Organizations do see returns on these investments. U.S. companies spend almost $1 billion each year on EAP programs. Studies suggest that most companies save from $5 to $16 for ever EAP dollar spent. That, for most organizations, is a significant return on investment!
No matter how beneficial EAPs may be to an organization, one aspect cannot be taken for granted: employee participation. Employees must see EAPs as worthwhile, and designed to help them deal with personal problems. To accept EAPs, employees need to know about the program and understand its confidential nature. Accordingly, they need extensive information regarding how the EAP works, how they can use its services, and its guaranteed confidentiality. Furthermore, supervisors must be properly trained to recognize changes in employee behaviors and to refer them to the EAP in a confidential manner.