A Practical Guide to Balancing Work, Family, and Psychology

        Work, family, health, and life are equally important. When you are under pressure in the workplace, parenting, taking care of your family, or psychological adjustment, knowing that someone can assist can often solve difficulties easily. In this issue of the 'Legal Column' reorganization, there are four common life change scenarios and corresponding resources provided by the 'Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)' to help you develop your career while living a peaceful life.

                Scenario 1: Work adaptation and learning development support

        When entering a company, changing positions, being promoted to a supervisor, or encountering new job responsibilities, in addition to familiarizing oneself with professional skills, it is also necessary to adapt to new roles and work modes. Faced with these challenges, there is no need to immediately get started. By continuously learning, actively seeking advice, and exchanging experiences, one can often build confidence faster and gradually find a suitable work pace and development direction.

        Available resources: on-the-job training network, digital service platform for workforce development.

        Scenario 2: Friendly Family and Parenting Care Support

        After the birth of a child, parents may face dual challenges of work and family, from childcare arrangements, transportation and care to handling unexpected situations. In addition to the systems of parental leave without pay and childcare subsidies, when the primary caregiver suddenly has something to do, the child temporarily suspends classes, or there is a need for care, various counties and cities also provide temporary childcare services as short-term care support to reduce the pressure on parents.

        Available resources: daycare matchmaking platform (home-based daycare and nanny, daycare center, designated temporary daycare).

        Scenario 3: Family Care and Long Term Care Resource Support

        As your life stage changes, you may also begin to face the need to take care of your parents, elders, or other family members. When family members are hospitalized, elders need to accompany them for medical treatment, or there are gaps in care arrangements, relevant resources and support services can assist you in balancing work and family.

        Available resources:

        1 Long term care needs: Call the 1966 long-term care service hotline and have a care specialist assist in applying and evaluating at home. Depending on the needs, connect home services, day care, transportation, assistive devices, and home accessibility improvement. With the promotion of long-term care 3.0, the government continues to improve the community care system and integrate medical care, so that more people with disabilities, dementia, and long-term care needs can receive appropriate care.

        2 Short term or temporary care needs: If the care recipient meets the service qualifications stipulated by the Ministry of Labor, such as holding a physical and mental disability certificate or having a medical or surgical record within three months, and encounters temporary care needs such as foreign caregivers taking leave, family members resting after surgery, or needing to accompany medical treatment, the Ministry of Labor can use the "Diversified Companion Care Service Plan" to apply for flexible services of at least four hours or full day per session to assist in responding to temporary, short-term, and emergency care needs.

        3 Caregiver support services: During the long-term care of family members, caregivers also need to be taken care of. If you feel physically and mentally exhausted or under excessive pressure due to caregiving responsibilities, and unsure of which resources are available, you can call the Family Caregiver Care Hotline at 0800-507272 or visit the website of the Family Caregiver Association to consult on caregiving skills, psychological and group support, as well as related welfare resource referrals and other services.

        Scenario 4: Physical and mental health and psychological support

        The long-term accumulation of work pressure, family responsibilities, and life events may affect the physical and mental state. If you continue to feel anxious, insomnia, low mood, or powerless, it is advisable to seek professional assistance in a timely manner.

        Available resources:

        1 Youth mental health support program (available for people aged 15 to 45): Each person can use psychological counseling services 3 times; The maximum subsidy each time is NTD 1600.

        2 Emotional support channels: including mental health learning platform, 1925 Anxin hotline, 1980 Teacher Zhang hotline, and 1995 Lifeline.

        Make good use of resources and walk more steadily

        Every stage of life has its own challenges, and when you need help, you don't have to bear them alone. Make good use of various support resources to ensure a more stable and long-term career development and family life for you.

        Quick Search for Practical Resources

        On the job training network

        Digital Service Platform for Labor Development

        Childcare matchmaking platform

        Long term care

        Short term temporary care and diversified companionship care services

        Psychological Health Support Program for Young and Middle aged Generation

        Family Caregiver Care Association

        Psychological Health Learning Platform

        Reference materials: Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Labor Development Agency, Ministry of Health and Welfare, EAP Handbook

        *Image source: freepik

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