What is EAP support and how to do it properly
70 million working days were lost to stress, anxiety and depression in the UK in 2021/22 alone.
For companies who want to reduce the number of employees taking time off because of poor mental health, providing them with the necessary support to maintain their mental and emotional wellbeing is essential.
Lately, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have become increasingly popular as a way for companies to offer this support to the entire workforce. But, for EAPs to have the desired outcome, it is important that they are delivered properly.
In this blog, we'll take a closer look at what EAP support is and how to make sure your team is making the most of it.
What is EAP support?
An EAP (or Employee Assistance Programme) is a service that can be accessed online or via telephone to help employees deal with personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health and wellbeing. The service can include short-term counselling to support stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, family or relationship issues and more. EAPs also include a variety of resources to help employees understand and manage their mental health. The goal of an EAP is to help employees overcome personal and work-related challenges that may affect their job performance, productivity, and overall wellbeing.
How to do EAP support properly
Now we know what EAPs are, let us look at how to make sure your company is getting the most out of them.
Offer accessible and confidential services
One of the biggest barriers stopping employees from accessing mental health support when they need it can be fear of judgement, so it’s important that employees know that any service they access through the EAP is confidential. This is key to building trust with employees and ensuring they feel safe discussing sensitive issues. Ensure your EAP provider has a strict confidentiality policy in place and offers various methods of accessing counselling services through the app, such as phone, online chat, or in-person counselling so that employees can pick the method that makes them feel most comfortable. Make sure you clearly communicate that the services are confidential to your employees. This maximises the chance of employees using the resource.
Communicate EAP services regularly
Sometimes, the most basic strategy is the hardest to implement. Clearly communicating the features of an EAP scheme and how an EAP benefits them is essential if as many employees as possible are going to use the service properly.
To do this, provide regular reminders and updates on the EAP program and how to access its services. This can be done through various communication channels, such as company newsletters, email blasts, or posters displayed in common areas.
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Train managers to recognise and respond to employee issues
Managers play a critical role in identifying employees who may be struggling and referring them to the EAP. Provide managers with training on how to recognise signs of distress, how to approach employees with sensitivity, and how to refer them to EAP services. It's essential to create a supportive culture where employees feel comfortable seeking help and managers know how to provide that support.
This can seem a daunting task, especially as most people have little knowledge about mental health in general. A great way to help your managers become more confident in this is enrolling them in a Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace online course. These online courses train key workers to spot the signs of poor mental health and train them to respond sensitively and effectively.
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Offer EAP services that meet the needs of your employees
Different employees may have different needs when it comes to EAP services. For example, someone who struggles with stress might need to learn about healthy coping mechanisms, whereas an employee that has suffered a bereavement might need specialised counselling. Ensure your EAP program offers a range of services that meet the diverse needs of your employees.
We understand that a diverse workforce needs a diverse, flexible solution, and offer two EAPs as standard to all of the companies we work with.
Our EAP provides your employees with a broad range of wellbeing tools – mental, physical, financial, social and emotional all in one place; helping them improve all aspects of their day-to-day working experience, from hiring right up until retirement.
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Our MyMindPal service can help your team prevent stress and burnout at work. By following a series of exercises, your employees can learn a range of techniques that help them manage stress, boost relaxation and develop a positive mindset.
Interested? Learn more
The two services work together to provide a comprehensive package of support for your employees.
Measure the effectiveness of EAP services
It's essential to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your EAP program to ensure it's meeting the needs of your employees. Collect data on EAP usage, satisfaction levels, and employee feedback. Use this information to make improvements and adjustments to the program as needed.
Provide EAP support and feel the benefit
Providing EAP support is essential for companies that want to promote a healthy work environment and support their employees' mental and emotional well-being. By offering accessible and confidential services, communicating regularly, training managers, offering tailored services, and measuring effectiveness, companies can ensure they are providing the best possible support to their employees. The importance of employee assistance programs for reducing absenteeism cannot be overstated. Employees that are equipped to handle life’s challenges and know where to get help when they need it are far more likely to remain mentally well and productive in the workplace.
