Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of Apr 14, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how a number of stories cited this week speak to the issue of how cuts in DC will (and already have) negatively impact much-needed services in local communities—to some positive news regarding the decline of US overdoses deaths—to the NFL’s position on ‘new’ helmets. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the article linked below that tells the story of how a person who was given a 2nd chance now uses his lessons learned to create a ‘culture of care’ in the construction industry.
For too long, the construction industry has been looked upon in a negative light. Decades ago, many in the world of work saw us as something ‘anyone’ could fall back on to and still make a living wage with good benefits.* Many people in the US still look down upon those of us who work(ed) with our hands. A few would say this has to do with the 3 Ds: dirty; dark (or dull); and dangerous. While others might be inclined to lean on old stereotypes of a once White male-dominated sector of our economy: macho, drinking, swearing, risk-taking, etc. However, times have changed and as the old saying goes, “You have to break some eggs to make an omelet.”
To be sure, the construction industry for the past several decades has been touting a potential shortage of workers. Thanks to progressive thought leaders in the St. Louis market, most joint labor-management training committees met this challenge by re-thinking their recruitment strategies. Effective recruiting and retention programs like St. Louis’ BUD (Building Union Diversity) began to spring up and spread across then USA. And, yet, needs in many areas remained unmet. Meanwhile, college tuition costs started to skyrocket and college degrees lost their luster. As a result, today’s high school seniors have become discerning consumers. So, if our industry seeks to recruit and retain Gen Z workers, we must take into consideration what is important to them which requires letting go of old practices (i.e., hazing, bullying, etc.). Equally important, Gen Z is much more open to addressing a once-taboo topic of previous generations: Mental Health.
To this end, it was not until recently (~2016), for the most part, that the construction industry took serious steps in addressing issues like mental health, opioids awareness, and suicide prevention. For this, I thank Wash U’s School of Medicine and the unions, management associations, and apprenticeship training schools that participated in research since 2004 that truly moved the needle…thus, placing ‘mental’ aspects of safety in the construction industry on par with ‘physical’ aspects of safety. PLEASE take the time to read Cal’s article linked below. Hopefully, you will agree with me that this is just another meaningful step in a never-ending journey.
(*This notion was further exacerbated in our K-12 school system. How? If you were an urban/suburban child of the 1960-80s, I ask you to reflect upon the friends/students you knew who went to the Voc-Tech high school in your area v who followed the ‘college’ track.)
Source: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/business-services/coaching-consulting/article/22934249/safe-project-mental-health-and-substance-misuse-support-in-apprenticeship-programs
Construction / Change / Culture
UK Construction / Physical Activity / MH
Annual HC Screening = Suicide Prevention
AI & MH Therapy
Overdose deaths decrease…but this is NOT over
Misinformation: Fentanyl
More on Cali Sober
VA / MH / Privacy
VA / MH / Cuts
MH cuts Impact Need for More Services
MH Therapists / K-P / Hunger Strike
Loneliness & Communal Dinners
Colon Cancer & Exercise
Brain Quiz for Dementia, etc.
Non-meat Sources of Protein
Want to avoid Stress?
Workplace Stress = Lack of Control + ….
Warning: Spam Calls
DC Cuts Impact TBI Research
NFL & New Helmets (1)
NFL & New Helmets (2)
Unhoused Workers
NY Nursing Home Care Workers Strike
Trump & Musk on Unions
Trump / Unions / Dues
Trump / UAW / Tariffs
NABTU / PLAs / Trump
Teamsters / Canada / Arbitrator
Update: Fed Employees Resign
More on NY CO’s strike
US-DOL cuts funds combatting Child Labor
More on Child Labor
US Secty of Labor: Listening Tour
Protecting OSHA = Protecting Workers
Tariffs / Stocks / Losses
Trump / SEC / Conflict of Interest
Trump & Stock Manipulation
Vance / SS Fraud / Truth???
Trump / Revenge / Fear & Intimidation
Trump’s reign = <Pro bono
Trump & Free Speech
Trump / Cuts / VA Housing
Trumps Tariffs & Your Savings
Trump / Tariffs / New Jobs???
Mfg Workers & Trump Tariffs
Tariffs: Impact on Construction
US – China Trade War
DOGE / MSHA / Cuts
HHS cuts impact on Sexual Assault
DOGE / Musk / Improper us of SS data
ICE & Deporting a Combat Vet
Natl Parks rewrite History
Quiet Quitters v Disconnected Leadership
College / Athletes / NIL
What ‘not’ to say to your kids
Why are students losing ground
Navigating Student Loans during DC’s Chaos
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
CALM Training (4/16)
Community Suicide Postvention (4/21)
Opioid Prevention (4/23)
OSHA Heat Illness Prevention (4/25)
Substitute ‘Worker’ Program (/5/15)
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 28th
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of May 28, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how Scotland has invested >US$300k in a construction suicide prevention program—to whether or not young men are lonelier than young women—to a STL-based effort (Black Girls Build) to assist those in need after the 5/16 tornado while providing skills training.[1] This week I would like to share with you breaking news regarding the return of the MWI / Aetna / CFSTL summer ‘hot topics’ Mental Health in Construction seminar series.
After the award-winning success of delivering a 3-part series in the summer of 2024, white- and blue-collar professionals across the STL regional construction industry will have another opportunity to attend the following sessions this summer from 7:30-9a, as follows:
*Psychological Safety (July 29 @ Sheet Metal Workers Hall: LU 36);
*Suicide Postvention in Construction (August 21 @ Plumber & Pipefitters School: LU 562); and
*Gambling Addiction (Sept 18 @ IBEW Hall: LU 1).
