This study explores monitoring and evaluation as a critical element in the success of any EAP. This forms part of Standard 27 in the EAPA-SA standards document. The monitoring and evaluation of the EAP in an organisation refers not only to the individual employee but also to the work organisation and the impact, success, and value of the programme within these two spheres. In recent years, EAPs have been recognised for returning employees to higher levels of efficiency and productivity as a result of the brief therapy offered. In order to maintain this recognition, it is critical for EAPs to demonstrate their cost-effectiveness in terms of both employees and the organisation. This study is based on General Systems Theory and is of a qualitative nature. As is consistent with qualitative research, the aim was to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning that participants attach to the evaluation of EAPs. This was done by interviewing identified role players, often being those dealing with the EAPs in their organisations. The sample was taken from the client base of a leading EAP service provider and each client was approached to participate voluntarily in the research. The sample size was a total of twelve participants, however the researcher took saturation levels into consideration and therefore a total of ten participants were interviewed. The results of the research highlighted that, in the represented population, there is wide use of monitoring and evaluation processes. The results of these processes are used for various reasons, at different levels of the organisation and are often associated with the success and continuation of the programme. The researcher found that, whilst monitoring and evaluation takes place, standardisation is lacking and a number of clients have mentioned the need for standardised definitions and processes as well as an automated system. It is, therefore, recommended that iv further studies take place with clients of other service providers and that a process of standardisation be considered by EAPA. / 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

To answer the research question of "What would a conceptual framework for spirituality in an employee assistance (EAP) context entail?" an exploratory-descriptive approach was followed. A literature study was conducted to understand the construct of spirituality and the importance thereof in human functioning. Further, spirituality in practical contexts was explored, both in the workplace and in the EAP contexts. The researcher concluded that spirituality is better situated in the EAP that in the workplace setting in general. To further explore spirituality in the EAP context, a quantitative approach was followed and a survey in the form of web-based questionnaire was distributed to a list of EAP practitioners and professionals, which was obtained form EAPA-SA. Survey links were distributed to 232 (valid) email addresses of the members on the EAPA-SA list, and an additional 25 survey links were distributed to other respondents using snowball sampling. Out of the total of 257 valid survey links distributed, a total of 57 completed responses were received, a response rate of 22%. The survey aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices in respect of spirituality in their respective employee assistance practices. The respondents rated spirituality quite highly in both their own and in their clients' lives, indicating strong positive attitudes towards spirituality and that they frequently deal with spiritual matters in practice. However, respondents indicated uncertainty regarding their own knowledge levels and the training they received to enable them to deal with these matters in practice. Incorporating the results of the literature and empirical studies, a conceptual framework and recommendations for spiritual interventions in EAP practice are proposed. / Mini Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSocSci / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the meaning employees attributed to the lived experiences of having been declared in excess in the Gauteng Health Department during restructuring. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was selected as the most appropriate approach in conducting this study. Phenomenology offers both methodological and philosophical perspectives with the aim of developing a greater understanding through description, reflection and awareness of the meaning of having “been declared in excess”. Purposive sampling was implemented. A total of ten (10) female professional nurses participated in the study. Data were collected using one common ontological question that enabled the researcher to gain a greater understanding of what it means to be declared in excess from the participants’ perspective. Data were collected until saturation was reached. Unstructured audio-taped interviews were conducted with study participants. Data were analysed using the method developed by Giorgi (1985). The study highlighted different reactions from different participants despite being exposed to the same experience. / Health Studies / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil.)

ABSTRACT The negative impacts of trauma on clients are well known. However, the negative impact of working with traumatized clients on the counselor or helper has received less attention in the literature. Similarly, the contributions of certain work environments to experiences of compassion fatigue and the role of personality characteristics have gone unnoticed, especially in the South African context. The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between compassion fatigue, sense of coherence and work environment variables (job control, workload and collegial support), and to determine whether sense of coherence moderates the relationship between work environment and compassion fatigue on a sample of Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) practitioners in the South African organisational context (both public and private sectors). The current study adopted a non-experimental research design, categorised as cross-sectional and correlational. A non-probability sampling procedure was utilised. A sample of ninety-nine (99) EAP practitioners was obtained. A 10-items Job Control Scale (Wall, Jackson and Mullarkey, 1995), Workload and Collegial Support Scale by Dewe (1987) 11-items each, a 30- items Compassion Fatigue Self-Test Scale (Figley, 1995), and 13-items Orientation to Life Questionnaire (QLQ-13/SOC-13) by Antonovsky (1987; 1993) were administered. Results indicate that the sample in the current study were at higher risk of experiencing compassion fatigue. There was a positive significant relationship between workload, collegial support and compassion fatigue, a negative insignificant correlation between job control and compassion fatigue, and positive insignificant relationship between sense of coherence and compassion fatigue. The results between sense of coherence and the work environment variables were insignificant. Finally, sense of coherence was only found to moderate the relationship between workload and compassion fatigue and the relationship between collegial support and compassion fatigue.

