What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), How Will EAP Help Enterprises To Build a More Productive Workforce and Work Life Balance

A brief overview of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and how the Employee Assistance Program Will Benefit and Build a Productive, Agile, Healthy and Progressive WorkForce.

Let us first understand what an Employee Assistance program (EAP) is and how useful it is for any growing business or enterprise business especially in these times.

In a high volatile environment of business growth and demanding timelines, here is what happens to many employees across both blue collar and white collars across various sectors –

1. Erratic working hours
2. Burn Out Doing The Same Thing
3. Wellness Goes For a Toss
4. Productivity Is Mismanaged
5. Low On Innovation and New Working Methods
6. Invitation to LifeStyle Diseases Like Diabetes, and High Blood Pressure
7. Sleeplessness
8. Obesity
9. Lack of Focus
10. Lack of Energy

Well you won’t be surprised that all the above start from the mind and that is where the key understanding lies. As a smart manager, founder, entrepreneur, leader the first thing for change management in a high stress or demanding environment is “the willingness to change and build”

Well there is more to this.

The second most important thing is to understand the need for the change and how to implement that change. In all these iterations mental health takes precedence and is the most important key ingredient that any progressive EAP – Employee Assistance Program ( solution provider or taker) should focus on.

Keep in mind that every enterprise should also keep in mind before implementing Employee Assistance Program – EAP to also ensure that confidentiality and data security is taken with utmost importance and handled well under compliant processes and controls.

Know more about The Role of HR in Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace

The old way of providing EAP or Employee Assistance Program was to prepare and support the enterprise in provide the following services –

1. Counselling Services To The Employees
2. Building a Dedicated Line For Employees To Call – Just like a grievance cell
3. Creating Workshops and Focussed Events around overall wellness of the enterprise
4. Sharing Content Repositories for Reference and Context For Employees to Understand and Inculcate The Right Decisions

This was what it was.

Fast forward some of these services as we talk are all being converted into a more smarter way of addressing the EAP – Employee Assistance Program which is now converting into Employee Exuberance Program (EEP).

Remember there is one caveat. This is a top down approach for adoption. The leaders, founders, CXOs have to drive this for the employees.

Read more about Global data shows that EAPs are on the rise, and for good reason

In the new format of the the EAP – Employee Assistance Program, also let us address this as EEP the most important things are taken into consideration –

1. Mental Health and Wellness as top priority
2. Affordability and Accessibility as key factors to drive
3. Technology Driven For Mass Adoption
4. Digitalization of Content, Courses and Experts On The Call
5. Efficacy Mapping To Drive Better Results
6. Gen AI For Mass Adoption and Better Results

You might want to reach out to Stella, who is our virtual global coach and can help you in your journey, wherever you are.

Talk to Our AI Stella

EAPs – Employee Assistance Programs

Employee Assistance Programs can also be customised to meet the specific needs of any enterprise. For example, some enterprises may choose to offer more specialised services, such as grief counselling or eldercare support. Others may choose to focus on specific issues, such as workplace violence or substance abuse. The EAP – Employee Assistance Program should also tailor build the offerings as per the need of the employees as a whole.

One important thing to note here is the importance of focussing on the caregivers. They are once who are looking for maximum support and advice both in an enterprise scenario and a personal scenario. The EAP – Employee Assistance Program should cover the plan of action and support systems for the caregivers while keeping them also as the centre of the whole program structure.

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Finally is about the efficacy of the build up of what will the employee assistance program benefit the employees with. Here are some of the benefits of the EAP – Employee Assistance Program for any enterprise in the current scenario –

1. It Increases Mental Health and Wellness
2. Increases Productivity
3. Reduces Absenteeism
4. Boosts The Morale Of The Employees
5. Reduces The Employee Attrition Rates
6. With Productivity It Pushes Efficiency Of The Enterprise

Must Read: 5 Innovations in EAPs Every CEO and CHRO Should Know

The EAP – Employee Assistance Program is no longer a one day a month need but a recurring need for all employees to help them up come up the curve. This means that with the Gen AI technology coming into play the offering of One to Billions for services like mental health can adopted at a faster and higher rate.

For further details feel free to connect with our coaches, therapists, experts on unitedwecare.com

Bon Voyage

Godspeed success to you.

Ravi Kikan
Global CMO, United We Care