As May—Mental Health Awareness Month—comes to a close, I want to take this occasion to encourage each and every one of you to partake in the Gambling & Construction Industry survey linked below.[2] The goal is, come Sept 18, that these results be integrated into the related presentation for a more focused snapshot of our region’s workforce.
(PLEASE note that the survey will remain open thru 5/31/25.)
We are fortunate to have Dr Jeremiah Weinstock, SLU Professor of Psychology, share his expert insights on the topic of gambling’s impact on our white- and blue-collar workforce. To this end, YOUR participation matters. For our region and industry to move forward, we need to be open, honest, and show up. Whether it is completing the aforementioned survey or attending the upcoming ‘hot topics’ seminars, YOUR input and presence matters!
Please check out the rest of this week’s blog: https://moworksinitiative.org/category/worker-wellness-news/
Sources: [1] https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/05/24/carpentry-workshop-teaching-skills-use-around-home-storm-response/
[2] https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3HG52KH
Worker Safety in Jeopardy
Construction / Data / Safety
Supportive Workplaces / < Anxiety / > Retention
More unsupported workers & More online help
CO AGC & MH
Scotland / Suicide Prevention / Construction
Helping Children After a Disaster
Are Young Men Lonely?
Therapy & Chronic Pain
East meets West
Redesigning Wellness
Breathing & Brain Power
Spain’s Homelessness
Better Ways to Evaluate Concussions?
UA & Flight Attendants
NJ Transit Engineers End Strike
Russia’s Unpaid Construction Workers
Trump & Traumatizing Workers
Trump & Honoring a Traitor?
College Degrees & Earnings
Teens / Sexting / AI
Students / Cheating / AI
Small College Towns: Boom to Bust
Who wants a factory job?
Building Culture: Lessons Learned
Black Girls Build after May Storm in STL
Trump & Apprenticeship
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
Survey: Gambling & Construction Industry (Closes 5/31/25)
Free CALM Training (6/18)
Survey: Redesigning Wellness
Autism & Suicide
Suicide Postvention & College
FREE Diapers
FREE After-school Meals
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 19th
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of May 19, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the growing problem of police-related suicides—to chaos of NIOSH rehires–to more DC conflicts of interest that enrich/protect billionaires vs US taxpayers. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the decrease in US overdose deaths in 2024.
As reported earlier this week, deaths from drug overdoses in the USA dropped 27% from 2023 to 2024.[1] Is this a reason to celebrate? Sadly, no, because the most recent data indicate we still lost ~80k people. Experts contribute this decrease to a number of harm reduction strategies—including but not limited to the wide distribution of Naloxone or, more specifically, Narcan (the nasal midst form of Naloxone). Some readers may recall that my wife and I are HUGE supporters of the concept: You can, I can…Narcan! Why? Because we BOTH have assisted in the use of Narcan to save 2 people’s lives (total strangers)—in 2022 and 2023—at a STL inner city Soup Kitchen and on a Southwest flight.
Unfortunately, high ranking DC officials–in their efforts to cut govt spending—may just cause this downward drug OD death trend to spike back up again.[2] As one university professor said:
…that Mr. Trump’s almost single-minded linking of the nation’s drug problems with border issues harks back to late 19th-century America, when the government associated opium dens with Chinese immigrants. Fearing the incursion of Chinese workers and inflamed by press reports of Chinese men using opium to lure young white women into prostitution, Congress severely restricted Chinese immigration.
While securing the borders may serve as a long term goal of reducing the supply of Fentanyl…people with OUD (opioid use disorder) will continue to die in the short term. This is NOT a simple matter of turning a switch on or off!
To this end, I ask that you please write your representatives in DC and request they strongly oppose budget calls for ending SAMHSA ‘harm reduction’ grants. These strategies span the spectrum from short to long term efforts that prevent disease transmission and keep drug users alive. To be sure, five of my close friends have lost sons, from 24-36 yo, since 2016 to the US opioids crisis. Therefore, I can attest to the devastation bestowed upon these families. The life you help save may be the life of a loved one!
Please check out the rest of this week’s blog: https://moworksinitiative.org/category/worker-wellness-news/
Sources: [1] https://www.wsj.com/health/drug-overdoses-2024-3968bc80?st=UcpQky&reflink=article_gmail_share
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/health/trump-drugs-treatment.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
2024: Overdose Deaths Decrease 27%
Opioid Settlement Funds & Clueless States
MH = Emotional + Psychological + Social
What Psychological Safety is NOT
Police Officers & Suicide
Depression & Physical Health
STL Couple & Narcan Carrier
China-Mexico / US Banks / Money Laundering
The Hunt for El Chapo’s Son
Cocaine @ Canada’s Border
FDA Warning: Gas Station Heroin
Women & Drinking
Loneliness / Managers / Productivity
When a Boss Steps In
Breathwork & Anxiety
Exercise & Aging Brains
When to Exercise
Redefining Age
More on Sleep
Is Creatine Safe?
Tyfoom: MH Guide
Boys are Falling Behind
Chimps & First Aid
NJ Transit Engineer’s Strike
NIOSH Rehires Workers
SAMHSA Cuts & Consequences
Court Ruling / Trump / Fed Workers’ Unions
Trump & Fed Workers’ Unions
More Conflicts of Interest: Trump & Musk
Trump’s Bday / Military Parade / Cutting Costs?
