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What to look for in your E.P.A. vendor?

October 29, 2022

6 min read

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Author : United We Care
Clinically approved by : Dr.Vasudha
What to look for in your E.P.A. vendor?

Introduction

Offering benefits to your hard-working employees can be appreciated, which keeps them motivated to be top performers. And a cost-effective option like team member support programs (E.A.P.s) is one such benefit.
But how should you choose the best E.A.P. vendor for your company? While there are many criteria to find your desired E.A.P. vendor, you first need to know what this E.A.P. is!

E.A.P. – what does it mean?

An employee assistance program (E.A.P.) supports issues that may influence a team member’s performance at work and enjoyment of their personal life. Most E.A.P.s support workers with substance misuse and mental health difficulties but can also address family issues, wellness issues, and retirement preparation.
An E.A.P. connects workers and their families with outside counsellors, services, and referrals. Employees and their family’s use of any E.A.P. benefits are kept private. 
A team member assistance program (E.A.P.) is a crucial part of your team member benefits package, but selecting the best E.A.P. can be challenging. These programs can provide short-term administrative help & mental health care for employees in crisis.

How should you choose the right E.A.P. vendor?

With time, vendors and options have grown to include a range of highly wanted advantages, user-friendly platforms, and more—all at reasonable prices. However, convincing those in charge of funding to support E.A.P.s can be challenging, considering the historically low utilisation rates.
 E.P.A. vendor
Here are four tips for you as you begin to find your E.A.P. vendor.

  1. 1. Conduct some Ground Research

It’s crucial to comprehend the variety of programs offered and to be able to contrast those choices with your current benefits package. And for that, you need research! A holistic E.A.P. can help with eldercare, childcare, finding a mental health expert, and will and estate planning.
Some supplementary insurance providers, such as life and disability insurance, may provide a free E.A.P. program when an employer has insurance coverage. However, there is broad agreement on the E.P.A. criteria. E.P.A. guidelines necessitate adopting a transparent model that is reviewed & communicated to the employees, systematic implementation of such indicators to measure the success of mental health programs, and strict confidentiality in the quality measures undertaken.

  1. 2. Determine your Employees’ Needs

When looking for an E.A.P., you should consider team member knowledge gaps affecting your productivity rate. Many organisations neglect to include E.A.P. advantages in routine team member interactions because they typically use them during times of crisis.
In the end, there is a knowledge gap among employees, which lowers usage and may harm how well-informed or satisfied employees are with the E.A.P. program.
As you get going, it can be beneficial to conduct a business survey or poll to learn more about the wants and requirements of your employees. It will make your priorities clear, and you’ll be able to eliminate vendors whose services don’t match your team members’ needs!

  1. 3. Long-term Relationship of E.A.P. Vendo

E.A.P. counsellors can offer various services and much support to employees. Many seek assistance from E.A.P. vendors for help with substance abuse or mental health difficulties, or daily challenges at work and home.
But, most E.A.P. services are short-term, so if your employees need further assistance, these vendors will send you to a psychologist or a psychiatrist. So, have faith in a vendor who will bring long-term relationships with your employees, making them trust the E.A.P.s more and resolve issues soon.

  1. 4. Set your Budget and Negotiate

Choose a wellness benefits vendor that puts your employees’ health first. Some E.A.P. vendors will set you high when more employees use them, while others will charge you less.
Even some E.A.P.s offer a free trial. If you’re facing a strict budget, follow simple methods before settling on a pricier one. First, create a budget plan & then come up with vendors who satisfy the demands & come under the budget.

How does an E.A.P. vendor benefit you?

The American Institute of Stress reports that 94% of employees experience stress at work, and 63% say they are ready to resign. A sizable portion of your team may stress that their decreased productivity will cost your small business money.
One of the main reasons firms establish team member support programs is because it is preferable to confront this issue head-on. Implementing an E.A.P. for your business can help ease team member stress and benefit the organisation by boosting output and efficiency. Additionally, your employees will feel supported by you and be more devoted to your business.

E.A.P. vendor and Mental health issues

Nearly one in five adults in the United States alone live with a mental disorder, according to a 2019 report by the National Institute of Mental Health. Worldwide, it’s nearly one billion. Because it impacts many people, mental health concerns will likely impair your personal life and work.
And as an employer who is concerned about the mental health and wellness of your staff, you might want to offer E.A.P. that can support your team members who are struggling with problems like depression, drug misuse, and more. With E.A.P., you can attain real mental health benefits for your team; reducing stress and addressing their mental health issues will ultimately benefit your company!

Final Words

Although the workplace has undergone a significant transformation, its employees remain the key to a successful business. Managers and supervisors face the challenge of identifying workplace behaviour and performance issues that prevent an individual or a team from working effectively.
As employees and their dependents frequently struggle to address personal problems that limit their ability to be productive at work. An E.A.P. that is well-developed and promoted may be a massive asset to a business’s leadership, specific employees, and the people who depend on them.

References
[1]“What is an EAP? How you can improve employee mental health at work,” Justworks. [Online]. Available: https://www.justworks.com/blog/whats-eap-improve-employee-mental-health-work. [Accessed: 03-Jan-2023].
[2]T. Turner, “3 steps to choosing the right EAP for your organization,” BenefitsPRO, 14-Dec-2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.benefitspro.com/2021/12/14/3-steps-to-choosing-the-right-eap-for-your-organization/. [Accessed: 03-Jan-2023].
[3]Gibson, “What to look for when choosing an employee assistance program,” Thegibsonedge.com. [Online]. Available: https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/what-to-look-for-when-choosing-an-employee-assistance-program. [Accessed: 03-Jan-2023].
[4]“2 questions to ask when choosing an EAP,” Solutionsbiz.com. [Online]. Available: https://www.solutionsbiz.com/EAP/Documents/Choosing%20an%20EAP-FINAL.pdf. [Accessed: 03-Jan-2023].

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Author : United We Care

Founded in 2020, United We Care (UWC) is providing mental health and wellness services at a global level, UWC utilizes its team of dedicated and focused professionals with expertise in mental healthcare, to solve 2 essential missing components in the market, sustained user engagement and program efficacy/outcomes.

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