This study explores supervisor’s experiences and perceptions of substance dependency and abuse within an organisation, the strategies used by these supervisors in dealing with substance-related incidents and their perceived effectiveness of the employee assistance programs utilised. Qualitative methodology was employed and semi- structured interviews were conducted. A non-probability sampling technique was used and a convenience sample comprising of 9 participants was selected from a single organisation in central Durban. The data obtained was then qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that substance abuse and dependency were present within the organisation but not a prevalent problem. Supervisors were well versed in company policies and responsive to employee substance related issues. Furthermore, supervisors perceived the organisations employee assistance program utilised as highly effective. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the meaning employees attributed to the lived experiences of having been declared in excess in the Gauteng Health Department during restructuring. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was selected as the most appropriate approach in conducting this study. Phenomenology offers both methodological and philosophical perspectives with the aim of developing a greater understanding through description, reflection and awareness of the meaning of having “been declared in excess”. Purposive sampling was implemented. A total of ten (10) female professional nurses participated in the study. Data were collected using one common ontological question that enabled the researcher to gain a greater understanding of what it means to be declared in excess from the participants’ perspective. Data were collected until saturation was reached. Unstructured audio-taped interviews were conducted with study participants. Data were analysed using the method developed by Giorgi (1985). The study highlighted different reactions from different participants despite being exposed to the same experience. / Health Studies / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil.)

The researcher has since 1996 been involved professionally in the field of Employee Assistance and has been witness to its evolution, growing complexity and potential to make a positive impact on the development of individuals and organizations through employer-employee relationship and workplace dynamics. The motivation for this study came from an interest to gain deeper understanding of the concept and implementation of EAPs by organizations in the researcher’s immediate environment and circle of potential influence. The development of EAPs in South Africa, influenced by various professions, has evolved as a result of different organizational needs which occur in varying forms and levels of sophistication depending on staffing, availability of resources and capacity within organizations. There is limited information available to EAP as a developing profession in terms of how programmes occur in South Africa. This study sought to analyze the prevalence and nature of EAPs in work organizations within the Buffalo City Municipal Area (BCMA) in the Eastern Cape Province, mainly to obtain reliable information on these programmes so that implementation of employee assistance can be evaluated and improved. This investigation provides a critical description of the implementation of EAPs in the BCMA with a view to establish prevalence, critically analyze the nature of EAPs, and to benchmark against existing Employee Assistance Professional Standards. The literature review includes a detailed examination of the history of EAPs in South Africa, contributions of the different professional disciplines, definitions of EAP, models currently in practice with the advantages, disadvantages and factors that influence the organizations choice of model and core technology of EAPs, as well as a critical examination of the 27 EAPA-SA Standards of 2005. The study is quantitative, exploratory and descriptive in nature as it sought to measure prevalence and provide descriptions of implementation methodologies in terms of form, shape, scope, staffing and services offered. These descriptive elements are benchmarked against the Standards for EAPs in South Africa, developed by the EAPA-SA, the official voice of the EAP profession. Questionnaires were administered to respondents that attended the local EAPA Branch and Occupational Health Nurses Association as well as Provincial Forum for Public Sector EAPs meetings. The respondents that were not reached this way were administered questionnaires personally. The population included organizations from both the private and public sector that employed a minimum staff compliment of two hundred. Since there are only 47 such organizations in the BCMA (both public and private sector), the entire population consisted of respondents and no sample was selected. Univariate analysis was used to assess data collected. The findings of the study indicate that EAPs are prevalent in BCMA organizations but they vary considerably in the way they have been developed and implemented. Benchmarked against the EAPA-SA Standards it is evident that while employee assistance programmes have certain basic elements in common, the overall design and implementation is fortuitous at best. Since the EAPA-SA standards have been developed concurrently with EAPs it is hoped that newly established EAPs will be a product of careful design rather than an inadvertent incident. EAPA-SA, educational institutions and business development forums need to collaborate and partner to provide comprehensive support to organizations and EAP practitioners to strengthen their EAPs. Correctly implemented, capacitated and resourced, EAPs can assist organizations to effectively manage their human resource behavior and health risks, maximize productivity as well as support individual employees to optimally manage personal and work challenges and function at their best. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The main impetus for conducting research of this type was for the researcher to better understand the nature and types of EAP and HIV and Aids programmes that exist in the selected Gauteng Public Service departments. The researcher was motivated to choose this subject as she was employed by the Gauteng Department of Education and is currently employed by the Gauteng Department of Health of which these departments are the largest departments in the province and was able see both the similarities and differences between how the EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace programmes were being conducted. One similarity between the programmes is that both EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes are concerned with employee well-being with the aim of enhancement of the quality of work life and productivity. Employee assistance programmes commenced in Gauteng as a directive from the office of the Premier in 1999 (Gauteng Department of Education [GDE] Draft EAP Policy, 2003).This directive was the seed that led the development of both EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes in the Gauteng Province. This was a smart decision of investing its employee’s wellness and was strategically originating from the top structure within the province. In this research an exploratory study was undertaken in order to identify the relationship between EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes in nine Gauteng government departments. The survey design was used within the quantitative approach and use was made of a structured questionnaire. The study was made up of the responses elicited from 14 employees representing 9 state departments within the Gauteng Provincial Government. These respondents were directly responsible for both or either EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes. Applied research, considers a situation in practice to answer practical question about the EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes within GPG, was used. The researcher sent out sixteen questionnaires using a purposive sampling method to select respondents for this study. A discussion of the theoretical overview covered EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes in South Africa. This was further delineated to EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace programmes in the public sector and to the Gauteng Province. The research findings indicated that that the departments surveyed varied drastically in terms of employee size from 60000 to 292. The majority of the respondents were female and were EAP coordinators and the most frequent undertaken daily task was counselling, although many of the government departments had been making use of an external service provider to render an EAP service. Counselling was a service offered by the external service provider. Other findings were that the majority of the respondent’s had a university degree and many even had post-graduate qualifications. Almost all departments surveyed had policies that were relevant to EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes in place. The recommended requirements needed to sustain the EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace programmes include the following: • Locating the EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace programmes at top management level within the respective departments. • Combining the HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes and EAP under the banner of Employee Wellness. • Ensuring that these programmes are adequately resourced both in terms of budget and staff. • On-going marketing of the programmes to increase utilization. This research has highlighted the need for an integrated programme under the banner of wellness that can holistically serve the needs of employees. EAP and HIV and Aids Workplace Programmes practised in isolation are not as effective as a integrated customised programme designed to suit the individual requirements of an organization and its employees. / Dissertation (MSD (Employee Assistance Programme))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This dissertation on the Evaluation of an Employee Assistance Programme determines the worth or value of the programme by assessing its effectiveness or ineffectiveness. It also seeks to determine if the target population was reached. This study evaluates the level of EAP awareness and utilization by prosecutors. It also focuses on the effectiveness of the programme in addressing their work and personal challenges. It further seeks to understand the level of referring prosecutors to the EAP by their supervisors. The study is evaluative in design and is based on evaluation theory. The population of the study comprises 31 prosecutors from all three Magistrate complexes within Capricorn District (Limpopo Province), namely, Mankweng, Polokwane and Seshego. The total number of prosecutors reached is 31. Data were collected through questionnaires from all the respondents. The study collected information on absenteeism, sick leave and disciplinary matters in order to measure EAP utilisation before and after the programme was introduced to employees. The wish was not successful because the Human Resources system utilised within the NPA did not capture such information as anticipated. The main findings of the study are that prosecutors are aware of the Employee Assistance Programme and most respondents who used the EAP referred themselves. It is clear that prosecutors are aware of the benefits obtained from the programme. Even though a large number of prosecutors were aware of the existence as well as the services offered by the EAP within the NPA, the utilisation rate of the programme was low. The other major finding is that the EAP within the NPA is underutilised. Lastly, the EAP within the NPA in Capricorn District, Limpopo Province is not effective in addressing prosecutors’ work and personal problems.