How To Win At Work!

-By Making the most of your EAP( Employee Assistance Program) benefits.

With the theme of the the World Mental Health day being "mental health in the work place", it is time to examine your EAP benefits. EAP benefits are sets of services  provided by employers to optimized the functioning and productivity of their employees. These services are intended to help their employees manage workplace related stress, mood issues, substance abuse problems, conflict resolution, organization issues, bereavement, parenting and other struggles, be it personal or work related.

The employers understand that your mental wellbeing affects their bottom line. They provide these services to prevent absenteeism, lower healthcare costs and  prevent employee turnover.  Many midsize to large size  employers of  labor, invest heavily in the EAP program, yet most employees do not know they have such benefits.

There are many benefits EAP provides, they help with intra personal conflicts, interpersonal conflicts and self improvement. They help with practical issues such as time management, child care, adult care resources, marital problems, productivity at work, impaired coping skills, decline in work performance, issues with job description, issues with supervision, job delegation, team work, burnout or career advice.

In my experience as an EAP provider, the organizations are fully responsible for the associated costs and their employees pay nothing. The only limit is that the number of sessions are restricted; most offer between 6-12 sessions to their employees per calendar year. If at the end of your approved sessions you still need help, your EAP provider will  refer you for further help  which you will then have to pay for according to your health benefits.

Many companies partner with Licensed Professional Mental Health clinicians  in the community to help provide these services. In my practice we have done a lot of work with employees and executives of midsize and Fortune 500 companies in the past.  The standard confidentiality and patient privacy  rules apply. For the most part, even the payment for the services are outsourced to a third party so that the company is totally kept out of the loop as to which executive or employee is seeking such services.

Are you experiencing work related struggles or personal struggles? It is about time to check your employee handbook, call H. R. or your benefit administrator. It is time to up you game and increase your productivity.

According to the Bible, your talents  bring you before kings, your talents open doors for you. Like Joseph, God is waiting and will cause kings to seek you out and notice your talents, God is ready to favor you in the mighty name of Jesus.