Thesis ( M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / The provision of Employee Assistance Programme in a working environment such as a municipality is very crucial. In order to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of the programme to justify its existence to the outside world and to assess the impact of its fulfilment to its objectives, evaluation is therefore necessary. The aim of this research study was to ascertain the implementation of the EAP at the Makhado Municipality in Vhembe District with special focus on the employees’ awareness of the programme, its utilization and also the programme adequacy. A qualitative approach was used in this study. Forty two (42) employees of various ranks or level’s in the municipality were randomly selected to participate in the study, and they were from all the four main centres of the municipality i.e. Makhado, Waterval, Dzanani and Vuwani. Summary of the Main Findings A high percentage (81%) of the employees knew of the existence of an EAP within the municipality, and meetings appeared to be the main awareness strategy. − The attitudes of employees towards the EAP were positive, this state of affairs points to the usefulness of the EAP service. − The EAP provided by the Municipality was viewed as accessible by the majority of employees. − The utilization rate of the EAP in the Municipality was very low as only 17% of respondents indicated that they had utilized the service before. − The majority of referrals were conducted by supervisors while only 9.1% were self referral. The majority of respondents did not answer the question implying various reason/s and could also mean lack or poor knowledge and information about referrals within the programme. (iv Implementation of the EAP at Makhado Municipality in Limpopo Province − The majority of employees did not respond to the question on whether they were satisfied with the EAP within the municipality, and that could translate into low knowledge and information about the programme. − The majority of employees were generally happy with the current location of EAP in the municipality. − The majority of employees viewed EAP as confidential and the level of trust in the EAP staff was high. − The majority of employees were not aware of the EAP policy and never participated in its formulation. − The majority of employees felt that EAP services were useful, and this means that provision of proper information might encourage employees to use the service. − Most employees suggested that frequent dissemination of information to employees through meetings, workshops and other regular contact sessions could enhance the EAP in the municipality. Recommendations The following recommendations with regard to the employees’ familiarity with the EAP are important: o That more awareness sessions be conducted with all employees, especially those at regions unit so that adequate information is cascaded to all employees of the municipality. o The awareness sessions should be conducted at least quarterly involving all regions, and the EAP Advisory Committee should meet at least bi-monthly to discuss aspects to improve and enhance EAP services in the municipality. o It is also recommended that additional qualified EAP personnel, with at least minimum qualifications in Social Work and, or Social Psychology, or any relevant (v Implementation of the EAP at Makhado Municipality in Limpopo Province qualifications and experience in EAP be appointed to run the programme on full-time basis. o That evaluation of the programme implementation should be conducted using the participatory strategies such as suggestion boxes, arranging focus groups and bench-marking with other institutions. The recommendation to allow employees opportunities to submit suggestions, in-puts and give feedback regarding the programme will no doubt assist in the improvement and promotion of the programme. o The Makhado Municipality should utilize different marketing strategies as recommended by EAP literature, such as the following: i. The use of promotional material such as brochures, leaflets, and posters that are user-friendly and in languages understandable by all employees of the municipality. ii. Outreach programmes: The EAP unit needs to regularly visit all the regional offices of the municipality in order to intensify information sharing to employees about the EAP. These can also include decentralising EAP workshops to the periphery offices in order to reach the employees who are far away from the head office in Louis Trichardt. The above-mentioned could serve as effective strategies in promoting and maximising the visibility of the EAP, and may close the gap on information not reaching all employees in the municipality thereby increasing its penetration rate.

「員工協助方案」（Employee Assistance Programs，EAPs）係指在於解決、預防各種影響員工工作績效上的問題，而這些問題的來源可能產生於工作場所、家庭及個人因素。期望透過該方案的執行，能有效的解決員工的問題與困擾，使員工能以健康之身心投入工作、提昇工作績效與促進其工作發展，進而降低員工流動率，提升生產力，減少企業整體福利成本之支出，以增進勞資合諧。 「員工協助方案」源自1917年之美國「職業戒酒方案」（Occupational Alcoholism Program， OAP），因早期最主要之員工問題即「酗酒問題」，之後逐漸擴大為更廣泛之員工個人問題，除了協助員工解決酗酒之問題外，並引進全面健康的概念，教導員工健康生活型態，致力於「預防勝於治療」。台灣最早引進此為天主教會，之後陸續由私人企業、民間服務機構、政府機關及學校單位使用。 研究者刻正於全國之衛生主管機關－行政院衛生署，負責「員工協助方案」之推動，結合衛生署之資源，採用「部分內置、部份外置」之模式，推動「員工協助方案」，透過推動過程中之「參與觀察法」及「深度訪談法」，並以「文獻探討」補其不足，有以下三點研究發現： ㄧ、目前「部份內置、部份外置」之模式，普遍獲得同仁之認同。 二、同仁普遍肯定此方案，惟部份同仁仍感幫助有限。 三、同仁普遍期望在現有的運作模式下，能加強同仁對「心理諮商」之正確認知，並應強調「預防勝於治療」之觀念。 / The Employee Assistance Programs， EAPs， is aimed at solving and prevent every issue that could influence the results of employees’ work. And these issues could come from the working place， from family and could also be individual. We hope to efficiently solve employees’ problems so that they could healthily do their job， enhance their efficiency and let them develop in their work in order to reduce the employee turnover rate and increase productivity. We also hope to reduce the general expenses of enterprises’ cost so that the employers and employees could coexist in harmony. The “Employee Assistance Programs” takes the “Occupational Alcoholism Program， OAP” of the United States in 1917 as a model. The major problem for employees at that time was alcoholism. It then widely became an individual problem. Besides helping employees to solve their alcoholic addiction， they were also introduced the concept of general health， teaching them to live healthily. It strived to “prevent instead of curing”. The catholic religion was the first to ever introduce such a system. It was followed by the private sector， civilian service centers and governmental institutions. The author of this study is responsible of the Department of Health’s Employee Assistance Programs. It combines the resources of the Department of Health to promote the assistance program by adopting a “partially intern and partially extern” model. In the course of such promotion， it uses the “participation and observation model” and the “In-depth Interview Technique”. The shortcomings of the study are completed with “document analysis”. This study has concluded the following three points” 1.The “partially intern and partially extern” model is commonly accepted by employees of the Department of Health. 2.Most employees think that this program is helpful， only a few think it doesn’t. 3.Most employees wish that they could be told more about the correct meaning of “psychological counseling” and the concept of “prevent instead of curing” under this current model.

