Benefits of an EAP
In general, Employee Assistance Programs provide value in the following three ways:
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EAP’s leverage the value of the organization’s investment in their workforce by:
- Improving employee engagement
- Improving employee and dependents’ skills for successfully responding to life’s challenges.
- Offering employees short-term problem resolution services or referring employees and dependents to mental health treatment services, when indicated.
- Developing employee and manager competencies in managing workplace stress and improving work team performance.
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EAPs address the costs of doing business by:
- Reducing workplace absenteeism and unplanned absences.
- Reducing workplace accidents.
- Reducing employee turnover and related replacement costs.
- Facilitating a safe, timely, and effective return-to-work from employees following short-term and extended absences.
- Reducing healthcare costs and improving the value of organizational investments in wellness and health promotion, self-care management, continuity of care, and work-related efforts.
- Improving efficient use of health care through early identification, care management and recovery efforts.
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EAPs mitigate business risks by:
- Reducing likelihood of workplace violence or other safety risks.
- Managing the effectiveness of disruptive incidents, such as workplace violence, injury, or other crises, including facilitating a swift return-to-work after adverse workplace events.
- Supporting disaster and emergency preparedness, and assisting in minimizing job disruption following disasters and emergencies.
- Facilitating successful adjustment to mergers, acquisitions, site closures, or other workforce change events.
- Reducing the likelihood of legal action/liability (e.g., maintaining business practices that promote a violence-free workplace).
- Promoting and supporting companies’ drug and alcohol free workplace policies and programs.
Taken from An Employers Guide to Employee Assistance Programs