“Our Employee Assistance Program clearly demonstrates our care and concern for our employees and offers them help when it is most needed. It is invaluable to both the employer and employee!”
It is no great secret that workplaces that truly value the emotional and physical well-being of their employees are more successful. They are also the employers-of-choice for talented people. Who are you going to trust to help you take care of your people? Choose The Village Employee Assistance Program. We are passionate about making your business or organization a healthy and productive place to work.
What is an EAP?
"Easy, confidential, multitude of services." – EAP client
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) serve organizations and their employees in multiple ways, ranging from consultation at the strategic level about issues with organization-wide implications to individual assistance to employees and family members experiencing personal difficulties. As workplace programs, the structure and operation of each EAP varies with the structure, functioning and needs of the organization(s) it serves.
In general, an EAP is a set of professional services specifically designed:
- to improve and/or maintain the productivity and healthy functioning of the workplace
- to address a work organization’s particular business needs
- through the application of specialized knowledge and expertise about human behavior and mental health
More specifically, an EAP is a workplace program designed to assist 1) work organizations in addressing productivity issues and 2) “employee clients” in identifying and resolving personal concerns, including health, marital, family, financial, alcohol, drug, legal, emotional, stress or other personal issues that may affect job performance. (International Employee Assistance Professionals Association)
The EAP Difference
"The staff is amazing, helpful and courteous. My counselor is terrific and focused. I appreciate being heard and being a part of my plan and growth. Knowing I can access someone through EAP is so helpful. This is an amazing benefit." – EAP client
Choices and options
Multiple EAP contract options so you can choose the level of service you need.
No barriers to service
EAP is value-driven to get services to your employees quickly.
Face-to-face personal counseling
EAP provides face-to-face counseling to your employees – in person or via the web – because it is very effective in assessing and addressing problems.
Unlimited toll-free access to Supervisor/Human Resource Helpline
Your supervisors can deal with employee issues quickly and efficiently before they escalate.
Financial counseling
Financial issues are often at the root of employees’ problems. The Village Employee Assistance Program include financial counseling as a core employee benefit.
We have our own people
The Village Employee Assistance Program has its own dedicated staff of professionals who provide the highest quality of counseling, training, consulting, crisis management, and case management services. Because of the flexibility of our professional staff, EAP delivers a level of quality that is difficult to match.
Employee newsletters
In addition to valuable information, monthly employee newsletters and a quarterly supervisor publication are another way we encourage employees of member companies to seek counseling when issues arise.
Comprehensive chemical dependency services
Drug and alcohol use by employees or their loved ones can severely affect the workplace. Assessments and substance use education are among the included benefits.
Round-the-clock crisis counseling
Incidents that affect your employees don't just happen from 8 to 5. Learn more about our Crisis Management Services.
Formal Referral case management
When employees aren't performing as expected, we can be your partner in getting them back on the right track. Learn more about Formal Referrals.
Training and Development
Improve your workforce through customized training options.
The Impact of Employee Assistance Programs
"It is because of the EAP that we would happen to get the counseling and greatly improve our marriage." – EAP client
When workplaces offer an Employee Assistance Program to their employees, both the organization and the individual benefits:
26% reported general improvement in health after employee use of an Employee Assistance Program.1
11% productivity improvement after employee use of The Village EAP.2
27% improved work presenteeism after accessing EAP services.3
22% improvement in life satisfaction after accessing EAP services.3
46% decreased absenteeism after accessing EAP services.3
98% of employees who accessed Village EAP services reported that the EAP was a valuable benefit.4
1Towers Watson 2012 | 2Based on annual average output per worker (all industries), an employee whose output pre-EAP counseling was $63,061.15 improved to $70,124.82 post-EAP counseling. | 3WOS Report 2016 | 4Internal Survey Results-6
Supervisor Helpline
"It was great to have someone to listen to my problems and help me to resolve them." – Supervisor Helpline client
Have an employee situation you're not sure how to handle?
Supervisor Helpline is available to all supervisors, managers, and human resources professionals whose organizations provide The Village's EAP to their employees.
The Helpline is staffed by trained professionals available for consultation on a variety of workplace issues. Simply call 1-800-627-8220 and ask to speak to a EAP staff member. You can discuss your situation, problem-solve possible options and solutions, and ask questions.
