The objective of an EAP, Employee Assistance Program is to provide short-term support for staff experiencing acute personal difficulties that impact on work performance. The employee is able to make an urgent appointment with full confidentiality. (Under the terms of the service contract, the Centre undertakes to make an appointment available inside a firm deadline; three working days is common.)
Recognized benefits of successful EAPs include lower absentee, stress leave, staff burnout and turnover rates. Companies report significant improvements in morale and the relationship between management and staff.
A combined commitment from the company, unions and employees is necessary to make an EAP work effectively. From the outset, management should promote the service to staff, emphasizing the confidentiality of the service and the importance of turning to the EAP before problems escalate.
Whether the service will be provided to employees only, or to their spouses/partners and immediate family members as well
The number of sessions available for treatment under the Program
Establishing an EAP committee to oversee implementation of the Program, and having The Counselling, Mediation & Relationship Centre staff join the committee
Extending the service to cover critical incident debriefing and post-trauma stress counselling, for incidents such as workplace accidents, robbery, threat, death or illness of a colleague, and redundancy.
