How to Use EAP Benefits: 3 Simple Steps
- Contact your EAP provider. Whether you already know your employer offers an EAP or you’re not sure, contacting your company’s Human Resources department is the best way to find out.
- Be prepared to provide identifying information. ...
- Verify any costs associated with treatment services. ...
What does EAP give you?
Here are a few issues EAP counselors can help you deal with or confront:
- workplace conflicts
- workplace-related trauma
- mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression
- substance abuse issues
- grief or loss
- relationship problems
What is the advantage of using EAP?
These are some of the common problems an EAP can help employees with:
- Stress management. Work and finances are some of the top causes of stress, according to WebMD. ...
- Domestic violence. ...
- Grief counseling. ...
- Alcoholism. ...
- Crisis management. ...
- Psychological (mental health) disorders. ...
- Substance abuse. ...
- Health and caregiving. ...
- Family services. ...
- Counseling referrals. ...
What can the EAP do for me?
EAPs provide free, voluntary, short-term counseling services to employees and their families. Employers that offer EAPs can see benefits such as reduced absenteesim, higher productivity and lower rates of turnover, according to SHRM.
Is EAP an ERISA-covered benefit?
In general, an EAP is not covered by ERISA unless it actually provides medical services. Benefits for the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, stress, anxiety, depression, and similar health and medical problems generally constitute medical benefits within the meaning of ERISA.
What can an EAP be used for?
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems.
When should an EAP be used?
sudden cardiac arrestAEDs are used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest. This usually occurs when a disruption in the heart's electrical activity causes a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a fast and irregular heartbeat (ventricular fibrillation).
How is EAP different from insurance?
Fees. The EAP is an employee benefit that is separate from the health insurance and is already paid for by the employer. There is no charge to the employee for the assessment process that the EAP provides. At the first interview, called the assessment, you will describe your problem(s) to a licensed trained specialist.
Why is EAP important?
EAPs can help employers reduce absenteeism, workers' compensation claims, health care costs, accidents and grievances. In addition, they can address safety and security issues, improve employee productivity and engagement, and reduce costs related to employee turnover.
What is EAP in medical billing?
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services are a separate and distinct benefit from an individual's behavioral health benefit plan. EAP is pre-purchased by employers for their employees and their employees' household members.
What does EAP mean in insurance?
As a State of California employee, you and your eligible dependents have access to an Employee Assistance program (EAP). This program is provided by the State of California as part of the state's commitment to promoting employee health and well-being.
Substance Abuse in the Workplace
More than 70 percent of people struggling with drug or alcohol use disorders are employed.1 As a result, employers can no longer ignore the consequences of substance abuse in the workplace.
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
Employee Assistance Programs are programs that are designed to help employees deal with issues that affect their job performance. 2 This may include substance abuse problems, stress, grief, marriage problems, financial problems, and emotional or physical abuse, among other things.
What Are the Most Common Types of Employee Assistance Programs?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there are several different types of EAPs. 3 They include:
Do All Companies Have EAP?
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 77 percent of employers offer an EAP to their employees.
What Are the Advantages of Employee Assistance Programs?
If you’re struggling with chronic relapse or substance abuse problems, an Employee Assistance Program has several advantages:
What Are EAP Benefits?
The type of EAP benefits offered will vary depending on the employer, but most often, they include services similar to those listed below:
What Does EAP Cost?
EAPs are generally provided at no cost to the employee so you do not have to worry about paying for immediate, confidential services. However, if you are referred to addiction treatment services beyond your EAP, there will be costs involved.
What short-term health, wellbeing, and logistical benefits do EAPs typically cover?
Not all EAPs are equal. Some have a lot of benefits, and you’ll think, “Do I have a great employer, or what?” Others may give you so few perks that you’ll think, “Why’d you even bother offering me anything?”
In what areas do employee assistance programs (EAPs) and health insurance overlap?
EAPs offer an array of services that are separate from the health insurance you receive from your employer, but some benefits are close cousins.
How do you use an EAP for health-related services?
