The advent of managed care has cheapened many of Americaís employee assistance programs, in both costs and in the services they offer. Todayís employers have two models of EAPs to choose fromóthe strategic model or the benefits-driven modelóand making the wrong choice can have serious business consequences.
Thatís the theme of a new white paper from Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA), a provider of human capital consulting, EAP and work/life services. ìEAPs: Commodity or Workforce Investment?î is authored by Robert Levy, president of CCA, and examines the hallmarks of a strategic EAP as well as the pitfalls of what he terms a ìgatekeeperî model.
ìMore than ever, organizations need to recognize whether their EAP is a trusted business partner or a simple benefit commodity,î says Levy. ìA consultative program shows its true value when disasters and workplace calamities strike, but itís equally important to have a firm that can handle everyday employee problems such as mental illness, behavioral issues, or substance abuse.î
The complimentary report can be downloaded by visiting CCAís Web site at: http://www.corporatecounseling.com/channels/news/WhitePapers.htm
While EAPs originated in the 1950ís and 1960ís as a tool for addressing occupational alcohol problems, the rise of managed care has transformed employee assistance programs into a healthcare benefit, away from their core value of aiding employee performance. Many providers have been shifted to regional call centers, despite the fact that millions of employees suffer from workplace impediments.
Even though consultative EAP services cost less than $30 per person to provide, many employers continue to focus more on prices than productivity gains. To that end, the CCA paper also examines the costs of untreated employee problems, including substance abuse, obesity, depression and other mental illnesses. It also traces the history and evolution of EAPs to give context to the current environment.
ìThe best employee assistance programs provide a unique business advantage by combining an expertise in human behavior with a deep knowledge of workforce dynamics,î notes Levy. ìIf all an EAP offers is a commoditized benefit, itís hard to see the value.î
New White Paper Examines the Hallmarks, Advantages of a Strategic EAP over Gatekeeper Benefit Models
ìEAPs: Commodity or Workforce Investment?î now available to download from Corporate Counseling Associates
