March 1, 2009

Employee Benefit Adviser

EAPs Can Help Stressed-Out Workers

Anita Madison, VP of training and consulting for ComPsych, says she’s spending a lot of time strategizing with her corporate customers about their employees’ varying needs these days. “We’re busier now than we have been in a long time because of what’s going on out there,” she says. Call volume is up and it’s up across a variety of subjects and issues. Obviously, finance is a primary concern for EAP users, as well as legal counseling and emotional support.

Madison said one of her goals is to make sure managers are familiar with the program so they are ready to recommend it whenever a conversation with an individual worker or group of workers requires. She also urges employers to utilize the EAP in times of layoffs. One thing ComPsych has added is OutplacementResources, a program that helps departing workers make a plan for reentering the workforce at a later date.