Bob Talbot is an expert in human behavior with 30 years of clinical experience and 13 years as an employee assistance program consultant. According to the EAPA, 97% of companies with more than 5,000 employees offer these benefits to their employees. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed to identify and help team members resolve personal problems that could adversely affect work performance. It provides services to employees, in the form of counseling and additional resources, to help them manage stressors before they inhibit performance.
If an employee is suspected of having problems with substance abuse, marital problems, or high stress, the supervisor may suggest a referral from the EAP that provides them with a resource for help, with the least possible impact on their work. The DOI Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers professional and confidential counseling and consultations that can help you resolve these issues. NYU has partnered with Optum to introduce a new, highly personalized improvement that complements the previous 24 options hours of the day, seven days a week of connecting to the Employee Assistance Program. Having access to immediate advice, as well as resources related to thousands of potential issues, allows the employee to receive the assistance they need to address their problems when they need it and continue to perform their job functions. An EAP program can be a great addition to any organization, as it equally supports the needs of employees and employers.
The NYU Employee Assistance Program, powered by Optum (summary plan description in PDF), provides services and support for challenges such as depression, anxiety, grief, loss, substance use, relationship management, and more. It is important for employees to understand how to access an EAP program if they need it. Supervisors can always have an employee referred to the program if they are faced with a situation that the EAP should manage. Employees who need help on certain issues will appreciate having access to resources to discuss sensitive issues with complete confidence. Employee Assistance Programs are a valuable resource for employees who need help managing personal issues that could affect their work performance. By understanding how these programs work and how to access them, employees can take advantage of this valuable resource.
