From Crisis to Care: Why Customizing Employee Assistance Programs Matters

A recent study by Aon indicates that 8 out of 10 Indian companies have increased their spending on employee wellbeing compared to 2019. These numbers are evident in conveying the importance of mental wellbeing in the workplace. Mental wellbeing plays an extremely crucial role in determining important aspects of your professional life such as performance, productivity, level of motivation, satisfaction, and ability to give and take feedback. It is not something that can be ignored because it is where you are drawing your mental energy from. 

What are Employee Assistance Programs?

Employee Assistance Programs are specialized assistance programs that aim at employee wellbeing by offering them emotional support. They usually cover a wide range of services to ensure employees gain maximum support and benefits while they navigate a challenging situation.

1. Webinar/ Live Talk: Include specific theme-based webinars to create more mental health awareness at work and learn helpful coping mechanisms. For example, a webinar on Stress Management can typically focus on understanding early signs of stress, how to identify it, and how to manage it effectively. At the end of these sessions, an open platform is provided for employees to share their experiences, ask questions and provide feedback or suggestions.
2. Training programs: These are aimed at equipping the workforce with the right tools to navigate emotional difficulties whether it is in their personal or professional life. Training programs have a two-fold purpose. They are helpful in debunking myths, clearing any misunderstanding/confusion, and providing authentic information that can be applied in your daily lives. These programs can also
3. Individual Counselling Sessions: It’s a safe and supportive space where the employees are encouraged to talk about anything that is holding them back or causing them stress or anxiety. Just because it is a company-sponsored service, does not mean that it is mandatory to talk about professional concerns only. One can also bring up matters from personal life that they find difficult to deal with. With the therapist’s help, the employees can learn effective coping strategies, overcome challenges in their lives, and unlearn unhelpful habits or patterns and replace them with helpful ones. 
4. Group Sessions: These sessions often help strengthen workplace relationships and facilitate mutual support and growth for all. They may include fun activities, cognitive or behavioural exercises aimed at a common goal, or shared spaces where the therapist facilitates conversations around specific themes regarding mental health and wellbeing. 
5. Training programs for Managers and HR professionals: Manah Wellness has come up with innovative programs that can help people maximize their potential and be advocates of mental well-being while doing that. Manah’s Wellbeing Champions Training Program focuses on creating empowered individuals who will become catalysts for mental wellbeing, growth, and healing in your organization. 

Why should you customize Employee Assistance Programs?

• When it comes to mental health, no two people have the same psyche, upbringing, and approach towards life. Everyone brings in a unique emotional landscape therefore we cannot offer generic support or solutions to specific problems. Diverse backgrounds call for tailor-made support systems. Customizing programs based on employees’ needs offers them advanced support that helps them look after their emotional needs. For example, if you are a tech company that spends a lot of time amongst gadgets, you might want to introduce programs that can facilitate more offline engagement activities that help employees unwind and connect on a deeper level.
• Customization allows for specific results. You first need to identify what concerns are being brought up by the employees frequently. Upon identification of the same, you can narrow down programs that will make them feel empowered with the right tools to overcome those challenges. Addressing specific employee concerns enhances focus, motivation, and performance.
• It is an effective way to optimize the cost-effectiveness of the programs while keeping the quality in check. Customization allows you greater control over factors such as time and space allocation, need fulfilment, and a solution-oriented approach. It also contributes to employee job satisfaction and improved emotional management at work. 
• These programs are a great medium to promote workplace well-being via conversations around job satisfaction, healthy leadership styles, work-life balance, self-confidence, and healthy boundary setting. 
• Leadership and Management are often in positions where they are needed to make difficult decisions, deliver sensitive feedback, and handle vulnerable concerns. A customized EAP can include programs such as leadership coaching, conflict resolution training, and mental health first aid workshops. These resources help managers recognize early signs of burnout, workplace stress, or interpersonal issues among employees, allowing for timely intervention. 
• Customization allows you to reach a larger audience starting from freshers, seniors, Management, staff members, and their family members. These targeted programs can empower employees in areas they require assistance.

FAQs

How can we increase employee awareness and participation in EAPs?

To increase employee awareness and participation in EAPs, organizations should promote them regularly through emails, posters, and company meetings. HR and leadership should openly discuss EAP benefits to reduce stigma and offer interactive workshops, webinars, and testimonials from employees who have benefited from them. They can also ensure easy access through mobile apps, 24/7 helplines, and multilingual professionals.