Discover what others say about us. An EAP is a counselling and consultation service that provides confidential support. Learn more about employee assistance programs and how they might be right for your team. What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)? Providers have internal knowledge of the company and can better understand and relate to employee stressors and concerns, The therapist might have more power to request accommodations for employees if appropriate, Providers employed by the organization may have faster and more flexible availability, Employees do not need to find referral information, Providers might only work with employees rather than employees and their families, Employees might be hesitant to talk to a therapist employed at their company, Employees cannot choose their therapist if they have specific needs, Companies might not employ diverse providers or those trained in various diagnoses and interventions, Employees can more confidently trust that confidentiality will be maintained, Providers might seem more unbiased as an outside source rather than a fellow employee, Employees can choose any therapist who will accept their EAP payment, Spouses or children can take advantage of the EAP more easily, External EAP providers might be able to continue seeing you for a sliding scale rate after you use your EAP sessions, Employees need to find their own provider, Many providers do not have immediate openings, Providers are not vetted by the company for quality. Therapeutic intervention in this example: humanistic therapy. There has also been an improvement in employee engagement by 2.8%, a 24.2% improvement in life satisfaction, and workplace . Best Online Therapy for Christians of 2023, Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, maladaptive or unrealistic thought patterns, Eap treatment impact on presenteeism and absenteeism: Implications for return on investment, Employee Assistance Program response and evolution in light of COVID-19 pandemic. Not all companies provide this service. Employee assistance programs, or EAPs, are free benefits that many employers offer their workers. Usually, an EAP is offered in conjunction with the health insurance plan. Retain and coach your workforce with career planning. Many employers offer increased EAP benefits following times of stress or collective trauma, as we have seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Client described struggling with grief following a recent divorce and the frustration of custody issues, and shame about the divorce. This article is intended to be used as a starting point in analyzing EAP benefits and is not a comprehensive resource of EAP requirements. ), Coordination and integration with appropriate offices (such as disability, employee relations, health promotion, occupational health and safety, security, workers compensation, etc. 525 of the Public Health Services Act by Sec. Train supervisors on when and how to directly refer an employee to the EAP. These programs are staffed by certified counselors who are available to discuss problems in a confidential, helpful manner. Learn more about our product bundles, cost per employee, plans and pricing. Plan, manage, and execute pay increases and rewards. EAPs can suggest resources that help with many needs from mental health counseling to personal service discounts on babysitting or insurance. Employees who use illegal drugs have three to four times more accidents while at work. What is an Employee Assistance Program? Public Laws 96-180 and 96-181 authorize your agency to extend counseling services, to the extent feasible, to family members of employees who have alcohol and drug problems, and to employees with family members who havea substance use disorder. Some challenges that are characteristic of remote work include: When employees work remotely and lack the spontaneous pop-by-the-cubicle or breakroom chat of the office, enhanced communication is key. Lock Similarly, companies can increase their ability to recruit and retain military veterans by offering them assistance on integrating back into the workplace after deployment. Get real-time analytics to HR & Payroll data. Additionally, EAPs do not typically offer additional services like medication management. Employees may then receive referrals, short-term counseling and follow-up meetings with various professional services ranging from mental health professionals to financial services. EAPs provide a range of services to help employees deal with a variety of difficulties in their daily lives, including everything from behavioral or mental health issues to financial difficulties. Individual Federal Agencies Responsibilities. Learning about employee assistance programs can help you better use this service or bring one into the organization you work for to support others. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If your health plan includes the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you can call our coordinators 24/7 for a no-cost, confidential assessment of your situation and a referral to licensed professionals and services. This assistance often comes in the form of a phone helpline, assessments and counseling. In addition, counselors cannot reveal what they discussed with employees, except for rare instances where workplace safety or an ongoing criminal investigation would be compromised. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is an employee work-based, benefit program that offers employees 24/7 access to an expanded network of experts with solutions and support for people resolving work and life issues with everyday challenges. At ADP, we believe sports and business both require the right approach. Lock You can find your EAP Administrator by contacting your local HR office and/or searching OPMs Work-Life Contact Tool. