Home
/
Reviews
/
Top EAP Programs

The Top 9 Best Employee Assistance Program Providers – 2023

The best EAP systems and mental health software for employees, pitfalls, pricing and more

Phil Strazzulla
Written by
Phil Strazzulla
HR Tech Expert, Harvard MBA, Software Enthusiast
Contributing Experts
No items found.
We are a reader supported site with strict editorial standards, clicks may earn a fee which supports our testing. Learn More
Last Updated: Jan 13, 2023
TOP
Tools for mental wellness and resilience
Modern Health
4.1
Popularity Score
4.9
User Score
4.7
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Tools for mental wellness and resilience
Modern Health
4.1
Popularity Score
4.9
User Score
4.7
Product  Score
Get a Quote
TOP
All-in-one platform for corporate wellness
CoreHealth by Carebook
3.5
Popularity Score
5.0
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
All-in-one platform for corporate wellness
CoreHealth by Carebook
3.5
Popularity Score
5.0
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Get a Quote
TOP
Customized mental health care
Spring Health
3.4
Popularity Score
3.9
User Score
3.5
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Customized mental health care
Spring Health
3.4
Popularity Score
3.9
User Score
3.5
Product  Score
Get a Quote
Over 3 million HR leaders trust our advice

Introduction to Employee Assistance Program Providers

Are you on the hunt for the right Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for your organization? An effective EAP takes care of your most valuable asset — your employees — by providing them assistance during moments of personal strife related to mental health, substance abuse, family issues, and others. We’ve researched dozens of different EAP providers in order to guide your purchase decision, with a detailed rundown of our favorites, as well as common pitfalls, sample questions for demos and other great resources.

Between the rise of remote work, the continued COVID-19 pandemic, and our tumultuous political climate, it could be argued that EAPs have never been more vital. After all, it is a well-known fact that happy and healthy employees are more productive employees. And the cost of not providing this type of assistance can be enormous. According to the Center for Prevention and Health Services, workplaces lose $79 to $105 billion each year due to employee mental illness and substance abuse disorders. So let’s get started — dig into the below list of our top-rated vendors, along with our buying guide to streamline your decision-making process.

Show More +

Top EAP Programs

Modern Health

: Tools for mental wellness and resilience

CoreHealth by Carebook

: All-in-one platform for corporate wellness

Spring Health

: Customized mental health care

LifeWorks

: EAP with analytics and data

Ulliance

: 30 years in the business

Talkspace

: Clinically proven mental health results

Lyra Health

: Expect reliable clinical improvement

Anthem

: One-stop-shop EAP service

Ginger

: 24/7 behavioral coaching assistance

Our Criteria: Here's How We Chose The Top EAP Programs

We pride ourselves on strict editorial standards and use a thorough process to vet and review software before we publish it on the site (and in fact, most vendors we have to end up rejecting).  This process includes having our team of HR and recruiting experts use the tool themselves, getting user feedback, and then evaluating the vendor on key metrics like their financial health, customer retention, and responsiveness to customer queries.  You can read more about how we evaluate vendors here.

Reader Testimonials

"SelectSoftware Reviews is the best platform to discover top 1% HR tools. Their 10 years of HR Tech experience makes their reviews the best in the industry! Every time I speak about HR technology, SSR is my number one recommendation to for people pros."

Tracie Sponenberg
Chief People Officer, The Granite Group.

"SelectSoftware Reviews is my go-to place when it comes to researching HR tools. Their product reviews are real time-savers and trustworthy, and the online community is fantastic for bouncing questions and ideas off of others in the Talent space!"

Peter Stein
Building & Defining Recruiting Operations at Clear Street

"I trust SelectSoftware Reviews's HR Tech Reviews because they talk to so many experts, know the right questions to ask and uncover during in-depth product demos to come up with their best picks"

Stacie Justice
People + Strategy at Soundwide
Every month over 100,000 companies use SSR's research to find and buy the right HR software

Ready to find the right Employee Assistance Program Providers for you?

Tap into our database of hundreds of different HR tech stacks!
Let's do this
Takes 30 sec
Next
Back
Next
By submitting this form, you consent to being contacted by Strazzulla, LLC (SelectSoftware Reviews) and up to 3 vendor partners by phone and/or email. You agree that Strazzulla, LLC may share your data with its partners to complete your request. You have the right to email us and have us delete your personal data at any time.
Back

Based on your company size & location, we recommend:

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Detailed Reviews of the Best Employee Assistance Program Providers

Modern Health

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.9 / 5
Product Score
4.7 / 5

Why we picked Modern Health

Modern Health is a proactive mental healthcare solution that is highly personalized, interactive, and quick. It is a perfect option for organizations looking to support their workforce with customized treatment plans based on the employee’s current mental health needs.

PROS

  • Modern Health offers personalized treatment plans based on your specific mental health needs.
  • Modern Health's community sessions create a safe space where you can participate in discussions that matter to you, listen and learn from therapists and coaches, and pick up new skills.
  • Modern Health’s app interface is clean and user-friendly, setting the tone for the entire experience.

CONS

  • Once you run out of sessions covered by your employer, paying out of pocket can get quite expensive.

