Staying mentally fit within and outside of the company walls with the Employee Assistance Program

“No matter which way you look at it, there is no wall between work and home life,” says Koen Van Hulst, head of psychosocial prevention at Mensura. “You take your work home with you – and vice versa. It doesn’t matter where the worries originate, a person’s level of involvement and productivity suffer and can result in absenteeism, even though HR and internal or external prevention advisers do everything in their power to prevent absenteeism, reduce staff turnover and increase well-being in the workplace."

"In addition to the psychosocial support that Mensura offers for all work-related issues, we find it worthwhile to add a private component via an EAP. Combined, anonymised data from both lets us advise employers even more specifically on initiatives related to mental well-being that may be useful and necessary."

“An EEP is the final element of an integral welfare policy,” adds Anna Smets. She is Director of Business Solutions at Workplace Options and Mensura's partner for the EAP. “At the same time, we relieve HR of time-consuming activities. They usually have up-to-date knowledge of issues in the workplace or involving certain colleagues, but often lack the necessary time and resources to address them. If you can refer an employee from HR to a professional expert in the field, that gives you peace of mind."

Mensura works together with Workplace Options in offering the EAP to its clients.
With 40 years of experience and 116,000 clients in 200 countries, it is one of the world's leading providers of such services. In Belgium, a team of Dutch-, French- and English-speaking psychologists are available 24/7 year-round for employees and their families.

Smets continues, “They can contact one of our psychologists directly by phone, chat or video call at any time of day or night. Follow-up sessions can be scheduled with the same psychologist or a therapist from the employer’s regional network. We guarantee absolute confidentiality: our psychologists work fully independently, all conversations are confidential and no personal information is passed on to the employer.”
 

Employees are also entitled to a number of coaching sessions, for example on stress management or a healthy lifestyle. Smets explains, “Managers and team leaders can also receive unlimited guidance on employee management. This is particularly useful for new managers, as there is often insufficient capacity within the organisation to assist them in their new role.”

Finally, employees can receive a wide range of practical support, including finding a solution for a childcare problem. Smets adds, “Our motto is to take the burden and stress off the shoulders of employees, so that they have the time and energy to concentrate on their work.”

In Belgium, not many employers are familiar yet with the Employee Assistance Program. In the U.S., Canada and England, however, almost every organisation offers this type of programme.

“Mental health facilities are reaching their limits. The coronavirus crisis has given many people mental fatigue, resulting in long waiting lists. Unfortunately, it can take months before you can see a psychologist. We meet this need with our dedicated network of qualified psychologists.”
 

A number of major employers in our country have already jumped on the bandwagon to offer this service to their employees, including Nestlé. But the coronavirus crisis has also created important momentum for small and medium-sized companies.

Smets adds, “If a small company loses one of its employees, the impact is immediately noticed. SME employers have experienced this first hand. Moreover, due to their considerable loyalty to their employers, SME employees push themselves to the limit. But with mental issues, it is important to intervene quickly.”

“By offering an EAP, you show that you are concerned about the well-being of your team, both as employees and as individuals,” concludes Smets. “For employees, it is reassuring to know that their concerns can be discussed in confidence with an external professional and follow-up steps taken if necessary. In other words, that their employer cares about their well-being. This in turn enhances their loyalty and has a positive effect on your image as an employer – not unimportant in a tight job market.”