Your employees are the backbone of your company. They play a vital role in driving productivity, growth and overall success. But when your employees are faced with personal challenges or situations that prevent them from performing at work, this can lead to a sharp decline in productivity and focus, which isn’t good for business.
This is why Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) have emerged as a crucial lifeline, providing invaluable support to employees facing various difficulties, as employers recognise the value of investing in the well-being of their employees for long-term success.
Before you start implementing a programme in your company, it is important to understand what is typically included and how an EAP benefits both employees and employers for workplace wellness.
What is an Employee Assistance Programme?
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) are employer-sponsored programmes that offer confidential and professional support services to employers facing issues that may impact their mental health, emotional wellbeing, or job performance. Designed to provide early intervention and support, EAPs offer a range of services, including counselling, coaching, and educational materials and address various issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, financial problems, family conflicts, and work-related stressors.
What are the benefits of an Employee Assistance Programme?
Many believe that Employee Assistance Programmes solely benefit employees, but that’s not true! It is a win-win situation where both employees and employers benefit in their own way. Here’s how.
How an EAP benefits employees
- Receive private and confidential support: EAPs provide employees with a safe and confidential space to seek help without fear of judgement or repercussions. Whether it is about personal or work-related issues, employees can discuss their concerns and challenges openly and honestly with trained health professionals, knowing that their privacy will be protected.
- On-demand, round-the-clock support: Support provided in EAPs is easily accessible to employees, with services available 24/7. This ensures that employees can access support whenever they need it, regardless of their location or work schedule. This is especially important in times of workplace crisis, such as critical incidents, accidents, or other traumatic events, where EAPs can offer immediate resources for managing such situations, including counselling and support services for affected employees, which can help mitigate the impact of such events on the overall wellbeing of employees and the workplace.
- A holistic approach to wellness: Some EAPs solely focus on the mental health aspect, whereas Naluri takes a holistic approach that includes both mental and physical health in tandem. This approach is beneficial for an employee’s health journey because it considers the individual as a whole, taking into account various interconnected factors that contribute to overall well-being.
- Financial guidance: In addition to mental health and physical health support, many EAPs typically include financial experts for those looking to improve their financial wellness. At Naluri, the Naluri Financial Coach is available to chat via the Naluri App about a range of financial topics, including maximising tax relief, personal or household budgeting, debt management, and saving and emergency funds.
- Improve work-life balance: EAPs often assist employees in achieving a better work-life balance. They often provide resources and guidance on time management, stress reduction techniques, and improving personal relationships. EAPs can help employees navigate the challenges of balancing work and personal life responsibilities, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.
How an EAP benefits employers
- Increased productivity: Employees’ productivity may suffer when they struggle with personal or work-related issues. Employers can help employees overcome these challenges and improve their job performance by providing support and assistance through an EAP. Providing support through an EAP can result in increased productivity and better work outcomes. Naluri offers a free productivity assessment that establishes a baseline to quantify improvements effectively.
- Improves mental health: EAPs can help employees manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues affecting their performance and well-being. EAPs can help employees overcome these challenges and improve their overall mental health by providing access to counselling and other mental health services. A digital EAP provider like Naluri takes this further with resources and channels that increase accessibility and engagement. For example, Naluri’s counselling services are available via phone or Whatsapp, not just in traditional in-person or virtual sessions.
- Reduced absenteeism: Employees struggling with personal or work-related issues may also be more likely to take time off. A survey conducted by The Society for Human Resource Management found that companies lose over 36% of their productivity due to absences. EAPs can help address these issues early on, before they become more serious, and reduce the need for employees to take time off from work, resulting in reduced absenteeism and better attendance.
- Improved employee retention: Employees who feel supported and valued by their employers are more likely to stay with the company long-term, preventing high hiring costs and hassles. EAPs can help improve employee retention by providing support and assistance to employees considering leaving the company due to personal or work-related issues. Read This Before you Hear, “I Quit”.
- Enhanced workplace culture: By investing in the well-being of their employees, employers can create a workplace culture that values and supports employee wellness. This can lead to a more positive and productive work environment where employees feel valued and supported.
Reduce healthcare costs and claims: When employee safety goes up, the number of workplace injuries and illnesses go down. EAPs can help reduce the number of disability and health insurance claims, and in turn save you a lot of time and money that you would otherwise be spending on these claims.
The Naluri Approach
Naluri’s Employee Assistance Programme goes beyond the traditional offering to cater to modern work environments, including working remotely or from home. The digital nature of the Naluri EAP means that employees get support on their terms and in their own time, without needing to make appointments or commute to consult health professionals.
In addition, Naluri connects members to a multi-disciplinary team of health and wellness experts that work together to curate a customised health plan of support. Each Naluri health coach delivers specialised support that complements the team's overall mission - to help each member achieve their unique health and wellness goals.
The EAP is one of the many programmes offered in Naluri’s health and wellness ecosystem that also includes specialised support for certain chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension or high cholesterol. In this way, Naluri is in a position to support members with their mental and physical health simultaneously.
If you’d like to learn more, we’ve compiled all you need to know about EAPs to help you get started, or you can find out more about how Naluri’s Employee Assistance Programme can help your team.