What are the benefits of EAP’s? For a long time, going to work was not the place you would expect people to care about your mental health. Wellbeing and your sense of belonging has traditionally not been a focus of day to day business.
In any organisation, people will go through tough times. Employees will go through relationship breakdowns, death, or even just an intense workplace. These are common and can take a toll. When it comes to a personal crisis the longstanding tradition of smiling and getting on with it doesn’t work. It can often lead to just calling in sick.
With corporate culture becoming more committed to social and ethical responsibility, EAP’s have developed. These programs have changed the traditional expectation from ‘the office’ in a strong way. Instead of being a place to avoid when life gets tough, it is now becoming a place you can expect help.
What’s an Employee Assistance Program?
EAP’s are a support service dedicated to helping employees deal with personal, family, and work related issues which may be impacting their wellbeing, workplace morale and work performance.
EAP’s often involve an external support worker or counsellor coming into the organisation and working with impacted employees. In some services, an EAP can be accessed 24/7 over the phone or internet by employees as issues arise. For a more in depth example, NSW Health has made a commitment to its workers with an extensive EAP Policy.
Every job has its own distinct and unique difficulties and demands and an EAP could particularity help in workplaces with:
- Stressful and high pressure situations
- Consistently deal with difficult customers or subject matter
- High levels of competition or conflict
- Workplaces with long hours or shift work.
Outside of workplace related issues, EAP’s also help employees deal with common personal issues such as:
- Relationship issues including Parenting and family
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Communication issues
- Grief and loss
If you think your business could benefit from promoting a safer, more inclusive workplace to your employees, check-out our Harassment and Bullying Policy or Discrimination Policy.
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Get startedIt’s not uncommon for an EAP to involve a periodic ‘Wellbeing Check-up’ but its also include digital services such as apps, videos, quizzes and screening surveys.
These programmes are often accessible at the workplace and also from home or on the road for those who travel. Many of these tools are designed for two functions, they both help an individuals through their own issue but also create an awareness of issues between colleagues.
The Benefits of EAP’s
Workers benefit the most from EAP’s in having access to a support person. The meetings are confidential and independent. This means when workers have issues, they are provided a real option to deal with the problem.
An EAP can not immediately solve all problems for workers but EAP will firstly give an employee the tools and confidence for coping with this in future. It also acknowledges that the organisation understands issues exist and has the supports in place for its people going forward.
For the number crunchers, the benefit of an EAP are also clear on the books. EAP’s will minimise the negative impacts of the issue’s employees have on job satisfaction, workplace morale and job performance. It’s going to have a huge impact particularly on productivity and efficiency.
There has even been research to suggest that workplaces with EAP’s in place lead to better job satisfaction. Higher job satisfaction often reduces days off and increases productivity.
In this regard the benefits of an EAP’s is mutual between the employee and workplace. Larger corporations with greater resources are now analysing a return on investment on the EAP’s.
On a lighter note, for organisations who want to prioritise a healthy work-life balance and value a social and ethical responsibility towards its employees, EAP’s are an effective tool to help deliver these aims.
Many organisations are now understanding the importance in supporting the best kind of work-life integration. EAP’s are increasingly showing they are here to stay.
