Contemporary employee assistance programs (EAPs) are extensions of programs that had their start in U.S. companies in the 1940s. Companies such as DuPont, Standard Oil, and Kodak recognized that some employees were experiencing problems with alcohol. Formal programs were implemented on the company’s site to educate these workers about the dangers of alcohol and help them overcome their addiction. The rationale for these programs, which still holds today, is returning a productive employee to the job as swiftly as possible. For example, suppose Robert has been with your company for years. Robert was always a solid performer, but lately you notice his performance declining. The quality of his work is diminishing; he has been late three times in the past five weeks, and rumor has it that Robert has a problem with alcohol. You have every right to discipline Robert according to the organization’s discipline process, but discipline alone is unlikely to help, and after a time, you may end up firing him. You’ll lose a once-good performer and must fill the position with another-a process that may take eighteen months to finally achieve Robert’s productivity level, Instead of firing him, you decide to refer Robert to the organization’s EAP. This confidential program works with Robert to determine the cause (s) of his problems and seeks to help him overcome them. He meets frequently at first with the EPA counselor, and after a short period of time, Robert is back on the job-with performance improving. After four months, he is performing at the level prior to when the problem got out of hand. You have a fully productive employee back in four months, as opposed to possibly eighteen months, had you fired and replaced Robert.