EAPs – or Employee Assistance Programs – are designed solely to benefit employees. Some companies employ the use of an EAP because they understand the importance of taking care of their employees, in more ways than just providing a catered lunch once a month. They understand the need of employees to be appreciated, valued and simply noticed as a crucial working member of the company.

EAPs allow companies to offer their employees more than just physical support – they provide mental support as well. By providing for the mental health of employees, EAPs not only foster healthy working environments, but promote overall health and well-being in the lives of all employees. 

1. An EAP program isn’t just for work related issues.

When you hear “employee assistance program,” counseling for matters outside the workplace doesn’t necessarily come to mind. However, that’s one of the main reasons EAPs exist – to help employees handle the stresses of everyday life, both at home and in the office.

As much as we would like it to be so, it’s nearly impossible to leave work at work and home at home. Especially in situations of high stress at home, going to the office with a clear head isn’t going to happen. And a frustrating day at work may result in taking out that frustration on your unsuspecting family when you get home for the day. By having an EAP to consult, employees can talk about these struggles and subsequently receive proper help and guidance.

2. Services are available to your family members.

Some EAP services, such as Mazzitti & Sullivan EAP, extend the benefits of an EAP to immediate family members. This can be especially beneficial when navigating situations involving the whole family, such as a move, a divorce or a loss. All members of the family receive the care and guidance they need. Whether through family counseling or individual sessions, EAPs are there to provide support during significant life changes involving the whole family.

3. EAPs are beneficial to your career.

No matter how much you enjoy your job, there may be times when you might wonder if you’d enjoy something else more, such as a new position in the company or a leadership role in your department. Or, perhaps you really do feel the need for change, but aren’t entirely sure what steps to take to make the change. Maybe you want to ask for a raise or an extended period of time off, and don’t know how to broach the subject with your supervisor. 

EAPs can help with this and more! By talking with a counselor, you can receive guidance on how to have these conversations, how to begin discerning a new career path or how to start searching and networking within the company in the hopes of a promotion.

4. EAPs reduce stress.

Have you ever kept a frustration or inconvenience balled up inside until it finally explodes? This is exactly what stress does. When left unmanaged, stress builds and builds until it physically can make a person ill. For example, stress from home can’t simply be “switched off” just because we’re now at work. Stress carries over from one place to the next, and can significantly impact productivity at work. 

When you have someone to talk with to help you process life’s stressors, the intensity and side effects of stress diminish. No longer are you holding it all inside; rather, you’re verbally working through it, processing it and receiving new perspectives on it. EAPs allow employees to do just that, so that work and home-related stress diminishes and quality of life, both at home and at work, increases.

5. EAPs keep employees working harder for longer.

A common reason for employee turnover stems from employees feeling underappreciated or viewed as just a cog in the machine. Offering an EAP to employees gives them the opportunity to talk about these issues with some who can offer them an alternate perspective in addition to the proper tools to address these concerns in the workplace. 

Working alongside an EAP counselor not only allows employees to feel listened to, they are also provided with healthy strategies for handling inconveniences and problems. Instead of engaging in potentially toxic conversations or passive aggressive behaviors, employees are taught to kindly confront issues before problems escalate. When employees are given tools to handle confrontation properly, they won’t be tempted to go looking for work elsewhere as a means of solving their dissatisfaction. 

To learn more about the benefits of an EAP, and see if it’s the right fit for your company, reference common answers to your EAP questions or call Mazzitti & Sullivan EAP at 1-800-543-5080 today.