Trump Cuts / Harvard Study / Vet Suicides
Justice Dept / Boeing / Guilty Plea
Trump / Guns / Auto-triggers
MO Pols Ignore Voters on Prop A
Tips for Improving Morale
Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling
Workers & Job Security
People ~ Work Relationship
Is Your Salary too High?
Contractors / Worker Shortages / Pay & Benies
Personal Finances / Recession / Anxiety
Student Loan Payments Resume
Student Loans & Garnished Wages
The Irony of a College Education
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
Construction Industry’s Prevailing Wage (5/21)
Free MHFA (5/28)
Midwest Tradeswomen Summit’s (5/31)
Suicide Bereavement Training (6/11-13)
Fight to End CTE
WANTED: Participants for CTE Study
Reducing Barriers to Recovery
Compassion & Addiction
Wounded Workers
Free Diapers
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 12th
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of May 12, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the importance of the psychological contract between employee and employer—to how both the NFL and NHL fail to protect their players—to the revival of a mobile shower service for STL’s unhoused communities.[1] This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the concept of psychological safety.
Over the past few weeks, I have been in meetings where terms beyond worker wellness and well-being have been mentioned more than once. These interrelated terms include psychological safety, psychological first aid, culture of care, and wounded worker. In the interest of space and time, I will mainly cover the first term: Psychological Safety. This can be described as a shared belief within an organization where individuals can express themselves, share ideas, take risks, and make mistakes without fear of negative consequences (i.e., judgment, retribution, etc.). Prior to COVID, one proactive Canadian contractor made mental health a priority when it addressed psychological safety in the workplace by “building a culture of inclusion that allowed employees to bring their authentic selves to work.”[2] Wherein, it recognized this journey as a gradual one that would eventually pay off in increased productivity, creativity, and innovation. In essence, how you treat your internal customers (employees) impacts your external relationships with clients and customers.
Meanwhile, here are brief explanations of the remaining terms:
Psychological First Aid- is a humane and practical way to provide people in distress (following a traumatic event) immediate support in order to reduce initial distress and foster adaptive functioning. It is NOT counseling or treatment.
Culture of care- is an environment, such as a workplace, where individuals feel valued, supported, and cared for. It emphasizes relationships, compassion, and a sense of belonging over solely focusing on rules or performance metrics.
Wounded worker- toxic workplaces can cause workplace trauma. An accumulation of negative emotional experiences stemming from negative workplace incidents may impact one’s mental health. As a result, employees can bear lasting mental health issues, known as “work wounds”.
One can easily see the connections between these 4 terms. With May being Mental Health Awareness month, let’s reflect and act on how our workplaces can become safer.
Please check out the rest of this week’s blog: https://moworksinitiative.org/category/worker-wellness-news/
Sources: [1]https://www.slcl.org/events/dignity-wheels
[2] https://www.benefitscanada.com/archives_/benefits-canada-archive/how-to-build-a-psychologically-safe-workplace/
Lessons from a Crane Collapse
Falls / Life & Death / Govt Intervention
Italy & Fatal Falls
Trumpifying Mental Health
DEA’s Largest Bust
Org’s Culture & MH
Fixing the Broken Workforce Psychological Contract
Trade War’s Impact on Workers’ Psychological Safety
Peers Combatting Stigma
Teens / MH / Social Media
Finland’s Happiness?
STL Measle Warning
How to Fight Ticks
Tinnitus Options?
Ignorant Drivers & Elderly
Your Brain’s Negative Bias
UK Football Team / Contractor / Suicide Prevention
Social Connection Matters
NHL Fails to Protect Goalie
MI Workers Locked Out
CO Teachers’ Strike
NFL Cowers @ White House
Pope Leo / Trump / Vance
Trump pulls plug on MO’s Martin
Trump’s Cuts Impact on Trump Voters
CDC’s Five-Alarm Fire
Gutting NIOSH
MAHA w/o NIOSH?
VA’s Privacy & MH
US-DOL & IC Rule
Conflict of Interest / Starlink / Tariffs
Bringing Mfg Back to USA?
Immigration / Worker Shortages / Construction
Snow Plow Managers
Swapping Vacation Days
College Costs Have Doubled
HS / Trades / Living Wage Careers
Voc-Ed v College
Workers / Tariffs / Changes
AI: Where to Start?
AI & Career Transitions
AI & Tomorrow’s Jobs
Co-workers & Parental Leave
MO Boosts First Responders
REAL ID is Here
Upcoming webinars, etc.
Dignity on Wheels (Mobile Shower Service)
Supporting those At-risk (5/12)
Handling Crisis & Trauma (6/10)
CALM Training (6/11)
Free MHFA (6/19)
NEW: Construction Mental Health Safety Guide
Free DISC
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 5th
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of May 5, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the importance of why your voice as a worker matters when it comes to cuts at NIH and CDC—to the increase in suicides of women in the field of medicine—to the concept of “ableism” in the workplace. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine—with May upon us—the topic of ‘psychological safety’ in the construction industry. In short, PS is based on the belief that a worker—at any level—will not be punished for speaking up with ideas, asking questions, or making mistakes.
The construction industry in Canada, not unlike the US, has more recently embraced the need to address mental health and white/blue-collar employee well-being in the workplace.[1] With a lack of mental health professionals available in the North American marketplace, more companies and unions are starting to develop their MH talent internally. In order to do so requires an organization to make strategic shifts in attitudes from top to bottom. Why? Because people at the top want to know that a venture of this scale must attempt to garner a positive return on investment (ROI). This cannot be achieved without first doing one’s homework.
