Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/764544
Cover Story 18 January 2017 BestDriverJOBS www.bestdriverjobs.com currently participating in Pitt Ohio's financial effi- cacy program, Fields says. The savings accounts help employees prepare for unexpected events like auto or home repairs, and to take control of their per- sonal finances, Fields says. The program also connects employees to the credit union to gain access to ad- ditional financial products like low-interest loans. The emergency fund began October 2016, and Pitt Ohio has a goal for its employees to save at least $1,100 during the first year. Ideally, employees will contribute enough to build a safety net that could cover their living expenses for six months, he says. As part of the program, Pitt Ohio contracted with a national financial consulting firm, GreenPath, to give employees — and their significant others — free and confidential financial advice. The program works similarly to an EAP where any correspondence between employees and the consulting firm stays anonymous. Financial experts from GreenPath are available to employees during evenings and on weekends to provide advice, such as how to get out of credit card debt, Fields says. "I think a lot of people out there are happy to have financial advice," he says. "This is something we are doing that's different. It is not a high-tech solution, but something we can do for our employees to make their lives better." As to whether the financial efficacy program has yielded improvement in safety and other mea- surables, Fields says "it's way too early to tell." The results may be difficult to separate from the other job benefits Pitt Ohio provides for employees, he explains. "We look at this as part of our employee wellness program. We are probably one of the few employers that do this." bdj Brian McGuire, Pitt Ohio vice president of human resources, says financial stress can be another form of distraction for drivers.