Barriers to employee assistance program utilisation among social workers in Giyani, South Africa

Employee assistance programs aim to enhance organizational productivity and support employee well-being. The utilisation of employee assistance programs among social workers in South Africa is at a minimal level despite the limited resources, high burnout rate, trauma, and occupational stress rate. Using a qualitative approach, the study explored barriers to EAP utilisation in social work practice. The study employed semi-structured interviews with 15 social workers in Giyani, South Africa, and analysed the data thematically to investigate underlying issues. The study findings highlight concerns about confidentiality, cultural perceptions of help-seeking, organisational stigma, lack of awareness, and insufficient support for supervision and management. The study contributes to discussions on employee and workplace well-being and provides recommendations to enhance EAP interaction and engagement in high-stress work environments. The study was guided by ecological systems theory and organisational support theory and involved social workers employed by the Limpopo Department of Social Development.