We all deal with stress from time to time, and it can have a negative impact on our performance at work. When you’re preoccupied with a problem, work often becomes less important on the grander scale.
One of the best ways to deal with this is to create an employee assistance program for your company. Read on to learn how EAPs can help your company.
What Are EAPs?
An employee assistance program, or EAP, is a free and confidential program run by a company to help employees with a range of personal or work-related issues that they may be struggling with, which relate to their work.
It’s a voluntary service that employees can participate in whenever they need extra help.
Read more here for further EAP help.
What Can They Assist With?
EAP counseling can help with a wide range of issues. This can range from personal, financial, or work-related issues.
Here are some of the most common problems that an EAP can help with:
Mental Well-Being
Mental health, while not always easy to see, can create huge amounts of stress and problems for employees.
This can range to anything from anxiety or stress caused by work or an external source, the loss of a loved one, issues with addiction or abuse, or worry or concern.
Even if the stress isn’t directly caused by work, if an employee is suffering from mental health problems, the stress can impact their work performance and efficiency.
Work Problems
Many employees have to deal with problems within the workplace. This can be a conflict with a colleague, bullying, burnout from working long hours. Or problems could be caused by stress over a major work change, such as an office move or recent company layoffs.
EAP can help workers manage the stresses of the workplace and help them come up with solutions and coping mechanisms.
Financial Concerns
We all deal with financial stress from time to time, and the stress it causes can definitely impact our performance in the office.
An EAP can help staff with advice on budgeting, managing household income, or coping with a partner or family member who has recently lost their income.
They can also give staff referrals and resources to call on, outside of the company, if they can benefit from external support or advice.
What Are the Advantages for the Company?
Keeping your employees happy, healthy, and performing at their best is in the best interest of your company.
For example, if staff are content in their work, they are likely to stay longer with the company. This creates stability and a strong knowledge base of company information.
EAPs can also improve employee efficiency, reduce workplace accidents or conflicts, and can lead to fewer employee absences from the office.
Start an Employee Assistance Program Today
EAPs can create many advantages for your company and help staff thrive, even during challenging times. Start an employee assistance program in your workplace today or encourage your workplace management to start one.
Your staff is one of the most important resources to your company, so provide them with the help and support they deserve.
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Interesting related article: “What is Motivation?“