A Framework for Evaluating Employee Assistance Programs

Abstract

Particularly in the past decade, Employee Assistance Programs (EMS) have become an integral part of the management of public sector and private sector organizations. The evolution of EAPs is briefly traced and the claims of advocates regarding their positive effects are documented. It is also emphasized that, in spite of their ubiquity, little attention has been given to devising strategies for evaluating the success or failure of EAPs. A framework is developed to guide comprehensive evaluations of such programs. A framework is developed to guide comprehensive evaluations of such programs. The framework stresses five aspects of EAP performance: effort, program performance (outcome evaluation), adequacy of performance, efficiency, and process evaluation.