Being Human Services helping several affected oil patch workers with transition

Pamela Wagner, managing director with Being Human services, says the organization has helped a number of workers recently laid off from the oil and gas industry navigate career transition.--NEWS PHOTO CHARLES LEFEBVRE

A local employment services company has been helping workers impacted by the recent economic troubles attempt to get back on their feet.

Being Human Services, an employment counselling service in downtown, has seen an increase in people utilizing the organization’s services in the wake of the falling price of oil and resulting layoffs, and helping them with the transition to new jobs.

“We’re certainly seeing lots of people who are feeling the effects of the oil patch setback,” said Pamela Wagner, managing director.In the month of March, there were 12 people the organization helped directly through employment sessions, with another six calling this week seeking assistance. “We’d never normally see these folks, because they were often employed for years,” said Wagner.

During the sessions, Wagner says the organization is focusing on the job loss cycle, explaining the emotion impact of sudden job loss. “It can be very devastating for people who have never had to worry about jobs before, so we provide emotional support,” she said, adding a persons’ self-esteem is often the first thing which is impacted after a job loss.

Wagner says the centre has also worked to determine employment skills in workers, to help them understand what they have to offer. “Often, people are rethinking their career goals,” she said. “We’ve heard lots of people say they’ve been thinking about getting out of the oil patch, thinking about doing something else.”

Being Human’s contract with the provincial government recently ended, and the organization is presently bidding on a new contract to be able to help more people and fund similar workshops. The organization is presently referring people to Alberta Works, but are still committed to helping people impacted by job loss.

“People are shocked and dismayed, it’s a very tough time, but the good thing is, some people are seeing this as a great opportunity,” said Wagner. “We’ve had some people come in and get different jobs . . . there can be some positive trade-offs. More time at home. More time with family. We’re certainly hoping we can help people through the changes.”

Being Human can be reached at 403-580-3338.

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