Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)

The concept of Employee Assistance Programmes or EAPs originated in the United States in the 1960s.

Though it was slow to catch up in other parts of the world, EAPs now form an integral part of the welfare services provided by an organization. Apart from internal counselling services that an organization provides there are external agencies which provide EAP services. Usually they are made available on a contractual basis wherein there is a 24-hour helpline which provides access to counselling for an employee and his family on various issues like financial, legal, employment, marital problems, drug, alcohol abuse, psycological problems, stress etc.Wherein long term treatment is required, an organization may directly refer an employee to an external agency or State welfare services.

Additional services by EAP providers include worshops and seminars on particular problems more prevalent in an organization, training of line managers and staff as well as providing required literature. The cost incurred  for these services is usually charged at a per capita rate otherwise according to take-up which could be about 25% of the workforce.

Confidentiality is guaranteed as a must to all clients and organizations and it is one of the reasons for the high success rate of external EAP providers. Employers are provided with a periodic statistical report based on type of problem, sex, department, seniority and also comparable average statistics of similiar organizations.