Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

In the broadest sense, an EAP is a management support programme that recognizes that there can be extraneous factors that may detract employees from performing their best in the workplace. Some of these factors/stresses – (e.g personal or job-related stress, family, or marital problems, legal or financial difficulties, alcohol/drug abuse, and other behavioural problems) – while not necessarily originating from the workplace, can grossly affect productivity. If the tenet that ‘our human resources are our most valued resource’ is accepted, then managers will not merely “write-off” an employee nor will managers ‘pamper’ employees. In the interest of obtaining optimum productivity from employees, managers will employ ways and means to assist employees to alleviate or manage the life-impacting factors at minimum cost and in minimum time.

 At the workplace managers may coach or counsel employees. In simple terms, coaching is done to assist employees to learn and do a better job using knowledge and skills to enhance productivity. On the other hand, counselling comes into play when an employee’s productivity is not at optimum, and it is recognised that neither training nor coaching can address the issues. Counselling then, is a tool used to assist employees to improve their performance by addressing personal problems that affect their productivity. 

The EAP looks at the wellness and well-being of the employee to ensure productivity. When productivity is not related to a training deficiency the system is employed to reach out to the employee. While the manager may offer basic counselling, employees are encouraged to avail themselves of the programme and to develop personal plans to address their problems.