Are you familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? This hierarchy suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other, more advanced needs. How can we help employees meet these needs? One way to help is through an EAP.
What the heck is an EAP? What can it do for me and my employees to meet our needs?
An EAP is an Employee Assistance Program that is an employee benefits program that assists employees with personal problems and/or work-related problems that may impact their job performance, health, mental and emotional wellbeing.
How can having an EAP help my business?
An EAP can help your business:
- Reduce absenteeism
- Reduce WSIB claims
- Reduce grievances
- Navigate through a traumatic event or violent incident
- Improve employee productivity
- Improve employee engagement
- Reduce employee turnover
- Improve your workplace culture
How can an EAP help my Employees?
Your employees can access the program on their own, for help for themselves and their families. They have 24/7 access to safe, professional, confidential resources to help them manage stressful situations and personal issues.
An EAP can help your employees with:
- Around the clock mental health assessments & counselling
- Finding daycare
- Eldercare
- Financial planning (from buying their first home to retirement)
- Setting fitness goals
- Career planning
- Health concerns
- Relationships
EAP’s are accessible in a format that makes the employee feel most comfortable: video, chat, group, telephone, and in-person. And remember, it is confidential. The EAP will not be reporting back to the employer if, for example, an employee is seeking counselling for stress.
Employees really appreciate an EAP, and for employers, they are a lower cost-benefit that reaps cost savings in the long term.
Would you like to learn more about what EAP’s offer and how they can benefit your business?
Janette McDonald is a senior HR Consultant at Nimbus HR Solutions. Janette is an experienced manager herself with a history of working in the not-for-profit arts, food industries and facilities management with some of Toronto’s premier performing arts and sports facilities. Skilled in Coaching, Event Management, Management, Leadership, and Customer Service, Janette has her H.B.A from McMaster University, Human Resources Management diploma from Seneca College, B.A. from U of T, CHRL, and certificates in AODA, Episodic Disabilities, and Workplace Investigations Certification.
Janette has a passion for volunteering in her community. Notably, she was the Workforce Supervisor for the Invictus Games and has been with CARD (Community for Riders with Disabilities) for over 5 years.