Once an internal MH champion has been identified (and skilled up), s/he must begin this journey by surveying employees across the spectrum, developing targeted awareness programs, tracking inputs/outputs, and evaluating outcomes…these all come at a cost.
In a still male-dominated industry like construction, there are attitudes and traditions that exacerbate stigma. From physical strain of the work to insecurity brought on by seasons to the hazing (bullying) as a ‘right of passage’ to the macho notion of not asking for help, workers in this industry can be exposed to issues of anxiety…which sometimes leads to depression. So, because of the aforementioned stigma, many workers deal with these MH issues on their own…as in, self-medicate (i.e., alcohol, drugs, etc.). At first, it is just a means of ‘coping’ but, sadly, this route often results in building a (negative) habit and, eventually, an addiction.
Opening up discussions in safe spaces/places is one of the first steps towards building a ‘culture of care’ which emphasizes the importance of relationships and emotional support in your workplace. Organizational change requires individuals who are open to new ideas/methods. This process can begin by first acknowledging that a worker’s mental well-being is just as important as her/his physical health. Let’s commence this journey by completing and sharing MHA’s Checklist below.[2]
Please check out the rest of this week’s blog: https://moworksinitiative.org/category/worker-wellness-news/
Sources: [1] https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/psychological-safety/breaking-ground-on-psychological-safety-in-construction/533792?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter
[2] https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25.04.22_MHAM_Checklist.pdf?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=mham-2025&utm_term=mental-wellbeing-weekly&mkt_tok=NzczLU1KRi0zNzkAAAGaK_wSQklPo4tOX5mijUcWR_dUzvd9eu9UXss7vLGDV_zCD1v_HwHjWnNljNx7NMqO07ZUAYCy_fmRWZlwinhYCF5Qx4RCVTIZGzOZV1_JPe4
MAY is Mental Health Mon
Construction & Psychological Safety
OR / Cahoots / Trouble
CDC & NIOSH Cuts: Impact on Workers
NIH Cuts: Future Cancer, Dementia Research
MO / Naloxone / Misguided Politicians
The Rise of Cocaine
Drugs & Cartels: US – Mexico Differences
DANGER: Ketamine
Female MDs & Suicide (1)
Female MDs & Suicide (2)
More on NIOSH Layoffs & Worker Safety
Teens / Fake Nudes / Impact
30-Minutes / Weight Training
15-Minute Strength Routine
Building Resilience
Gratitude / Resilience / Hope
Life Experiences & Secrets
Another Retired NFLer & CTE
Defunding Public Media
Deaf Students & Funding Cuts
School Funding / MH Cuts
Immigration Crackdown & Worker Shortages
DOGE & Nuclear Secrets?
Musk / DOGE / Negative Polls
States / Paid Sick Leave / Ignoring Voters
Gambling on a Pope
Tour de France & Workers’ Strike
L-M Workers Strike
SEIU / CA /Strike
Google / CWU / London
Journalist / Russia / Death
Japan / Declining Population / Impact
Investing in Apprenticeships
Goal: 1m Apprentices
More on College v Trades
MWI’s ARP Rock Stars
STL Labor Leaders Serve New Mayor
Recruiting in a Flooded Market
What does Ableism Look Like?
SCOTUS / Schools / Disability & Discrimination
What is Duty to Cooperate?
Tech Workers & Dissatisfaction
Canada: Home-based Work
Construction Hiring Dips
Retirees & Side Gigs
More on Tipping
Viet Nam War’s Impact on US
Upcoming webinars, etc.
STL Foodbank
Change & MH (5/6)
Spirituality & Suicide Prevention (5/19)
QPR for Ag (5/22)
Cannabis & Ethical Dilemmas (6/3)
12-Minute Mindfulness Podcast
Supporting those Impacted by Suicide
Understanding Addiction: Families
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Partner Spotlight: Anna Witte
Building pathways and partnerships for a stronger workforce.
Missouri Works Initiative is proud to highlight organizations and individuals who we partner with to help our Apprenticeship Ready cohorts prepare for a career in the trades.
—
Anna Witte is all about helping people find their next step—and she’s been a fantastic partner to Missouri Works Initiative in doing just that.
As a University Relations Specialist at Spire, Anna works on the company’s Workforce Development Team, connecting with schools and community organizations to help students and job seekers learn the skills they need to succeed in professional trades. With a background in supporting college students, she’s brought that same guidance into the world of workforce development.
Spire—serving over 1.7 million homes and businesses across Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi—takes its mission seriously. Spire is,”an exciting place to work and build your career,” says Anna. “Safety and care” are core to the company’s culture, and that commitment has landed them on Newsweek’s list of Most Responsible Companies for six years running.
Anna sees firsthand how today’s job seekers face real obstacles. She says, “adapting to the demand for diverse, specialized skills…many face barriers to accessing quality training programs, limiting their growth potential.” But she’s hopeful about what’s possible. “By investing in equitable education, apprenticeships, and vocational programs, we can empower workers, close skill gaps, and foster a more inclusive, resilient workforce.”
Her journey with Missouri Works Initiative began through conversations with union leaders at Gas Workers Local 11-6, who were looking to support recruitment efforts. After a conversation with MWI Executive Director Megan Price, Anna was all in. “I was hooked,” she says. “I got involved with MWI because of the focus on training and upskilling workers, especially diverse talent, which benefits the community as a whole. Spire’s values of safety and integrity are echoed by the MWI programs and their students.”
