To excel at your job, sometimes technical skill is not enough. In your daily lives, problems may arise that don’t always relate to career life. But they may affect in the long run when not addressed. As such, some companies have employee assistance programme to help the workers solve whatever challenges they are currently facing.
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) first emerged in the US to address issues of alcohol that were deterring the performance of professionals in the country. As time goes by, other nations have started to adopt solutions to many problems outside the drinking one. It yields positive impacts that add to job productivity for all staff.
What is an employee assistance programme?
The EAP programme refers to counselling sessions for workers who face personal or professional matters for free. Companies usually offer assistance alongside the next actions; hence, the workers get the solutions once and for all. Definitely, all information is kept private. Hence, the employees should not be afraid of leakage.
The types of problems are quite varied. From family relationships to finance, staff can share their concerns when they start impacting their job performance. Overstress and anxiety are the most common results that arise from such matters when not properly handled. With the help of professionals, employee assistance programme can be a helpful aid for workers.
How the employee assistance programme works
Most firms hire third-party providers to listen to workers' problems. Next, they record and offer counselling sessions to help solve or manage these challenges. The party will then report the findings to the management so that the employers can get the full picture of what happened to the employees.
All of the information in the employee assistance programme remains confidential. Even the third party disclosed the identity of the staff. To make the staff more comfortable, they can simply talk with the party using phone calls or emails. When necessary, the firms can offer support, which ranges from legal aid to psychology sessions outside working hours.
Benefits of the EAP programme
As hinted above, the employee assistance programme hopes to create happiness in the heart of every employee. A joyful and calm state of mind can lead to better personal work and finally boost revenue for the company. Working with an external party is a better option because this will bring comfort to the workers with whom they wish to share their problems.
Not every staff member can easily join the programme. Introverted ones will find this a bit challenging, given their nature. Even extroverted employees will not directly agree to speak up because they probably don’t wish the firms to intervene in their personal spaces. Regardless, the programme can bring tremendous benefits, as detailed below:
Low stress
Sharing is caring. Sometimes, what employees need is someone who can listen attentively to their problems. At the core of it all, the employee assistance programme is here as a safe space. Employees can talk about their concerns, and this alone can decrease the burden. As a result, it reduces stress, and they will feel calmer.
Better performance
Calmness is the key to working well and better. The EAP programme hopes to solve the employees’ dilemma. When this is completed, the worker should feel lighter, and then they can use their time to focus on their jobs. Along with the increased focus, they can achieve more and even exceed the targets.
Fewer absences
When problems hit harder, workers have excuses not to come to the office. They set aside more and more time to cope with their issues. The employee assistance programme aims to provide faster ways to deal with the matters. The quicker the solutions, the bigger the chance the employees will reduce the number of work absences.
Healthy workplace
It can happen that an employee assistance programme addresses the issue of conflicts among workers. This requires a hasty solution so that it won’t impact the overall team. When both parties reach a resolution, the workplace will become conducive for all to resume their jobs. The conflicted parties will hopefully know each other’s boundaries.
Loyalty
Dedicated help for workers through employee assistance programmes gives more room for gaining loyal staff. The scheme proves that companies don’t only focus on money but also shape personal connections. Loyal employees are good assets for the business. They will stand by the companies in the worst times. Offers from the other firms won’t make them jump to another ship.
Decreased health claims
Better emotional well-being means a lower number of health insurance claims for the managers. They won’t have to pay more insurance expenses, which can reduce the company's revenue. As the expenditure for the claim falls, the business can enjoy bigger profits. How surprising to see the spiral impact of the employee assistance programme!
Common problems and supports in the programme
The employee assistance programme usually offers three major support types. The first one deals with emotional well-being. Mental health issues now become a commonplace phenomenon, and counselling on the matter is becoming crucial. The issue encompasses anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and chronic stress. Employees suffering from the problem may join counselling sessions to solve it.
The second one relates to family situations. Staff who experience a bitter divorce process can find the situation such a big headache. They can’t concentrate on working, and worse, the matter impacts their health. The support can take the form of counselling or even legal advice to hasten the divorce process.
Financial matters are as equally common as the previous ones. Failures to pay all the debts, for instance, can lead to serious mental diseases and then lower their performance. The employee assistance programme can provide financial advice and, if necessary, assist them with debt payments.
The EAP programme vs therapy
The employee assistance programme differs from therapy. The first addresses short-term solutions. The firm wishes to understand the problems that impact the employee’s work productivity at that time. It won’t always work out for matters that happened long in the past.
While for therapy, the counsellors dig deeper into the problems, including those that occurred many years before. They will create long-term solutions to help the clients get over the problems once and for all. A series of various therapeutic sessions may necessitate the overall healing. Consequently, the results don’t only aim at work improvement but also personal growth.
Create your support programme with CCM
The College of Contract Management provides advice that will assist your efforts in creating the strategy for the employee assistance programme. CCM realises each company has different challenges regarding its staff; hence, effective solutions are necessary. Their courses, such as the ones on Human Resources, can equip your workers in the division.
Under the guidance of their experts, they can formulate answers that fit the employees’ needs. From the courses, you might learn how to connect the employees with support communities when necessary. Their teachers might provide referrals for counsellors outside the programme. Connect with CCM right away to avoid prolonged settlements!
