Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are designed to enhance the emotional, mental and general psychological well-being of all employees. They are structured programs with defined offers, services and benefits to staff. Even if your practice already has an EAP, chances are it’s either outdated or underutilised. Medical design and fit-out company Evoke Projects looks at the benefits of EAPs with tips for designing or overhauling your program.
Burnout and stress are a real issue within the healthcare sector. The most recent survey by Mental Health Australia reported burnout rates of 84 per cent in healthcare staff.1 Of the healthcare workers experiencing burnout:
• 93 per cent report feeling tiredness and fatigue
• 74 per cent feel overwhelmed, anxious or fearful
• 68 per cent struggle with sleep problems and lack of energy to participate in socialising.
Not only does burnout affect the health of workers, but it also affects patients. A 2022 report by the Australian Medical Association revealed that nearly half of junior doctors had made a fatigue-induced error.2 While the report was about doctors, it is likely that fatigue contributes to errors in other healthcare roles.
An effective EAP should help improve staff mental health and work-life balance. From a business perspective, an EAP aids productivity, improves workplace culture and encourages staff loyalty, while reducing the likelihood of longer-term, more expensive health issues and absenteeism.
As written by Søvold et al., 2021,3 most healthcare professionals are trained to put patients first. Self-care is not always prioritised as they may fear judgment from others or feel selfish at the thought of attending their own needs. Even so, in a national study of Australian nurses and doctors within palliative care units, 100% of those using a self-care plan reported it to be an effective strategy, while 70% of those not currently using a self-care plan indicated they would consider developing a self-care plan if they were supported to do so.
An EAP provides exactly this support for healthcare workers to develop a self-care plan.
The steps below will help you develop an effective EAP. If you already have an EAP, it’s time to dust off the cover (metaphorically speaking because it’s probably buried in an online folder!) and get ready for an overhaul. The aim for a modern EAP is greater personalisation, better communication and leadership training to encourage proactive use of EAPs.
1. Define your EAP goals – What do you want to improve from a business perspective? For example, reduce absenteeism, attract new staff.
2. Survey employees – Confidential surveys will help you find out what is valuable for your staff.
3. Develop your EAP program – Your program will depend on your goals and survey results, but it may consist of counselling services, health initiatives, wellness programs and workshops on topics such as self-care and financial planning. You may use third parties, online programs or in-house resources to deliver these services. Ensure confidentiality is built into the program so that people feel comfortable using the services.
4. Launch the new program – Make sure that everybody knows how to access the various services, including remote workers. Explain the benefits and remind people regularly about the EAP and any new services or changes. Too often, EAPs are covered during the hiring process and promptly forgotten about by everyone.
5. Train management in the value of the EAP – You want managers to encourage staff to use the services for self-care and other benefits.
6. Evaluate each aspect of the EAP – Decide how you will measure the success of your EAP. Ideally, you want measurable outcomes, but that will not always be possible. You can ask for anonymous feedback from managers and staff.
If you would like advice, visit the EAPAA website for a list of members who can help you design an EAP for your healthcare practice. Link to https://www.eapaa.org.au/
Your healthcare design and fit-out can support delivery of your EAP. For example, you may need a quiet area where people feel comfortable discussing personal matters with a counsellor. A well-ventilated room could be used as an exercise area. A breakout zone provides somewhere for relaxation and recharging, which is a valuable part of self-care during the workday. Biophilic interior design will aid connection to nature to promote better mental health and well-being.
These are just a few examples. For more information on healthcare practice design and fit-outs to support your EAP, please call Evoke Projects on 1300 720 692.
