Remember Family Feud? The game show where contestants tried to guess the most popular answers to survey questions posed to 100 people. Let’s play the Feud – employees v. benefits professionals!
The following question was posed to 100 employees and HR professionals. Top 4 answers on the board.
Name a reason someone might utilize their company-sponsored employee assistance program (EAP) benefit?
Employees buzz in first and say: “To gain confidential assistance with legal, financial, employment or mental health issues.”
Survey says!?!
The #1 answer! But, the employees don’t know the other 3 answers. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! The benefits professionals steal and rattle off the other 3 answers as the employees look perplexed.
For the 10+ years that I have worked in corporate benefits, I have been continuously amazed to see the same theme at every company I have worked at: a free benefit that can offer employees (and often household members) significant value in their daily lives, but is so misunderstood. Show the EAP some love!
So, here are my top 5 reasons why you might want to take some time to remind your employees about the complete value of your company’s EAP program (beyond problem resolution) and promote its use:
1) Everyone loves free! - Talk to any employee about a free benefit and they will listen. Guaranteed.
2) The “baby boomer” generation is still working and many of them have older parents. Check to see if your EAP offers elder care resource and referral services. Odds are it does and many of your employees will greatly appreciate it.
3) With many of your employees facing tough home life questions/decisions in the current economic climate (housing, money management, retirement, etc.) it would be great to have financial and legal consultation services available to them. There’s a good chance your EAP does.
4) With more and more dual working families, there is a greater need for childcare. It is likely that your EAP provides referral services for reputable facilities in your local area. As there is nothing more important than ensuring that one’s child or children are in a safe and secure environment, your employees will truly value this service.
5) With the virtual world taking over, there is an excellent chance that your EAP has a website with a plethora of information available to your employees, including a list of all covered services and resources. This is a great opportunity for your employees to learn and take advantage of additional benefits important to them.
Mahalo.
Contributing Editor Ed Bray, JD, is director of Employee Benefits for Hawaiian Airlines.
