The Evaluation Of An Insourced Employee Assistance Programme

Abstract

Employers worldwide are appreciating the increasing need for maximum employee productivity and effectiveness in a global economy. In countries with labour and/or skill shortages, the strategic value of worker recruitment and retention is vital. Employers are thus utilising workplace services, such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and other related programmes to enhance their overall Human Resources systems. However, the mere introduction of an EAP is not in itself sufficient to achieve all of the above. EAPs if not properly implemented are seldom successful and must therefore be evaluated to demonstrate their effectiveness. Thus in order to achieve the above the present study was designed with the overall aim of evaluating an insourced employee assistance programme (EAP) over a one year period in terms of impact and efficiency evaluation. The methodology implemented and the results of the study are presented in this article.

Opsomming
Werkgewers wêreldwyd toon waardering vir die toenemende behoefte aan maksimum werknemerproduktiwiteit en doeltreffendheid in ‘n globale ekonomie. In lande met arbeids- en vaardigheidstekorte, is die strategiese waarde van werknemerwerwing en -behoud krities. Werkgewers gebruik dus werkplekdienste, soos Werknemerbystandsprogramme (EAPs) en ander verwante programme, om die algehele menslikehulpbronstelsels te verbeter. Maar die blote ingebruikneming van ‘n EAP is opsigself nie genoegsaam om al die bogenoemde te bereik nie. EAPs is selde suksesvol, indien dit nie korrek geïmplementeer word nie en behoort om hierdie rede geëvalueer te word ten einde hulle doeltreffendheid te demonstreer. Ten einde die bogenoemde te bereik, is die teenswoordige studie ontwerp met die oorkoepelende oogmerk om die ingekontrakteerde werknemerbystandsprogram (EAP) oor ‘n periode van een jaar te evalueer in terme van impak- en effektiwiteitsbeoordeling. Die metodologie en die resultate van die studie word in die artikel aangebied.