Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

An Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) is a confidential short-term counseling and referral service for employees who may be experiencing work-life changes or issues. The support and services offered by EAPs are for both the employee and their family and include the following:

• Psychological counseling for stressful life events, anxiety, depression, substance use, burnout, coping with illness, loss of a loved one, and relationship challenges
• Financial and legal counseling services
• Wellness and nutrition counseling
• Childcare and eldercare supports and navigation
• Healthcare system and service navigation

In selecting the best EAP provider, several factors need to be considered:

• How accessible and convenient are the services to be provided? Location of offices, online support and confidentiality concerns are important.
• How is the quality of services to be measured?
• How is client satisfaction to be assessed?
• How are service costs determined, and will there be limits placed on the frequency and extent of services provided? What will the charges be per hour of service per individual?

Before choosing an EAP provider, these questions need to be answered and the answers reflected in any service proposal or contract.