Modern Health dashboard screenshot - one of the best EAP Providers

Modern Health Review

Modern Health offers employees a personalized treatment plan based on their mental health needs and goals. This is usually a combination of self-help resources, behavioral coaching, group sessions, workshops, courses, and/or therapy. All you have to do is answer a few questions, get a personalized plan, and connect with a provider.

As an employer, you are provided access to the Insight Hub - a portal that integrates with your existing HR information system and provides valuable information about your workforce. You can view key metrics on the overall well-being of your organization, identify at-risk populations, see how many employees are using the platform, and extend support when needed. You can also use the Engagement Resource Library to equip yourself with the resources you need to handle your workforce. However, all patient information is confidential so employees don’t have to worry about their employer gaining access to their medical files.


Organizational well-being overview

Modern Health Customers

Pixar, EA, Lyft

Modern Health Pricing

Employers decide on a set number of sessions for employees per year. Additional sessions may cost extra if not covered by insurance.

Employers must contact Modern Health for detailed pricing.

Best For

Any business looking to provide its employees with access to therapy, coaching, and mental health resources.

No items found.

CoreHealth by Carebook

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
3.5 / 5
User Score
5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked CoreHealth by Carebook

CoreHealth helps companies create wellness programs for their employees. By putting health assessments, biometric management, and self-help programs in one place, CoreHealth acts as an all-in-one platform for all your corporate wellness needs.

PROS

  • CoreHealth serves as an all-in-one wellness platform, offering a range of physical, mental, and financial wellness solutions such as 1:1 coaching sessions, health surveys, learning programs, health risk assessments, and more.
  • CoreHealth's wellness platform is used by over 90 countries and is available in many different languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and French.
  • CoreHealth can be used as an out-of-the-box wellness solution that requires minimal effort to implement. This is great for companies that do not want to spend a lot of time or effort setting up an EAP. 
  • CoreHealth integrates with over 140+ third-party wellness vendors that offer ready-made wellness solutions that can be added to an organization's EAP.
  • CoreHealth's flexible and configurable white-label solution provides wellness and service providers the framework to create their own wellness solutions.

CONS

  • Priced at a minimum of $10,000, Corehealth's solution can be expensive for startups and small-sized companies. 
  • According to some of Corehealth's white-label solution users, implementing the framework and customizing the platform is a fairly complex process that requires considerable effort and technical skills.

CoreHealth dashboard screenshot - one of the best Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Providers

CoreHealth by Carebook Review

CoreHealth offers four different well-being solutions. Here's what they offer:

  1. CoreHealth Your Way: This solution includes wellness challenges, health assessments, 1:1 self-directed and coach-led coaching sessions, self-paced micro-learning programs, outcome/participation-based rewards, reporting dashboard, and integration with third-party vendors.
  2. CoreHealth Impact: This solution provides all the features of CoreHealth Your Way except for coaching sessions.
  3. CoreHealth Activate: Activate offers well-being challenges that focus on core areas like sleep, burnout, mental health, nutrition, and more. It is important to note that this solution does not provide any data insights about the health of your employees.
  4. CoreHealth Checkpoint: As the name suggests, this solution acts as a checkpoint by providing health-risk assessments and data-led insights on the overall well-being of your organization.

CoreHealth by Carebook Customers

  • WellNow
  • Access Information Protected

CoreHealth by Carebook Pricing

CoreHealth revised their pricing catalogue in February 2020. They recommend contacting a customer relationship manager for details.

Best For

CoreHealth is best for companies searching for a customizable EAP that fits to specific needs.

No items found.

Spring Health

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
3.4 / 5
User Score
3.9 / 5
Product Score
3.5 / 5

Why we picked Spring Health

Spring Health uses machine learning to match an employee with a personalized care plan. Care Navigators, utilization reports, and a myriad wellness programs – these are some reasons why leading employers trust Spring Health.

PROS

  • Spring Health uses data-driven insights and machine learning models to create a personalized mental healthcare plan for every individual
  • ‍Spring Health provides every member with a Care Navigator who walks you through your healthcare plan, answers any questions, helps you schedule your therapy sessions, and acts as a guide in your mental wellness journey.

CONS

  • You cannot access Spring Health’s services unless your employer has paid for it.
  • ‍Spring Health is only available in English

Our reviewer took screenshot of Spring Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Providers screenshot during the demo

Spring Health Review

Spring Health’s EAP provides employees access to technology-driven mental healthcare, with solutions ranging from subclinical such as self-help resources and exercises to deeply clinical like coaching, therapy, and rehab. They also offer critical incident support, either virtually or on-site, whenever your team needs it.

Spring Health Customers

Spring Health Pricing

For employees, the first 10 sessions every calendar year are free. After that, they are covered by insurance. For employer costs, contact Spring Health and talk to your benefits administrator.

Best For

Spring Health is great for any company looking to boost mental health efforts.

No items found.

LifeWorks

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
4.8 / 5
User Score
2.1 / 5
Product Score
3.6 / 5

Why we picked LifeWorks

Lifeworks aims to counter turnover, absenteeism, and productivity problems. Its modern EAP is proactive, interactive, mobile-first, and personalized.

