"Counselling is just one side of the support that an EAP can offer."
- David Williams, head of group risk at Towergate Health & Protection
Towergate Health & Protection has today released details from one of its leading employee assistance programme (EAP) providers, which revealed an increase in demand for information and advice, not just mental health counselling, when it comes to supporting overall employee health and wellbeing. Consequently, employers are being urged to ensure they are providing employees with access to information and advice for legal matters, divorce, childcare, housing, disputes with neighbours, will and more.
In the last year, employers have seen a 25% increase in employees seeking advice from an EAP. The most common reason for this surge was advice-related issues surrounding their employment, such as queries on employment rights, pay issues, HR issues, causes of workplace stress, and employment law. This was followed by advice on divorce and separation, which made up 22% of the advice-related calls.
While employees, and employers, may be aware that EAPs include counselling, they may not know that there’s a full suite of support available. Areas where employees may seek guidance via an EAP could include consumer disputes, issues between landlords and tenants, wills and probate, motoring queries, immigration, eldercare, and personal injury.
Commenting on these findings, David Williams, head of group risk at Towergate Health & Protection, has said:
“Many employers may tend to think of EAPs as there to provide counselling for mental health issues, such as low mood and anxiety. But counselling is just one side of the support that an EAP can offer. The need for advice and information on other areas is growing, particularly on the topics of divorce, separation and housing.”
Williams continued: “When companies support their employees across all four pillars of health and wellbeing (mental, physical, social, and financial) they gain a happier, healthier and more engage workforce that feels valued. Taking problems off their shoulders – via the specific support available within an EAP – is a great way to do this.”
