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Brief
Briefly
A workforce program that grew under the Omaha business chamber takes flight as its own entity
Ana Torres, a coach in the Work Lab program, meets with an employee to discuss “whatever they want to talk about,” said executive director Chad Meres. The program overall tries to help workers tackle problems such as relationships and housing needs outside the workplace, which affect one’s overall wellbeing and can greatly impact their job situation. (Courtesy of The Work Lab)
OMAHA — A program that offers a different twist to addressing the state’s workforce woes has separated from the Greater Omaha Chamber, in part to try and reach farther across Nebraska.
Known before as GrOW, the program that began with two staffers in 2019 has itself grown to a team of eight and is now an independent entity called The Work Lab Inc.
The nonprofit remains based, for the time being, at the chamber’s downtown Omaha campus.
Chad Mares, a former Coca-Cola human relations director who helped launch the program under the auspices of the chamber about five years ago, is still executive director.
What makes Work Lab services stand out, he and others say, is the focus on attending to more personal challenges of an employee rather than those directly related to their job.
The program uses specially trained “WorkLife Coaches” who meet with employees at the job site to talk through matters that can range from family and friend relationships to money demands to housing needs.
Mares describes the coaching services as providing a “bridge” between one’s professional life and personal life, which can make a difference in overall happiness, productivity — and employee retention.
He called that a “missing piece” in the services typically available to employees.
“The workforce is shrinking,” said Mares. “We need as many people as possible who could be working to be working.”
A news release by the Chamber said Work Lab has created and would retain partnerships with employers including Lozier, North End Teleservices, Signature Performance, Children’s Hospital, Sun Valley Landscaping.
Employers pay a fee for a coach to set up shop at the worksite, but Mares said that conversations are confidential.
“There are things you just don’t want to say to someone you have a professional relationship with,” Mares said.
A coach’s counseling and problem-solving efforts extend to family members of the respective employee, Mares said.
He said the idea has long been to branch out as an independent nonprofit. By becoming its own entity, Mares said, Work Lab will be able to reach beyond the chamber’s geographical metro Omaha boundaries.
Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Chamber, highlighted the program’s potential to help strengthen the state’s workforce.
Keisha Thomas, vice president of human resources for North End Teleservices and a Work Lab board member, said the program empowers workers and allows them access to resources to thrive and “build the life they deserve, supported by their work.”
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