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Employee Assistance Programs

What is an Employee Assistance Program?

Very simply, it is just what it sounds like - assistance to employees, This program provides confidential professional assistance to help employees and their families resolve problems that affect their personal lives or job performance. Besides being confidential, the program is voluntary - it is designed to allow the employee or family to seek help on their own.

Here's How the Program Works

The request for help may be initiated by the employee or a family member.

Confidentiality is assured. The discussion of the problem is strictly between you and the counselor. Neither your employer nor your co-workers will have any knowledge of your request for help. If the need is indicated, the counselor may encourage other members of your family to participate in the program.
Your supervisor may encourage the use of the Employee Assistance Program when a performance problem occurs in order to determine if personal problems may be interfering with your job. The program is voluntary. However, if the offer of help is refused and job performance or attendance problems continue, regular corrective procedures may apply.

Services Provided

Crisis intervention, short-term counseling, stress reduction, referral service, in-service training, supervisor training, and consultation.

Why is a program like this needed?

Progressive organizations provide Employee Assistance Programs to their employees because it's good business and because they care about their employees.

Each of us, regardless of our position in the organization, face a variety of problems in our daily lives. Usually, we can work them out. Sometimes our problems become too much for us to handle and they affect our personal happiness, our family relations, our performance at work, and even our health. When this occurs, we often need professional help in resolving them. Without proper attention, these problems usually become worse and the consequences are often unpleasant and expensive.

With what kinds of problems will the Employee Assistance Program deal?

The program deals with human problems - the kinds that affect an employee's personal well-being and 1-his/her ability to perform on the job. These problems may include marital or family difficulties, financial or legal problems, work related problems, or problems caused by alcohol or drug abuse.

But aren't these private problems?

(What right does the employer have to interfere with an employee's personal life?)
Certainly these are personal problems - that is until they begin to have an affect on the employee's performance on the job.

Many times problems begin to affect the morale of fellow workers and the overall effectiveness of the organization. The intent of the Employee Assistance Program is to prevent this from happening. It's an offer of a helping hand - not an attempt to pry or punish. The program is strictly confidential and voluntary. The employer most often sponsors the Employee Assistance Program but does not get involved in the counseling process.

What about family problems?

(Does the Employee Assistance Program apply to the spouse or family?)
Yes! Since an employee's personal well-being and work performance can be affected by the problems of a spouse or a dependent, this program is also made available to the family. Hopefully, family problems can be corrected before they affect the employee's performance at work.

Who will pay for the cost of this counseling or other professional services that might be necessary?

The initial problem assessment and referral services are free of cost to the employee and their family members in most situations. If professional counseling and therapy is needed, the employee's regular health insurance and/or other benefits will be considered. If services that are not covered by insurance are necessary, the counselor will try to help the employee minimize the cost. These costs will be the employee's responsibility, but are available based on the individual's ability to pay.

Does this mean that our organization has an unual number of employees problems?

Not at all! It simply means that your organization cares about its employees. The organization is more than buildings and equipment. When an employee has problems, it is simply good business for the employer to offer help in resolving them as early as possible.
performance on the job.

Many times problems begin to affect the morale of fellow workers and the overall effectiveness of the organization. The intent of the Employee Assistance Program is to prevent this from happening. It's an offer of a helping hand - not an attempt to pry or punish. The program is strictly confidential and voluntary. The employer most often sponsors the Employee Assistance Program but does not get involved in the counseling process.

Service Organizations