Employers try to soothe stressed U.S. workers in Iraq

[Barrett808]

Employers try to soothe stressed U.S. workers in Iraq
Tue Sep 21, 7:28 AM ET
By Stephanie Armour, USA TODAY

U.S. employees who have taken civilian jobs in Iraq (news - web sites) face anxiety, isolation from family, gunfire and grueling work.

A number of employers are trying to alleviate the strain.

Some are bringing in on-site mental-health counselors who travel the country in Black Hawk helicopters. Others are providing online counseling sessions to those on the ground or granting employees a month or more off when they return.

Angie Stephens is an employee assistance counselor at KBR, the engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton. She recently returned from a three-month assignment as an on-site counselor in Iraq, where she traveled by convoy or helicopter to meet with civilian workers.

"You're sitting there with a bulletproof vest and a Kevlar helmet on and talking to them about what's going on," Stephens says. "My counseling sessions would take place wherever (they) needed to be. It was a very special bond with employees."

What some companies are doing:

• Halliburton's employees in Iraq can see on-site mental health workers who've been sent from the USA. Halliburton has lost 46 employees and contractors in the Iraq-Kuwait region. Employees do a variety of jobs, including driving trucks and cooking.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=677&ncid=677&e=5&u=/usatoday/20040921/bs_usatoday/employerstrytosoothestressedusworkersiniraq

[gratuitous]

1. Wow, Halliburton really cares

Pungling up their own money to provide mental health counselors for their stressed-out workers in a war zone. What a humanitarian bunch!

[CHIMO]

16. It's All Cost Plus eom/

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Whatever they are paying...

It ain't worth it. The issues will still be there when the money is gone.

[hatrack]

3. "Mental health counselors, who travel the country in Black Hawks"

That says a mouthful.

[txindy]

7. Doesn't it, though?

And they wear Kevlar helmets and vests, too. So they can project that warm, fuzzy feeling to those they counsel. You know, in case they are irrationally nervous or something.

[denverbill]

15. Wow. Halliburton supplies Blackhawks? How nice.

I didn't even know Halliburton had Blackhawks.

Oh what's that you say? The US military is providing free helicopter transport to Halliburton employees at no charge? Oh, wtf, I'm sure those things cost almost nothing to run and the soldiers flying them don't mind risking their lives transporting private company employees hither and yon.

[truth2power]

19. Transporting private employees ....

I saw an interview with one of our troops the other day. Can't remember where I saw it but the soldier was recounting how he was assigned to ride shotgun to protect some private contractor who always brought up in the conversation how much money he was making.

The soldier seemed to be trying to put the best face on it, but he said he couldn't help feeling resentful at how little he was making every month and he was risking his life to protect the contractor.

Might have been Bill Moyers where I saw this. I can't remember.

I think the American people should be OUTRAGED about this. But of course, they'll just keep waving their flags and supporting Bush and FU Cheney.

[denverbill]

24. It's something that has pissed me off for quite a while.

The whole idea that we, the taxpayers, are subsidizing Halliburton by providing huge armored escorts, so that Halliburton can deliver gasoline at 10 times it's cost is just mind-boggling.

Privatization is the biggest rip-off in the history of govt.

[anarchy1999]

4. F or Cheney Halliburton. So they are taking care of their employees.

What is our Defense Department doing for all our wounded, dismembered, f'd up soldiers as they return (and let us all not even begin to start with mentioning exposure to DU (as in depleted uranium, not DemoUnderground)).

My heart is breaking for the havoc we are wrecking upon this world.

When I say we, it is we, that are letting it happen. Sorry, it's just the truth.

[prolesunited]

5. Well, the distinct possibility that you may be kidnapped

and beheaded at any time might be enough to freak anyone out.

[txindy]

6. Are they kidding?!

Those people won't be soothed or unstressed until they get Iraq in their rear view mirror!

I think it's time for management at Halliburton to take a tour of their Iraq facilities. An extended tour.

[skooooo]

8. Screw them, what about the soldiers?

[FloridaPat]

9. I heard some of these folks are making $1,000 a day. Isn't that

enough stress relief? You take a job in a foreign country in the middle of a war. Shouldn't that qualify you for a mental illness award?

And these are the people supplying food to the soldiers, and military equipment.

[jimshoes]

14. There should be a law

prohibiting US civilians working in a war zone. If the Army needs food and supplies, let the army provide it. This is costing us taxpayers 10 times what it should to keep our troops supplied with everything they need. Privatizing certain aspects of the military has to be one of the biggest boondoggles in the history of the world.

[Cocoa]

10. I bet the Iraqis are stressed too

[patdem]

11. Best advise..your gonna get beheaded anyway..don't cry..makes us look bad

I guess they are trying to make good martyrs of American workers? :grr:

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. If I didn't know better, I would say it was a war zone over there!

However, our president stood right there on the USS Lincoln in front of a banner that read "Mission Accomplished", so I am sure it just a few Saddam Loyalists and Dead Enders. Everything will get better over there when they have the elections in January, because freedom is on the march!

[Hekate]

13. Anybody know how many civilians have been suckered into this?

They have my sympathy--they're usually broke, in debt, out of a job in a depressed region, etc. Last I heard Halliburton couldn't process them fast enough.

I'd just like to know about how many there are over there by now -- and, if someone gets cold feet after they get there, how do they get back home again?

Anyone know?

Hekate

[shrike]

17. They can jump on a moving military convoy

That's what one contractor did (he's 61 years old and an old buddy of a friend of mine.) The convoy came under fire a few minutes later but he escaped injury. He also made it to Kuwait, and went home from there.

[Bridget Burke]

25. Even if the employees are making more money than the troops...

I'm quite sure they're making very much less than Halliburton management, sitting in their cushy Houston offices.

And,yes, how would an employee "quit"? Hail a cab to the airport? Catch the next flight out? All the while avoiding the guys who want to cut off his head?

[AgadorSparticus]

18. and where's the mental health counsel for our SOLDIERS who

are over there doing the same work, getting 1/10th the wage, and protecting these private workers with their lives?? depression, suicide, and PTSS run rampant among our returned soldiers. yea, st. halliburton....:eyes::eyes::eyes:

[Jacobin]

20. Just get them some lava lamps and a bag of kind bud

What else ya gonna do?

Wanna make $200,000 a year tax free driving a truck?

Get ready to get killed.

[saigon68]

21. THEY WON'T PASS THE PISS TEST

alcohol is OK in the Green Zone. There are numerous bars set up for the civilians there. The CIA in particular is said to run a disco there.

LOL

[teryang]

22. Maybe they can run the pax channel while driving

...and read spiritual tracts and look at great natural wonders while they're waiting to get kidnapped and blown to bits.

[saigon68]

23. Don't forget the $$$$$$$$$

If they can Bank the $$$ their funeral can include a Marching Band.