EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES: THEIR RATIONALE, BASIC PRINCIPLES AND ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15270/45-4-187Abstract
This paper presents background information about workplace programmes that provideneeded personal and social services to employees. These programmes are commonly referred
to as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs). The paper deals with the theoretical
background to aid an understanding of what these programmes are about. The discussions
revolve around three aspects: reasons why organisations establish these programmes; their
underlying principles and their essential elements; and the programme services, functions and
structure. In the first section, which focuses on the reasons for programme establishment, a
short list is provided of the commonly given reasons why organisations establish such
programmes to assist their employees. The second section focuses on programmes’ basic
principles, while the third discusses twelve essential elements of these programmes. The
paper ends with a descriptive illustration of programme development within a higher
education institution in which the author participated. This takes the form of tabular
presentations of programme functions and services as well as its structure. As the paper is
directed at the social work fraternity, it is important to begin by defining and explaining the
relationship between workplace programmes and social work, through the route of elucidating
occupational social work.
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