What is an employee assistance programme?

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Employee assistance programmes (EAP) are confidential counselling services designed to support your team who are experiencing personal or work-related problems. Many organisations offer EAPs as part of their employee benefits package. 

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EAP aims to help your team resolve their issues before they affect their wellbeing and work performance. EAP counsellors can provide support and advice on a range of issues, including:

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• Mental health issues 
• Substance abuse
• Relationship problems
• Bereavement
• Financial problems 

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In some cases, they may also be able to offer practical assistance, such as signposting employees to other support services.

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Why have an employee assistance programme?

EAP is a voluntary scheme; however, it has become necessary since many employees deal with a lot of personal and work issues, especially after the pandemic. Research found that the most common issues employees deal with are:

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• Work-related stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Family issues

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At one point, each of your workers will struggle with something. It could be money problems or family issues, so it’s a good idea to have EAP as a tool to help your employees, which will improve the business since your team is your company’s core.

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Employee assistance programmes can offer many advantages for you and your team. 

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For the employer: 

• Increased productivity 
• Create a more positive working environment
• Save costs 
• Improve employee retention

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For the employee:

• Help deal with personal issues
• Improve employee wellbeing 
• Reduce absenteeism

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How to access the employee assistance programme

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You pay a monthly premium to a specialised company that provides EAP services and then offer it as an employee benefit to your team. Generally, the cost can reach between 40p and £1.25 per worker. There are three ways for your team to access the programme:

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• Telephone services (the most common)
• face-to-face counselling
• online

What are the features of employee assistance programmes?

The key features of employee assistance programmes vary depending on the provider, but they typically include the following:

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• Confidentiality:

EAPs provide confidential counselling, where all interactions are strictly private and are only known by the counsellor and the employee.

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• Support for employees' families:

Many EAPs offer support for employees' families. This may include counselling services, financial advice, legal assistance and parenting support.

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• Online resources

Some EAPs offer online resources, such as articles, self-assessment tools and links to helpful websites. Employees can access these resources at any time, from anywhere.

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What services are most commonly offered through employee assistance programs?

Employee assistance programmes can offer a wide range of services, but the most common ones are:

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• Counselling services 

It can help employees deal with personal problems such as stress, anxiety or depression.

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• Assessment Services 

It can help employees identify work-related problems that may be affecting their job performance.

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• Referral services

It can help employees find external support services, such as financial counselling or legal advice. 

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