Importance of EAP’s for your People and your Business

We often hear people in business say, “Our people are our greatest asset!” However, many businesses in our community and its leaders, fail to take the management of their people seriously. Therefore they never actually tap into the full potential of their people who are a long term investment for the business and should be an ongoing asset. Worse still, due to a lack of focus in this area, a business may find that its people become a liability. 

One way you can take the management of your people and your human resources seriously is through providing your employees with Employee Assistance Programs (EAP’s). These are often conducted in line with organisational or personal employee issues that are apparent in the workplace. Such issues include:

• stress management; 
• trauma;
• bullying and harassment; 
• career mismanagement;
• substance abuse;
• family/personal relationships; 
• major life events;
• health concerns; and
• work relationships.

The above issues may lead to low morale and a poor performing workforce as well as increased absenteeism and turnover. EAP’s make employees feel cared and respected for and allow them to overcome personal challenges. They help make employees happier in the workplace which leads to higher productivity which leads to reduced absenteeism and turnover rates.

EAP’s include:

• one on one consultations;
• counselling;
• wellness programs; and
• specific advice.

Whilst these programs increase productivity, decrease absenteeism and help reduce costs, they also provide valuable feedback to the business for future improvement. People like to work where they feel the company is committed to them, as much as they are committed to the company. EAP’s help increase a business’ profile and give an added advantage for it to gain the status of an ‘employer of choice’. This could act as a point of differentiation for a company when it decides to attract and recruit top quality people to work at its business.