Generally, your company’s intranet will have a benefits webpage with EAP contact information. It may also offer self-service wellbeing assessments and trainings on a number of work/life subjects. You’ll likely find a phone number and probably an email to a referral agent, sometimes known as an EAP administrator.
Will your employer know when you use your EAP?
Generally, no. There are no guarantees, but employers aren’t supposed to know. There are a couple exceptions. The major one is that if you use an EAP and a counselor learns that you may be a threat to yourself or others, they would have the right to disclose your information to your employer.
The bottom line
Employee assistance programs are free benefits to use when personal problems are overwhelming you, at work and at home. They offer short-term therapy, stress management, financial counseling, and elder care referral, among other services. An EAP may not be perfect, but it may help you start to address issues that have been building up.
What are the reasons for using EAP?
Anxiety or mental health problems. Struggles with family or partners. Adjusting to a proper work-life balance. If a supervisor fears their employee’s job performance is declining, they will often recommend the employee use the EAP plan’s resources.
How to create an EAP plan?
Inform your employees of the plan you chose and its guidelines. 1. Determine the goals of your company and employees. Before creating a full employee assistance plan, decide the overall goals your company holds regarding providing this service to your employees.
What is EAP counseling?
Marital and family counseling: If many of your employees are married or have children, you can provide them with an EAP plan that includes marital and family support. Work-life balance assistance: There may be employees who are committed to working long hours.
What is EAP 2021?
Employee Assistance Program Definition, Benefits and How It Works. February 9, 2021. Sometimes, employees may face problems in their personal lives that affect their work performance. Implementing an employee assistance program (EAP) in the workplace can help them feel productive, motivated and encouraged. In this article, we outline ...
Why is employee assistance important?
Helps employees feel safe, comfortable and protected. If an employee feels uncomfortable regarding a workplace or personal issue, an active employee assistance program can help them feel safe as they discuss their issues. By anonymously talking to a certified counselor about the challenges they’re facing, they can feel more secure in the workplace.
Why is it important to have a happy employee?
An employee who is feeling happier and less worrisome will feel more motivated to work, which can lead to better work performance. This can also increase their engagement within the company, leading to a stronger company culture .
How much does it cost to implement an employee assistance program?
The cost to implement an employee assistance program is approximately $10 to $50 a month, depending on the plan you choose. Providing this assistance to employees can be significantly less expensive than the cost to hire and onboard new employees.
What happens when you offer an EAP?
Normally, what happens when you offer an EAP is that an employee who feels the need can call the EAP toll-free phone number (or can visit the EAP website) to get immediate help from a professional counselor on topics like:
What is an EAP?
What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) & How Does It Work? An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential workplace service that employers pay for and is free to employees. An EAP is commonly the most overlooked, yet valuable, benefits offered by organizations large and small.
What is an EAP program?
An EAP is a super benefit program that pays for itself by keeping employee wellness in check. Note that it is also one of the most underused benefits in organizations. Overall, EAPs can assist employees in just about every area of their lives and may save you money in reduced workers comp and in turnover.
What is EAP in employment?
An EAP provides outside counselors, resources, and referrals to assist employees and their family members. Any EAP benefits received by employees or family members remain confidential. This means that while the employer pays for the service, they have no insight into an employee’s specific use of the service.
Why is EAP written?
First, it shows your employees what services are offered so they can be taken advantage of the program. Second, it assists employers in remaining consistent with how they permit and administer the EAP benefits to their employees.
What is comprehensive EAP?
A comprehensive program should provide the employer and its employees with a set of extensive, integrated EAP services that meet organizational needs (which includes the employer, their employees, and dependents).
What is EAP contract?
In this model, small businesses join together to contract for third-party EAP services, lowering the cost per employee, for each participating business. This model tends to be fixed-fee which means all services within a standard EAP are offered. This is also helpful as not all of the companies within an average consortium want the same services. (Note that there does not need to be any commonalities between employers in this group for consortia to be created).
What Is an Employee Assistance Program?
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are benefits that some employers use to help their workers get access to short-term counseling or therapy services as well as provide some types of psychological assessment.
