Thesis (MSD (Employee Assistance Programme))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

The study was conducted in order to determine the employee needs for an employee assistance programme in a welfare organisation in East London, Eastern Cape. This study was born out of a need from the management of this welfare organisation in East London who identified a need for an employee assistance Programme (EAP) within their organisation. According to management, there was a decline in productivity, and high stress levels due to high caseloads and societal demands (Leeuw, May 15, 2015). The theoretical framework that guided this research was systems theory. The rationale for using systems theory is that this study deals with individuals within an organisation who must coexist on a daily basis. There is a general belief that people and their physical-social-cultural environment interact in processes of mutual reciprocity and complementary exchanges (Merton, 2009). A qualitative approach was used in this study. Eight (8) employees from various levels in a welfare organisation were purposively selected to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and the interviews took more than forty-five (45) minutes each and this enabled the acquisition of rich information which is described in the findings and is used as a basis for the recommendations in the study. After the examination of the needs of employees for an EAP from the observations of both the employer and the employee it was clear that there is a need for employee assistance programmes in welfare organisations. Employees in this organisation are experiencing stress, burnout and were highly concerned about high caseloads that makes them feel incompetent to render adequate and quality services to their employees. The study also revealed that both employees and management of this organisation have different needs, experience different types of problems and view the EAP in different contexts. Despite the differences in their outlook on the situation, the evidence indicates that both employer and employee perceive that there is a need for an EAP, especially clinical services. At the same time, the issue of funding such a programme is also a concern. Recommendations were made for the organisation to develop an EAP to address the needs identified by employees, and for a clear communication strategy be developed to make all levels of employees within the organisation aware of the existence of such a programme. Another recommendation was made for the organisation to identify specific days on which they will conduct preventative awareness and debriefing sessions for the employees. It was also recommended that the South African Council for Social Services Professionals must standardise, regulate and monitor caseloads for the social work profession.

The study aimed to investigate the trends and patterns in Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) services from ICAS Southern Africa. The sample was forty RFPs from the public and private sectors. The sample of forty was drawn from the ICAS Southern Africa archives of RFPs for 2012 to 2016, using probability sampling. The quantitative research approach was followed, using document analysis design. The researcher utilised the content analysis technique to extract the information from the RFPs and quantify it into a coding sheet. The findings reflect changes in requests for EAP services by corporate clients in South Africa over the past five years. There was a trend towards the integration of services from the EAP, Health and Wellness, Work-life and other related fields. The service delivery models requested also showed changes with electronic services emerging strongly, which presents an opportunity for the three fields to further integrate and provide holistic services. / Mini Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Social Work and Criminology / MSocSci / Unrestricted

