Employee assistance program definition
Use this section to define what the Employee assistance program (EAP) means to the employees. Make sure it is clear and easy to understand.
For example: The employee assistance program (EAP) is a work-based program set up to help employees and their families deal with personal and work-related issues. It is specially created to help them resolve problems that may be affecting their performance. The EAP is given to all employees at no cost and can be delivered via phone call, video conferencing, email, or face-to-face.
The scope of issues and service types our EAP can cover
Use this section of the policy to describe the EAP services your organization offers to address different issues. List out all the services and what they aim to solve:
Examples of offered services and issues your EAP can cover are:
Work-life management
- Overworking
- Workplace conflict
- Career assessment
- Stress
Convenience services
- Child care
- Elderly care
- Commuting support
Consultation programs (for legal and financial issues)
- Financial issues (e.g bankruptcy)
- Domestic violence
- Sexual harassment
Referral to experts (for concerns like physical/mental health and addiction.)
- Work-related physical issue: eyes problems, osteoarthritis (e.g back pain)
- Depression, burnt-out
- Drugs, drinking
The employee assistance program policy
The section should be dedicated to everything your EAP policy entails.
How can employees access the program?
Explain the way(s) employees can contact the organization’s EA professional. Make sure their availability period is stated.
For example: You can reach our onsite EA professionals in the office during the business hours. The hours are {date and hours: e.g. Monday – Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm}. Remember that even when we are closed, 24/7 support is available for employees. To reach our EA professionals at all times, call them on {phone number} or email them {email address}.
Who will partake in the program?
Who is going to be in charge of your employee assistance program? Use this section to introduce your employees to your EAP official briefly.
For example: Our EA professionals are:
- A trained in-house official to see to the proper implementation of our EAP policy.
- Consultants who handle work-related EAP problems and provide counseling, consultation, and referrals.
- External professionals to whom serious EAP problems are referred to. They include but are not limited to financial advisers, psychologists, and lawyers.
Managers’ responsibilities
State the expected contributions of managers to the proper implementation of the EAP policy and how they can encourage employees to seek help when needed
Managers are to:
Examples of rules that may apply to managers in an EAP policy could include:
- Avoid asking employees for personal information.
- Playing the role of EA professionals to them whenever they seek help
- Refer employees to in-house EA professionals when they display signs of distress or worries
- Keep in touch with in-house EA professionals on how best to help employees when they are in need
Employee responsibilities
State the expected contributions of employees to ensure the successful implementation of the EAP policy
Employees are to:
Examples of rules that may apply to employees in an EAP policy could include:
- Seek help from the EAP official when bothered by any of the issues mentioned in this policy
- Refer or recommend any colleagues going through distress to the EAP official or manager-in-charge
