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An EAP (Employee Assistance Program) is a service that employers may offer that provides confidential support to employees in dealing with personal or emotional issues to improve their personal and professional life.
Employers tend to use EAP's to help employees deal with issues that get in the way of productive personal or professional lives. Many employers have found that it is cheaper to help an employee deal with their issues than to replace them when those issues begin to affect the quality of their work.
What
Services Do EAP's Offer? EAP's offer services or
referrals for nearly any issue that affects an employee’s personal or professional
life or an employer’s ability to offer a safe and productive workplace. Services
are confidential, and are usually free to the employee and his/her family (not
even a co-pay applies.) Regardless of use, your employer pays the EAP to provide
the services.
Some typical issues that EAP's can help employees deal with:
Relationship issues (professional or personal)
Marital or premarital troubles; divorce or separation
Child/Adolescent concerns
Parent-Child relationships
Learning disorders
Attention disorders
Legal/Financial concerns
Emotional Distress; Behavioral Disorders
Substance Abuse – drug or alcohol
Stress
Life Changes
Anxiety
Depression
Eating disorders
Low self-esteem
Grief
Gambling Addiction
Excessive absenteeism
Deterioration in work performance
EAP's may also offer:
· Education and training on the work site regarding substance abuse,
emotional health issues, stress, anxiety, violence in the workplace, or other
issues affecting the quality of life of the employees.
· Legal counseling or referrals
· Eldercare services
· Organizational development services
· And many other services
There is rarely a cost
to the employee for accessing services through the 24-hour hotline.
Local and federal laws
protect the employee’s privacy when accessing EAP services. Employers will not
know a specific employee has contacted the EAP, even if their manager referred
them. Employees using the service must authorize, in writing, any information
to be shared with other therapists, medical professionals, or their employer.
EAP's sometimes serve as a ”bridge” to treatment by other counselors or therapists. Typically, the employee and/or affected family members will be asked to meet with an EAP counselor/therapist. This person will attempt to help determine what the needs are and the best resources to help the employee. Sometimes, the EAP counselor/therapist will be all that the employee needs. (There is usually a limit to the number of visits with the EAP counselor.) Other times, the employee may be referred to another counselor, therapist, service, or community support agency. This may occur if the employee’s needs are greater than what the EAP counselor can address or if the employee has reached the limit for visits. The EAP representative will help the employee determine their benefits for additional resources and to maximize them for their needs.
EAP services are typically authorized for the employee and any family members also covered by other employee benefits, such as health coverage.
To see if your employer has an EAP, call your human resources professional.
If your employer does not offer an EAP, check with your insurance company. Policies vary by the state in which you live, your company and your specific policy.
Sliding fee scales are also
available for many psychological services.
Community resources may help guide you
