Employee Assistance

Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for employees within a workplace to struggle with substance abuse, addiction, or other personal challenges. Substance dependency can greatly hinder a person’s job performance, even if the substance abuse does not occur within work hours.

Sooner or later, the addiction can affect the body and/or mind of the person, lowering the quality of their work, increasing absenteeism and could become a potential safety risk.

If a person struggling with addiction finds it hard to get to maintain  performance or be able to function at an acceptable level  after alcohol or drug consumption, he/she should be encouraged to consider addiction rehab options before their addiction gets worse.

At Foundations, we offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) a treatment option for employees who deal with addiction and other issues that impair their job performance. These programs also help promote a safe and productive work environment for managers.

Companies often provide an Employee Assistance benefit to employees. If employees seek help, this can lead to better attendance and productivity, improving the bottom line and work environment for everyone.

EAPs typically include counseling, referrals and resources for both managers and employees in areas such as work place relations, legal, financial, behavioral and substance abuse issues. The EAP can provide managers with the tools needed to confront employees and encourage them to seek help.

In case an employee has to miss work to receive treatment, the EAP can prepare them to transition back to work.

The process varies from employer to employer. It may  begin with a supervisor referring an employee who may be battling some type of addiction or abuse to the Employee Assistance Program. The EAP counselor can then refer the individual to a program like that offered at Foundations.

Employee Assistance Program fulfills four main roles within a company:

• Employee education and training
• Confidential employee record-keeping
• Assistance with accessing drug treatment services

Before treatment begins, employees may go through counseling sessions to determine their particular treatment needs. Once the needs are determined, the EAP counselors can provide a referral to a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility like Foundations Wellness Center. If necessary, the employee can take advantage of FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) or short-term disability benefits in order to receive proper treatment.

Foundations’ program is available to EAPs to help  employees overcome alcohol or substance abuse along with mental health disorders, domestic abuse, and stress. Our program also offers guidance for financial problems, legal problems, workplace conflicts, and workplace restructuring.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, about three quarters of Americans who struggle with alcohol or drug addiction are currently employed. Eventually, employees with substance abuse issues may start to behave detrimentally at the workplace. Some of the most common behaviors include:

• Being late to work repeatedly
• Missed work days
• Drops in productivity
• Higher chance of suffering a workplace accident
• Frequent job changes

According to the National Business Group on Health, alcohol and drug abuse costs employers an estimated $364 billion annually, which is more than the combined costs of treating cancer and diabetes conditions. Some of the effects that addiction has on employer-related costs include:

• Reduced business earnings due to decreased work productivity
• Criminal activities, such as stealing supplies or money
• Higher number of medical claim filings
• Higher number of workers’ compensation claim filings