An employee assistance programme is a confidential service offered through employers to help employees deal with a wide range of problems that could affect their work and wellbeing, offering short-term EAP counselling to help employees deal with personal and work-related problems.
EAPs address issues affecting physical and mental health, including financial matters, relationship issues, addiction, bereavement, and stress. An EAP is a reactive, fast-access service that helps employees get the care they need to get back on track, contributing to reducing absenteeism and boosting productivity.
Avensure’s Zest EAP is the best EAP for employers looking for a programme offering clinically certified content approved by the NHS and created by trusted world leaders in mental health, Priory Healthcare. Not only does Zest offer proven cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) 24/7 on all devices, but employers also have access to Avensure’s 14+ years of experience in HR services, broader HR support, and a dedicated HR specialist.
Avensure Zest EAP is available as an optional add-on to HR Protect, H&S Protect, or Total Protect. Whatever the problem is, it’s in hand. Just ask the 7,000+ UK businesses already working with Avensure.
What is an EAP / employee assistance programme?
An employee assistance programme (EAP) is an employer-paid scheme that provides employees with free 24-hour access to confidential support and professional advice with counsellors through various options, including phone, online chat, and video calls.
An EAP helps employees deal with both personal and professional issues that are negatively affecting their overall wellbeing, health and performance.
33.7 million
working days are lost a year to self-reported work-related ill health or injury – The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
New mental health research from Deloitte has estimated that the cost to employers of poor mental health is £51bn per year, with presenteeism (where people work in spite of illness but not at their full ability) could be costing employers around £24bn annually.
Employees can benefit by having immediate access to help that’s confidential and free to use.
Support areas covered by the Zest EAP
Core support areas where you can rely on our EAP services to provide 24/7 assistance
Zest EAP is designed to get employees the help they need fast. Because the programme is personalised to meet individual employee needs after an initial assessment, what’s included can cover a wide range of issues. Here are just a few.
Juggling work and caring responsibilities can cause worry and stress. Employees may have issues caring for both younger and older generations, may suffer from relationship problems or marital issues, all of which can be draining and distracting. With Zest EAP services, employees can confidentially discuss concerns and get advice and practical support using their device at any time.
Both physical and mental health is covered by the Zest EAP, with counselling services to relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress. Grief and bereavement are also common reasons an employee may use an EAP – as recent predictions suggest that bereavement in the workplace costs the UK economy nearly £23bn a year. The Zest EAP helps employees develop coping strategies, look to the future positively and move forward in a healthy way.
The psychological stress around money concerns can lead to burnout and has the potential to result in significant mental health issues and absenteeism if not addressed. Zest can support employees with concerns over spending, addressing issues as diverse as mortgage arrears, payday loans, or other financial concerns. Trained professionals can offer sound financial advice, such as debt management guidance and practical budgeting advice.
Whether an employee is worried about physical or online gambling, or is already suffering financial detriment from a gambling problem, the Zest EAP service can provide practical and emotional support. If the issue is affecting the employee’s mental health, a trained counsellor will be on hand to help provide instant support.
Substance abuse and other addictions can be addressed by the Zest EAP, both from talking through concerns to getting access to the right resources for treatment and recovery. The Zest EAP connects individuals with appropriate professionals trained to help employees recover from the addiction they need help with.
What sectors benefit most from an employee assistance programme (EAP)?
From hospitality to education, each sector has its own unique challenges for employees. As such, EAP programmes offer a range of benefits.
Hospitality and Hotels
For hospitality and hotel health and safety measures, adding an ESP is a huge asset for a workplace, especially when 40% of hospitality staff have shared that their work negatively affects their mental health.
Care homes
Care home health and safety is important to safeguard, given the demanding nature of the tasks and the high rate of staff churn. As there was an estimated 25% turnover rate in 2024 according to Skills For Care, an EAP can support employees in stressful periods and help boost retention.
Education
Working in education comes with unique challenges and school health and safety must protect teaching professionals from burnout.
Stats have shown 78% of all education staff are stressed and 77% of all staff experience symptoms of poor mental health due to work. Better mental health from a proven EAP can lead to better education outcomes for all.
Office work
It’s been suggested half of knowledge workers are distracted at work, with 33% saying this is caused by psychological distress.
Office health and safety can be supported with employee assistance programmes that are 24/7 and available on a range of devices, ensuring that, regardless of where or how they work, employees can get the support they need to deal with disputes, stress, or anxiety.
Warehousing
While warehousing health and safety is often associated with physical injury prevention, mental health support is incredibly important too. With shift patterns and labour-intensive tasks, as well as job instability, warehousing employees benefit greatly from 24/7 support via an EAP.
Benefits of using Avensure’s Zest employee assistance programme (EAP)
Whether you have just a few employees or thousands, Avensure’s EAP services offer the same great benefits. From reduced absenteeism to improved employee morale and productivity, an EAP can contribute to a healthier, more engaged workforce.
