EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is primarily designed to aid the employee with difficulties they face. Conducted through a professional counselling service, this support can range from issues within the workplace through to problems at home that have an impact at work.

Regardless of the cause, employees who are dealing with problems generally will perform at a lesser standard than normal. Communication over an issue can often be the remedy and a professional is the best facilitator of this communication.

Common issues and circumstances where EAPs can be used beneficially include:

• Grief over the loss of a loved one or close friend.
• An employee who has suffered or witnessed a traumatic workplace incident.
• An individual who feels they are being bullied or is traumatised.
• When a person is adversely affected by financial or health issues.
• To assist an employee deal with major organisational change.
• Stress management.
• Career counselling.
• Suspected alcohol and drug issues.

Along with alleviating issues, we generally find employees will offer constructive and meaningful suggestions as feedback after participating in an EAP service.

This serves as an added bonus to your business in that JP Smith is helping your employee overcome their personal challenges (thus usually resulting in increased performance in the workplace) and also providing the staff member a mechanism to provide feedback and information they may not be willing to provide directly to their immediate managers.

When such information is received, we are able to forward the feedback on in a confidential and anonymous manner that will assist your business going forward.

Employers of Choice systematically offer an EAP as part of overall employee packages – it is commonly accepted such inclusions attract and retain people as employees.

EAP's have proven highly effective at minimising absenteeism, high staff turnover, declines in productivity and workplace injuries.

Our service can range from one-off counselling sessions to fully-structured in-house EAPs which begin with a presentation to your staff to fully educate them on what is available and what the end outcomes could be. Fully structured EAP systems can include staff having the ability to contact us directly when issues arise, without the need to seek internal referral.

Our EAPs are facilitated by Jamie Smith BSc. (Psych) (Hons), Psychologist. He will ensure your staff are treated with care, compassion and dignity – all of which will assist in a positive outcome for all parties.