The EAP is a valuable resource for assisting management with individual and organizational concerns. As a manager, your job is to bring out the best in your employees. Employees are people, and people can suffer from problems that hinder their performance in the workplace. Getting expert help to assist workers in solving their personal problems is simply good business. The EAP is available to provide confidential and expert consultation to management in a variety of areas including:
- Effectively talking with employees about their performance problems
- Assisting with ideas to reinforce acceptable behavior and performance
- Discussing strategies for difficult communications with employees
- Managing conflict among employees and in the workplace
- Assistance in managing threats of violence
- Response to critical incidents, including: sudden death of a coworker, homicide, accidents, earthquakes, and other sudden and unexpected terrible events that affect the workplace.
The use of the EAP is voluntary for yourselves and your employee. Supervisors cannot force an employee to seek assistance. However, the process of recognizing problem situations and responding with an EAP referral is a normal and expected supervisory task. The supervisor’s primary responsibility is to maintain a productive work environment and to promote employee development. Referral to EAP helps accomplish both.
Remember, the sooner you act, the greater the chance for success!