4 Things That Employee Assistance Programs Can Help With

Employee assistance programs are designed to provide free support for employees of a company. Participation in employee assistance programs is completely voluntary and can help an employee with both work-related issues and personal matters. Typically, an employee assistance program offers short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services for anyone who uses the programs. Having an employee assistance program promotes the health and wellness of employees and can improve morale. Many employee assistance programs can help with a number of things, such as:

Workplace Stress

In this day and age, people are working harder than ever, and added stress from work can take a toll on a person. Many employee assistance programs offer workplace counseling where an employee will be able to speak with a professional about their job and the stress that they are experiencing. The goal of this counseling is usually yo assist an employee in learning valuable techniques to control and manage stress, so it does not have a profound negative effect on his or her professional or private life.

Drug or Alcohol Abuse

Unfortunately, many people suffer from addiction. Drug or alcohol abuse can wreak havoc on a person's job performance and personal relationships. Many companies offer drug and alcohol abuse counseling through their employee assistance programs. Since recovering from drug or alcohol abuse is a long process, an employee assistance program will usually offer an initial assessment and counseling and will then refer the employee to a rehab facility or a counselor who specializes in substance abuse and addiction. 

Marriage or Family Counseling

Most marriages hit a few bumps in the road, and when couples want to make positive changes to improve the relationship, they often turn to marriage counseling. A lot of employee assistance programs offer a set number of free marriage counseling sessions for an employee and his or her spouse. If a couple is having major issues with their relationship that can't be solved in several sessions, they will be referred to a reputable marriage counselor.

Legal Advice

Hiring a lawyer can cost a lot of money, but a lot of people can't afford the fees. However, it is not uncommon for employees of a company to need legal advice from time to time. As a result, some companies are adding legal services to their employee assistance programs. This usually works by offering employees a set amount of hours to consult with an approved attorney without being charged. 

Contact local workplace counseling programs for more information and assistance.