Anna and her team support MWI through Spire Serves, a program that gives back through direct investment, employee volunteerism, and matching donations. “We invest our time and resources in organizations that enrich the lives of those we serve and MWI is an example of that. Working together, we can help present career opportunities across Missouri.”
She’s seen how the work we do together makes a difference. “I think MWI is addressing so many needs of workers. First, by helping workers who may not have otherwise pictured themselves in skilled trade careers find their path forward. Additionally, the skills taught in the MWI program—both hard and soft skills—help students be more ready to enter the workforce and hit the ground running on day one.”
Anna’s commitment to this work is clear, and we’re so grateful for the energy and insight she brings to our mission. “Providing support services while going through programs like this can be life-changing and meeting those needs is impactful and important,” she says. “We’re helping financially meet some of those needs through our Spire Serves grant and helping show alternative pathways forward.”
Thank you, Anna, for being such a champion of Missouri Works Initiative—we’re proud to partner with you!
Partner Spotlight: Sue Smith
Helping Springfield job seekers find their path—and their power.
Missouri Works Initiative is proud to highlight organizations and individuals who we partner with to help our Apprenticeship Ready cohorts prepare for a career in the trades.
—
Sue Smith knows a thing or two about helping people find their way into meaningful careers. She’s a Certified Workforce Development Professional with the City of Springfield’s Workforce & Economic Vitality Missouri Job Center, where the mission is all about connecting local talent with the industries that need them most, including construction.
Sue brings a background as a career educator into her current role as a Workforce Development Specialist. She’s part of a team working hard to support job seekers in Springfield, especially through apprenticeship programs made possible by the Apprenticeship Building America grant. She’s also helped several local businesses create Registered Apprenticeship Programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor—no small feat!
Sue was first connected to Missouri Works Initiative when training to become a proctor for the National Career Readiness Certificate, a credential earned through assessments that measure basic workplace skills and verify an individual’s foundational skills for workplace success. Sue’s trainer referred her to Missouri Works Initiative as “one of the best we had to offer” at the Missouri Job Center.
Since then, Sue’s become a key partner in our work. She helps in all kinds of ways—from interviewing potential candidates and supporting enrollment to prepping program graduates for the job hunt with resume reviews, mock interviews, and real-talk guidance. Her insight and encouragement mean the world to our cohort members who are ready to get to work and build a career for themselves.
Sue’s deeply aware of the challenges workers face today. She says, “One of the biggest challenges facing workers in Missouri and in general is accessing and affording the necessary training to enter or advance in a specific career. While many industries increasingly require specialized skills and certifications, the cost of training programs can be a barrier for individuals. Additionally, navigating the variety of available training options and identifying those that align with career goals can be overwhelming. The lack of awareness about resources, such as grants, apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored training, can further hinder workers’ ability to pursue the skills needed for high-demand careers.”
That’s exactly why we’re so grateful for partners like Sue. She helps break down those barriers and connect people with the resources they need to succeed.
One story that sticks with her? “I had the opportunity to help a single mother who wanted to transition from office work to a career in construction,” Sue said. “She was seeking a path that would not only provide a living wage for her family but also allow her to take pride in her work. After completing the Missouri Apprentice Ready (MAR) program, she advanced to the IBEW pre-apprenticeship program…This experience has been life-changing for her, offering stability, financial independence, and a sense of accomplishment.”
Sue also has great things to say about the program itself, “I believe the Missouri Works Initiative is effectively addressing the needs of workers by offering a comprehensive 5-week program that provides foundational knowledge about the construction industry.” Says Sue, adding “It allows individuals to explore multiple career pathways within the industry before committing to a specific trade, helping them make more informed decisions.”
She gave a special shoutout to Austin Fox, our Construction Programs Manager and Springfield Instructor: “Austin Fox is an amazing leader of this strong program.”
We’re so lucky to have Sue as a partner. Her experience, commitment, and heart help make Missouri Works Initiative what it is—and we can’t thank her enough.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 28th
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of Apr 28, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the importance of connection for older men—to the health benefits of taking a vacation—to the positive impact Pope Francis had on everything from social justice to climate change to international diplomacy. (I tip my hat to the late Pope who reminded us that, “A bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”) This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine potential changes to workforce laws and systems that directly affect workers across the spectrum.
In general, readers should take note that Trump gets a second bite at the apple with regards to apprenticeship.[1] In his first term, Trump tried to push through an alternative system of registered apprenticeship known as IRAP (industry-recognized apprenticeship programs). Truth be told, this was nothing more than a ‘rubber stamp’ credential with little to no oversight from US-DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship field reps (known as ATRs) and/or workers. Sadly, this IRAP completion credential’s certificate would mirror that of the RAP (registered apprenticeship programs) while unfortunately driving down its longstanding value in the US marketplace. To those of us who are products of RAP-affiliated trade programs in the Midwest, IRAPs will do more harm than good since quality control differs from company to company. The beauty of the ‘tried and tested’ RAP system is that oversight comes from 3 perspectives: labor, management, and government…which equates to a known value based on area standards and thus stability. In the proposed IRAP system, a company could solely design the entire apprenticeship without input from the workers and as mentioned earlier, little to no input from regional ATRs. Growing apprenticeship for the sake of pumping up numbers at the expense of quality outcomes is just another example of how a lack of transparency leads to more conflicts of interest. And, in the past 100 days, haven’t we had enough of this kind of chaos?
