Comments on: Why employees hate EAPs http://www.hrbenefitsalert.com/why-employees-hate-eaps/ Daily dose of benefits news and know-how Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:36:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Linda Petrecca http://www.hrbenefitsalert.com/why-employees-hate-eaps/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Linda Petrecca Thu, 01 May 2008 16:46:04 +0000 http://www.hrbenefitsalert.com/?p=69#comment-48 We use a local EAP with a phone that is answered by a receptionist and a team of counselors who are there to provide service to employees and their families. Because they are local, they also come out and do trainings (4 hours/year included in contract) as well as on-site counseling (i.e. if an employee is involved in a fatal car accident). The only problem with a more local firm is that they are not open 24/7; and although they have an answering service who will contact one of their professionals in the event of an emergency, there have been complaints from employees that they do not have a 24/7 help line. Now, however, as part of our dental plan with Guardian, we do have a "phone line" EAP in addition to our other EAP. We use a local EAP with a phone that is answered by a receptionist and a team of counselors who are there to provide service to employees and their families. Because they are local, they also come out and do trainings (4 hours/year included in contract) as well as on-site counseling (i.e. if an employee is involved in a fatal car accident). The only problem with a more local firm is that they are not open 24/7; and although they have an answering service who will contact one of their professionals in the event of an emergency, there have been complaints from employees that they do not have a 24/7 help line. Now, however, as part of our dental plan with Guardian, we do have a “phone line” EAP in addition to our other EAP.

]]> By: Eileen Crochiere http://www.hrbenefitsalert.com/why-employees-hate-eaps/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Eileen Crochiere Thu, 01 May 2008 16:44:25 +0000 http://www.hrbenefitsalert.com/?p=69#comment-47 Linda, My company, EAP Network, is live answered around the clock. We've been in business for over 25 years and do not have and have never had an automated system that you describe. I certainly understand your frustration with such systems. I definitely prefer talking to person rather than a machine, especially in times of stress. I wanted to make sure that you knew that a few companies' practices do not account for all. There are literally hundreds of EAP programs across the country. The ones you cite are major insurance firms. The vast majority of EAP companies' only provide employee assistance programs and are not a side benefit of major health insurance companies. Insurance companies offering EAPs is a fairly new trend. Linda,

My company, EAP Network, is live answered around the clock. We’ve been in business for over 25 years and do not have and have never had an automated system that you describe. I certainly understand your frustration with such systems. I definitely prefer talking to person rather than a machine, especially in times of stress.

I wanted to make sure that you knew that a few companies’ practices do not account for all. There are literally hundreds of EAP programs across the country. The ones you cite are major insurance firms. The vast majority of EAP companies’ only provide employee assistance programs and are not a side benefit of major health insurance companies. Insurance companies offering EAPs is a fairly new trend.

]]> By: Lynda Cohen http://www.hrbenefitsalert.com/why-employees-hate-eaps/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Lynda Cohen Thu, 01 May 2008 15:27:27 +0000 http://www.hrbenefitsalert.com/?p=69#comment-46 The problem I have discovered with phone EAP's is that the caller is connected with an automated system - The suicidal person would probably commit suicide trying to get to a real person and converse. The automated system starts asking name, plan #, SS#, are you a family member or subscriber? etc., etc. Then it will say " all counselors are busy. Put in your callback # starting with area code - OR " Mrs. Jones is out today. She is the individual you need to talk to" I have tested all of the different EAP's - United Healthcare, Principal, MetLIfe - all of those phone EAP's have the same shortfalls. The problem I have discovered with phone EAP’s is that the caller is connected with an automated system – The suicidal person would probably commit suicide trying to get to a real person and converse. The automated system starts asking name, plan #, SS#, are you a family member or subscriber? etc., etc.
Then it will say ” all counselors are busy. Put in your callback # starting with area code – OR
” Mrs. Jones is out today. She is the individual you need to talk to”

I have tested all of the different EAP’s – United Healthcare, Principal, MetLIfe – all of those phone EAP’s have the same shortfalls.

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