» Employee Assistance Programs Help Desk

Companies Rate the Benefits of Employee Assistance Programs

Employee Assistance Programs are a cost-effective enhancement to standard employee benefits packages. Employers across the country have discovered that Employee Assistance Programs offer great returns for a minimal investment. A recent study illustrates the many advantages of enrolling employees in an Employee Assistance Program. Those benefits include:

  • Absenteeism rates decline by up to 21 percent
  • Worker’s compensation claims fall by nearly 30 percent
  • Workplace accidents decrease by up to 66 percent
  • Productivity increases by up to 14 percent

Need another good reason to invest in an Employee Assistance Program? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employer generally saves between $5 and $16 for every dollar it spends on an Employee Assistance Program.

How to Select an Employee Assistance Program that Works for Your Company

There are a lot of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providers out there. Unfortunately, not all of them provide the services your company and your employees need. So, how can you select the best Employee Assistance Program for your company? There’s help for that, too. The Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA), an international organization of EAP providers, has developed an EAP Buyers Guide to help employers select an effective Employee Assistance Program. Below are a few of the EAPA’s Employee Assistance Program critical components. Use this list to help you identify providers who will offer the comprehensive care your employees deserve.

  • 24-Hour Toll-Free Hotline — Make sure that counselors are available around-the-clock to provide live counseling.
  • Family Coverage — Verify that the program covers employees and their immediate family members.
  • Confidential Assessment and Counseling — Select a program that includes access to licensed counselors who offer confidential solution-focused counseling.
  • Referrals for Specialized Care — Ensure that the program provides referrals for long-term and specialized care.
  • EAP Orientation and Information — Look for a provider who offers EAP orientation (live, video and/or online training) for employees and managers. Before selecting a provider, review their website, employee brochures and other program support material.

 

Put Your EAP in the Spotlight

On a list with high-profile benefits, such as health, dental and 401K, it’s easy for the Employee Assistance Program to get lost in the shuffle. Employers looking to maximize their return on an Employee Assistance Program need to do much more than hand their employees a promotional flier during orientation. Here are a few suggestions for how you can promote your Employee Assistance Program throughout the year.

Plug Your EAP in Employee Meetings. New employee orientation is just the beginning. Remind employees of your company’s Employee Assistance Program at meetings throughout the year. At the very least, mention the program and distribute information as part of the benefits renewal process.

Hang Posters in Public Areas. Post the hotline number and other Employee Assistance Program information in the break-room and other high traffic areas. Replace posters frequently to keep the message fresh and relevant. Dated postings have a way of fading into the background.

Include Wellness Tips in Employee Communications. Include brief articles on relationships, elder care, parenting and other issues affecting employees in your internal newsletter. Provide information, including the hotline number, about your Employee Assistance Program at the end of the article.

Host Awareness Activities. Employers can empower their employees and call attention to their Employee Assistance Program by holding positive lifestyle seminars on topics such as child care, addiction, health and personal growth.

Refer Employees in Need. Managers can refer an employee struggling with a work-related issue, such as performance or attendance problems, to an Employee Assistance Program. This may help the employee address some of the root causes of the work-related problems.