In this Q&A, peer counselor Abby Swerin shares her experience volunteering with Empower Work and how it’s helped her through a transitional period in her life. 

This Q&A with an Empower Work peer counselor shares the unique perspective of one of our inspiring volunteers who started her Empower Work experience as a texter. Laura Combs works in direct service for a nonprofit and has a background in retail and food service.

Emilie, a volunteer at Empower Work, shares her story about her experience as a peer counselor and why she decided to volunteer. Emilie works in the media industry as a journalist and editor. Having been in difficult situations at work herself, Emilie wanted to learn the ways in which you can support people in similar situations.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our volunteers at Empower Work have been supporting workers who reach out with worries of health & safety, the stress of going back to in-office environments, and existing work challenges. We have listed the top 3 ways that our peer counselors have supported workers during COVID-19.

As we recognize Labor Day 2021, 18 months have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged across the world and upended workplaces here at home. At Empower Work, we talk directly every day with workers who reach out for support in moments of distress, and we’ve exchanged nearly 200,000 messages since March 2020. Through thousands of vulnerable moments shared, we have a unique view into what people are facing—and what we can do to support them.

“There are many reasons to volunteer. Perhaps you want to give back to the community, had a positive experience with Empower Work, or are interested in this field of work. Maybe you are interested in the organization, want to find a good way to use your time, or want to develop yourself in a certain area. I think these are all valid reasons to volunteer. If you are interested, I would say go for it! It is worth it. I believe this is a noble way to impact someone’s life, as well as develop yourself in new ways.”

I know first-hand that having someone in your corner can make navigating tough work situations feel much less isolating and overwhelming. I see Empower Work’s mission as a key component to making workplaces more equitable by providing free, accessible, judgement-free support to people regardless of background or industry.

Volunteering can be a powerful way to give back and gain new skills. Val Sanders, Empower Work’s Director of Training and Volunteers chatted with Keya T., one of Empower Work’s master peer counselors, about how she’s grown personally and professionally since she began helping people on the Empower Work text line.