An in-house industrial counseling program: the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company experience.

Development of a counseling program at Northwestern Bell Telephone in the state of Iowa began in 1970. Since its inception, the program has expanded to assist nearly 2000 individuals per year with varying problems. It is not the first counseling program for employees (other programs are described in the paper), but it is unique in its availability to all employees in the state, with counselors strategically placed in the major districts of the Bell System. Because of its concern for human resources, the company supported the medical department in establishing the counseling program. The management has been supportive and noninterfering. The numbers of employees using the program and their responses to questionnaires indicate the need for the service. The advantages and costs of an in-house counseling service are discussed.