Employee Assistance Programmes

With people in the UK now working longer working hours and taking less holiday, it is no wonder that people are feeling stressed and burnt out. In a survey conducted by the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development) indicated an absence cost of £601 per employee in 2004, compared with £588 per employee in the previous year. The cost appears to be increasing every year and employers are bound to feel the drain it puts on their business.

There has been a rapid increase in compensation claims for work-related stress in recent years (Dyer, 2002). A Court of Appeal ruling in 2002 (Sutherland v. Hatton, 2002) made it clear that employees who feel under stress at work should inform their employers and give them a chance to do something about it. Any employer who offers a confidential counseling service with access to treatment have some protection from prosecution.

How can an Employee Assistance Programme help my business?

An Employee Assistance Programme provides a highly valued low cost benefit available to all employees of the company and members of their family household, with a confidential 24/7 telephone based resource to discuss any personal or work related issue, whether a practical or emotional matter, such as:

• Stress and Work Pressures
• Work-Life Balance
• Personal Finance and Debt
• Relationship Difficulties
• Childcare and Eldercare
• Harassment and Bullying
• Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
• Legal and Consumer Rights
• Health and Wellbeing

More and more employers are implementing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), as a cost effective solution to many of the people problems employers face today. The combination of:

• Reduced Sickness and Absence
• Improved Productivity
• Lower Staff Turnover
• Happier Work Environment
• Reduced Risk of Litigation
• Complete support to employees who need help with issues

These are all valid business reasons for having an EAP and how it can support you employees and can create a less stressed working environment. The EAP provider will also assist your company in marketing the EAP by providing marketing literature which can be place around the company so the employees know how to access the EAP and that it does exist. EAP’s have also helped employers in court as the employer is seen to be in the duty of care for the employees, which is extremely valuable to the employer.

If you wish to speak to one of our Employee Benefit Specialist about an EAP or would like any further information please contact 0845 30 50 222 and we could be happy to help.