If you’ve noticed one thing during the last 12 months it will be that not everyone has coped well with enforced lockdowns and the impact of the pandemic on our lives and livelihoods. In fact many employers are reporting greater numbers of employee’s off with stress related absence and more anxious employees struggling to come to work. Those who have employees who were long term sick are struggling to get them to return to work, even when the cause of their health problem has improved. It is in these circumstances that employers who have in place an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can find that it really helps.
What are the benefits of an Employee Assistance Programme?
Amongst other benefits, EAP’s enable an employer to make what we call a ‘soft referral’. For example, you would be able to say to someone whose attendance causes you concern, “have you thought about speaking to someone that may be able to help, we could get someone to ring you, would an evening be ok?”
EAP’s cover many aspects of our lives and are not just when we are ill. Others may describe it as Health, Wealth and Wellbeing.
Consider this list, all covered by an EAP, could some of your staff benefit from support with any of these?
- Work/life balance issues
- Daily living
- Stress, anxiety and depression
- Personal performance and time management
- Marital, family and relationships
- Elderly and disability care
- Illness
- Childcare and parenting challenges
- Health and well-being
- Traumatic or life changing incidents/events
- Bereavement and loss
- Careers
- Bullying and harassment
- Debt Counselling and Budget Management
- Psychological and emotional issues
- Consumer rights
How much does an Employee Assistance Programme cost?
EAP’s aren’t as expensive as you may think.
In our experience a typical programme costs as little as £15 per employee per year.
What could you give your staff that would cost that! Nice bottle of wine? Couple of Cinema tickets, well this benefit could help the whole family and mean you have a more productive, motivated staff member back at work. We have partnered with Workforce Wellness, a Coventry based firm to provide EAP schemes.
For more information about their services and to request a no obligation quotation for your organisation, please email us at info@redwing-solutions.co.uk or call us on 01527 306066.