Employee Assistance Program

What Does Employee Assistance Program Mean?

An employee assistance programs (EAP) consists of services that aim to assist employees whose personal or work problems affect or might affect their work performance. EAPs often include confidential counseling and referral services for the employees and their family members, and they are often offered as part of employee health benefits, along with health and disability insurance.

Insuranceopedia Explains Employee Assistance Program

Employee assistance programs originated in the 1960s during which industrial alcoholism became apparent. As a result, many companies decided to establish in-house alcoholism programs in the form of EAPs. Years later, they expanded their focus and manage more issues, such as family-related problems and drug use. Today, EAP service providers offer them to help manage the following issues: personal issues, job-related problems, relationship struggles, healthcare concerns, parenting troubles, substance abuse, financial problems, harassment, non-work-related legal issues, and family violence.