Shaking the Tree: From Employee Assistance to Employee Potential - A Commentary & Research Review

Abstract

As the field of employee assistance has matured over the past 30 years, this article encourages a review of current and emerging paradigms for the profession. Concepts and research in humanistic and positive psychology, along with research in organizational behavior, wellness, and prevention, suggest a view of EAPs as facilitators of human potential, collaborators and integrators. As a synthesis of these ideas, this article highlights ten ideas for potentiation and three emerging core practices. The focus is on how employee assistance providers can leverage their experience, role and organizational partnerships to implement the following three practices: (1) empower local health strategies amongst individual workers, (2) apply influence for systemic health, and (3) support culture of health organizational strategies.