Benefits of EAP Programs
- EAPs can help take the stress off employees which in turn gives them back their mental wellness
- One of the benefits EAPs offer employers is to help reduce health-related costs.
- EAP benefit is that it reduces the time managers spend coaching individuals because EAP counselors are doing it on work...
- EAP is not at all risky or costly so this would...
What motivates an employer to offer an EAP?
- Professional
- Financial
- Legal
- Emotional
- Marital or family issues
- Substance abuse issues
- Other personal issues
What are EAP benefits and how do they help employees?
Key Takeaways
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are voluntary, employer-sponsored programs that help employees navigate stressful life circumstances.
- EAPs are usually free for the participating employee to use.
- EAPs aren't free for the employer, but are shown to provide a 300% return on investment.
What is an EAP and why is it important?
What type of issues will an EAP counselor address?
- Substance abuse
- Occupational stress and anxiety
- Emotional distress and depression
- Major life events
- Nutrition and health coaching and concerns
- Financial concerns
- Relationship issues
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 is the purpose of an EAP program?
Through EAP you can seek assistance with many of the day-to-day struggles you may be experiencing. EAP can assist you with marriage, family, and relationship issues; emotional, personal and stress concerns; drug and alcohol abuse; healthy lifestyles; and work-life balance.
How effective is EAP?
Are EAPs Effective? While the research on the effectiveness of EAPs is limited, studies have found that employees' use of EAPs enhanced outcomes, specifically significant improvement in presenteeism, life satisfaction, functioning, and often absenteeism.
Why would companies provide an EAP to its employees?
EAPs are designed to help your employees privately manage personal problems that could affect their work performance. These programs often provide counseling and other mental health services. In some cases, they can even include legal assistance, adoption assistance and nurse advice lines.
Are EAPs useful?
Counseling services are a major benefit of EAP programs. 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 the same as therapy?
EAPs use a variety of practitioners, such as psychologists, licensed therapists, and substance abuse counselors. EAP counselors are usually licensed therapists, which means that they have met state licensing requirements and have at least a master's degree in majors such as: professional counseling.
Why is an EAP critical?
When a critical incident occurs, both the organization and its employees are impacted. EAP offers an immediate, highly sophisticated response to critical incidents to enhance and support the resilience of the organization and its employees and to facilitate return to work productivity.
What is included in an EAP?
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.
What are examples of employee assistance programs?
EAP ServicesMental illness assessments and counseling; employees may be referred to specialists if need be.General counseling and emotional support.Confidential consultations.Crisis management.Referrals to an expert on finance, lifestyle, or family life.Career guidance and job orientation for the employee's children.
Why are EAP programs important?
EAP programs are great for employers, employees, and the company as a whole. It decreases sick days and other related costs, reduces the time managers spend coaching individuals. It’s not risky or costly so this would be another major benefit of EAPs. There are many other benefits too including boosting employee morale, increasing productivity, and improving organizational effectiveness.
How does EAP help?
This leads to improved mental wellness both personally and professionally. EAP programs help reduce sick days by giving EAP counselors time with co-workers during work hours. So they can deal with mental health issues together which reduces stress levels in the workplace. These programs also help reduce health-related costs because it gives employees the opportunity to seek counseling when they need it.
What is an EAP counselor?
EAP counselors provide EAP services to the EAP client and their co-workers and managers. EAP counselors reduce stress levels for EAP clients but may also reduce the level of stress for EAP co-workers and EAP managers. Fundamentally, EAP is designed to help individuals be more productive at work.
Why do companies use EAP?
Another EAP benefit is that it reduces the time managers spend coaching individuals because EAP counselors are doing it on work time. EAP has a lot of different benefits to offer companies. One benefit is the ability to take the stress off from the employees which in turn gives them back their mental wellness. It costs less for companies to hire an EAP counselor instead of having to take care of sick days and other related costs. Another major benefit is it reduces the amount of time for managers to spend with individuals on coaching because they are already doing it on company time. There is not much risk or cost when you want to set up an EAP either so that’s also a major benefit.
How does EAP help employees?
EAP also reduces the stress levels for employees which helps them to feel less pressure than they would if they had to go into work while feeling stressed out. EAP helps reduce absenteeism because EAP counselors help individuals manage their mental health issues that could affect their ability to be successful in the workplace. EAPs are also helpful with reducing costs related to company time, sick days, and other items including EAP benefits are helping employees deal with mental health issues through EAP programs, EAP provides companies with significant cost savings by cutting down on sick days and time spent coaching an individual which is another major benefit of EAPs.
What is EAP program?
EAP is a program that can provide many benefits to employers. EAP has the ability to take the stress off employees, which gives them back their mental wellness. This helps reduce sick days and other related costs for employers. EAP also reduces the time managers spend coaching individuals because they are already doing it on company time. EAP is not at all risky or costly so this would be another major benefit of EAPs. There are many other benefits too including boosting employee morale, increasing productivity, and improving organizational effectiveness.
Why is EAP important?
Another one of the EAP benefits is it reduces stress for employees, which in turn boosts workplace wellness. EAP also reduces the time managers spend coaching individuals because EAP counselors are doing it on company time instead of taking time away from their other responsibilities as a manager or supervisor.
Why is it important to use an EAP?
Encouraging employees to make use of an EAP can help reduce the number of sick days taken, and may even save companies money in health insurance over the long run. The services that EAPs include can help employees ward off stress-related illnesses, and some even offer access to professionals like health coaches.
What is EAP in employment?
An employee assistance program (EAP) is an employment benefit offered at no cost to employees. It provides support to help resolve or manage problems that can interfere with an employee’s ability to perform his or her work (learn about Managing Employee Burnout to Reduce Deadly Accidents ).
