Employee Assistance Program

The Maryland Nonprofits Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help you deal with personnel problems that happen in the workplace. The vendor for this service is the Employee Counseling Program operated by Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland.

Q: In general, what is the purpose of an EAP?

A: Organizations want to keep their employees satisfied and productive. Sometimes employees have problems that result in declining performance. If the problem is job-related, it can be solved by additional training or a workload adjustment. However, if the problem is caused by a personal situation, most supervisors aren't equipped to help the troubled employee. This is where the Employee Assistance Program comes in. An EAP gives the employee access to counselors qualified to assist with a variety of problems including alcohol/drugs, bereavement, emotional distress, marital relations, legal concerns, depression, family conflicts, stress, and financial concerns.

Q: What specifically does the Maryland Nonprofits EAP provide?

A: Each employee family unit is allowed up to three visits during a twelve months period, at no cost, for assessment, referral and short-term counseling.

The service is available 24 hours daily by telephone for questions, requests for service, and urgent situations.

There is assistance to employees in accessing outside services and treatment resources. If professional help beyond the EAP services is necessary, the counselor will try to refer the employee to an affordable provider with the employee's health insurance covering part or all of the expense of that referral when appropriate. There is follow-up of all referrals and monitoring of continuing care.

Telephone consultation is available to supervisors regarding "troubled employees" and job performance issues.

Employees can access the EAP through self-referral, mandatory referral by the supervisor because of an identified job performance problem which has progressed to the point of reprimand or discipline, or referral suggested by a supervisor because of an emerging job performance problem or when a personal problem has been confided.

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Q: Why should a nonprofit organization have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

A: An EAP can positively affect productivity, absenteeism, turnover, and employee morale. An EAP can show employees that the organization cares about them. An EAP can give employees peace of mind by knowing that professional and confidential help is available to them and their families.

An EAP is an important resource for supervisors and managers. It can be comforting to know there is somewhere to turn when dealing with difficult employees.

An EAP can fulfill federal and state grant requirements for a drug-free workplace policy.

Q: What is the cost of this service?

A: The cost of the EAP is $2.50 per month or $30.00 a year per employee. Studies show that EAP's save money in the long run because of increased productivity and reduced absenteeism.

Q: My organization only has a couple of employees, can we take advantage of this service?

A: This program is available to organizations with only one employee and to those with hundreds of employees.

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Q: Are part-time employees eligible?

A: Individual organizations may decide whether to offer the EAP to part-time people.

Q: Do all eligible employees have to be covered?

A: Yes. Unlike health insurance where people may decline coverage because they are covered by a spouse, all eligible employees must be covered by the service.

Q: My organization is located in Salisbury. Can my employees use the service?

A: Yes, employees and family members will be seen at an office near their home or where they work. There are service offices in Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Westminster, Annapolis, Randallstown, Dundalk, Towson, Bel Air, three in Baltimore City, Salisbury, Frederick, Lanham, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown, and Cumberland.

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Q: How will the organization be billed for the EAP services?

A: Your organization will be billed monthly. We require that your organization commit to the service for a minimum of twelve months. If you currently purchase any services from the Maryland Nonprofits Employee Benefit Trust, the EAP will show as an additional column on the monthly bill.

Q: My organization currently has an EAP with Family and Children's, can we switch to the Maryland Nonprofits plan?

A: Yes, your organization can switch and may save money by doing so. However, your organization may be charged separately for services that are now part of your contract. For example, on-site employee orientations will cost $35 each and on-site post-trauma intervention will be $90 per hour. Travel time will also be billed. You should carefully review your current arrangement and compare with the Maryland Nonprofits-sponsored EAP.

Q: In addition, to the employee assessment, referral, and consultation, what other services will my organization receive?

A: Your organization will receive brochures for your employees. Telephone consultation for implementation and policy development will be at no cost.

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If your organization would like to participate in the program, you can get started by downloading a contract and enrollment form from our site, fill them out, and return them to Maryland Nonprofits at 190 W. Ostend St., Suite 201, Baltimore, MD 21230, or by FAX at 410-727-1914.