Some of the issues we can address for you include:
- Constructive confrontation of employee performance problems
- Hiring and firing procedures
- Drug-free workplace/Department of Transportation procedures
- Employee discipline
- Workplace harassment issues
- Job safety concerns
- Analyzing, resolving and preventing workplace conflicts
The Supervisor Helpline is one of the employer resources included in The Village Employee Assistance Program. For more information, call 1-800-627-8220 or email us.
Formal Referrals
"I appreciate the thorough and professional manner in which I was worked with." – EAP client
As a supervisor or manager, you will have to deal with performance issues at one time or another. Employees do not always perform as well as you expect them to. There may be conflicts between co-workers, employees may come to work late or leave early, they may have personal problems that affect work performance, or there may be signs of substance abuse.
Formal referrals are a valuable resource for supervisors in addressing employee behaviors in the workplace, particularly when performance is deteriorating or if there is a drug-free workplace violation or if the worker has violated Department of Transportation rules and regulations. A formal referral is a good way to connect employees with professionals trained and experienced in assessing and treating personal, professional or substance abuse problems. Employees are given a chance to face the problem, take ownership of the situation, and learn tools and techniques to help deal with and overcome the specific challenge. By making a formal referral to EAP, a supervisor can take advantage of external expertise in dealing with the performance problems.
The supervisor is kept informed about the employee's attendance, compliance with recommendations, possible referrals to supplemental resources or treatment programs, or other significant changes or developments. This allows for the coordination of internal and external resources in addressing performance or drug-free workplace issues, and for finding new avenues to improve employee performance, attitude, and behavior.
Formal referral services are included in most Village EAP contracts. For more information, call 1-800-627-8220 or email us.
Crisis Management Services
Crisis can come in many forms, including accidental death, worksite injury, natural disasters, terrorism, and crime. Organizations can enhance their ability to survive crises and stay in business by implementing a comprehensive crisis management plan. The Village EAP's team of Crisis Management Planning and Response professionals will assist in limiting the negative impact of a crisis.
Planning for Crisis
Prior to a crisis, EAP consultants will assist in establishing a well-coordinated crisis response plan. EAP offers a range of crisis services including:
- Risk assessment
- Preparation of crisis management plans including policies, manuals, and checklists
- Consultation on the management of crisis communications
Adverse Incidents, Grief & Stress in the Workplace
Difficult or adverse incidents in the workplace impact employees and their performance. Even events and accidents that occur outside the workplace can negatively influence performance and morale when employees are affected by those events.
Employers can respond to these incidents by providing their employees with timely support by The Village EAP. Village counselors and affiliates are experienced in responding to adverse incidents that can have a very human impact upon an organization’s employees. Counselors are available to provide employees (and management) with an on-site opportunity to process their experience and learn to recognize their own stress or grief response. Prompt intervention and information regarding stress response, stress management, and grief can help reduce negative impacts and preserve employee engagement.
Trauma: Accidents, Life-Threatening Injuries & Death in the Workplace
Work-related traumatic incidents directly impact the physical safety and emotional well-being of employees. Trauma in the workplace is not only a threat to organizational productivity, but it can also negatively impact employee perceptions of their own relationship with the organization.
Critical Incident Stress Management
The Village EAP offers intervention for workplace trauma by utilizing a defined model of trauma response known as Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Critical Incident Stress Management, or CISM, is an intervention protocol developed specifically for dealing with traumatic events. It is a structured process for helping those involved in a critical incident to share their experiences, vent emotions, learn about stress reactions and symptoms, and be given referral for further help if required.
The CISM model offers specific individual, group, and organizational interventions designed to provide timely assessment, information, and support during crucial moments in the life of an organization. It is not psychotherapy. It is a confidential, voluntary and educative process, sometimes called “psychological first aid.”
First developed for use with military combat veterans and then civilian first responders, it has now been adapted and used virtually everywhere there is a need to address traumatic impact in peoples’ lives. Counselors trained in CISM intervention are able to facilitate a process for the group or individual intended to reduce the impacts of trauma and stress upon employees and management within the organization.
Crisis Management Briefing
One type of CISM is a Crisis Management Briefing (CMB). This is an intervention effective in the wake of community-wide or organizational crises. The goal of a briefing is to provide information about the nature of the crisis and the organizational response, present information about common reactions to crises, and promote personal coping and self-care strategies that may mitigate stress reactions. A briefing is an efficient large-group crisis intervention and may be delivered any time following a crisis.