WHAT IS AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME?

WHY AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME?

WHY PEOPLE SEEK OUT COUNSELLING

THE BENEFITS OF CONTRACTING AN EAP

CREDENTIALS

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

QUALITY ASSURANCE

EXPERIENCE

SERVICES

Counselling

Coaching

Training

Consultation to management

Mediation – conflict resolution

24 Hour Crisis Intervention/Critical Incident Management

Additional workplace services

Additional relationship services

ACCESSING SERVICES

A PARTNERSHIP

WHY PEOPLE SEEK OUT COUNSELLING

People who seek out counselling recognise early in the piece a need to:

• Expand their resources
• Defuse distress
• Acquire information
• Extend their skills
• Explore options
• Develop alternative strategies
• Expand their people networks
• Resolve conflict

Counsellors collaborate, coach, challenge, and facilitate as they assist people to resolve their issues. Accessing counselling before distress sets in is important.

The effects of emotional distress

When distressed, the mental resources a person needs to help problem-solve are unavailable. Until emotional distress is defused a person is flooded with overwhelming feelings and is ill prepared for problem solving. Distress is typically characterised by the mental symptoms of:

• Poor concentration
• Difficulties making decision
• Impaired memory, forgetfulness
• Negative self-thoughts
• Distorted, irrational ideas
• Worry
• Catastrophic thinking

Distress impacts on every aspect of an individual's life, family and work relationships. It even inhibits the ability and motivation to seek help. It is important to clear away as many obstacles to seeking help as possible.  

Reasons distressed people don't seek help

Amongst the most common reasons people do not seek help in their distress include:

• I don't know where to find help.
• It will cost me too much money.
• It's a sign of weakness.
• People might think I'm incompetent
• Help is too hard to get.
• I don't want everyone to know.
• I tried it once and it didn't work.
• There's nothing that can be done.

In their distress people need every encouragement to seek help. To reap the benefits of an Employee Assistance Programme it is important that both the employer and Working Relationships create an obstacle free bridge to accessing effective help.

What sort of support do you want for your staff?

• Free
• Accessible
• Independent
• Timely
• Anonymous
• Confidential
• Effective

By retaining the service of Working Relationships your staff and their immediate family members will have access to the resources of such a service.

Employer/Employee benefits

• Either a ‘fee for service' or a retainer type contract is available.
• The WR EAP is provided to the employee and is used at the employee's discretion.
• The employer needs to consider the cost of this service to be an annual employee bonus.
• As such the employee does not account for how or whether the service was used.
• Working Relationships will provide a quarterly statistical report in a way that ensures anonymity and confidentiality are not compromised.
• The cost of a WR EAP constitutes an insurance premium, providing an early intervention for troubled employees, reducing the necessity for management intervention and/or a budget “blow-out”.
• Managers can demonstrate a proactive risk management policy.
• Managers can demonstrate a compassionate concern for employee health and well-being.

• Managers can actively encourage and facilitate employee contact with Working Relationships while holding employees accountable for addressing personal problems impacting upon safety and performance.

If you recognise the benefits of an Employee Assistance Programme then let us demonstrate to you the features and benefits of a Working Relationships EAP.

Working Relationships – customising our service to you.

Taking to steps to make a change