The Organisational Value of Employee Assistance

Interest in the impact of stress on employees has traditionally focused on factors occurring in the workplace. Whilst this is valid,stress has many sources not least of which are life events such as divorce, bereavement and relocation. The impact can erode individual productivity and ultimately organisational effectiveness. The employee assistance programme (EAP) is emerging as a positive and constructive response by employers to help employees manage and resolve work and personal conflicts, pressures and problems. Originating in America in the early 1960s, the EAP first appeared in the UK when the Employee Advisory Resource (EAR) was developed in 1981. EAR marked the beginning of a new strategy in human resource management which has been refined and applied to an increasing number of blue chip companies in the UK. The EAP is here to stay and many different models exist. The Employee Advisory Resource has a nine‐year track record of application and shows how the availability of counselling through an EAP can reduce individual and organisational stresses.