Accounting

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are programs in a company are charged with the responsibility of helping employees take care of their various personal problems (Ruiz, 2006). Many employers have been spending money in hiring individuals and contracting companies to provide EAP services but the services are ending up not being utilized properly. There is need for companies to go beyond hiring of EAP services.

    One purpose of these articles is to educate the employers on how use of EAPs in their companies can help increase the productivity of employees. The other purpose is to educate the companies with EAPs on how to use them in order to reap their maximum benefits. The articles also do focus on the evolution of EAPs since their inception to date. The motivation for study was the observation that employees of companies with EAPs were more productive than employees of companies with no EAPs. Motivation also arose from the desire to establish whether EAPs were being utilized effectively in companies.   

    These articles seek to answer the following questions regarding EAPs What are EAPs and how have they evolved over time What are the advantages and disadvantages of EAPs What hinders effective utilization of these programs in companies What steps can be taken to ensure that the objectives of EAPs are achieved

    Originally, EAPs were designed to provide help to employees who were substance abusers deal with their addiction as an alternative solution to firing them. During this time they were being set up as functional units of companies (Ruiz, 2006). Later, companies offering professional EAP services started to be contracted to provide services to employees. EAPs were first started in big industries through joint efforts between the industries and trade unions.  This original task has evolved over the years to encompass almost all personal problems of employees. Problems now tackled include legal problems, marital problems, inability to manage anger, caring for elderly parents and babies, and grief. In addition to offering help to employees, EAPs currently also do provide assistance to companies on issues such as acquisition, restructuring, mergers and on how to cope with disasters (Ruiz, 2006). The EAPs have really advanced and have designed better and improved ways of reaching out to the employees. Some have even designed websites that includes chat rooms. EAP services are beneficial to the company either directly or indirectly

    Hiring an EAP services provider comes at a cost to the company but the benefits are usually worth it. Benefits are usually reflected by improved employees job performance, reduced expenses of companies money in settling medical bills due to health problems arising from personal issues and reduced employee absenteeism. The services of EAPs help workers to deal with personal matters that are complex making them more relaxed.  This way, they are able to give their job undivided attention which greatly improves their productivity. The company is also able to save on expenses that would have been incurred in firing an employee with problems and hiring and training a new one. The help they offer to new employees in helping them to adapt to their new environment and thus perform better cannot be understated. The company also obtains useful advice on issues such as mergers and acquisitions.

    The costs to a company are usually felt in terms of the money spent to hire these services. EAPs are professional bodies and thus their charges usually form a remarkable portion of a companys expenditure. The company also has to set aside time and money to educate both its employees and EAP service providers (Ruiz, 2006).

    The realization of the full benefits of EAPs in companies is hindered by company policies. Some companies lack culture of genuine concern where people with certain issues are stigmatized. Another thing is tendency of some supervisors to play the role of therapists which makes the employees with problems to hide their issues for fear of sacking. The failure of companies to educate their employees on services of the EAPs means that the employees do not effectively utilize them.

     To effectively utilize EAPs, Companies should develop a culture of genuine concern so that the employees with problems will feel comfortable seeking for assistance.  The companies should also take steps to train supervisors, employees and the service providers on the program. Training employees will make them aware of the existence and scope of the EAP services while training of supervisors will enable them not to ignore signs of problems in the employees. The providers of the EAP services also need to be trained on the policies and operations of the companies to enable them deliver the service well.   

    The EAP can act as a very good tool for increasing a companys productivity by creating high performing satisfied employees. This can be very useful especially if the company would make efforts to ensure effective utilization of the service.