What is an EAP?
EAP stands for the employee assistance program. This program aims at securing the health and other interests of the employee so that they can work without any stress and obstacles in their ways. EAP services include a range of health initiatives that could be utilized by the employees to their benefit.
What Services are Include in The EAP?
An EAP is a manifold program. Depending on the company you are working with and the kind of EAP system they have programmed, your problems is categorize and resolve. Most firms have employee assistance programs that aim at solving the following issues of the employees.
Marital or Relationship Problems
If an employee is going through hard times in his/her personal life, because of strained relationships, the performance of the employee will definitely be affect. An EAP allows for a counsellor to involve and help the employee sort out the problems. Advice on relationship management are given, and spouses are include to reach a mutual agreement.
Substance Abuse
If an employee has an addiction to alcohol or other drugs, the counsellor rushes in to help them out. Necessary sessions are upheld, and rehabilitation services are provide.
Emotional Support
EAP programs attempt to provide emotional support to the affected employees. A lot of work stacked up can lead to emotional turmoil. Moreover, some days the energy of employees just give up due to the same monotonous routine. Here, emotional support is provided by EAP. Short picnics might arrange or motivational speakers are invite to keep the morale of the employees high.
Ensuring Health
In addition to all of these services, the EAP tries to ensure the good health and physical well-being of its employees. Many companies talk to the nearest hospital to their firm and get into contact with the management. In case of any employee who falls sick, the patient can be given preference and financial support to carry out their treatment. Thus, ensuring that the company’s working staff remains in the best spirits.
How To Reach Out EAP?
Usually, the company displays a number on their office notice board, or usually email it to the employees. Whenever employees need they can dial the number, state their problem and they can be further address.
The number through which you will come in to contact with a person is often know as a referral agent. The referral agents would refer you to other people based on your problem. The agent knows what kind of services are provided by your community and by categorizing your problem, a confidential file is open. Interviews are taken, and important questions regarding the problems are ask.
The Different Types of Referrals
There are three different types of referrals that an employee gets. Calling the referral agent yourself is call as self-referral. Sometimes, the employee may not seem to address their problems or recognize them, hence a co-worker or a family member may make an informal referral. A formal referral is boss or supervisor who sees the dwindling quality of work. Upon noticing the employee’s performance, and seeing some worrisome points, a formal referral is made in hopes of recovering the best performance of the employee.
In all of these cases, confidentiality is a priority. No one get to know the personal problems of the employee.
Benefits of EAP
An EAP as an intervention program is a successful program to gauge the emotional attachment of the employee to the company. While the company remains at a profiting end, the employees are healthy individuals who are grateful to be working in an environment that take their problems seriously.
Furthermore, by providing a multitude of facilities and services to the employees, the job environment gets pretty much fraternal, and such a friendly environment tends to rear the creative abilities of the workers. Employees feel welcomed and coming to the office is not a burden but a party in which everyone wants to contribute. Thus, it has been seen that successful EAPs have led to attracting competent and creative staff. Ultimately, the businesses have been benefit from well-evolve EAPs.
A significant reduction has notice in absenteeism. Also, EAP has been the source of more productivity among the workers. A surety of health and financial security stems from a solid relationship between employers and employees. The added confidentiality element in an EAP further secures a relationship of trust among the involved parties. Thus, both work in sincerity for each other, leading to more revenue.
Final Say
The EAP company organizes and manage itself. By bringing different people from various departments of the office, one can analyze and come up with an EAP. However, there are vendors to whom you can present your requirements and funds, and let them produce one that would best work for you as an employer.
