Business Mentality

An EAP is a worksite-focused programme to assist in the identification and resolution of employee concerns, which affect, or may affect, performance. Such employee concerns typically include, but are not limited to:

• Personal matters - health, relationship, family, financial, emotional, legal, anxiety, alcohol, drugs and other related issues.

• Work matters - work demands, fairness at work, working relationships, harassment and bullying, personal and interpersonal skills, work/life balance, stress and other related issues.

It includes a mechanism for providing counselling and other forms of assistance, advice and information to employees on a systematic and uniform basis, and to recognised standards.

An EAP is also a strategic intervention designed to produce organisational benefit - quantifiable by outcome measurement - through a systems-led approach to human asset management. It addresses team and individual performance and well being in the workplace.

EAPs are intentionally defined more by what they achieve, rather than by what they are, in order to leave maximum room for tailoring services to meet the needs of each organisation.

EAPs are unique within the occupational health field in addressing the twin focus of employee well being and organisational performance.

APs therefore have the opportunity to reach people who would not otherwise have access to the support from which they may benefit.

To access more information about EAPs and providers visit http://eapa.org.uk