn't a cure-all; it's a wake-up call. People shouldn't have
to depend on charity for basic dental care. Give Kids A Smile is meant to accomplish two things,
help children get the dental care they so desperately need and raise awareness that our children
deserve a better health care system that addresses their dental health needs.