As a former employee in human resources, I was instructed to make my co-workers aware of a benefit called, “EAP” or Employee Assistance Program. You may have seen a notice on the bulletin board in the break room or perhaps on your company’s intranet advertising this program. Many employees have heard of it, but don’t have a working knowledge of what it can provide.
EAP is a common benefit that companies purchase to help their employees when they are struggling with personal issues. For example, you’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and you are worried about being able to do your job, how long you will be able to work, co-workers finding out about your disability, etc. The EAP can be contacted via a 1-800 phone number. All conversations are kept completely confidential. EAP representatives are not employees of your company; they are hired by your company to assist their employees.
You are probably wondering, What can the EAP do about my Parkinson’s disease diagnosis? Being diagnosed with a disease can be traumatic and upsetting. Your EAP representative can offer one or more of the following options:
- Counseling from a social worker or therapist
- Support groups in your area
- Additional information regarding accommodations at work
- Assistance in how to discuss your disability with your company representative
You may be wondering why your company offers this benefit for their employees, since it is a free service. The answer is simple. You cannot do your best work if you can’t concentrate on the task at hand. The logical and simple solution is to provide and offer assistance to those employees who are struggling with personal issues. It not only benefits the employees but it also benefits the employer in the long run.