EAP, as part of the organizational Human Resource Management services, assists employees in dealing with challenges that affect their productivity at work. It is offered according to different approaches, depending on the size, availability of resources and nature of the organization. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) provide services designed to help employees, managers and organizations meet life challenges and remain healthy, engaged, and productive. However, the services that an EAP offers in an organization need to be marketed to its users. This allows the users, who are the employees of that particular organization, to understand and familiarize themselves with those services. Various strategies are used to market EAP. However its influence differs from one organization to another. The study was conducted in the public service to determine the effect of marketing strategies by EAPs during the developmental and implementation phases. More importantly, this study seeks to examine the most effective strategies for EAP marketing in the public service by means of the following objectives:- • A description of marketing strategies for EAPs from a theoretical point of view; • An exploration of marketing strategies which have been applied in the public service by means of an empirical study. • Formation of guidelines on marketing strategies that may ensure effective marketing during the developmental and implementation phases of EAP. The literature study outlines the processes and guidelines for implementation of the EAP during the developmental phases. This includes needs assessment, management consultation, EAP mainstreaming and EAP launch and management training. There is a direct link between the implementation plan for EAP and the marketing strategies to be employed. The main reason for conducting this study is vi therefore to try to align the implementation plan for the EAP with the relevant strategies to be employed, for the benefit of the public service. The empirical findings obtained from a sample of EAP practitioners and EAP heads in the public service have established the main purpose of the study, which will be conducted by following the mixed method research approach. The researcher applied the mixed method approach to find the general understanding by EAP practitioners of the subject being investigated and to verify such information with EAP heads in the public service. Data were presented by means of exact figures gained from precise measurement and the themes in chapter 3. This methodology was aimed at exploring the effective marketing strategies for EAP during the developmental and implementation phases in the public service (Gauteng). The findings of the study and the analysis revealed the effective strategies that should be employed by practitioners when EAP is introduced into a specific public service department to ensure effective and efficient use of its services. The study also formulated guidelines on the effective use of the EAP in the public service. The research conclusions and recommendations served as a basis for the development of a guideline to effectively market the EAP services in the public service during the developmental and implementation phases. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmchunu2014 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the Employee Assistance Programme on substance abuse in the Department of Public Works. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were applied in the study. Purposive sampling was used to select clients who were on the EAP data base due to substance abuse as well as supervisors as they have first-hand experience with employees utilising the Employee Assistance service and shop-stewards because they play significant role in the workplace in all matters affecting their members including substance abuse. Ten (10) EAP clients were interviewed using the structured interview schedule. A questionnaire was distributed amongst twenty (20) supervisors and six (6) shop-stewards. All EAP clients were males as they are mostly exposed to alcohol and drugs due to a cultural acceptance that men are allowed to drink alcohol and smoke in contrast to women. The majority of the respondents were Sepedi speaking as the study was conducted in Sekhukhune District which is dominated by the Sepedi speaking people. Some of the major findings of the study are: Most of the EAP clients with substance abuse problems had low education level which ranges between standard 3 to 9 and were mostly doing technical work which includes bricklaying, carpentry, welding, electrician work etc. Therefore this suggests that illiteracy contributes towards alcohol and drug abuse due to lack of information of the dangers of the substances. Supervisors and shop-stewards believe that the EAP plays a pivotal role in the workplace to address employees‟ problems such as substance abuse that negatively affects employees‟ performance and productivity. They are also aware of their role of identifying, supporting and referring employees who need help. However, more supervisory training should be conducted to capacitate and strengthen their skills and knowledge on EAP. vi The study revealed that the Department does not have an effective preventative method as well as aftercare programme to assist employees with substance abuse problem which was identified to be the most common in the workplace. It was also highlighted that EAP focus in the Department was more on HIV/AIDS related issues and counselling than other issues. Preventative programmes, such as awareness campaigns on substance abuse, alcohol educational programmes, and peer-intervention as well as aftercare programmes are not implemented. Known cases of substance abuse intervention were identified with no aftercare programme which leads to clients relapsing. It was also found out that there are challenges experienced by EAP clients, supervisors and shop-stewards while utilising the service. Some of the challenges identified were lack of resources such as shortage of staff and budget. The largest group of EAP clients prefer an off-site model as well as ninety-five (95%) of supervisors, who agree that an off-site model is the best for the Department as an in house model promotes conflict of interest and poses confidentiality risks. Nevertheless, all EAP clients maintained that the principle of confidentiality was adhered to. It was also emphasised by the respondents that an off-site model exposes clients to a pool of different professionals such as social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses etc. as compared to an in-house model where only one professional is rendering all services. From the findings it was concluded that EAP in the Limpopo Department of Public Works (LDPW) is not effective in addressing substance abuse since there are no preventative programmes as well as after-care services in place; hence the high rate of EAP clientele with substance abuse problem. However, the respondents are satisfied with the other services rendered through the EAP. For the programme to effectively address substance abuse problem it needs to be fully resourced with skilled staff and have enough budget.

Based on Bayer and Gerstein's (1988a) Bystander-Equity Model of Supervisory Helping Behavior, this study examined the relationship between characteristics of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), supervisors, workers, and the EAP referral process. These theorists suggest that individual and environmental variables interact in a dynamic fashion and that one result of this process is a management-initiated EAP referral. Specifically, it was hypothesized that managerial status, type of troubled worker, and EAP location would affect supervisors' likelihood to refer hypothetical impaired employees to an EAP.Graduate students (N = 222) were asked to imagine themselves as supervisors (upper, middle, or front-line) employed by a fictitious manufacturing firm. They were also asked to imagine that they were responsible for some hypothetical workers described in a set of scenarios. Each participant received one of three sets of scenarios (cocaine abuser, alcohol abuser, or job-impaired worker). Additionally, half of the participants were told that their EAP was corporately owned and company-based, and that the personnel were employees of the firm. The other half were told that their EAP was contracted-out to independent practitioners (i.e., not employees of the company), and that the program was community-based. Upon review of each scenario, respondents were asked to indicate their likelihood (OZ-100%) of referring a particular hypothetical employee to their fictitious EAP.Results of an ANOVA revealed no significant interactions. As expected, however, two main effects for type of substance abuse and managerial level were found. Participants were more likely to refer cocaine abusers to an EAP than alcohol or non-substance abusing hypothetical employees. Referral rates were also found to be higher for alcohol abusing workers as compared to non-substance abusers. Additionally, it was discovered that front-line managers were more likely to make referrals as contrasted with upper-level managers. There was no effect found for the location of the EAP.Based on these findings a number of theoretical explanations were offered as were empirical and programmitic implications. Limitations of this project were discussed in terms of the analogue methodology, the single dependent measure (i.e., likelihood to refer), the stimulus materials, and the sample population used. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (M.Com.(Human Resources Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MSD(Employee Assistance Programme))-University of Pretoria, 2004. / Abstract in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Mémoire (M.P.M.O.)--Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 2000. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (MSW(Social Work and Criminology))-University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.