A follow-up to Csiernik and Darnell’s (2010) exploratory study of Canadian EAP affiliates involved a convenience sample of 145 members of the Ontario Association of Social Workers who had on average 23.5 years of clinical experience and 11.5 years of EAP experience. Similar themes discovered issues found in the initial study were reported including: a lack of training or support when first hired and afterwards, not being allowed to inform clients that there was a ceiling on sessions allowed, having to request permission to allow seefor a case to proper case closure, not being able to continue to work with clients even if the client requested ongoing service and inadequate remuneration. However, there were also positive themes that arose including regular supervision for some affiliates, a range of interesting cases, freedom of hours, ability to build or supplement other parts of their private practice and working with a population that otherwise would not have accessed counselling services. What is evident is that several substantive dichotomies exist in the EAP field and that not only do future affiliates need to be educated on the strengths and limits of this practice domain but so do those responsible for procuring services for their workforces.

A qualitative examination of 145 members of the Ontario Association of Social Workers who were or had worked as contractual EAP affiliate providers was undertaken. Participants averaged over 23 years of total clinical experience and over 11 years of work in the EAP field. Respondents indicated that despite limits to the role they continued in this capacity because of the diversity of clients this introduced to their practice and the importance of serving this population in need of clinical services. However, several serious issues arose, both professional and personal. While there were some exceptions, in general, respondents indicated that their practice was limited by parameters placed upon them by Canadian and international EAP vendors. For example, some workplaces were informing their employees that they had access to more counselling sessions than the vendors were supporting the affiliate clinicians to provide. Other prominent themes included ethical issues associated with working for some EAP vendors and the lack of adequate remuneration for the work performed.