From a more specific standpoint, one needs to consider how states and their governors are dragging our workplaces back to the early 1900s. How? Just take a few minutes to read the article linked below pertaining to Florida’s DeSantis attempt to repeal Child Labor laws…under the façade of worker shortages.[2] Yes, I acknowledge some sectors have a shortage of workers but putting children at risk of losing lives or limbs is NOT the way to address this matter. Yes, I also acknowledge that not all jobs or industries are as dangerous as construction or mining. To the former, these laws were established—for the most part—as reactions to children losing their lives or being permanently scarred in factories, mines, etc. To the latter, I ask why is it so difficult to fill those job slots? As cited in this article, people who work in resorts need not be immigrants. OK, then maybe it is time management considers its corporate culture and compensation packages in order to attract today’s teenagers. Since our future is in the hands of our children, it is high time we live by our words: Safety First!
Sources: [1] https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/04/washington-watch-trump-signs-executive-order-on-workforce-programs/
[2] https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/florida-child-labor-laws-restrictions-cc8fda67?st=9hbMH9&reflink=article_gmail_share
National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
Mental Health for All
Work & Well-being: Is it Slipping?
CT Scans & Cancer
Bupe & Addiction
Reducing Post-workout Soreness
Older Men & Social Connection
12-Minute Meditations
Sleep Trends: DOs and Don’ts
Money, Anxiety, and Sleep
Science & Intermittent Fasting
Protein: Fact v Fiction
Thunderstorms: What not to do
Why take a Vacation?
Sabbaticals: A Tool for Worker Burnout?
Addressing TBIs in Older Adults
Labor in Limbo: Gutting FMCS
Supportive Union Members in Denial
Fed Unions & Remote Work Options
Insulting Fed Workers: Rebranding?
Fed Employees w/o Insurance
NIOSH Cuts & Firefighters’ Deaths
CDC Cuts & Workers’ Injuries
Grad Students Protest
From Democracy to Authoritarianism
DeSantis / Child Labor / Safety Laws
Trump’s Approval Rating (1)
Trump’s Approval Rating (2)
Trump / Fed Unions / Retaliation
ICE / CO Judge / Ban
DOJ / WI Judge / FBI
Women’s Initiative: Funding Restored
Non-profits: Handling Trump’s Backlash
Female Combat Vets on New Standards
Protests Across the US
States / Medicaid / Required Work
Layoffs / Food & Drugs / Safety
Deportations & Due Process
Judges / Dept of Ed / DEI
White House & Birth Bounty
Mexico / Cartels / Training
Job Loss & Emotional Impact
Handling Annoying/Violent Customers
Trump / Skilled Trades / Apprenticeship
Roofing / Prison Training / Workforce
Pope Francis: Shifting Influence
Pope Francis & Climate Change
Americans & Religion
More on Student Loans
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
Trump’s First 100 Days: Not Working for Workers (4/29)
Outcomes: Data, People, Health, and Language (5/16)
Understanding Suicide
Suicide Prevention for First Responders
Community-based Suicide Prevention
Support After Suicide
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 21st
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of Apr 21, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how binge drinking impacts women more than men—to an essay on eating disorders—to a Whistleblower exposing security breaches at the NLRB. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine how cuts at NIOSH will endanger workers.
For the past +40 years, I have been involved with worker safety in the construction industry…here and abroad. While I must admit that the first 30 of those years were mainly focused on the physical aspects of safety, in the past decade, US-DOL’s OSHA has made strides in emphasizing the mental aspects of safety. Nonetheless, many of these improvements were brought about because of unbiased research performed at institutions such as Duke University, St. Louis University, Washington University, and the University of Iowa via grants from NIOSH (mostly due to NABTU-CPWR’s leadership).
Make no mistake, these latest cuts in Washington, DC will eventually have a negative impact on US workers. As noted by Blackwood, “Without NIOSH, workplaces will become more dangerous, and more workers will die.”[1] In addition, Davis et al, proclaim, “When you remove a keystone from an arch, the whole thing will collapse. The same is true for key federal agencies that provide support resulting in benefits well in excess of the investment in them.”[2]
To this end, industries, like construction, are great examples of how dangers have been mostly eliminated and, thus, more workers come home safely today than 60 years ago. In fact, more progressive construction owners/buyers, contractors, unions, and JATCs have invested millions of dollars and hours in safety-related resources…from designating and skilling up personnel to purchasing the latest equipment to offering ongoing and updated trainings.
Enough is enough! It is only a matter of time when DC’s cuts result in a death of a fellow worker. In the words of MLK, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Will you take a stand?
Sources: [1] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gutting-niosh-endangers-every-u-s-worker/
[2] https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/16/niosh-cdc-workforce-layoffs-h5n1-bird-flu-worker-safety-occupational-health/
MH / Bullying / Workplace
Employees & Quiet Cracking
Rethinking ADHD
MT / Mental Illness / Homelessness
Mental Illness / Jail / Starving
Danger: Today’s Meth
RFK Jr / Autism / Epidemic?
Addressing Eating Disorders
Binge Drinking: Women v Men
WARNING: >8 Drinks per Week
Teens & Sleep
Fluoride / Drinking Water / Dental Health
17 Factors: Stroke/Dementia/Late-life Depression
More on Aging & Sleep
Weight Loss Pill (GLP-1)
Long COVID & Your Brain
Low cost / No cost Therapy
PLAs do NOT increase Costs
Contracting: A Race to the Bottom
Construction Worker Shortage: Focus on Women, etc.
