What is an Employee Assistance Program and How Can It Benefit Your Business?

An Employee Assistance ProgramEmployee Assistance Program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed to help employees resolve personal problems that may adversely affect their performance. It is an invaluable resource for businesses, as it can help to reduce health care costs, improve job performance, and increase employee retention. EAPs are typically offered at little or no cost to the employee, and provide access to a toll-free number for admission to the service. The EAP admissions specialist verifies eligibility and then refers the caller to their specialized network of EAP providers that are geographically convenient for the employee or their family member.

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. Organizations should find out if their EAP referrals actually help employees and adjust the program as needed. Under this pricing structure, the employer pays a fixed rate per employee per month, multiplied by the total number of employees over each contract year. This is a cost-effective way to add value and improve employee retention.

Employees expect the same level of customization, ease of use and experience they get as consumers in terms of the benefits they access as employees. Under this structure, an employee can meet with an in-house employee assistance professional, if the location is convenient. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a joint labor management program that benefits New York State employees by improving employee well-being, increasing productivity and improving workplace morale. It is an employee benefit program offered by a company to help employees resolve problems that could affect their lives.