History of Employee Assistance Programs
The first EAPs in the United States were developed in the 1930s as a resource for employees struggling with alcoholism. Businesses realized that employees performed better when they had access to confidential resources to treat their drinking and began offering resources as a benefit.
Types of Employee Assistance Programs
Companies can develop internal EAPs or offer external EAPs. An internal EAP is when a company employs providers to offer EAP services to their employees, and an external EAP uses providers not affiliated with the organization. Details about the pros and cons of these two types of EAPs are listed in the tables below.
How to Use Your Employee Assistance Program
Your employer (or the employer of the family member whose benefits you use) should provide information about the benefits available to you. The company’s human resources department should have details about how many sessions are covered, who in your family can use the EAP, and providers that you can see with your EAP.
When You Might Benefit from Using Your Employee Assistance Program
Because EAPs include a limited number of sessions, therapists seeing clients through an EAP often focus on short-term, specific therapy goals. Theoretical orientations that lend themselves to shorter therapy lengths include:
Drawbacks and Limitations of Employee Assistance Programs
Because EAPs provide a small, set number of sessions, clients in need of long-term care will not get the treatment they need just using their EAP.
What are the benefits of EAPs?
EAPs can help employees who are going through a difficult time or experiencing hardship, but they also offer preventative care through wellness consultation services. Some of the main topics that EAPs can help employees with include: Grief when losing a loved one. Nutrition. Legal issues.
Why do employers use EAP?
Preventing workplace incidents. Employers can suggest that their employees use their EAP program during conflicts with colleagues, company restructuring or other stressful events to reduce the possibility of disruptive behavior or violence in the workplace.
What is EAP outreach?
Independent outreach: Employees who look into their benefits call the EAP provider directly as a way to be proactive about personal or professional concerns they are experiencing. Interpersonal suggestions: Coworkers can recommend the EAP to their colleagues or family members.
Why is EAP important?
Looking after your employee’s overall wellbeing through having an EAP has a range of benefits for both employees and employers. Employees get the direct benefit of having professional advisors who can guide them in the right direction and provide resources to assist them in solving problems. In addition to having happier and healthier employees, businesses can also experience these positive impacts from having an EAP.
Why do we need EAPs?
EAPs help employees handle challenges and stresses early before they become severe enough to cause them to quit or take time off. When employees know that their workplace provides tools for them to overcome problems, they have the ability to solve problems at work instead of leaving the company. Additionally, the positive cultural impact that results from effective EAPs can cause employees to feel happier and more connected to their workplace and want to stay longer, limiting employee turnover.
How to make sure EAP is easy to use?
Make sure that the EAP program is easy-to-use for employees by learning about the provider’s intake procedures. Consider wait times, website accessibility and follow-up procedures after the initial outreach to make sure that usability is not a barrier to employees getting help.
Why is it important to put wellbeing first?
Putting your employee’s wellbeing first by providing them with an EAP creates a culture of mutual respect and dedication. Your employees are the people who generate value for the business and emphasizing the importance of self-care shows them that you are committed to creating a mutually beneficial situation in the workplace.
What is an EAP?
Usually, an EAP is offered in conjunction with the health insurance plan. An employee assistance program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed ...
What is an EAP program?
An employee assistance program is centered on helping employees handle stressors related to work, family, relationship problems, financial woes, legal concerns, and drug or alcohol struggles. Basically, an EAP helps employees handle issues which may impact the employee’s health and wellness, or even work performance.
How many employers provide EAPs in 2008?
A 2008 National Study of Employers following ten years trends related to U.S. workplace policies and benefits shows that the EAP industry continues to grow, with 65% of employers providing EAPs in 2008, up from 56% in 1998,” according to the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA).
How to implement employee assistance?
An employee assistance program aims to assist employees: 1 Understand issues that directly impact them, even some underlying issues. 2 Clarify those issues and to explore how to address said issues. 3 Develop plans to tackle the issues and find helpful solutions.
How much does an employee assistance program cost?
