Life in the diaspora: EAP – the workplace benefit you may not know you have
By Mary Opii
When people think about employee benefits in the UK, their minds often go straight to salary, annual leave, pension, sick pay or perhaps staff discounts. There is, however, another benefit that many employees may have access to without fully understanding its value: the Employee Assistance Programme, commonly known as EAP.
For someone new to the UK workplace, an EAP can easily look like another item buried somewhere in an employee handbook or an email from Human Resources. You may read the words, note that it exists, and move on without giving it another thought. That would be a missed opportunity.
An EAP is designed to provide employees with support when they are dealing with personal or work-related challenges. Depending on the employer and the EAP provider, this may include access to counselling, emotional support, practical advice, financial guidance, legal information and assistance with issues affecting an employee’s wellbeing.
What makes the concept particularly interesting is that the support is not necessarily connected to whether you are struggling to perform your job. You can be doing perfectly well at work and still have challenges in your personal life.
Perhaps you are going through a difficult family situation. Maybe you are worried about your finances, dealing with bereavement, experiencing relationship difficulties, or simply finding it difficult to cope with the pressures of everyday life. These things do not disappear simply because you have clocked in for work.
For many Nigerians living in the UK, this can be particularly relevant. We often come from strong family and community networks where personal problems are discussed with relatives, friends, church members or trusted elders. But when you live thousands of miles away from your extended family, the person you would normally call may be in another country.
The EAP can provide another avenue for professional support. I found the concept interesting because it represents a different way of looking at employee wellbeing. The employer recognises that an employee’s life does not begin and end at the workplace. Sometimes, helping a person deal with an issue outside work can also help them remain focused and productive at work.
Another important lesson is that employees should familiarise themselves with the service before they actually need it.
When everything is going well, take a few minutes to find out how your EAP works. Find out who provides the service, how to access it, what areas of support are available and what confidentiality arrangements apply. The details vary between employers and providers, so it is important to read the information supplied by your own organisation rather than making assumptions.
This is particularly important because EAP services are not all identical. Some employers may provide telephone support, while others may offer online services or access to counselling sessions. Some programmes may extend support to immediate family members, while others may have different arrangements.
There is also no shame in using an employee assistance service. Seeking support does not mean that someone is weak, incapable or unable to cope. Sometimes it simply means recognising that a particular situation would benefit from professional guidance.
This is another lesson that life in the UK can teach newcomers. We often celebrate resilience, and rightly so. But resilience should not be confused with carrying every burden alone.
The workplace has changed considerably over the years. Employers increasingly recognise that supporting employees involves more than paying salaries. A healthy workforce requires people to feel supported, respected and able to seek help when they need it.
For Nigerians in the diaspora, understanding benefits such as EAP is part of understanding the wider UK employment culture. We should not only know what we are paid to do; we should also understand the support and benefits available to us as employees.
Sometimes, the most valuable benefit in your workplace may not be the one you use every month. It may simply be the one that is available when you suddenly need it.
So, the next time you receive an email about your Employee Assistance Programme, don’t delete it immediately. Read it. Save the contact details.
You may never need the service, but if life unexpectedly becomes difficult, knowing that help is only a phone call or click away can make all the difference.
