A: There is no doubt that a significant portion of work-related performance problems, absences, and the like have their origin outside the workplace. This is especially true in difficult economic times, when personal and family pressures are at their greatest. At the same time, your school is wise to avoid overstepping its bounds by trying to "counsel" employees directly. Even if your school's administration is comprised of certified counselors, it is important to separate counseling and employment relationships.
The best and most cost-effective solution we can recommend in general for your school is to provide the benefit of an Employee Assistance Program to your employees. Most EAPs work as follows:
- Employee calls an 800-number on a confidential basis.
- EAP confirms the employee's eligibility and sets up an appointment with a counselor specializing in the particular issue the employee is seeking to address (examples: marital issues, weight reduction, smoking cessation, family tensions, financial counseling).
- The employee can go for several appointments (usually 6 or so) at no cost.
- The school receives occasional reports on the number of employees using these services—but nothing more. Confidentiality is fully protected.
Using the EAP gives employees a safe outlet for addressing pressures that are affecting their personal—and more than likely professional—lives. Your school gets a healthier, more stable employee—all for pennies on the dollar.