Cost Of An Employee Assistance Program. Typically, an employee assistance program costs a company around $35 a year per employee. However, prices will vary depending on your location, and if the program is a pay-per-use program or a fixed rate. Meaning the price you pay could be anywhere from $10-$100 a year per employee.
Is employee assistance free?
Some employee assistance programs are free, like that of a local college with students completing their master’s or doctorate programs. However, the counselor may likely be a grad-student and as such, their experience dealing with serious issues may be limited.
Is EAP counseling long term?
These sessions help to assess the issue the employee is experiencing before recommending a resource, therapist, or service. It’s important to know that an EAP is not a long-term counseling solution, ...
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
An employee assistance program (EAP) is an employee benefit that assists workers with personal or work-related problems, and may impact their job performance, physical and mental health. This can include substance abuse, family troubles, finances, and emotional well being.
How Does an Employee Assistance Program Work?
EAP counselors may consult with managers and supervisors to address employee and organizational challenges and needs.
How Can an EAP Benefit Employees?
An EAP can offer employees the help they need almost immediately. It can put them in touch with counselors for example, and allow them a chance to get the help they need.
How To Establish an EAP?
Employers first need to educate themselves on the employee benefits offered, how the contract works, and by what means employees may access EAP benefits. According to SHRM, there are a number of common delivery models to consider when establishing an EAP:
Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Right for you?
Employee Assistance Programs are a valuable benefit that, as stated above, can be necessary for certain employees to receive the help they need. They provide relief for employees who are in need of resources they do not currently have access to. These can go beyond the employee and even translate to the family members of the employee.
What is an EAP program?
Employee assistance programs, also called EAPs, are employer-funded programs designed to provide a variety of services to employees in need. EAPs are usually staffed by licensed professionals, including clinical social workers, mental health counselors and substance abuse professionals, or SAPs. While the pros of an EAP often appear to outweigh ...
Why are employees reluctant to use EAP?
Because there's often a lack of education about the types and availability of EAP services by the employer or human resources professionals, an employee might not even be aware of the existence of the EAP program in the workplace. ...
What is EAP counseling?
Counseling services are a major benefit of EAP programs. EAPs provide free, voluntary -- or self-referred, short-term -- counseling services to employees and their families. As an employee, you can call your EAP program and speak to a counselor either over the phone or in person on a confidential basis -- meaning your employer and co-workers do not know about it. EAP counseling services can be beneficial if you are on a limited income, for example, and cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket mental health costs to an outside provider. But you only receive a limited number of sessions with an EAP counselor, so this can be seen as a con, especially if you develop a positive relationship with your counselor and want to continue your work together. If you require more counseling sessions, your EAP professional will refer you to a pre-screened outside provider, such as a psychologist or a licensed clinical social worker, for continued treatment. Many EAPs also offer free education/counseling programs to employees and their families on a variety of topics, including smoking cessation and stress management.
Is EAP a con?
Of course, employees who test positive may see this as a con of an EAP program, but it benefits the company, the public and, in the end, the employee. Employees with behavioral problems or poor job performance may also be mandated by their supervisors to attend EAP counseling services. You first will have an evaluation by your EAP counselor, ...
Can you have a limited number of sessions with an EAP counselor?
But you only receive a limited number of sessions with an EAP counselor, so this can be seen as a con, especially if you develop a positive relationship with your counselor and want to continue your work together.
Is EAP confidential?
EAP services are technically supposed to be confidential, but this isn't always the case. While most EAPs are located off-site, some EAPs are located "in-house." So, if you are an employee walking into the EAP office for a voluntary counseling session -- and you don't want your colleagues to know about it -- but a co-worker sees you entering the office, then there's not much you can do to maintain your privacy or prevent gossip. Likewise, EAP professionals are often friendly with supervisors, union officials and other management staff in an organization. Although the professional code of conduct requires confidentiality in all cases, there's little to prevent "off-the-record" small talk between these professionals from discussing your case behind closed doors. Of course, there can be legal repercussions for breaking confidentiality, unless you've given written consent that gives authorization to specific professionals to discuss your case.
