Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are beneficial to both the employee and employer. Offered as part of employer-sponsored benefits plan, EAPs are typically available to all employees and their dependents, not just employees who select medical coverage. The primary goal of an EAP is to provide assistance to employees with legal, financial, employment or mental health issues. Most programs begin with a telephone consultation, and often include references for further help with professionals in the community.
Benefits for Employees - Referrals
The EAP is a one-stop shop for the employee who has a problem or issue and does not know where or seek help. They can call their EAP program to receive a limited number of free sessions with a professional counselor or adviser, depending on their current problem. The EAP professional will assess the employee and determine if further mental health treatment is needed or the problem can be resolved through the EAP sessions.
Benefits for Employees - Information
Most EAPs have comprehensive websites that offer hundreds of articles on health, financial and legal topics. These sites are free to the employee, and contain a wealth of resources on timely subjects. Sites may also have a directory of counselors, lawyers and financial advisers that the employee can access. All articles are written by professionals and thoroughly researched and offer free help and assistance to employees.
Benefits for Employers - Increased Productivity
The primary benefit of the EAP program for employers is the increased productivity and fewer missed days of work from employees who seek EAP services. Issues in the workplace and personal problems---such as substance abuse, family illness and marital problems---may cause employees to miss work or perform poorly. With EAP intervention, the employee will be put on the path to handle these problems therefore increasing their productivity and performance and missing less work.
Benefits for Employers - Mandatory Referrals
EAPs often offer the employer a mandatory referral program. Mandatory referrals are initiated by the employer for employees who have a potentially serious issue affecting their work performance, such as substance abuse. This allows non-partial third-party involvement to assess the situation for the employer. The employee will face consequences such as termination of employment for not complying with the mandatory referral.
Benefits for Employers - CISD Services
When a major incident occurs at or near the workplace, such as an employee death on the premises or natural disaster, employees made need immediate counseling. Employers can access the EAP and request a team of mental health professionals to be available to meet with employee and provide grief counseling.
Tags: Benefits Employers, mental health, assistance employees, Benefits Employees, employee will
