Following is an abridged version of the EAPA Standards and Professional Guidelines for Employee Assistance Programs. The complete text of the Standards and Professional Guidelines provides more detailed information on the essential and recommended components of an EAP, including the intended effect and outcome of implementing each standard.

You can view the complete text in our Members' Area.

I. Programme Design

A. Needs Assessment
Programme design shall be based on an assessment of organisation and employee needs.

B. Advisory Function
An advisory process within the organisation shall be created and shall provide for the
involvement of representatives of all key segments of the workforce.

C. Service Delivery Systems
Employee assistance programme services shall be provided through a distinct, identifiable delivery system.

D. Additional Services
The employee assistance programme shall remain alert for emerging needs and may add new services when they are consistent with, and complementary to, the EAP Core Technology.

E. Organisational EAP Policy Statement
The organisation shall adopt a written policy that defines the employee assistance programme's relationship to the organisation, describes the programme as a confidential resource, and states the scope and limitations of the programme's services.

F. Implementation Plan
An implementation plan shall outline the actions needed to establish a fully functional
employee assistance programme and set forth a timeline for the completion of such actions.


II. Management and Administration

A. EAP Administrative and Operating Procedures
Written procedures for employee assistance programme administration and operation shall be developed based on organisation needs, programme objectives, and the organisation's employee assistance programme policy statement.

B. Staffing Levels
An adequate number of employee assistance professionals shall be available to achieve
the stated goals and objectives of the employee assistance programme.

C. Staff and Affiliate Criteria
The employee assistance programme shall retain professionals qualified to perform their duties.

D. Affiliate Management
The employee assistance programme shall ensure that all affiliates understand and accept the policies, procedures, and responsibilities associated with their role in the employee assistance programme.

E. EAP Consultation and Case Supervision
Every employee assistance professional who provides client services shall receive consultation and/or case supervision.

F. Professional Development
The employee assistance programme shall support employee assistance professionals' efforts to maintain and upgrade their knowledge.

G. Record Keeping
The employee assistance programme shall create and maintain client records that are consistent with the employee assistance programme's service delivery system, the organisation's policies, programme procedures, and applicable legal requirements.

H. Risk Management
The employee assistance programme shall take all reasonable precautions to limit its risk for exposure and liability.

I. Ethics
The employee assistance program shall require that all employee assistance personnel
adhere to the EAPA Code of Ethics.


III. Confidentiality and Regulatory Impact on Protective Rights

The employee assistance programme shall prepare and implement a written policy of
confidentiality that reflects professional standards and ethics and clearly elucidates all limits of confidentiality.


IV. Employee Assistance Programme Direct Services

A. Problem Identification/Assessment and Referral
The employee assistance programme shall identify and/or assess problems of the client,
develop an appropriate plan of action, and, when necessary, recommend or refer the client
to an appropriate resource for problem resolution.

B. Crisis Intervention
The employee assistance programme shall offer responsive crisis intervention services to
employees, eligible family members, and the organisation.

C. Short-Term Problem Resolution
The employee assistance programme shall establish procedures to determine when to provide short-term problem resolution services and when to make a referral to professional and/or community resources.

D. Monitoring and Follow-Up Services
The employee assistance programme shall establish procedures to ensure appropriate follow-up and/or monitoring of client progress.

E. Training of Organisation Leadership
The employee assistance programme shall provide training for organisation leadership to
communicate employee assistance programme purpose and procedures and to explain their role in the programme.

F. Consultation With Organisation Leadership
The employee assistance programme shall provide individual consultation to organiisation leadership regarding the management and referral to the employee assistance programme of employees with job performance or behavioural/medical problems.

G. Organisational Consultation
The employee assistance programme shall provide consultation to the organisation regarding issues, policies, practices, and events that may impact employee well-being.

H. Programme Promotion and Education
The employee assistance programme shall coordinate the development, availability, and use of promotional materials and activities that encourage the use of the programme by employees, eligible family members, and organisation leadership.

V. Drug-Free Workplace/Substance Abuse Professional Direct Services

A. Drug-Free Workplace
The employee assistance programme shall assist the organisation in the development and
implementation of policies, procedures, programmes, and services that advocate and support a drug-free workplace.

VI. Strategic Partnerships

A. Internal Organisational Activities
The employee assistance programme shall be positioned at an organisational level from which it can most effectively communicate with and influence the executive level of the organisation.

B. Integrated Employee Assistance Programme and Managed Care Systems
The employee assistance programme shall collaborate with all managed behavioral health care (MBHC) systems that provide services to the organisation to establish and define the
relationship between the employee assistance programme and the MBHC system and to
delineate their respective roles and responsibilities.

C. External Community Organizations and Resources
The employee assistance programme shall identify, utilise, and continually evaluate health care delivery systems and other community resources that provide quality assistance to employees, eligible family members, and the organisation.

D. External Agencies
The employee assistance programme shall maintain awareness of the activities of external bodies that may impact the employee assistance programme. External bodies include regulatory agencies, legislatures, courts, advocacy groups, business groups, and academic centers.

The EAPA Code of Ethics
The EAPA Board has developed a Code of Ethics based on key activities, behavioural standards and most importantly, fundamental goals and values self evident through the examination of our diverse and rich history. The Code encourages Employee Assistance Professionals to adhere to high standards of ethical behaviour for the benefit of their clients. To view the Code, access through the members area.