What is employee assistance?
An employee assistance program is intended to ensure that employees can manage their daily lives while remaining productive, even in the midst of challenging circumstances or experiences. And while it’s certainly a benefit for the workers, there is clear research to suggest that it’s equally beneficial for employers.
How does employee assistance affect work?
A wide variety of things can affect an employee's work performance, from mental health and relationships to stress caused by work and financial struggles. Employee assistance programs give employers a way to help their teams handle the challenges of life – before they have a noticeable impact at work ...
Why are employers offering services?
Clearly, there is a demand for these services, and employers who offer them will be rewarded with a happier and more productive workforce and, ultimately, economic improvements to the business.
What percentage of Canadian businesses have an EAP?
This is perhaps one of the more unexpected benefits of an EAP. About 80 percent of Canadian businesses have one, and it has come to be seen as a symbol of how much an employer cares for its employees.
Is EAP the same as health insurance?
An EAP is not the same as health insurance, and it cannot be used for financial support. However, like health insurance, many employee assistance programs are made available to help the spouse or partner of the employee, too. It’s important to note that an EAP is a third-party service, which takes the burden off the employer ...
Why is EAP important?
Implementing an employee assistance program (EAP) in the workplace can help them feel productive, motivated and encouraged.
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.
What is an EAP (Employee Assistance Program)?
An employee assistance program (EAP) is a workplace benefit that provides employee counseling services to help overcome any personal or workplace challenges. The employees who enroll in the program, as well as the topics discussed, are confidential. Employees have the opportunity to work with licensed, professional counselors to talk about challenges that may affect their work performance.
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.
How does employee assistance help employees?
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. Confidentiality also assures employees they’re being ...
Why is confidentiality important in an employee assistance program?
Confidentiality also assures employees they’re being listened to without others in the office learning about the problems they’re facing. An employee assistance program shows your employees you’re dedicated to their safety by providing counseling resources that can make them feel well-adjusted and healthy.
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 .
What is EAP benefit?
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are an added benefit that employers may offer to their employees to enhance the benefit toolkits. Not all EAPs are alike. Offerings depend on employer’s culture, philosophy, and their financial affordability.
What is EAP in the workplace?
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), The Pros and Cons. Happy employees make great employees! Modern-day stressors can undermine employee happiness and well-being. For employees to remain focused, productive, and satisfied at work, they may need help in the areas of mental health, drug addiction, alcoholism, financial wellness, ...
How can employers help their employees?
As early as the mid-1800s, employers became aware of the relationship between the open use of alcohol in the workplace and work-related injuries. This realization began a temperance movement to sober up the American workforce, which led into occupational counseling programs and eventually Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) as they are known today.
What are the advantages of Employee Assistance Programs?
Employees have direct and immediate access to the program and its professional providers, which are maintained off-site. There is usually no wait like there is to see a doctor. Most EAPs have 24/7 access.
Why should an employer invest in an EAP?
Think about it. Increased overall job performance, improved financial security, and reduced stress levels can lead to a healthy bottom line for your business. It a win-win for all involved. Put a smile on everyone’s face by providing the tools to improve the quality of the employee and their family’s lives.
Why does an employer refer an employee to an EAP provider?
At times an employer refers an employee to the EAP provider due to behavioral issues or drug testing results. There may be feedback given to the employer regarding the employee’s participation and completion. Aggregate utilization reporting plays a key role in the assessment of any Employee Assistance Program.
What happens when employees are free from stressors?
When employees are free from the stressors in their lives, there are able to participate and engage in their own development and the growth of the company.
How does EAP work?
The process works by the employee reaching out and the EAP learning more about the problem and then making relevant referrals. Depending on the benefit details, sessions may be available in a variety of formats, such as phone calls, video conferencing or in-person visits. Understanding employee demographics is useful when selecting a provider. For example, if most of your employees are millennials, they may prefer videoconferencing over in-person counseling sessions.
How does EAP improve productivity?
They may even struggle enough that they call in sick frequently. As a result, the company is affected by potential losses. The Society for Human Resource Management reports that companies lose 36 percent of their productivity as a result of employee absences. Introducing an EAP can help solve this problem. Studies have shown that implementing an EAP can lower time lost at work by 33 percent and decrease or work-related accidents by 65 percent.
Why do we need EAPs?
EAPs improve employee retention. A positive work environment benefits all employees. Many employees stay on the job due to friendships with co-workers. It’s reported that 51 percent of employees stay at a job due to positive relationships with co-workers. The work environment can be improved when people can get access to the resources required to handle challenges in their personal lives. EAPs help employees stay present and happy at work. When issues come up, they are resolved faster.
What is an EAP for divorce?
Feeling anguish over the thought of things not going his way, he worries daily, and it reduces his productivity and happiness on the job. An EAP can help provide family and legal advice to get him on the right path to resolving his challenges.
Why do employers offer EAPs?
Offering EAPs to employees demonstrates the employer and human resources are genuinely concerned about the employee’s happiness, but it also helps increase workplace productivity. Employees know that if they have a difficult time in their lives, there are resources that can help them navigate those situations.
What is employee assistance?
An employee assistance program is a benefit that is offered to employees to help manage a variety of potential challenges that might affect job performance. For example, imagine a mother who just learned that her teenage daughter is struggling with substance abuse. Distraught and unsure of where to turn, the mother is worried and stressed at work, and it affects her productivity and job performance. Adding to the upset is the fact that her daughter’s school contacts her at work to explain that her child missed school again.
What is an EAP for a mother?
An EAP is designed to provide resources in these types of situations. The mother can get in touch with the EAP, explain the situation, and get resources and guidance on the next steps to get help for her child. This would help reduce stress and allow the employee to improve focus at work while seeking help.
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.
