Objective: This research paper describes an innovative method for evaluating outcome measurements of an Employee Assistance and Work-Life program. Method: This research is unique due to the fact that ‘true’ service outcomes, as defined by the employees who utilized services, were collected within a brief time period (3 to 6 months) after services were provided. The data for the study was collected through the telephonic interviews with employees covered by a major provider of EAP and Work-Life services. Results: Findings indicate that after services, stress levels decreased, attendance improved, work performance improved, and relationships with supervisors and co-workers improved. Additionally, significant correlations were found between various reported work- and personal-related problems. Conclusion: This research represents the first empirical study of its kind in the Employee Assistance and Work-Life fields and provides a better understanding of how effective services are in helping employees resolve both personal and work-related problems.

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.

Over the past several decades the mental health field has become increasingly concerned about potential negative effects in professionals of providing crisis intervention and traumatic stress services to individuals and groups. The employee assistance (EA) field has not received adequate attention with regard to the study of these negative effects, such as compassion fatigue. This paper highlights results from a national research study of members of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) who were assessed for risk for compassion fatigue and burnout, as well as potential for compassion satisfaction. Additionally, coping methods for dealing with work-related stress resulting from the provision of workplace crisis intervention services were measured. Findings indicate that EA professionals who provide clinical services and/or crisis intervention services in the workplace are at low risk for burnout, moderate risk for compassion fatigue, and have high potential for compassion satisfaction. Implications for the EA field, in terms of training and practice, are discussed.

Despite significant investment in behavioral health services by work organizations, the evidence-base supporting such services is lacking. Recent health care policy and delivery changes, such as those resulting from the Affordable Care Act in the United States, highlight the need for rigorous studies on such workplace behavioral health services and the employee assistance (EA) programs and professionals that deliver them. This paper proposes a new framework to promote and organize such research for the U.S. and around the world. The framework is partly informed by input from EA professionals and researchers, collected in a group meeting and a quantitative survey. The framework encourages collaboration across five stakeholder groups: work organizations, EA professionals, researchers, educators of EA professionals, and funding agencies that can support new studies. Specific recommendations (“calls to action”) are provided to these stakeholders to help promote and align EA studies with the broad field of public and global health (including the disciplines of workplace health promotion, occupational health, and organizational studies).

Social workers provide a majority of employee assistance (EA) services; however, a paucity of research exists assessing actual clinical practices of these EA social workers. This study examined how predictors including percentage of EA clients on one’s caseload, discipline (social work/other), use of cognitive behavioral therapy with EA clients, and knowledge of the EA Core Technology affected desired EA clinical practices. Outcomes included screening or assessment of job performance problems and substance abuse issues, and following-up with clients referred out of the EA. Results suggested that knowledge of the EA Core Technology predicted follow-up practices. Implications for social workers and future EA research are discussed.

Critical Incident Response (CIR) has long been one of the main offerings in EAP Services as well as one of the most valued by EAP Clients. With its high level of visibility, it has also been, not surprisingly, one of the most controversial and misunderstood.

Funded by the Employee Assistance Research Foundation, this is the second of eight videos completed as part of the EAP History of the U.S. and Canada project by MASI Research Consultants, Inc. and the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work. This video shows Fran Rodgers being interviewed by Dale Masi. Fran was the original founder of Work-Life Services. She discusses the role of IBM in starting childcare and eldercare programs.

Funded by the Employee Assistance Research Foundation, this is the fifth of eight videos completed as part of the EAP History of the U.S. and Canada project by MASI Research Consultants, Inc. and the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work. This video shows John Burke, a leading EAP consultant, being interviewed by Dale Masi. John explains the impact of managed care on EAPs as well as the growth of mergers and acquisitions.