Employee Assistance Program
Provide access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits to all employees after 30-days of employment (or less).
Why This Commitment?
The pandemic has exacerbated the need for mental health resources in our small communities. Currently, it has been identified that demand is much higher than capacity of existing community mental health services in the Bow Valley. Providing access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) after 30-days of employment will shorten wait times for employees in need of those services as well as encourage them to seek help when they need it.
Evaluation Plan
The commitment to provide EAP benefits through your existing extended healthcare benefits provider includes employees who work full-time, part-time, and casually once they have been employed by your organization for at least 30-days. This commitment is about access to resources and can be employer paid, employee paid or a shared cost. Employees can choose to opt out after being informed about the benefit.
We strongly encourage that this resource be employer paid, however recognize that this would not have been budgeted for 2023. In the provided Resources, you will find a worksheet to calculate a cost estimate for your 2024 budget as full or shared with employees.
To complete this commitment, submit the following by December 31, 2023 to Karli@bllha.ca:
Copy of communication used to communicate this new policy to employees with the effective date
Section of Employee Handbook referencing EAP benefits and eligibility
Publication posted in employee areas or sent through electronic employee communication channels regularly on how to access EAP confidentially.
In January 2024, we will:
Ensure the employee communication of the EAP benefit came into effect before December 31, 2023
Review the handbook to ensure it includes full-time, part-time and casual employees after 30-days of employment (or less)
Review publication to ensure it includes EAP phone number, company plan number and instructions on how to find your personal plan number for EAP access
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions – Employee Assistance Program (EAP):
What is an EAP?
The services provided by EAP’s vary by provider however in general it is a service in addition to extended healthcare benefits. This service generally offers employees counselling for times when they are in distress. This includes matters regarding mental health, financial stress, grief, addiction and more. EAP’s are private health counsellors and are separate from public, community resources.
Why is the commitment effective after 30 days of employment?
This timeline was specifically defined to ensure that a relationship with an employee has been established. The nature of our workforce in our destination is often transient, and therefore this commitment has administration and cost for employers in mind while still providing employees access early in their employment.
Do immediate family members of employees have access to the EAP?
If you offer family coverage in your extended benefits plan, dependants (spouse or children) will also have access to the EAP. Provider offerings may vary, so ensure you ask questions about coverage and costs regarding family coverage during implementation.
Are there any tax implications if we pay for the EAP for our employees?
Yes, this would be considered a taxable benefit.
If you do not currently have codes for employer paid benefit premiums in your payroll system, ensure that during the configuration of these codes they are routed to comply with taxable benefit requirements each pay and at year end.
Can the cost of the EAP be shared with the employee?
Yes, once and employee is enrolled, and they have explicitly consented to the cost, you can charge the employee portion and employer portion of the benefit through payroll. The employer premium portion is a taxable benefit.
Supporting Organization: Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association (BLLHA)
For support with this commitment, contact:
Karli Fleury, CPHR, PCP
Director of Workforce & Communications
Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association
karli@bllha.ca
