What is an EAP and why is it important for workplaces?

We know that people form the heart of every business. For a company to truly succeed, you need an engaged and productive team who can bring their best selves to work. 

It’s easier said than done. Each employee may be facing their own challenges, whether it’s stress at work or issues at home. All too often, those struggles impact how they do their job.

That’s where an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help. We’ll explain how EAPs work and what they can do to support your team so that your business can thrive. 

Understanding Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Employee Assistance Programs are an employer-funded service, providing mental health and wellbeing support to employees in a business. These programs are run by external providers outside of the business and offer services such as free, confidential counselling and guidance for improving wellbeing. 

EAPs are brought in by employers to give their employees the tools they need to look after themselves and to deal with problems they’re facing. Most importantly, they’re impartial, so employees can reach out in confidence without their employer knowing. 

How Employee Assistance Programs work

Depending on the provider, EAPs may vary. Generally most provide counselling services, while some have expanded their offerings to include more holistic wellbeing support and digital tools. 

Generally an employer pays for an EAP service and publicises it to employees. Employees can then contact the EAP provider independently for support when needed. As the employer pays the provider, employees don’t have to pay anything for the service. 

No confidential information or personal details are shared between the EAP provider and the employer, so the employee can access the service in private. 

EAP services and support options

Here at Employment Hero, we’ve teamed up with Clearhead as our EAP partner. Businesses who use Employment Hero can offer an EAP to their team by opting into an add-on service.

Here are just a few of the features that EAP provider Clearhead have on offer.

Short-term counselling services

Counselling has been the fundamental service for all EAPs since they were first introduced. Through an EAP, employees can access in-person or online counselling for free. This is usually only for a specific number of counselling sessions, although some may be extended if required. 

Clearhead offers an extensive directory of hundreds of therapists and counsellors, so employees can find someone that suits them. 

24/7 crisis helpline

If an employee is in acute stress and in need of immediate support, Clearhead can give them access to a free 24/7 crisis helpline. This is really important because often therapy appointments have to be booked ahead of time. If an employee is in crisis, they’ll need support much faster than traditional channels can offer. 

Self-help resources

According to Clearhead, EAP services that offer additional holistic wellbeing support see 10 times more employee adoption than traditional counselling-only EAP providers. Clearhead offers digital resources and an extensive self-help library, so employees can access support tailored to their challenges. 

This can be very useful for those employees who might feel nervous or skeptical about one-on-one therapy. These online resources give them an opportunity to explore alternative avenues for support first.

A guided wellbeing journey

Along with the digital self-help resources, Clearhead’s app offers a ‘Guided Wellbeing Journey’, with micro-lessons in improving mental fitness. It’s designed to mimic a typical therapy or coaching experience, encouraging reflection and sharing practical techniques. 

The app also includes a mood journal, so employees can see how their daily experiences affect their mood and receive targeted support depending on how they’re feeling.

Information for leaders

A positive workplace culture can make a huge difference in the wellbeing of employees. Clearhead also offers tools and techniques that employers and leaders can use to support their teams. Through specific resources and information, they can help you in building an environment at work that empowers your team to be their best selves.

EAP benefits for employee wellbeing

An EAP can make a huge difference for employees. Here are a few benefits that your team can get from having access to an EAP.

Stress management and mental health support

About 1 in 5 adults has a mental illness in any given year. When that mental illness goes untreated, quite often it will only get worse. According to the Mayo Clinic, untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioural and physical health problems, which can be destructive for the individual themselves, as well as their friends, family and colleagues.

That’s why getting access to mental health support in the form of counselling and therapy can be so important in treating mental illness. 

Access to support under the cover of anonymity

We’ve stressed this a few times already but one of the biggest drawcards of an EAP service is the anonymity it provides. Employees don’t have to share personal information with their employer or disclose their struggles but they can still access support facilitated by their work. Mental health is deeply personal and an EAP allows it to stay that way. 

Preventive care and early intervention services

Often there are a number of barriers that prevent people from accessing mental health support. They could be financial (therapy is often expensive) or just that it takes time in the day that they don’t have. The problem is that if mental health isn’t handled early enough, it can often escalate into a much more serious condition.

A lot of those barriers can be removed if employees have access to an EAP. As a free option that can be accessed at a time that suits them, people can get an early intervention for initial challenges before they spiral out of hand.

Cost-effectiveness and return on investment

We know that budgets are a little tight right now, so spending money on additional services isn’t necessarily top of your priorities. However, an EAP is an investment that really does benefit your bottom line over time. Here are a few ways that it can save you money.  

Reduced sick days 

Sick leave is inevitable in a workplace but if it’s too common, it can affect productivity. The World Health Organisation estimates that 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety, leading to a cost of about $1.7 trillion NZD in lost productivity. By providing your team with access to mental health support, you can help them treat their mental illness so they’re well enough to get back to work.

Improved employee retention

An unhappy employee may be a flight risk in your organisation, particularly if work stress is the cause of their dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, losing employees is expensive. It costs around $6,429 NZD to advertise a role in New Zealand and that doesn’t include the cost of the time spent on the whole recruitment process.

By providing an EAP, you’re demonstrating a commitment to improving their mental health. Those services can also help them feel happier in their role. This can improve employee retention over time, saving valuable funds. 

Meeting employee expectations

Gen Z are entering the workforce and they know what they want. 75% of Gen Z employees now expect their employer will provide mental health support, such as an EAP. That means that an EAP is becoming an essential benefit for employees and soon enough, it could be unusual for a business not to offer one. 

Managed health and safety concerns

Finally, there’s the legal component of all this. Employers often miss that mental health forms a part of their workplace health and safety obligations. Specifically, employers are responsible for providing a mentally healthy work environment and removing any social risks like overwork or bullying. 

While any workplace issues should be addressed first, providing access to an EAP can help employees take care of their mental health. It can also help them respond to challenges in a way that can reduce potential social hazards, such as setting more effective boundaries or using stress management techniques. 

EAP implementation

When bringing in an EAP, there are a couple things to consider as an employer.

Choosing the right EAP provider

It’s important that your EAP provider is the right one for your team and your business. There are so many options out there, from traditional therapy-only providers to providers that offer a wide range of wellbeing services. 

We’d always advocate for a well-rounded EAP provider that gives you plenty of value for money, which is why we’ve teamed up with Clearhead. They offer a wide variety of services at a cost-effective price point. There’s everything from self-help resources to a huge directory of counsellors, so every employee has an option that suits them. 

Employee communication and program promotion

An EAP isn’t a worthwhile investment unless your team actually knows about it. Make sure to promote the EAP services at opportune moments, whether that’s at a monthly team meeting, on the company intranet or during a particularly challenging project. If people on your team are new to the idea of EAPs, emphasise that it’s an independent service and outline the steps they can take to use the service. 

An EAP can support your team, your business and your company culture

Make an investment that will help your business in the long run with a comprehensive EAP service. We offer an EAP service as an add-on package to an Employment Hero subscription, with cost-effective plans for employers of every size. To find out more, book a call with one of our business specialists.