Employee assistance consultants are professionals who focus on all aspects of your employees' lives, not just what happens when they are at work. Seek out employee assistance advice to maintain your employees' happiness levels and increase productivity. Also, a happy employee is more likely to look forward to work and show up every day.

No matter how small your company is, you and your employees can benefit from an employee assistance program. Consider these benefits if you are still on the fence about the pros of employee assistance plan consultants:

1. Employee assistance consulting for business results in lower turnover rates

2. Health and wellness seminars organized by a consultant for employee assistance can lead to fewer medical claims

3. Employee assistance plans result in reduced absenteeism

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose an employee assistance consulting firm tailored to your needs

Every business has unique needs. Find an employee assistance consulting firm offering a wide variety of services that you can customize to work with your company and employees.

I recommend: Perspectives, Ltd. is a Chicago-based human resources firm specializing in nationwide delivery of employee assistance programs (EAP), and other human resources consultation programs. Search the provider list of professional employee assistance plan consultants at Employee Assistance Professionals Association, Inc. to find someone in your area.

Find an employee assistance program consultant offering seminars to keep employees happy and healthy

It is important to make sure all your employees are happy and healthy to reduce sick days and insurance claims as well as to boost the overall mood on the job. Just as a stitch in time saves nine, wellness seminars ensure your best employees stay that way and that your mediocre employees improve.

I recommend: Contact REACH Employee Assistance Program to coordinate a seminar for your employees. Request a quote from NEAS, Inc. They offer a menu of wellness and health services including on-site seminars.

Select employee assistance consultants who can also help family members of employees

Many of the demands on employees come not only from the job, but from their home life. More and more, employees must maintain a well-run household, care for their children and also care for their aging parents which results in higher absenteeism. Your employees will benefit most from a program that can give them guidance in all these areas and which also allows their family members to take advantage of the services offered.

I recommend: ESI Employee Assistance Group also allows family members of employees to have access to counselors. ComPsych provides, among other things, a directory of child care and elder care services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Employee assistance program consulting is no longer limited to on-site help. Many programs now offer 24/7 phone and Internet support. This is ideal for employees who may feel too embarrassed to ask for help in person.