Employee Assistance Programmes: What You Need to Know
Employee Assistance Programmes are an unknown concept for many employees so we’ve broken down everything you need to know.
In the UK, every employer has a duty of care and the responsibility to support an employees mental health and mental wellbeing.
What is an Employee Assistance Programme?
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a confidential support service enabling an employer to help employees with personal or workplace issues that may arise and therefore impact their performance, mental health, wellbeing or physical health. Typically, an EAP would include a consultation and a course of counselling.
Stress, anxiety and depression are becoming more commonplace in the workplace as employees say they feel they have to give everything to their work and personal lives which in turn is having an impact on their health.
EAP’s have grown increasingly popular since 2008 as the importance of good health of employees is on the rise, consequently EAP’s have evolved and are no longer limited in the services they can assist with now covering a broad scope of issues such as; childcare, relationship challenges and financial obstacles.
Employee assistance programmes come at no cost to the employee and can include virtual interactions as well as face to face. It’s important that as an employer and EAP is in place to help counteract issues and ultimately leading to a happier and healthier workplace.
How do they work?
Through the EAP the employees have access to counsellors as well as resources for support. The employer does cover the cost of the EAP but the topics or sessions involved are confidential allowing the employee to feel completely comfortable with the matters they disclose.
The initial session of the EAP will assess how the employee is currently feeling and what their current situation is.
Topics inclusive of the EAP can be:
- Mental health issues – such as depression or anxiety
- Legal advice – surrounding family concerns
- Financial advice – help with managing debt or creating a budget
- Substance addiction – personal or a family members
- Work conflicts – dealing with conflict in the workplace and how to manage it
- Grief counselling
Whilst these are the most commonplace problems addressed by an EAP, they are not limited to and can cover much more.
Why should you offer an EAP?
Offering an employee assistance programme as standard will make you a more attractive employer as well as enabling you to have a healthier and happier workforce. Without this in place a company can be at risk of absenteeism, furthermore it builds a level of trust in the business.
Ultimately an employee assistance programme can boost your company’s health and wellbeing as well as morale. Therefore making your company more efficient and less vulnerable to employee absenteeism. It is something that needs management following it’s launch and if implemented and monitored could even save lives. A worthwhile investment.