Employee Assistance Programmes
Of the estimated 38.8 million working days lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2019/20, 17.9 million were due to stress, depression or anxiety*. In addition to the problematic impacts of sickness absence causes, employers also have a duty of care towards an employee’s mental health. EAP’s may contribute toward demonstrating that duty of care. As such, EAPs are a good resource for firms concerned about their duty of care.
Programmes provide 24/7, 365 day access to telephone assistance. They offer employees access to professionally trained counsellors, who can help guide and navigate them through difficult periods in life.
Advice and support is delivered across a wide range of issues and concerns, such as:
- Stress Counselling
- Financial and Debt advice
- Health and Wellbeing information
- Consumer issues
- Family and relationship matters
Comprehensive programmes would also include access to short term focused face-to-face counselling sessions where required, which can include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
In addition to providing assistance to employees, EAP’s also include valuable support for senior management, HR teams and lines managers alike. They include:
- Manager referral capabilities – helping toward duty of care requirements
- Up to date advice on HR issues – support when it’s needed
- Early intervention for stress related absences – reducing absence rates
- Statistical management reports – providing insight into staff morale
*gov.uk. Health and Safety Executive, Working days lost in Great Britain Report – https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/dayslost.htm
