1 Washington Wellness April 17, 2008 Jan Paul, LMHC, CEAP Manager WA State Employee Assistance Program Department of Personnel Washington State Employee.

1

Washington Wellness

April 17, 2008

Jan Paul, LMHC, CEAPManager WA State Employee Assistance Program Department of Personnel

Washington State Employee Assistance Program – Your EAP

2

Overview of Services

Assessment, problem-solving & referral services for employees & family members

Work consultations to employees, management & HR

Presentations to promote health, wellness & productivity

Case management; Behavioral Risk Management; Threat Assessment or FFD Services; Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) services

Critical Incident Management (CIM)

Interagency Mediation Program (IAMP)

Employee Assistance Program

3

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Traditional EAP core technology functions and EAP-related services (Value-Added Services)

Critical Incident Management

Services

Drug Free Workplace (DFWP)

Change Management Assistance

Behavioral Risk Management Coordination

Interagency Mediation Program (IAMP)

SubstanceAbuse

Professional (SAP) Services (Federal DOT)

Return-to-Duty

Assistance/Last

Chance Contracts

Family/Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

24-Hour LineAmericans with Disabilities Act

(ADA)

Grief & Loss Support

Legal/Financial Referral

Violence Prevention/

Threat Assessment/

FFD

EAP Core Technology (Best Practice) Functions:

The presence of the EAP core technology is essential to EAPs

#1 Consultation with, training of, and assistance to work organization leadership (managers, supervisors, and union stewards) seeking to manage the troubled employee, enhance the work environment, and improve employee job performance; and, outreach to and education of employees and their family members about availability of EAP services.

#2 Confidential and timely problem identification/assessment services for employee clients with personal concerns that may affect job performance.

#3 Use of constructive confrontation, motivation, and short-term intervention with employee clients to address problems that affect job performance.

#4 Referral of employee clients for diagnosis, treatment, and assistance, plus case monitoring and follow-up service.

#5 Consultation to work organizations in establishing and maintaining effective relations with treatment and other service providers, and in managing provider contracts.

#6 Consultation to work organizations to encourage availability of and employee access to employee health benefits covering medical and behavioral problems, including, but not limited to, alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental and emotional disorders.

#7 Identification of the effects of EAP services on the work organization and individual job performance.

4

What is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a worksite-based program designed to assist:

Managers, supervisor, HR working with difficult employee

performance/behavioral issues.

“Employee clients" in identifying and resolving personal problems, including, but not limited to, health, marital, family, financial, alcohol, drug, legal, emotional, stress, or other personal issues that may affect job performance. http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/

Employee Assistance Program

5

Why does the state offer an EAP?

It’s smart business.

If you’re doing well and day-to-day problems aren’t a distraction, you are more likely to be alert, motivated and concentrating on your job.

It costs more to hire and train a new employee than it does to help and keep a current employee.

We care about our employees. It’s that simple. http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/FAQs.htm

Employee Assistance Program

6

EAP helps with all sorts of problems:

Emotional

Family

Marital

Stress

Financial

Substance Abuse

Legal

Workplace

Domestic Violence

Conflict with coworkers or supervisors

Elder Care

Risky situations

Depression

Gambling

Employee Assistance Program

7

Is the EAP Confidential?

Yes, unless there are exceptions by policy or law:

Imminent risk: danger to self or another

Abuse or neglect: children, elderly, or developmentally disabled

Damage or destruction to state property

Court Ordered assessment or subpoena

Signed Authorization by client

Referral by management for work performance concerns

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/FAQs.htm

Employee Assistance Program

8

How does the EAP work for employees?

Assessment, short term problem resolution, referral

No charge

Voluntary

Confidential

Visit the “Employee” pages of our EAP website

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Employees/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/

Employee Assistance Program

9

How does the EAP work with supervisors? Management Consultation about difficult employee behavioral

problems

Referral to the EAP

Employee Orientation/Supervisor Training

Brief Presentations

Critical Incident Response– Sudden death of employees– Critical or traumatic situations at work

Support/consolation for supervisors working with “risky” behaviors at work

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/

Employee Assistance Program

10

Can employees be required to go?

No –

RCW 41.04.720: Attendance at the EAP is voluntary. Employee assistance program -- *Director of human resources -- Duties.