In fact, Deloitte’s return on investment analysis of employee mental health interventions shows on average, for every £1 spent on supporting their people’s mental health, employers get nearly £4.70 back on their investment in improved productivity.
If your business is currently paying for absences, missed deadlines, low productivity, or managing employee conflicts, the Avensure Zest EAP is likely to have tangible impacts, fast.
Employers with an EAP programme vs employers without an employee assistance programme:
|
HR issue |
Employers with EAP in place |
Employers without EAP |
|---|---|---|
|
Employee Wellbeing |
Higher levels of employee wellbeing and satisfaction |
Lower employee wellbeing; multiple unaddressed issues |
|
Mental Health Support |
Access to confidential support and counselling |
Limited or no formal support unless sourced privately |
|
Absenteeism |
Reduced sickness absence and absenteeism rates |
Higher rates of sickness absence |
|
Productivity |
Improved employee performance and productivity |
Potentially lower productivity due to lack of coping strategies |
|
Employee Retention |
Higher retention rates due to better support |
Higher turnover rates from feeling low or poor motivation |
|
Workplace Stress Management |
Effective management of workplace stress |
Unaddressed workplace stress or conflict |
|
Legal Compliance |
Better compliance with employer wellbeing obligations |
Risk of non-compliance with duty of care requirements |
|
Cost to Business |
Investment in EAP is often offset by reduced absence costs and boosted productivity |
Potential higher costs due to absence and turnover, recruitment fees, and more |
|
Access to Support Services |
24/7 access to qualified counsellors and practical advice |
Limited or no access to professional support |
Benefits of partnering with employee assistance programme providers
EAPs provide help for a huge range of issues, and partnering with an employee assistance programme provider is a great way to get a wealth of benefits for your business.
Benefits of implementing an employee support programme in the workplace
Our employee assistance services include
EAP implementation process
Understanding your business needs and requirements
Tailoring solutions to match your specific industry and company culture
Comprehensive rollout with clear communication to all stakeholders
Ongoing support with flexible referral options for continuous improvement
Employee assistance programme (EAP) pricing and ROI
Employee A: A year without an EAP
Employee A causes wasted management time, unplanned absences, disruption, and disputes, and is likely to be unmotivated to be retained or engaged in further training or development.
Measuring ROI from implementing an EAP assistance programme
We provide all the analytics and a review to ensure you’re thrilled with the results of your programme. Some of the expected results will include:
Reduction in absence costs
One of the warning signs of poor mental health can be lateness or absence. Offering an EAP can reduce absence and associated costs.
Improved productivity metrics
Employees being able to access practical ways to improve their lives can ensure that their minds are on the task at hand rather than personal issues, improving productivity.
Employee retention benefits
Employers who can offer a beneficial service such as an EAP are able to retain employees by showing their investment in their wellbeing. As such, tracking retention is another great metric.
Case studies with specific results
You may have specific case studies available in your business, for example, individuals or teams that suffer from absenteeism, disputes or poor productivity. By tracking a core section of your business, you can build up a solid case study to prove the value of your EAP.
Why choose Avensure’s EAP services?
Experience and expertise
When it comes to an EAP, it’s important to choose a service that you can put the trust of your employees’ mental and physical well-being in. With 14+ years of experience in HR services and over 5,000+ UK businesses served, at Avensure we’re proud to be a business that stands out from other services.
With a dedicated specialist who can work with you, our clients love the fact that we are a ‘Investors in People’ Gold Award holder, demonstrating our commitment to getting employee health right.
Integration with HR and employment law services
Your EAP shouldn’t stand alone. Employee issues are often connected. Mental health issues might be related to an addiction issue, while identifying ongoing lateness might highlight a need to broach an EWAP to an employee having early warning signs.
With Avensure you also get seamless integration with broader Avensure services for a really comprehensive approach to employee relations, as well as that single point of contact for all your HR needs.
Avensure case studies
Business Sector: Agriculture
We have had a simply excellent experience with Avensure as our HR/Legal support mechanism. They are an integral part of our team and an invaluable resource.
Annie, our designated advisor has genuinely saved our firm well over £100,000+ by ensuring we have responded to any employee issues in the right way.
Annie has always gone over and above to help us, even out of hours and the time and effort she has given to our firm has been incredible.
If you need HR and employment law advice and want to ensure you maintain a happy group of proactive employees, then I recommend Avensure 100% as an investment you will reap the rewards and benefits from time and again.
Wondering why you should choose Avensure’s Zest (EAP) above other employee assistance programme companies?
Avensure’s Zest EAP is the best EAP for employers looking for a programme that boasts clinically certified content and is approved by the NHS, but why not speak to our team to find out more? You can arrange a callback or get a quick quote for your business now!
