EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (EAP)
1. Overview
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is an arrangement in place that
provides a worksite-focused programme to assist in the support and resolution
of employee concerns, which affect, or may affect, performance, attendance
or conduct at work.
Although EAPs are aimed at helping resolve mainly work-related difficulties,
they can also help employees with problems that originate outside the
workplace when such troubles impact work attendance, performance or
conduct.
Such employee concerns typically include, but are not limited to:
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Personal matters - health, relationship, family, financial, emotional, legal,
anxiety, alcohol, drugs and other related issues.
Work matters - work demands, fairness at work, working relationships,
bullying and harassment, personal and interpersonal skills, work/life
balance, stress and other related issues.
The University provides policies and support mechanisms for both managers
and employees, which are detailed herein, for when an employee finds
themselves in situations either work or personally related, especially when
such has an impact on their performance, attendance, conduct and wellbeing.
The basic principle underlying Employee Assistance is that staff should be
encouraged to take responsibility for their own lives and actions – in short, this
is about helping people to help themselves.
2. Principles
If used quickly and appropriately an EAP can help provide support and even
resolve problems at an early stage, and therefore lessen the possible impact
on both the staff member and the work place.
Services provided within the EAP, such as counselling services through
Workplace Options, are completely confidential, allowing staff members to feel
completely at ease to discuss their personal circumstances in a confidential
environment.
Managers may encourage the use of the services provided within the EAP
when meeting with a staff member, for example when meeting in line with the
Employee Support Procedure, to provide further support to the staff member
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to help them improve the areas of concern, even if they are perhaps being
caused by other or external factors.
Employees are also able to go directly to the EAP services to gain the support
that they require.
The EAP focuses on the Health and Wellbeing of the employee, which details
mechanisms for providing counselling and other forms of assistance, advice
and information to employees on a systematic and uniform basis, and to
recognised standards.
3. Objective
The University has a commitment to the health and welfare of its employees
and their families, and recognises that a variety of personal problems, such as
emotional distress, family problems, alcoholism, and drug abuse, can be
devastating to lives, business, and the community at large.
In this climate an EAP can help individuals, managers and organisations to:
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Cope with work-related and personal problems and challenges that impact
on performance at work.
Improve productivity and workplace efficiency.
Decrease work-related accidents.
Lessen absenteeism and staff turnover.
Promote workplace co-operation.
Manage the risk of unexpected events.
Position the organisation as a caring employer.
Recruit and retain staff.
Reduce grievances.
Assist in addiction problems.
Improve staff morale and motivation.
Demonstrate a caring attitude to employees.
4. Employee Well-being
In recognising the importance of employee wellbeing, and the policy of an
EAP, The University seeks to ensure that the support in place makes every
effort to answer the needs of staff members.
The University currently holds the Gold Award for Healthy Working Lives, and
for this initiative has a strategy which outlines the focus of the University in
answering the needs of staff members and the local community. This also
supports the creation and ongoing support of the EAP.
4.1.
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Policies and support services currently in place
Occupational Health Services
Workplace Options
Counselling Services
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4.2
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Ergonomic Wellbeing – Cardinus
Health and Safety
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Health and Wellbeing Group
Sports Centres
Wellbeing Walks
Catering Services
Stress Working Group and the Occupational Stress Policy and guidance
documents
Alcohol and Substance Misuse Policy
Other relevant University Policies / Procedures
Bullying and Harassment Policy
Grievance Procedures
Managing Sickness Absence Policy
Employee Support Procedure
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