What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
Drug and alcohol use disorders can cause disruptions in a person’s family, community, and workplace. However, addiction is a treatable disease and your work may have a program to help you.
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a work-based program that offers a variety of services for employees. EAP programs for employees “address a broad and complex body of issues affecting mental and emotional well-being, such as alcohol and other substance abuse, stress, grief, family problems, and psychological disorders.” EAPs can also be involved in assisting organizations prevent and cope with workplace trauma, violence, and other emergencies.
Other services EAPs usually offer include:
- Employee education.
- Individual assessments.
- Organizational assessments.
- Short-term counseling.
- Management consultations.
- Referrals to treatment.
Some EAPs also offer financial, legal, and retirement services. EAP coverage and services will vary depending on each program. All information regarding the treatment, diagnosis, and identity of an employee accessing an EAP is confidential.
Contact Apex Recovery Tennessee to check your insurance coverage levels and discuss your treatment needs.
How Does an EAP Work?
Many people reach out to EAPs on their own, but sometimes it is through a referral from a coworker, Human Resources, or another department. EAP services are confidential, free of charge, and on-demand (services are available when you need them).
First, when you reach out, you will typically meet privately with an EAP professional to identify and/or resolve the issues that are affecting your job performance. Most EAPs offer a combination of channels of service including phone calls, web-based technologies, and office visits.
Using an EAP for Substance Abuse
Substance use disorders and other mental health problems affect over 14% of people aged 18 or older in Tennessee in 2022, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. EAPs are a free and confidential resource for employees struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
Many EAPs have specialists and staff who are certified and trained in working with people with drug and alcohol misuse problems. EAP substance abuse services often include:
- Identifying substance misuse problems.
- Short-term counseling.
- Education.
- Referrals to treatment.
- Follow-up support.
EAPs offer detailed information to help you or your loved one navigate the overwhelming process of seeking treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction reaching out for help is a step toward recovery.
Rehab Center in Tennessee That Accepts Insurance
For those seeking trusted rehab centers that take a wide range of TN insurance, Apex Recovery stands as a dedicated and accessible solution. Based just outside Nashville, it specializes in providing effective drug and alcohol addiction rehab and mental health treatment. The facility is committed to ensuring that individuals can start their journey to recovery with the support of their insurance coverage. Apex Recovery accepts health insurance, and offers individuals a pathway to comprehensive and quality care without unnecessary financial burdens.
- Apex Recovery Brentwood: 209 Ward Circle, Brentwood TN, 37027
- Apex Recovery Columbia: 2710 Trotwood Ave STE A & B Columbia, TN 38401
Fill in the form below to request a call back from Apex Recovery Tennessee
Benefits of Employee Assistance Programs
Some of the main benefits of EAPs include:
- Free and confidential guidance
- Accessibility
- Some programs allow spouses and other dependents of employees access to services.
- Certified trained professionals.
- Objective assessments of your condition.
Cons of Employee Assistance Programs
One of the biggest cons of EAPs is the short-term nature of the services for substance use disorders. However, EAPs are a great referral resource to long-term certified programs like Apex Recovery. If you or someone you know may be struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, you can reach out to an EAP for more information on how to get help and they can assist you in finding treatment.
What Do EAPs Cost?
EAPs are typically provided at no cost to the employee or the dependent of the employee using the service. However, programs that EAP staff refer you to may have associated costs. Many drug and alcohol programs have resources to help you understand and pay for treatment. Apex Recovery has a free online tool to check your insurance coverage. You can also speak with a specialist at Apex Recovery 24/7 to discuss payment options for rehab.
Check Your Insurance
Apex Recovery Tennessee is in-network and accepts most major health insurance plans to make rehab treatment more accessible. Contact us today to check your coverage!
Can I Be Fired for Going to Rehab?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 states that Employers “cannot fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees merely because they are enrolled in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.” However, the ADA doesn’t provide any special protection for people who are currently using illegal drugs.
If you are unsure or have questions about your right to attend rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction, reach out to an EAP today for free and confidential services.
Disclaimer: This is not legal advice.
How to Use an Employee Assistance Program
If you want to know how an EAP works at your place of employment, you can follow these steps:
- Contact the EAP provider
- Be prepared to provide information and documentation.
