Employee Assistance Programs
(EAPs)

This type of confidential counselling is made available at no cost to your employees if they want it. The number of sessions the employer agrees to pay for is pre-determined. EAPs usually allow four to eight sessions. The sessions are away from the workplace. It should be stressed to staff that their privacy is guaranteed at all times. The only paperwork ever sent back to the company is the bill with a client reference number (no names).

Smart business owners and organisations that are interested in the welfare of their employees and the smooth operation of the enterprise offer this opportunity to staff as part of their job benefits. When the program is operational all staff are informed. This can be with a poster in the lunch room or via email. It is vital that accessing the program is easy and private from co-workers, etc. Alternately a supervisor or line manager may discretely suggest to an individual that it could be useful for them to consider attending.

The cost to a business of poor performance is huge and comes in ways that are hard to measure. Behaviour and performance problems cost you in terms of lost productivity, inferior products and poor service. Not to mention wasted management and supervision time.

More importantly, it’s contagious. One poorly performing individual can affect their whole team. At the very least, it can lower morale amongst even your best workers.

The sessions are used to address any concerns employees may have in their life or relationships. Sessions are not limited to workplace issues. If fact, it is very often external things affecting their performance at work.

EAPs are useful to keep your staff happier, healthier, safer and more productive.