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DEFINITIONS OF AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
and
EAP CORE TECHNOLOGY
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) serve organizations and their employees in multiple ways, ranging from
consultation at the strategic level about issues with organization-wide implications to individual assistance to
employees and family members experiencing personal difficulties. As workplace programs, the structure and
operation of each EAP varies with the structure, functioning, and needs of the organization(s) it serves.
In general, an EAP is a set of professional services specifically designed
- to improve and/or maintain the productivity and healthy functioning of the workplace and to address a work
organization’s particular business needs
- through the application of specialized knowledge and expertise about human behavior and mental health.
More specifically, an EAP is a workplace program designed to assist: (1) work organizations in addressing
productivity issues, and (2) "employee clients" in identifying and resolving personal concerns, including
health, marital, family, financial, alcohol, drug, legal, emotional, stress, or other personal issues that
may affect job performance.
"Employee assistance program core technology" or "EAP core technology" represents the essential components of
the employee assistance (EA) profession. These components combine to create a unique approach to addressing
work-organization productivity issues and "employee client" personal concerns affecting job performance. EAP
core technology is:
- Consultation with, training of, and assistance to work organization leadership (managers, supervisors, and
union officials) seeking to manage troubled employees, enhance the work environment, and improve employee job
performance;
- Active promotion of the availability of EA services to employees, their family members, and the work
organization.
- Confidential and timely problem identification/assessment services for employee clients with personal concerns
that may affect job performance;
- Use of constructive confrontation, motivation, and short-term intervention with employee clients to address
problems that affect job performance;
- Referral of employee clients for diagnosis, treatment, and assistance, as well as case monitoring and
follow-up services;
- Assisting work organizations in establishing and maintaining effective relations with treatment and other
service providers, and in managing provider contracts;
- Consultation to work organizations to encourage availability of and employee access to health benefits
covering medical and behavioral problems including, but not limited to, alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental
and emotional disorders; and
- Evaluation of the effects of EA services on work organizations and individual job performance.
For more information about EAPA membership, click HERE.
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