As COVID-19 drags on, more and more of us are experiencing stress. EAP’s (or Emergency Action Plans) connect employees to confidential, professional assistance to help with personal, family, and work issues at often no charge to the employee. While these have existed previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, they may stand as an essential resource to employees for mental health as well as help tackle issues such as stress, depression, substance abuse, financial concerns, and family issues.
Here are just a few services and the details included with an EAP:
Short-term Counseling
With an EAP, employee counseling is often a quick phone call for members at no charge. Traditionally, most EAP’s cover over-the-phone counseling and telehealth appointments, which is a great benefit amid the social distance practices in place.
Employee counseling can help with:
- Anxiety at work
- Stress at home or in personal relationships
- Depression
- Addiction issues
These services are more than likely also offered to the employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parents, and children at no additional cost. These licensed professionals are subject to HIPAA privacy, security, and breach notification rules, guaranteeing confidentiality.
Work-Life Balance
Transitioning from traditional office spaces or workplaces to working from home in such a quick matter has been difficult for most of the workforce. Feelings of becoming overwhelmed when trying to create structure and work-life balance often show for employees, and an EAP can provide services to ease some of the burdens.
Experts can provide a range of services such as:
- Finding child care or elder care
- Connecting with a lawyer
- Nutritional advice
Having the comfort of trusted professionals to help your work-life balance can provide immense relief, so make sure your EAP includes these services.
Financial Assistance
Money worries were already present in many people’s lives, and now with COVID-19 those stressors have only increased. In fact, according to one survey, 80% of Americans polled said they “sometimes” felt stressed about money, and 30% felt “constantly” stressed over their finances. A quality EAP can help ease some of these stressors by providing services for people to help manage their financial situations.
Some of the services include:
- Planning for retirement
- Providing assistance with a stolen identity
- Connecting to a financial advisor
- Medical bill negotiations
Be sure to ask your employer if they offer an EAP, or if similar services are available.