Are employee assistance programs mandatory?

However, requiring an employee to use an EAP may involve the federal law against disability discrimination, the Americans with Disabilities Act. Services are confidential, except in the rare areas where disclosure is required by law, usually when there is a security concern. The services are voluntary and are offered as a free agency benefit. Continuing the substance abuse example, if your employee signs a consent form, the counselor could talk to you after treating the employee to provide limited feedback about their fitness for work.

Giving your employees access to resources and support to help them manage their entire lives will make them happier and more productive. An agency can have an excellent EAP program; however, the stigma associated with mental health support can discourage employees from seeking help. Familiarizing yourself with your agency's emergency action plan, as well as the resources available to help employees before, during and after an emergency, is helpful if you're in an emergency situation.

employee assistance programs

can help employees with personal problems that affect their work performance.

Federal professionals oversee and evaluate the delivery of program services and ensure the quality that the needs of employees and agencies are met. The SAMHSA also provides technical assistance to federal agencies on drug testing, medical screening, laboratory certification, and the overall implementation of the drug program. The Federal Department of Occupational Health (FOH) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides professional consultation and technical assistance to agencies in the development and oversight of EAP programs and provides comprehensive EAP services to agencies through inter-agency agreements. Providing employees with support for issues that affect their well-being will improve the effectiveness of your drug-free work program.

An external program provides employees and their family members with access to a toll-free number for admission to the service. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides evaluation, short-term counseling, referral, management consultation and training services to federal employees, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each EAP must include education and training on drug use for employees and training for supervisors who make decisions to test employees based on reasonable cause. Under this structure, an employee can meet with an in-house employee assistance professional, if the location is convenient.

It's important for all employees, including leadership members, to know how employee assistance programs (EAPs) can play an important role in mental health. Several legislative initiatives have shaped the orientation and implementation of employee assistance programs in the Federal Government. These professionals can be direct employees of the company or they can be employees of an EAP provider that has been hired to provide on-site services in the workplace.