A counselling service aimed at helping small to medium-sized business owners in Queenstown has been extended to employees.
Last year, the Southern Lakes Business Recovery Group — a group started by agencies, including the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce, to support businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic — started Take Stock, offering free and confidential counselling services to business owners.
Now, the initiative, which offers three free confidential session through wellbeing provider Benestar, has been extended to small and medium-sized business’ staff.
People and businesses were struggling in the third year of the pandemic, Queenstown Lakes District Council’s economic development manager Peter Harris said.
"We are hearing that people are fatigued and they are burning out."
Omicron had added new stress on business owners and their workers, and it could be tough for them to know who to talk to.
Take Stock had been offered specifically for small businesses because many could not afford an employee assistance programme for staff.
Small and medium-sized businesses were crucial, not only to the district’s economy, but to the wellbeing of the community, Mr Harris said.
He encouraged anyone who needed the service to take up the offer.
The initiative would be funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for the next six months.