Question

How do employers promote use of EAP's? Are employees reluctant to use EAP's? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The employee assistance program (EAP) is an employer-paid service which gives confidential counselling to eligible staff and also to their members in family. It promotes healthier and more productive staff. It can promote EAP's in the following manner:

--Establish Awareness: The organisation should ensure employees are aware of it's offers in employee assistance program. As per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees who have access to EAP's have the opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle

-- Promote Better Life: The company should assist the employees in understanding that EAP's are designed to help bring out the best from an employee, and better emotional and mental health results to an higher earnings, improved physical health, and an overall better quality of life

-- Confidentiality is Emphasized: The employees should be informed that there are no internal or external records of what staff during their sessions say to a therapist thus is completely confidential.

-- Communicate Accessibility: Employees should be provided flexibility in accessibility of communication. They can speak over phone if cannot visit the therapist’s office

EAPs are designed to assist employee to deal with substance abuse, stress, and other personal issues. However employees are reluctant to avail their EAP benefits because they often believe that these services are not confidential. They usually fear a breach of confidentiality; and fear they can be demoted or even fired by indicating the assistance of these programs.