What Does an Employee Assistance Plan Manager do?

Increasingly, major corporations and public agencies are hiring an Employee Assistance Plan manager to oversee the development and delivery of a unique line of services that exist alongside more traditional workplace benefits. This positioned is design to “assist” employees with more routine needs, whether it’s a tax-free transit cost planning system, carpooling, child care services, physical fitness opportunities, or even light medical services and first aid administration. The role is becoming absolutely vital in large, corporate organizations that need to compete for workers based on employment benefits, workplace services, and the proper work-life balance to meet the demands of a new generation. While considering this vital role in modern workplaces, consider the primary responsibilities of the EAP manager as well.

Listening to Employees On the Job

One of the chief tasks assigned to the Employee Assistance Plan manager is to simply listen to employees when they offer feedback regarding their job, their manager, and their employer in general. EAP professionals typically operate a workplace suggestion box, which may collect data about employee happiness and job satisfaction levels either anonymously or in-person. They may use these suggestions to improve the office climate, implement changes in employee-facing programs and work tasks, or even alter the structure and nature of leadership in the office so that it is more responsive to employee and organizational preferences. This position is absolutely essential when striving to retain employees and avoid high levels of staff and managerial turnover.

Related: What Personality Traits Make a Good Human Resources Manager?

Convenience Programs for Commuters, Parents, and Others

Merely showing up at work is just half the battle. To get there, many people have navigated busy highways or waited on packed trains. Others have left children at home with another spouse, or hired and paid for the services of a nanny or daycare provider. Others have left elderly parents at home for a few hours, but will return to care for them during lunch breaks and after the workday is finished. EAP managers are dedicated to making it easier for employees to leave the home and get to work. To that end, they’ll provide carpooling directories and pre-tax incentives, and they’ll also work to offer employees pre-tax payroll deductions to afford the cost of mass transit services. EAP professionals will network with daycare and elder care providers, helping employees find a service that is highly rated, well regarded in the community, and able to relieve them of at least a few sources of worry.

Health Services and First Aid

While not all jobs require first aid services and on-site health management at all times, it’s safe to say that most of even the most traditional offices may encounter some kind of health crisis at some point. That’s where the EAP manager comes in. Rather than simply calling 911 and hoping for a quick response, many EAP managers are trained to provide basic health services that range from administering NSAIDs to providing CPR and even blood pressure monitoring. Others have quick access to company first aid supplies, and can be on the scene much more quickly than actual emergency responders. In the midst of a low-level health crisis, this firs line of response is a key part of continued employee health and peace of mind.

A Critical Position for Today’s Workforce

Today’s employees are looking for the right blend of safety, convenience, and balance, as they seek a job and compare offers from numerous employers. The role of the Employee Assistance Plan manager is simply to make sure that employees have access to the right combination of service, understanding, accommodation, so that they can be successful as they advance their career.