Process Evaluation of an Australian EAP

Summary

This paper discusses the process evaluation-results from a larger study. Impact and outcome evaluation results are discussed elsewhere. The larger study was a comprehensive, independent and controlled evaluation of an employee assistance program (EAP) in one blue collar workplace of 400 employees. The EAP service provider supplies an external counselling service for employees in Western Australia. In this multiple time series design, the experimental group was those who used the EAP counselling service, and the two comparison groups were those who used Self-Arranged Counselling, and those who had No Counselling, over the 2.5 years of the study. Measurements were taken by employee surveys and employee records in five sets, 2 pre and 3 post EAP. The EAP was found to be implemented as planned, and effective in terms of being utilised, and in penetrating the pool of troubled employees in this particular company. Awareness and knowledge of the EAP were high for both supervisors and general staff, but attitudes toward the EAP by general staff were more negative than anticipated. The prevalence of troubled employees was quite high. Recommendations to the EAP provider and the purchasing company are made, including the necessity for meaSURABLE EAP strategy and process obejectives the nrrd to reduce the prop the necessity for measurable EAP strategy and process objectives, the need to reduce the proportion of troubled employees through additional welfare programs and structural changes to the workplace, and the need to address the relatively high proportion of negative attitudes toward the EAP provider.