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to Employees are familiar with their health insurance benefits around open enrollment time, so using that time to also highlight your companys EAP is a great idea. The confidential part of EAPs can be particularly attractive. Small, midsized or large, your business has unique needs, from technology to support and everything in between. Hire and retain staff with earned wage access. It is important that all employees, including leadership members, are aware of how Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can play an important role in being mentally healthy. This means it is important to have good content management practices in the first place. EAP services for employees and their household adult family members help address work and personal concerns, including . Tell us about your organization and what you want to accomplish and well recommend a custom solution. Other employees experience ongoing challenges related to depression and other mental illnesses. Paycor has the solutions to help. Also, when a client commits, or threatens to commit, a crime that would harm someone else or cause substantial property damage, law enforcement personnel must be informed. Increase engagement and inspire employees with continuous development. Implementation of employee assistance programs, Give your employees more benefits than they expect. In addition to the support in the first bullet, services can also include: employee education and training (e.g., sexual harassment, online security, etc. Eliminate large down payments and end-of-year surprises. secure websites. If you are considering therapy for your mental health, you can check with your employer about EAPs as an option for accessible services at no cost to you. Minimum wage laws in California are complex, varying by city and county. In the event that counselling sessions are mandated by the employer, session attendance can be verified but nothing discussed between the employee and counselor in the meeting can be communicated with managers or HR. Counseling programs for Federal civilian employees who have substance abuse problems are required by: Public Law 99-570 (5 U.S.C. (2008). Paycors leadership brings together some of the best minds in the business. Seeing is believing. 520 of the Public Health Services Act by Sec. View our product demos to get a deeper dive into the technology. Knowing how to intercede and offer that care can be a critical difference between employee engagement and retention. Place confidential self-assessment sheets in common areas to assist employees in identifying areas of personal need. Learn and share the facts about mental health, especially if you hear or read something that isn't true o Treat people dealing with mental health challenges with respect and dignity; Support the development of community resources for employees and their friends and family, Respect the rights of employees and don't discriminate against them, Interventions, including counseling, treatment planning, and short-term problem solving, Timely problem identification/assessment services, Employee referrals for diagnosis, treatment, and assistance, Case monitoring management and follow-up services. Professionally trained consultants are available to help with a multitude of issues that may be affecting your personal or work life. Paycors HR Support Center is a comprehensive HR resource that provides organizations access to employee handbook templates, sample job descriptions, useful checklists, compliance alerts and more. Employee assistance programs offer free and confidential counseling services to help workforces address various personal and work-related problems, such as: Workplace conflicts, including managerial changes, bullying and harassment. How to Use an EAP Benefits Drawbacks and Limitations Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are benefits that some employers use to help their workers get access to short-term counseling or therapy services as well as provide some types of psychological assessment . The National Institute of Mental Health (external link) is the lead Federal agency for research on mental and behavioral disorders. SHRM found the same is true for EAPs: typical utilization averages fall below 10%, and the number one driver of low usage is lack of awareness. However, many either offer direct payment to the provider of the employees choice or contract with a specific agency to offer the EAP sessions. They are present to provide confidential, non-judgmental guidance and support. If your employer offers EAP benefits, it can be worthwhile to look into your options for receiving care. An official website of the United States government. Provide Support. The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Federal Occupational Health (FOH) provides professional consultation and technical assistance to agencies in the development and oversight of EAP programs and delivers comprehensive EAP services to agencies through interagency agreements. Get expert advice and helpful best practices so you can stay ahead of the latest HR trends. organization in the United States. Review the Guidance & Legislation section for details on EAP laws, regulations, and Governmentwide initiatives. Tap into a wealth of knowledge designed to simplify complex tasks and encourage strategic decisions across key functions. Improving productivity and employee engagement; Improving employees and dependents abilities to successfully respond to challenges; Developing employee and manager competencies in managing workplace stress; Reducing workplace absenteeism and unplanned absences; Supporting employees and managers during workforce restructuring, reduction-in-forces, or other workforce change events; Reducing the likelihood of workplace violence or other safety risks; Supporting disaster and emergency preparedness; Managing the effect of disruptive incidents, such as workplace, injury, or other crises; Facilitating safe, timely, and effective return-to-work for employees short-term and extended absences; Reducing healthcare costs associated with stress, depression, and other mental health issues; and.