Velazquez 1

Employee Assistant Programs

Tonya Velazquez

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Business 137

Principles of Management

Ray Walters

22 April 2014

Abstract

What is an employee assistant program? When did it start? Why is it needed? When should employees and employers utilize the program? Is it more cost-effective to hire new trainees and fire existing workers who no long perform to their full potential? This essay will give a brief outlook on the Employee Assistant Program and the benefits it gives not only to the employees but the business as a whole.

An employee assistant program or …show more content…

As the years have proceeded, outsourcing created new alternatives. There are now several options available. These options include insurance agencies, major big mental health, and local independent providers, whose monthly fees typically range from $2 to $6 per employee. (Employee Assistant Programs; Kendall )

A main reason why a business wants employees to utilize the employee assistant program is due to wanting to have an overall high retention rate. A retention rate “refers to the various policies and practices which let the employees stick to an organization for a longer period of time (“Employee Retention”)”. Businesses find implementing employee assistant programs as a smart business investment. The cost for the program, be it sponsored in house or outsourced are small in comparison to the cost it takes to rehire and train a new candidate. An employer wants to avoid this when they already have a capable employee who knows the job and understands the practice. The employee may be suffering from burnout or anxious about upcoming meetings or presentations both problems can easily be treated with a little bit of counseling.

North Carolina’s Office of State Human Resources Department