An EAP is a workplace-focused programme to assist in the identifying and resolving employee concerns, which affect, or may affect, performance. Such employee concerns typically include, but are not limited to:

• Personal matters - health, relationship, family, financial, emotional, legal, anxiety, alcohol, drugs and other related issues.
• Work matters - work demands, fairness at work, working relationships, harassment and bullying, personal and interpersonal skills, work/life balance, stress and other related issues.

It includes a mechanism for providing counselling and other forms of assistance, advice and information to employees on a systematic and uniform basis, and to recognised standards.

An EAP is also a strategic intervention designed to produce organisational benefit - quantifiable by outcome measurement - through a systems-led approach to human asset management. It addresses team and individual performance and well being in the workplace.

Watch the EAP video from Health Assured

Why should an organisation have an EAP?

In the last decade there has been an enormous increase in the pace of change in the commercial world. Organisations continue to face unprecedented pressures and demands from increasing competition, heavier workloads and longer hours, all of which have to be dealt with at a personal level. It is inevitable that these continuous pressures will cause problems both for every organisation and many individuals.

In this climate EAPs help individuals, managers and organisations to:

• Cope with work-related and personal problems and challenges that impact on performance at work.
• Improve productivity and workplace efficiency.
• Decrease work-related accidents.
• Lessen absenteeism and staff turnover.
• Promote workplace co-operation.
• Manage the risk of unexpected events.
• Position the organisation as a caring employer.
• Recruit and retain staff.
• Reduce grievances.
• Assist in addiction problems.
• Improve staff morale and motivation.
• Provide a management tool for performance analysis and improvement.
• Demonstrate a caring attitude to employees.
• Assist line managers in identifying and resolving staff problems.

In short, EAPs represent a proven, cost-effective solution to many of the people problems employers face today.

To read about a day in the life of an EAP advisor click here