Construction: Coaching v Sink-or-Swim
Construction: Unchecked Subs Fuel Abuse
NLRB / ULP / Whistleblower
More on NLRB & Whistleblower
List of Fed Job Cuts
Gutting NIOSH Endangers US Workers
More on NIOSH Cuts on Workers
Worker Injuries / CDC / Cuts
AI & Jobs
Trump / Courts / Constitutional Crisis?
SCOTUS / Trump / Deportation Ruling
US Dept of State: Redefines ‘Human Rights’
DOGE: Over-promise & Under-deliver
DOGE / NLRB / Security Breach?
Musk / NLRB / Unions’ Suit
Trump / Fed Judge / Chicago WIT’s Suit
Trump & White-collar Crime
SCOTUS / ACA / Preventive Care
Trump / Jews / Antisemitism?
Fed Judge / Trump / Frozen Funds
Trump / PBS & NPR / Cuts
MO Dems / Filibuster / Paid Sick Leave Cuts
Police / MO Politicians / Gun Rights
Free Speech / Trump / Research Cuts
Don’t be Fooled: AI Imposter Scams
More on Sisters of Selma
Finding Hot Jobs w/o College Degrees
College Degrees v Workplace Certifications
Decrease in College Students Projected
Passing Down the Fam’s Business
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
Free MHFA Training
HWC’s SURVEY: Impact of SUD and MH in Business
HWC’s Podcast: MSD in the Workplace
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 14th
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of Apr 14, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how a number of stories cited this week speak to the issue of how cuts in DC will (and already have) negatively impact much-needed services in local communities—to some positive news regarding the decline of US overdoses deaths—to the NFL’s position on ‘new’ helmets. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the article linked below that tells the story of how a person who was given a 2nd chance now uses his lessons learned to create a ‘culture of care’ in the construction industry.
For too long, the construction industry has been looked upon in a negative light. Decades ago, many in the world of work saw us as something ‘anyone’ could fall back on to and still make a living wage with good benefits.* Many people in the US still look down upon those of us who work(ed) with our hands. A few would say this has to do with the 3 Ds: dirty; dark (or dull); and dangerous. While others might be inclined to lean on old stereotypes of a once White male-dominated sector of our economy: macho, drinking, swearing, risk-taking, etc. However, times have changed and as the old saying goes, “You have to break some eggs to make an omelet.”
To be sure, the construction industry for the past several decades has been touting a potential shortage of workers. Thanks to progressive thought leaders in the St. Louis market, most joint labor-management training committees met this challenge by re-thinking their recruitment strategies. Effective recruiting and retention programs like St. Louis’ BUD (Building Union Diversity) began to spring up and spread across then USA. And, yet, needs in many areas remained unmet. Meanwhile, college tuition costs started to skyrocket and college degrees lost their luster. As a result, today’s high school seniors have become discerning consumers. So, if our industry seeks to recruit and retain Gen Z workers, we must take into consideration what is important to them which requires letting go of old practices (i.e., hazing, bullying, etc.). Equally important, Gen Z is much more open to addressing a once-taboo topic of previous generations: Mental Health.
To this end, it was not until recently (~2016), for the most part, that the construction industry took serious steps in addressing issues like mental health, opioids awareness, and suicide prevention. For this, I thank Wash U’s School of Medicine and the unions, management associations, and apprenticeship training schools that participated in research since 2004 that truly moved the needle…thus, placing ‘mental’ aspects of safety in the construction industry on par with ‘physical’ aspects of safety. PLEASE take the time to read Cal’s article linked below. Hopefully, you will agree with me that this is just another meaningful step in a never-ending journey.
(*This notion was further exacerbated in our K-12 school system. How? If you were an urban/suburban child of the 1960-80s, I ask you to reflect upon the friends/students you knew who went to the Voc-Tech high school in your area v who followed the ‘college’ track.)
Source: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/business-services/coaching-consulting/article/22934249/safe-project-mental-health-and-substance-misuse-support-in-apprenticeship-programs
Construction / Change / Culture
UK Construction / Physical Activity / MH
Annual HC Screening = Suicide Prevention
AI & MH Therapy
Overdose deaths decrease…but this is NOT over
Misinformation: Fentanyl
More on Cali Sober
VA / MH / Privacy
VA / MH / Cuts
MH cuts Impact Need for More Services
MH Therapists / K-P / Hunger Strike
Loneliness & Communal Dinners
Colon Cancer & Exercise
Brain Quiz for Dementia, etc.
Non-meat Sources of Protein
Want to avoid Stress?
Workplace Stress = Lack of Control + ….
Warning: Spam Calls
DC Cuts Impact TBI Research
NFL & New Helmets (1)
NFL & New Helmets (2)
Unhoused Workers
NY Nursing Home Care Workers Strike
Trump & Musk on Unions
Trump / Unions / Dues
Trump / UAW / Tariffs
NABTU / PLAs / Trump
Teamsters / Canada / Arbitrator
Update: Fed Employees Resign
More on NY CO’s strike
US-DOL cuts funds combatting Child Labor
More on Child Labor
US Secty of Labor: Listening Tour
Protecting OSHA = Protecting Workers
Tariffs / Stocks / Losses
Trump / SEC / Conflict of Interest
Trump & Stock Manipulation
Vance / SS Fraud / Truth???
