State Employee Assistance Programs: Organization and Services

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) provided by government and industry are designed to help employees deal with personal problems that seriously affect job performance. Interest in EAPs has grown rapidly in recent years. The philosophy behind them is that it is more desirable, both economically and socially, to rehabilitate previously proven and trained employees than to terminate them. Ten to 15 percent of the population at any time needs mental health services.' Emotional and personal problems can result in increased absenteeism, tardiness, sick leave, injury, property damage, medical claims, turnover, and organizational friction. The annual economic cost of alcohol problems was estimated at the start of the 1980s at $42.75 billion while the economic cost of drug abuse was then more than $40 billion.2 Several studies have linked emotional problems to personnel problems for organizations. A study in one organization found emotional illness accounted for 61 percent of absences. Another study found personal problems were indicated in 80-90 percent of industrial accidents. According to a third study, emotional problems were involved in 65 percent of terminations.3 Employee assistance programs help identify employees with problems which may affect work performance. They provide for appropriate referrals to professional services aimed at rehabilitation and prevention.