The *director of human resources shall: (1)

(2)

(3)Encourage and promote the voluntary use of the employee assistance program by increasing employee awareness and disseminating educational materials;

Employee Assistance Program

11

Types of Referrals

Self Initiated by employee or dependent.

Informal Suggestion based on concern or prevention. Consult with EAP early before it becomes a problem.

Formal The problem has affected the job: attendance, performance,

conduct problems. Component of “just cause” disciplinary action. Non-involvement is not to be used as basis of disciplinary action Miscellaneous or personal leave/consult with WAC 357 & CBA.

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/ReferralstotheEAP.htm

Employee Assistance Program

12

Can employees use state time to go to the EAP?

Yes –

Civil Service Rules: Chapter 357-31 325; Must an employer grant leave with pay for other miscellaneous

reasons such as to take a state examination?

(1) Leave with pay must be granted to an employee:(a) To allow an employee to receive assessment from the

employee advisory service;

Employee Assistance Program

13

What issues do supervisors talk with the EAP about?

Organizational6%

Training13%

High Risk30%

Information & Referral

21%

Mediation5%

Work Performance

24%

Follow Up1%

High Risk Issues:

Critical Incident Mgt – 35%

Crisis Intervention – 35%

Domestic Violence – 4%

DOT Substance Abuse– 2%

Fit for Duty/Threat Assess – 10%

Sexual Harassment – 4%

Violence at Work – 10%

Employee Assistance Program

14

Presenting Problems vs. Assessed ProblemsSupervisors don’t have to be counselors too. It is good supervision to manage the work performance and refer possible underlying personal problems to the EAP. An employee’s stated problem is not always the true underlying problem.

Primary Presenting Problem

Primary Assessed Problem60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Addictions

Emotional

Financial/L

egal

Marriage/Family

Physica

l/Medica

l

Work-

related Issu

es

6%

22%20%

38%

3% 2%

22%

14%4% 5%

44%

19%

Employee Assistance Program

15

ResponseReview/

Plan Revision

BeforeContingency

Planning

Follow-Up

AfterPost

IncidentResponse

DuringResponding

ResponseReview/

Plan Revision

BeforeContingency

Planning

Follow-Up

AfterPost

IncidentResponse

DuringResponding

16

Can the EAP help with conflict?

Interpersonal conflict can lead to decreased staff morale and decreased productivity. The EAP can assist in addressing these issues through the Interagency Mediation Program (IAMP).

Interagency Mediation Program

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/Mediation/InteragencyMediationProgram.htm

Employee Assistance Program

17

InterAgency Mediation Program (IAMP)

A consortium of 18 state agencies with trained and certified mediators

Coordinated by the Employee Assistance Program

Provides a proven alternative for member agency employees and employers to resolve all levels of workplace conflicts in a confidential, safe and neutral environment

91% Settlement Agreements (Satisfaction) through IAMP

Employee Assistance Program

18

What else can the EAP help me with?

Assistance for you and your workgroup should one of your employees die.

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/CriticalIncidentResponse.htm

Crisis Intervention and assistance with risk assessment http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/Presentations.

htm http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/

ViolenceinWorkplace/

Supervisor Newsletters http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/

Newsletters/

Critical Incident Management Services. Supporting you as a manager to do your job managing an impacted work group. The EAP also provides direct help to he workplace.

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/CriticalIncidentResponse.htm

Employee Assistance Program

19

The EAP works

Client feedback summaries show:

Overall Satisfaction with the

Employee Assistance Program

= 90%

Employee Assistance Program

20

When an employee asks for help . . .

Do you have a question?

Do you need a sounding board?

Does a problem impact your life?

Are you experiencing signs of stress?

Are there attendance, performance or conduct problems on the job?

Is your family in need of help?

Call your WA State Employee Assistance Program.

Employee Assistance Program

21

When to call the EAP - Managers You have a difficult employee performance issue

You need to talk about approaching an employee with a problem

Supervisors are encouraged to refer employees to the EAP when it has been identified that an employee’s personal matters have begun to negatively impact his or her work performance. 

You also are experiencing a personal problem

Call your WA State Employee Assistance Program.

Employee Assistance Program

22

How do I contact the EAP?

Seattle: 206-281-6315

Olympia: 360-753-3260

Spokane: 509-482-3686

Toll Free: 1-877-313-4455

24/7 Access: 1-866-704-6364

http://www.dop.wa.gov/Managers/EmployeeAssistanceProgram/ContactEAP.htm

Employee Assistance Program