Employee Assistance Programs

Benefits of employee assistance programs

A well-implemented employee assistance program benefits both the business and its employees. Healthy and happy employees are more likely to be productive and engaged in their roles within the company, which, of course, positively impacts the company’s bottom line.

Some prominent effects that implementing an EAP would have on your organisation include a decrease in stress for your employees, lowered turnover rates, a lowered risk of burnout and stress-related employee absences, higher levels of productivity, and an overall happier workplace.

Using an EAP for your workplace is an ethically sound decision. It emphasises improving the working conditions of your employees, materially demonstrates the value you see in your staff, and acknowledges the impact that a job can have on one’s mental health.

Research has indicated significant benefits from accessing a well-established EAP program by an organisation that follows the same model implemented at Brisbane Counselling Centre; that is, the therapists providing the program are consistent, professional, and able to provide ongoing continuity of care. The program must also be confidential, and the employees must be confident their confidentiality will be maintained.

Examples of the benefits and outcomes reported include:

• Over 50% of employees were more productive in their workplace after using their EAP
• At least 50% of employees had improved their attendance at work
• 2/3 of employees who were experiencing work-related issues were able to address the problems they faced, enabling them to redirect their attention to focusing and fulfilling their role

Statistics indicate that 1 in 5 employees have taken time off for mental health reasons in the last 12 months. Many other benefits have been identified from having an EAP for your staff members. The following are some business-related positives of giving your employees access to counselling sessions via an EAP.

• Happier staff, who are better equipped to manage stress and the pressures of life, both personally and professionally
• More productive staff, which allows your business to run more efficiently
• Decreased absences
• Retention of your team, reducing the costs of staff turnover and recruitment expenses as a result
• Investing in your staff leads to improved productivity, as well as creating a positive working environment
• Employee safety is improved, decreasing the risk of accidents from increased stress levels
• It assists in building loyalty to your organisation, as employees receive the message that they are a valuable asset and that their employer recognises mental health as an important aspect of a person’s well-being.

Employee Confidentiality

EAP programs provided by Brisbane Counselling Centre are entirely confidential. As with any psychological support service, confidentiality is always upheld unless the client has provided written permission (or subpoenaed by a court of law). The principle of privacy is crucial for employees to access their EAP service confidently, as it means workers don’t need to fear the possibility of losing their jobs or being punished for their mental health issues.

How employee assistance differs with Brisbane Counselling Centre

Brisbane Counselling Centre stands out from the crowd with regards to the employee assistance programs we provide in the following ways:

• As we are a long standing, well-respected service, we provide access to highly skilled, consistent and experienced psychologists and counsellors
• Continuity of care by practitioners who understand
• We are available to book appointments for new and existing clients now
• No contract is required
• No retainer is charged
• We have the utmost respect for privacy and confidentiality
• Provide consults face-to-face, over the phone or via Zoom, at the preference of the individual
• Are committed to arranging suitable appointments within 24-48 hours of being contacted
• Operate six days a week, allowing your employees to access mental health care both in and outside of business hours
• A fee is only charged when the service is accessed, which avoids an unnecessary financial burden being placed on companies committed to caring for the psychological health of their workers
• Conveniently located, just a few minutes walk from Central train station in Spring Hill
• Access for employees in regional areas, interstate or even overseas via straightforward telehealth consultations.

We can also arrange workplace visits, including tailored presentations on topics that will improve the business’s overall health and culture.

We don’t report back to organisations on what staff members are accessing the service for, although we can arrange the reporting of some limited general, anonymised statistics for larger organisations, with the employee’s express consent. With permission from the client, BCC’s attending psychologists and counsellors may discuss workplace-related matters with appropriate workplace representatives if it is in the client’s best interest.

A recent ABC Radio National broadcast, “Mind Your Head: the Pros and Cons of EAPs“, highlighted some of the pitfalls of engaging a third-party EAP contractor:

• Driven by a general service delivery business model rather than based on professional practice guidelines and client-based ethics
• Usually, a substantial up-front fee and ‘lock-in’ contract
• They often draw from a large, impermanent pool of sub-contracted practitioners, leading to continuity of care issues.

The practitioners at Brisbane Counselling Centre fundamentally disagree with these ethically dubious practices. As such, they treat every employee accessing counselling under their EAP just like any other client—with respect, integrity, and consistent care.

We can help!

If it’s a professional, consistent and caring affiliation you seek, and you are interested in learning more about how Brisbane Counselling Centre can assist your organisation or business in taking care of your valued employees, please call to speak with one of our friendly team members to discuss your needs further.