Trump / Revenge / Fear & Intimidation
Trump’s reign = <Pro bono
Trump & Free Speech
Trump / Cuts / VA Housing
Trumps Tariffs & Your Savings
Trump / Tariffs / New Jobs???
Mfg Workers & Trump Tariffs
Tariffs: Impact on Construction
US – China Trade War
DOGE / MSHA / Cuts
HHS cuts impact on Sexual Assault
DOGE / Musk / Improper us of SS data
ICE & Deporting a Combat Vet
Natl Parks rewrite History
Quiet Quitters v Disconnected Leadership
College / Athletes / NIL
What ‘not’ to say to your kids
Why are students losing ground
Navigating Student Loans during DC’s Chaos
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
CALM Training (4/16)
Community Suicide Postvention (4/21)
Opioid Prevention (4/23)
OSHA Heat Illness Prevention (4/25)
Substitute ‘Worker’ Program (/5/15)
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.
Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 7th
Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of April 7, 2025
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at a CPWR report that suggests better benefits in construction equate to better mental health—to how recent cuts in Higher Ed are leading to a brain drain—to how newly imposed US tariffs are impacting the Ag and Construction sectors. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the importance of transparency and stability when communicating major changes to the masses.
Over the past 2 months, I think the word “whipsaw” has been used more times in the media than I have seen/heard in my entire 66 years. M-W defines whipsaw as “to beset or victimize in two opposite ways at once, by a two-phase operation.” One only needs to look at how stock prices retreated—across the board—this past week in order to gauge the temperature of the markets…a clear indication of future instability. It is one thing to take a position and stand by it…but a totally different issue when one goes back-and-forth and/or confuses the public with less than clear explanations. Case in point:
President Trump signed executive orders suspending new tariffs on many imports from Mexico and Canada, two days after he imposed sweeping levies of 25 percent on two of America’s closest economic partners. The exemptions, on goods covered by the trilateral trade pact Mr. Trump signed in his first term, were a whipsaw reversal that followed days of economic turmoil. Stocks in the United States closed down.1
Why does this matter? Because actions like those just mentioned not only cause anxiety in the markets but in our offices, jobsites, and homes as well. To be sure, Faust-Hartnett cited that nearly ¾ of participants in a recent survey of 1000 people in the US workplace, “…believe anxiety, caused by the current global political and social environment, leads to burnout at work.”2 Meanwhile, as I attended an international Mental Health committee meeting last weekend, I heard some of the group members express their serious concerns about the current undertakings in Washington, DC. Overall, the consensus was there no need to get too worked up as ‘this too shall pass’. While I agree most organizations have faults, I cannot condone the strategy of shoot-aim-fire!
To this end, earlier this past week, our nation witnessed a US Senator take an “active” stance against the current state of chaotic affairs. Sen C Booker set a new record for the longest speech in this chamber (>25 hours).3 The irony is that a speech—by a Black man—surpassed the previous record by Sen T Thurmond, a segregationist, who filibustered for ~24 hours to oppose the Civil Rights Act in 1957. As my dear (late) friend Gary Stelzer used to say, “What comes around, goes around.”
Sources: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/06/us/trump-administration-news
[2] https://www.plansponsor.com/the-workplace-mental-health-crisis-of-2025/
[3]https://www.npr.org/2025/04/02/nx-s1-5349429/sen-cory-booker-on-his-marathon-25-hour-speech-on-the-senate-floor
Construction: Better Benefits = Better MH
Trade Conflict & Anxiety
Bolstering Global H&S
Head Protection: More on Safety Helmets
Teens / Growth / Resilience
Do You Have a Healthy Social Biome?
All Generations Seek Work-Life Balance
Employees: Less Collaborative, More Confrontational?
Spotting a Sports Gambling Problem
Myth of Sports Betting
More on Sports Gambling Addiction
Gambling Addiction Treatment
Uneven Access to Harm Reduction
Philly / Medetomidine / Xylazine
Magnesium & Sleep
Women / Sleep / Dementia
Non-sleep Rest
Toxic Tampons
Smell & Cognition
Tobacco & Mental Illness
Empty Drug Treatment Beds
How to Help a Struggling Adult Child
Self-Compassion & Relationships
9 Tips for Self-care
Kush / Women / W Africa
US Wealth & Longevity
Defrocked Priest Passes
On Losing a Pet
Weakening Child Labor Laws
Doctors Unionize in MN
New Mothers in Congress & Proxy Voting
Division: STL Co Prop B
STLCC: New Adv Mfg Center
STL Co Library: Virtual Trades Training
Supreme Court / Workers / Catholic Church
Sen Booker’s Day+1
US Profs Seek Work Abroad
Dept of Ed Layoffs Impact Special Ed
Higher Cuts: Who Loses?
Trump Targets DEI in K-12
Trumped-up DEI Layoffs
Impact of HHS Layoffs on LT Public Health
Farmers / Trump / Tariffs
Foreign Leaders & Trump Tariffs
Tariffs = Construction Work Slowdown
Contractors Scale Back Hiring
NY PW Laws
NM on Heat Safety
America’s Aging Infrastructure
NCAA / NIL / Settlement
AI / HR / Helping Employees
Open AI v Google
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
Autism & Suicide Prevention (5/6)
MH in Construction
Podcast Series: Let’s Talk About Guns & Trauma
Suicide Prevention in College Sports
Does Banning Drugs Increase Violence?
Employee Financial Wellness
Narcan Training for Ag
FREE: Safety Helmet
FREE: Diapers
FREE: After School Meals
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.