Should you offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

by Roxanne Leal, SWBC BusinessHUB

If you didn’t already know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This focus on mental health awareness opens the discussion for why companies should consider offering an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). An EAP provides free and confidential assessments, counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who experience personal and/or work-related problems. Mental illness is one of the most common health conditions that Americans experience, with one in five U.S. citizens suffering from a mental illness in any given year, according to the CDC. An EAP is an additional tool for your employer toolbox to help keep your employees healthy in both body and mind. EAPs also help businesses address organizational components that may be contributing to a negative work environment, so they’re able to resolve and prevent those types of issues from occurring.

Getting Started with an EAP

As a business owner, you may be wondering—why should I consider implementing an EAP and where do I start? First, it helps to understand the importance and benefits of an EAP program and the impact it could have on your employees. EAPs can help businesses and their employees:

  • Decrease absenteeism
  • Reduce accidents on the job

 

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