First Employee Assistance Programme for small businesses launched

In light of the increasing pressure of the credit crunch on SME employees, Employee Advisory Resource (EAR) has launched the first Employee Assistance Programme for small and medium sized businesses. In the current financial downturn, when employers are faced with reducing benefits, the service enables small to medium sized businesses to support the health and wellbeing of their employees at a reduced cost. The service is also designed to protect SMEs from litigation on stress and other work-related issues.

The new ëEnterprise EAPí (Employee Assistance Programme) offers SME employees relevant and targeted support and advice around stress and wellbeing issues, legal and financial information, and also childcare and eldercare locator services.

Alan King, Managing Director of Employee Advisory Resource, says: ìThe credit crunch has put employers under even greater pressure to support their people and nowhere is this more the case than in small businesses. Very often itís the case that SMEs do not have access to HR departments or resources and therefore they need to think creatively about how they can source and deliver this.

ìThe new Enterprise EAP gives small businesses the opportunity to offer their staff the support they need to tackle personal and work-related concerns before they affect work performance in any significant way.î

Enterprise EAP provides employees with support and assistance about a range of issues, including:

Debt and Legal Services – employees can speak to legal and financial specialists

Work-life Solutions – 24/7 phone access providing resources and support to employees and their families, including emergency care services

Counselling – a six session face-to-face or telephonic structured counselling offering to help employees identify and address problems

Employee Website – provides immediate access to counsellors through an Instant Chat feature. Offers advice on wellbeing including topics related to stress, mental health, parenting and caring for the elderly and much more