This study investigated the prevalence of workplace drug prevention programs with regards to employee drug policies, drug testing, and employee assistance programs in a sample of Oregon manufacturing companies. The objectives of the study included: 1) identifying the contributing factors that supported the decision to implement or not implement a workforce drug policy and or a drug testing program; 2) identifying the different drug testing programs in use; 3) assessing how companies evaluated their drug testing programs; and 4) identifying the drug abuse-related services being provided through company employee assistance programs. A sample of 152 Oregon manufacturing companies with 100 or more employees was obtained from the Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1989-1990. A researcher-designed instrument was used to collect the information. Statistical procedures used for data analysis included frequency distribution, cross tabulation, and chi square. Approximately 80 percent of the manufacturing companies surveyed had a written workplace drug policy (83 percent) and a drug testing program (81 percent). In addition, 75 percent of the organizations had an employee assistance program which provided drug abuse-related services. Differences between manufacturers with drug polices and those without policies were not significant when comparisons were made based on company size and industry classification. Statistically significant differences were found between companies utilizing drug tests and those not testing when comparisons were made based on company size and industrial classification. Companies with drug testing programs (n= 123) administered tests to both job applicants (97 percent) and employees (92 percent). Applicants testing positive for drug use were not hired by most companies (93 percent), while "positive" employees were often (76 percent) referred to an employee assistance program. Few organizations (32 percent) attempted to measure the effectiveness of their testing program. Recommendations for further research included examining the drug prevention programs in a sample of all Oregon businesses. In addition, research should assess the perceptions of workers in Oregon with regards to the issue of workplace drug testing. / Graduation date: 1992

Giving a special treatment for employees in order to develop competences and engagement are still significant problem in human resources management in the organizations. To counter those problems, researchers and practices have been implementing some approaches, for example, well-established programs on selection, training, reward system, career development and performance appraisal, even more, to exert the employee assistance programs. This paper describes the relationship among the high commitment human resource management system, employee assistance programs, affective commitment, and employee engagement. I share 232 questionnaires as primary data in which respondents are on jobs¡¦ staff. Moreover, I use quantitative method in SEM, One-way ANOVA, etc., to analyze all the information. The main finding is that high commitment human resource management systems and employee assistant programs have a positive effect on job engagement through the mediate of affective commitment. The finding is highly supported the hypothesis I made, and also testify some researcher¡¦s suggests. Further from this research, I also offer some suggestions of management and practical to the issue.

This paper studies the use of Group Recreation Activity (G.R.A.) in the development of organization. G.R.A. is a skill usually used in an enterprise to improve interpersonal relationship, to relieve employees¡¦ working pressure, and to promote the morale of the employees so that the company will be more competitive. Besides literature review, the questionnaire investigation is applied before and after G.R.A. is implemented, in order to examine the effect of G.R.A. The study reveals that, at large, G.R.A. is helpful in raising the working efficiency. G.R.A. can promote workers¡¦ enthusiasm for their jobs, relieving employees from heavy pressure, improving the communicative ability of the group leader, fostering cooperation inside the company as well as strengthening the loyalty of the employees to the enterprise. The study also discloses a fact that G.R.A. cannot promote the employees¡¦ satisfaction for their salary. What employees care most is not G.R.A., but their income. In other words, the application of G.R.A. will work after the employees are satisfied with their wages, i.e., their basic need of living.

Thesis (M SD)--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [123-131]).

The Purpose of this study was to compare the demographic characteristics, health behaviors, health beliefs, and motivation to exercise of participants and people intending to participate in a corporate fitness program with those of non-participants and people not intending to participate. Six hundred employees of Lands' End, Inc. were randomly selected and mailed a questionnaire. A total of 307 employees returned the questionnaires for analysis. Raw scores were calculated and graphed for all data of this study. The Hypotheses were then tested with a Chi-square analysis. Significant differences were found between participants and non-participants as well as between those intending to participate and those not intending to participate. Demographic characteristics proved to be of little importance as only job classification showed any difference. However, participants appeared to be slightly healthier as they had fewer sick days and visited the physician less often. Participants believed that physical activity led to good health and always used that as motivation to exercise more regularly than non-participants. Participants also used fun, self-discipline, and body attractiveness as motivation to exercise. However, even though the participants appeared to be healthier than non-participants, the development of the Activity Center led to an increase in their exercise level. Employees who indicated that they intended to participate in the next six months were most likely to be salaried and believed that eating nutritious was important for their health. Those intending to participate also listed health and fitness and fun as motivation to exercise more than those people not intending to participate. Further study is suggested. / Fisher Institute for Wellness

Thesis (MSD(Employee Assistance Programme))-University of Pretoria, 2007. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-08, Section: B, page: 4985. Advisor: David Martin. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-131).

Thesis(MSoc.Sci (EAP))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.