Although the repercussions of almost an entire decade of lockdowns, and closures, including isolation are still being fully understood, it is evident that different communities’ mental health has suffered greatly. Employers cannot overlook the risk that mental health disorders represent to their workforce, whether they are experienced by a healthcare provider who is experiencing burnout or a staff member who is experiencing high levels of anxiety.
The Employee Assistance Program UK offers private counselling and assistance to help staff members deal with both personal and professional problems that might affect their mental health and productivity.
One of the best methods for helping staff members who are dealing with mental health concerns and enhancing their general wellbeing is through an effective employee assistance program (EAP). Benefits related to mental health can also help avoid burnout, remove the stigma associated with mental health in the workplace, and increase motivation and productivity.
What is EAP?
Employee assistance programs, sometimes abbreviated as “EAPs,” are benefits that you provide to your employees at no additional expense to them. It seeks to promote the mental health and wellness of employees, which can help you create a more contented and effective staff!
A variety of tools are available in an EAP to assist staff members in taking charge of their own psychological health and wellness. This might involve mediation, corporate training, therapy, and guest lecturers. Critical event response including debriefing may even be included.
Not sure where to begin? No issue! Because the Employee Assistance Program is provided by the UK. This implies that you, as the employer, are not required to bear the burden.
Also Read; Employee Absence Policy: What Every Business Needs
How Do EAPs Operate?
Employees often use an outside source with experience in counselling and recommendation services to obtain EAP services. EAP services are often outsourced, while some bigger businesses may offer such services internally. In the UK, several significant healthcare providers promote mental health employee assistance programs. Sixty-two per cent of firms report outsourcing their EAPs, according to experts.
Benefits-qualified Customers who have Aetna health insurance can use Health Advocate to access an EAP, which offers:
- Consultants to assist staff in resolving insurance and healthcare-related concerns
- Health Advocate offers 24/7 access to private counselling services for a variety of mental health issues.
- Financial planning, elder and child care, and legal services
Better Stress Management All Because of EAP!
People frequently experience high-pressure circumstances in both their private and professional existences, but living under chronic stress is unhealthy. An employee assistance program is a simple approach to help your staff members deal with stress on a regular basis.
Counselling provides a secure setting for your staff to discuss any issues affecting their subconscious health and general well-being. This aids individuals in managing stress from both their personal and professional lives, which may otherwise impair their productivity at work.
Assistance In Striking A Work-Life Balance:
Trying to balance both professional and personal life at the same time often leaves many feeling overburdened. The physical and emotional well-being of employees can be significantly impacted by work-life balance issues.
An EAP’s work-life balance services are designed to lessen such load. Finding daycare or elder care, getting in touch with a legal professional, or even getting dietary guidance are just a few of the things that the professionals in an EAP program may help with.
Enhanced EAP And Employee Satisfaction:
Do you wish to draw in top talent? It should thus be obvious that you should include an Employee Assistance Program in your benefits package to render it more competitive. Counselling is an additional cost that some employees find difficult to justify. Particularly with families and a plethora of other conflicting demands. This is why your own EAP, which offers them private, cost-free therapy, is such a desirable benefit!
Additionally, employees are more inclined to feel welcomed and appreciated if they use your EAP. Add that to their newly acquired and enhanced ability to manage stress. Now you have the formula for lowering job turnover and raising satisfaction among staff members.
Employers’ Useful Advice:
Selecting an EAP program is only the beginning. Ensuring your program is efficient and fits the requirements of your staff is a continuous endeavour. Here are some strategies to increase the use of EAP programs:
- Clearly outline the range of emergency assistance services your company will provide and make sure management, staff, and family members are fully informed.
- Manage EAP programs proactively to guarantee pertinent and high-quality assistance.
- Proactively coordinate EAP’s duties and obligations with those of other productivity and wellness initiatives.
- Make use of the organizational services provided by the EAP to assist with disability management and human resources tasks.
- Talk about methods for evaluating employee engagement and EAP performance statistics (data collected in confidence), including validated outcome measuring instruments.
- Think about performing recurring intake and/or case evaluations to gauge how well the member experience is going.
Final Words:
Employers must adapt their benefits to meet the changing demands of their workforce. Employees deserve all the help they can get now more than ever. Employers ought to remind staff members of their advantages.