More Bang for Your EAP Buck

For years, the majority of US companies have seen the advantage of putting in place Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to assist their employees when faced with personal problems that may impact job performance. As the EAP industry evolved, terms like "broadbrush" EAP were often used to describe the additional benefits associated with these programs, including dependent care, legal and financial consultation, and crisis response. In the last 2 decades, EAP services have expanded to the point where "broadbrush" is no longer a relevant descriptor as virtually all EAPs must have an array of services included to remain competitive. The next step in the evolution of the behavioral health care services that comprise EAP and work-life benefits is to ensure that the service touches as many lives as possible within your organization to promote wellness, productivity, and job/career satisfaction. Using an EAP as a gatekeeper to a company's mental health benefits makes sense.