Do You Need an Employee Assistance Program?

Did you know that employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees? This responsibility includes both physical and mental health. Recently, the focus has shifted to employee mental health, highlighting it as a critical issue for employers. This shift has led to efforts to destigmatize mental health issues in the workplace and improve employee information and support systems.

Burnout, stress, and anxiety are some of the mental health challenges employees face behind closed doors. How can your company ensure it has the right support structures in place? Implementing services such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and maintaining proper document management can make a significant difference in addressing these psychological risks effectively.

In this article, we'll go into detail about what an EAP is and why your company should consider implementing this service.

What is an Employee Assistance Program?

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free work-related support program that aims to improve the emotional, mental and psychological well-being of all employees. An EAP service allows employees to access external professional mental health support that can help with personal or work-related issues that may be negatively impacting employee performance and well-being.

This means that whether an employee is experiencing normal work stress, relationship issues, problems with a specific colleague, burnout or another health condition, to name a few examples, counseling services through EAP can help.

EAP services are also available to employees and their immediate families and can be accessible in person, by phone or video conference. Some EAP providers even offer live chat messaging as an alternative.

Importantly, these services are 100 percent anonymous and confidential, so those who access them can do so without fear of judgement or repercussions.

Why should I offer this program to my employees?

After a rough few years where we have struggled with financial difficulties, staff shortages, increased workloads and increased general risk as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it should come as no surprise that employees are experiencing burnout at higher rates than ever before. A 2022 report found that 46 per cent of Australian workers admitted to suffering from burnout – an increase of 8 per cent from 2021.

Prevention is the end goal, but the path to getting there involves working to reduce the impact of burnout on employees. This should be a key focus for business owners, including identifying early warning signs and making sure your employees know where to get support. Implementing an EAP in your business is an essential step in this process.

Increased job satisfaction, improved retention, employee engagement and productivity, and reduced absenteeism are just some of the many benefits of promoting mental health and investing in employee well-being.

What can my business do to create and maintain a safe and inclusive workplace?

Whether it's reducing stigma or encouraging employees to relax and unwind effectively, employers need to ensure they create and maintain a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees. The aim is to eliminate or otherwise manage the risk of discrimination in the workplace, including against employees who may suffer from health problems, including mental health problems (also recognized as disabilities). Failure to do so may result in a claim for discrimination on the grounds of disability or for general protection (discrimination).

Implementing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can significantly improve employee well-being and productivity. Tools like IceHrm can streamline managing these programs, ensuring your business offers the best support structures for its employees.