Have you ever seen an EAP poster at work or heard your employer mention it but wondered what is involved? An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a service offered to employees that provides them with free, confidential counselling conducted by a registered psychologist. In this blog post, we will explore the question ‘What is an EAP?’ and discover how it benefits not only employees but also the workplace.
What is an EAP?
An EAP gives employees access to psychological support in times of emotional hardship. It supports them to address any personal or work-related issues that may be impacting their mental health and ability to work at full capacity. Emotional stress accounts for over 60% of time lost through absenteeism, making it so important to put measures into place to help employees manage stress effectively. It will not only have positive impacts on the employees and their lives but will also increase business productivity and efficiency.
How does an Employee Assistance Program work?
An EAP works by focusing on improving the health and wellbeing of employees by ensuring that they have access to counselling services when they’re in need without having to consider the financial cost involved. An EAP is a short-term, solution-focused counselling model where sessions are designed to be informal, friendly and tailored to your specific needs. Counselling sessions are conducted either face-to-face, via telephone or video, depending on the needs of the employee.
A typical program may include:
- Psychological assessments
- Mediation
- Critical incident response training
- Group interventions
How can an EAP help employees?
An EAP counsellor can assist employees in various ways including but not limited to:
- Identifying and clarifying problems
- Developing strategies to approach difficult issues constructively
- Strategies to help navigate work and life effectively
- Tools to manage stress, improve relationships and enhance overall wellbeing
Benefits of an EAP
The benefits of an EAP service for employees and employers are:
- Enhancing productivity
- Have a positive impact on the business and overall workplace
- Improving employee safety and wellbeing
- Understanding your organisation and the challenges experienced by employees in your industry
- Boosting revenue
- Reducing absenteeism
How we can help
Recovery Partners employs a range of health professionals who can develop needs-based interventions and counselling sessions to address personal or work-related issues.
We offer a 24/7 EAP service that is:
- Confidential
- Conducted by qualified and experienced staff
- Remote or face-to-face
- Goal and solution orientated
- Cost competitive
- Provides a ROI
Want to find out more?
Our services are available nationwide. Our consultants love to have a chat, so go ahead and give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789) or email enquiries@rrp.com.au
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Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/