- Have a list of questions to ask written down.
- Ask about your options.
Using Your EAP for Addiction Treatment
Sometimes the quickest and least expensive first step into treatment is via an employee assistance program. Individuals sometimes hesitate to use it because they aren’t sure who will find out or what it covers. We answer common questions we hear about EAPs below. These are the questions working adults most often ask us about EAPs, leave, and job protection.
How many free counseling sessions does an EAP include?
The number of free counseling sessions an EAPs covers is set by your employer’s contract. They typically can cover between three and eight free sessions per issue. Sessions through EAPs are meant for assessment, short-term counseling, and referral, not for a fully comprehensive addiction treatment.
After the EAP cap, the further or ongoing care responsibilities move to your health insurance. An IOP structured around work hours may be the best next step for working professionals after the cap because they offer structured treatment several days a week without requiring time away from your job.
Will your employer know you used the EAP for a substance use problem?
Your employer wont know you used an EAP if you contact them on your own. Self-referrals are confidential, so your employer typically only sees anonymous usage totals for the company. There are a few exceptions where a counselor may have to share information without your consent:
- A serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else
- Suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult
- A court order
If you still have some privacy concerns regarding EAPs and you’re in a position of leadership you can also APEX’s admission specialists about executive rehab options.
What is a mandatory EAP referral, and what happens if you decline it?
A mandatory referral is when your employer formally requires you to contact the EAP. Mandatory referrals usually happen after a performance problem, safety incident, or positive drug test result. With your written consent, the EAP confirms to your employer whether you attended and followed recommendations, but what you discuss in the sessions remains confidential.
You are entitled to decline an EAP referral, but it may lead to disciplinary action or termination under your company’s company policy, particularly if the referral is part of a last-chance agreement. Programs aimed at working professionals are designed to help you meet those requirements and return to work.
Does FMLA protect your job while you’re in rehab?
Yes, FMLA will protect your job if you qualify. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act eligible employees will qualify for job protection for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year if they attend substance use treatment provided by a health care provider. Those eligible for this protection work for a covered employer and will have have worked with their employer for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the past year.
FMLA covers only the treatment and does not apply to any absences caused by substance use itself. Your employer can still apply a clearly stated substance use policy. Your leave can also be taken in blocks or reduced hours. You can calculate your FMLA leave before you plan your time off.
Can you choose your own rehab after an EAP referral?
Yes, you can usually choose your own rehab after an EAP referral. EAP referrals are simply recommendations, unless they are mandatory. So, after being recommended you can look into programs covered by your health insurance and choose the one that best suits your needs. If you have received a mandatory referral or last-chance agreement, you might be required to see a specific provider or level of care.
Take the time to compare the referral with your plan’s network before you decide so you know what you will pay. Ask your employer whether they need proof of enrollment to make sure you are following the requirements of EAP. Our admissions team can check your insurance benefits before you are admitted to APEX Recovery.
Is a DOT Substance Abuse Professional the same as an EAP counselor?
No, a DOT substance abuse professional is not the same as an EAP counselor. A DOT Substance Abuse Professional, or SAP, specifically evaluates transportation workers in safety-sensitive jobs after a drug or alcohol violation and decides what they are required to complete before it is acceptable for them to return to duty. An EAP counselor supports employees with any personal issues.
| EAP counselor | DOT SAP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | Any employee | Truck drivers, pilots, rail workers, and other DOT-regulated staff |
| When | Any time, voluntary or referred | After a DOT violation, before return to duty |
| Role | Short-term counseling and referral | Evaluation, treatment requirements, and follow-up testing plan |
A SAP does not provide treatment. Programs for working professionals are options you can discuss with APEX Recovery admissions specialists if a SAP recommends rehab treatment.
Sources
- NIDA (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). (n.d.). Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Provide Support.
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (n.d.). Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- EASNA. (2009). Selecting and Strengthening Employee Assistance Programs: A Purchaser’s Guide.
- SAMHSA. (2024). 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health National Maps of Prevalence Estimates, by State.
- Attridge et. al. (2009). Selecting and strengthening Employee Assistance Programs: A purchaser’s guide.
- SAMHSA. (2024). Federal Laws and Regulations.
- Paying for Mental Health Rehab
- Paying for Therapy
