The Value of Your EAP Program
June 09, 2015Years ago when I was pregnant, I was a nervous wreck. I did what every pregnant woman should not do. I found every article I could on every worse-case scenario imaginable about daycare.
Being pregnant, I cried over every article. My husband just shook his head and handed me a Kleenex. Luckily, I had an EAP (employee assistance program) at work that helped me find daycare for my daughter.
I received a form and I entered whether I wanted a nanny in home or an actual daycare establishment. The form asked me about geography and even the maximum I was willing to pay. It went to a representative who then sent me a list of daycare facilities to visit. She even contacted me to see how my progress was going.
A few years later, I was involved in a head on collision when a car jumped in my lane going in the wrong direction. I contacted the EAP for guidance because I did not have a clue as to what to do. They sent me information on what to do after a car accident and gave me a referral to a local attorney who handled our case at a discount due to the EAP.
I’m not the only one who has benefited from my EAP. My father-in-law had experienced a series of health issues and my husband and I were concerned that he may need extra help performing daily functions at home. I contacted my EAP to search for elder care providers in his area.
EAPs offers many more benefits such as possibly free counseling sessions, financial coaching sessions, estate planning services, resources for various workplace issues and resources for college bound children to name a few. Contact your benefits department to see if your employer offers an EAP. If so, I encourage you to go on your program’s website and contact your EAP to take advantage of all the benefits the program has to offer.