Wellness Policy for Volunteers, Interns, and Staff
Submitted by icarus on Sat, 07/15/2006 - 3:34pm
11-15-06
The Icarus Project national office is committed to a positive and healthy working environment for volunteers, interns and staff that is free of any form of oppression or discrimination. As a mental health support community, we cultivate a workplace and volunteer environment that supports wellness, emotional balance, supportive communication, and sustainability. We will not fall into the pattern of non-profit or activist organizations that exploit their own staff, interns, or volunteers; operate on continual crisis or conflict mode; endure constant high stress levels; inflict emotional abuse; create burnout; or expect extensive overtime or sacrifice in the name of 'the cause.' We will remain constantly open to criticism and feedback to improve our wellness and sustainability as an organization.
We all share a responsibility for group and personal wellness. We will be try to be clear about our personal limitations and will communicate clearly about our levels of inspiration, energy, and availability. Individuals have a responsibility to commit only to tasks compatible with their wellness and sustainable involvement. As a first priority in all planning and implementing of our work, we are committed to always listen to and honor each others' limits and capacities. We will support each other to not take on too much and to step back when we need to.
We are bound by the Americans With Disabilities Act to provide reasonable accomodation to staff with any needs related to a psychiatric disorder or condition. We are also committed to going beyond this requirement, and will make efforts at *extraordinary* accomodation for people's mental health experiences, including trauma, crisis, emotional distress, and extreme states of consciousness. We anticipate and accept that productivity levels, reliability, and consistency will fluctuate. We value people for who they are as part of our community, and we don't measure people by the efficiency and outcomes they can produce as 'labor.'
At the same time, we recognize that there is a limit to extraordinary accomodation. Sometimes staff, interns, or volunteers may have ongoing difficulty fulfilling their responsibilities, following through on their commitments, and collaborating with others despite repeated efforts at extraordinary accomodation. In such instances the staffperson or volunteer may be asked to take a break from Icarus work to focus on wellness and grounding before returning. They should expect to begin with more limited involvement and responsibilities, such as contract work or partnering with others on projects, to ensure they have regained enough wellness before continuing with their previous roles. It is hoped that breaks of this kind will promote personal growth and learning and allow people to develop their talents and capacities, so that they can make an even deeper and more meaningful contribution.
The Icarus Project national office is committed to a positive and healthy working environment for volunteers, interns and staff that is free of any form of oppression or discrimination. As a mental health support community, we cultivate a workplace and volunteer environment that supports wellness, emotional balance, supportive communication, and sustainability. We will not fall into the pattern of non-profit or activist organizations that exploit their own staff, interns, or volunteers; operate on continual crisis or conflict mode; endure constant high stress levels; inflict emotional abuse; create burnout; or expect extensive overtime or sacrifice in the name of 'the cause.' We will remain constantly open to criticism and feedback to improve our wellness and sustainability as an organization.
We all share a responsibility for group and personal wellness. We will be try to be clear about our personal limitations and will communicate clearly about our levels of inspiration, energy, and availability. Individuals have a responsibility to commit only to tasks compatible with their wellness and sustainable involvement. As a first priority in all planning and implementing of our work, we are committed to always listen to and honor each others' limits and capacities. We will support each other to not take on too much and to step back when we need to.
We are bound by the Americans With Disabilities Act to provide reasonable accomodation to staff with any needs related to a psychiatric disorder or condition. We are also committed to going beyond this requirement, and will make efforts at *extraordinary* accomodation for people's mental health experiences, including trauma, crisis, emotional distress, and extreme states of consciousness. We anticipate and accept that productivity levels, reliability, and consistency will fluctuate. We value people for who they are as part of our community, and we don't measure people by the efficiency and outcomes they can produce as 'labor.'
At the same time, we recognize that there is a limit to extraordinary accomodation. Sometimes staff, interns, or volunteers may have ongoing difficulty fulfilling their responsibilities, following through on their commitments, and collaborating with others despite repeated efforts at extraordinary accomodation. In such instances the staffperson or volunteer may be asked to take a break from Icarus work to focus on wellness and grounding before returning. They should expect to begin with more limited involvement and responsibilities, such as contract work or partnering with others on projects, to ensure they have regained enough wellness before continuing with their previous roles. It is hoped that breaks of this kind will promote personal growth and learning and allow people to develop their talents and capacities, so that they can make an even deeper and more meaningful contribution.
