Risk of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout and Potential for Compassion Satisfaction Among Employee Assistance Professionals: Protecting the Workforce

Abstract

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) professionals provide a majority of the mental health services to adults within the workplace. With increased traumatic events at work, including workplace violence and natural disasters, employers are relying more on their EAPs to provide crisis intervention and short-term counseling; however, trauma work contributes to compassion fatigue and burnout among professionals. This study assessed the risk of compassion fatigue and burnout, and the potential for compassion satisfaction among a national sample of EAP professionals. Results suggest EAP professionals are at moderate risk for compassion fatigue, low risk for burnout, and have high potential for compassion satisfaction. Relationships between personal characteristics, including coping behaviors are discussed with implications for clinical practice, professional education, and future research.