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The positive impact of Employee Assistance Programmes in the Workplace

Employee mental health and wellbeing are hot topics right now – and for good reason.

0.8 million workers in the UK suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2020/21, making up 50% of all new cases of work-related ill health.

This is a significant problem – and wellbeing doesn’t stop at mental health. It can include physical wellbeing, financial wellbeing, social wellbeing, and more. All of these can have a huge impact on an employee’s work performance.

So, how can you help as an employer?

Research has found that 66% of employees want more wellbeing support from their employer. And one fantastic and cost-effective way to do this is introducing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

But what is an EAP? How does it work? And what are the benefits of it? Our Occupational Health experts guide you through everything you need to know in this article.

What is an EAP service?

An employee assistance programme is a service employers can provide to employees so that they can receive free, 24/7 support from experts with issues ranging from mental health problems to money worries.

People’s personal lives and work lives are inextricably entwined and can have a big impact on each other. An EAP service helps to prevent this by giving employees access to qualified counsellors and high-quality resources so they can work through whatever is on their mind.

As an employer, it’s a hands-off way of providing employees with independent wellbeing support. They can call a confidential telephone line 24 hours a day, seven days a week – or use a secure online service – to receive professional support with issues including:

Family and personal issues: Relationships, mental health, divorce, child support, domestic violence, childcare, eldercare, community care, changing a name.
Debt issues: Credit, debt, banks, loans, consolidation.
Workplace issues: Bullying and harassment, maternity rights/pay, sick pay, health and safety at work.

Our counsellors are all members of, and accredited to, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The option for both telephone and online sessions means even remote workers can access their advice.

As well as this, employees can access a free online portal packed full of resources and tools to help them work through the issues on their own, if they’d prefer.

What are the benefits of an EAP service?

Where do you begin! An employee assistance programme can bring a wide range of benefits to your workplace, including:

Providing your team with a confidential outlet to raise any concerns
Improving work/life balance
Supporting your team’s mental health
Encouraging healthier lifestyles and better physical health
Support extends to those in the employee’s household – so family can benefit too
Improving employee morale
Reducing absences and absenteeism
Boosting productivity and performance

Why should you offer an EAP service?

An employee assistance programme can help you keep your employees productive, in work, and content with their job.

You have a legal responsibility to protect the health and safety of your team, and this includes mental health. Managing work-related stress is something the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) look for during their spot checks of businesses, so having an EAP in place is a fantastic way of proving you’re addressing that risk.

It can also make your business more attractive to potential recruits and talent, as you can advertise your EAP as one of the benefits available to employees when they join your company.

You’re also more likely to retain that talent, as an EAP can help to improve office morale and create a more positive workplace culture.

It can also help you to meet your corporate social responsibility objectives.

How much does an EAP service cost?

In what is a rather difficult economic climate, an employee assistance programme could seem like a ‘nice-to-have’ and perhaps an expense you can’t afford.

However, we’re pleased to inform you that it’s actually an extremely cost-effective service and much cheaper than people first think!

The price of an EAP usually works out at around £20 or less per person per year – but that doesn’t take into account the money you can save.

A 2019 meta-analysis by LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance found that higher wellbeing is positively correlated with productivity and business profitability.

As well as this, Deloitte has reported that those who invest in mental health (on average) return £5 for every £1 spent.

An EAP is a great way to make a proactive investment in your people’s health and wellbeing to keep them in work, improve performance, and boost productivity.

Which problems does an EAP cover and who does it support?

An EAP service doesn’t just benefit your employees. It can also be accessed by the members of their household – so their direct family members.

An employee assistance programme can provide them with support with problems they experience:

At home– Any difficulties in their personal life; especially those that could be affecting their work life, too. This includes relationships, bereavements, gambling, and more.
At work– Many of our friendships, goals, ambitions, and experiences stem from the workplace. Coping with work-related pressures will help maintain wellbeing and the ability to be positive and effective.
With their health– Information and advice on physical health, wellbeing, stress, nutrition, addictions, and lifestyle; employees can check out health worries or get inspiration for healthy habits.

How do employees access the EAP?

When you put an EAP in place, employees will be issued with the telephone number for the trained counsellors that they can call 24/7. They will simply need to state the company that they are calling from – they don’t need to provide names. The employee then has instant access to the EAP service.

The portal is online and available at all times for the employee to access whenever they need to.

The entire EAP process in confidential unless a counsellor believes that there is a risk to the individual’s life, or that they’re a risk to others. Employers aren’t made aware of who has called the line and what was discussed.

The limitations of EAP

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to health and wellbeing, so an EAP might not be right for everyone.

Sometimes people prefer face-to-face counselling as its more personable and they feel more comfortable talking directly to someone in person. As well as this, some mental health issues may need a different type of counselling.

Also, it’s important to make sure that your team are aware of the EAP line – otherwise it may be underused and/or overlooked.

What strategies can encourage EAP usage?

If you want to get the most value from your EAP service, you need to make sure that all employees are aware of it and how they can access it. You can do this by:

Employee wellbeing workshops that detail the wellbeing resources that are available to your team.
Wellbeing surveys to gain feedback on the EAP.
Most EAP providers issue wallet cards that contain the EAP telephone number. Encourage your team to keep these on hand.
Display posters within the office.
Talk openly and honestly about mental health within the workplace to remove stigma.
Lead from the top – the more people hear about the programme from senior leadership, the more likely they are to engage with it.

Protect your team’s wellbeing with an EAP today

If you’re interested in finding out more about ELAS Occupational Health’s employee assistance programmes, we’d love to speak to you! Simply call 08450 50 40 60 or fill out the form on this page to get started.