PROS

  • Lifeworks’ employee wellness platform is a one-stop solution for all employee well-being needs. From mental to emotional, physical, and financial, this platform has something for everyone.
  • Lifeworks’ EAP offers employees 24/7 access to therapists and coaches who are experienced in treating various mental health disorders using techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Users also get access to a plethora of self-help resources, activities, tips on mental health management, workshops, and more.
  •  Lifeworks’ AbilitiAbsence makes absence reporting a breeze. Stakeholders and employers can get real-time information on who’s out of the office and why, identify trends, and build strategies to reduce absenteeism.

CONS

  • Lifeworks takes up to 5 business days to match you with a provider. In urgent cases, it takes a minimum of 24 hours. So if you’re looking for a platform that instantly connects you with a mental health practitioner in a matter of a few hours, then Lifeworks isn’t the best option.
  • ‍Some users say that Lifeworks’ pricing is more than a traditional EAP. However, bear in mind that Lifeworks is more than an EAP platform as it combines employee well-being services, rewards, absence management, and employee engagement.
Lifeworks EAP Company dashboard screenshot

LifeWorks Review

Lifework's EAP includes a well-being platform that offers 24/7 counseling sessions and self-help wellness resources for employees and their families. You can interact with licensed mental health professionals via video, chat, telephone, face-to-face, or group sessions, depending on whatever you're most comfortable with. They are equipped to help you navigate work-related problems, burnout, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. They also provide onsite critical incident support in the case of trauma or crisis. However, unlike some other EAPs that match you with a provider in a couple of hours, Lifeworks can take up to 5 business days and up to 24 hours in urgent cases.

Employees can also access specialists in financial and legal care to help with budgeting, debt, and legal proceedings, child care, elder care, and more.

LifeWorks Customers

  • Nestle
  • TD Bank
  • Marriot International

LifeWorks Pricing

While Lifeworks doesn't offer specific numbers, their service is offered on a subscription basis.

Best For

Lifeworks is best for companies looking for detailed wellness analytics along with their EAP.

No items found.

Ulliance

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
4.6 / 5
User Score
4.1 / 5
Product Score
4.7 / 5

Why we picked Ulliance

Designed to resolve personal concerns, workplace conflicts, and life challenges, Ulliance's EAP is cost effective, personalized, and has a high level of participation.

PROS

  • Ulliance offers a comprehensive EAP program that provides employees access to sessions with licensed counselors, behavioral coaching, and self-help resources such as podcasts, videos, tips on mental health management, activities, challenges, and more. Having such a massive library of resources is a great advantage. 
  • Unlike some other EAPs that cannot be used in the case of emergency situations, Ulliance offers 24/7 critical incident care so employees can use their services whenever they need them the most. 
  • Apart from offering services for employees, Ulliance also offers training, workshops, and consultation services for HR professionals and management so they can manage and grow their organization in a more efficient manner.

CONS

  • Unlike some other EAPs, Ulliance’s well-being platform is not personalized based on an employee’s mental needs and treatment plan.
  • Ulliance can get expensive if you’re looking at a short-term solution. For your investment in the tool to become ROI positive, you will have to use it for a longer period of time.
Ulliance EAP Program dashboard screenshot

Ulliance Review

Ulliance's Life Advisor Resolution EAP Model® is one of the most robust EAPs available today. All employees will have unlimited access to a Resource Center portal with thousands of self-care resources, balanced living workshops, videos, and tips on improving mental health. They also get a flexible number of telephonic, face-to-face, or video counseling and behavioral coaching sessions with expert mental healthcare providers.

Apart from this, employees are eligible for discounted financial and legal consultations with experts, free HR & management consultations, and up to 60% off on hotels, concerts, movie tickets, travel, and theme park tickets. Ulliance's EAP also offers unlimited critical incident support in the case of employee death, accidents, robbery, or any traumatic events. 

As an employer, you get assigned a dedicated Account Manager to help promote the utilization of your EAP. You also get comprehensive reports with data and insights on EAP usage and trends within your organization.

However, bear in mind that Ulliance's EAP is designed to be ROI-positive only in the long term. If you're looking for an affordable solution for the short term, then this may not be the one for you.

Ulliance Customers

Ulliance Pricing

Best For

Any company looking for a comprehensive employee assistance and wellness platform.

No items found.

Talkspace

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.1 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5

Why we picked Talkspace

Talkspace offers an immediate, responsive, and a result-oriented care. Their network of providers is managed continuously and they have efficacy studies published in peer-review journals.

PROS

  • The platform provides access to licensed therapists and psychiatrists with years of experience across a range of specialties.
  • Talkspace allows you to share your thoughts and feelings with your therapist 24 hours a day, irrespective of where you’re located. Your therapist will then respond to your messages at their earliest convenience.
  • Talkspace offers different subscription options based on your budget and needs, so you’re bound to find something that works for you. 
  • Talkspace’s results have been validated by research partners like NYU and Columbia University. Out of a study of 10,000 participants, 50% fully recovered from their anxiety and depression symptoms after 12 weeks, while 70% saw significant improvement.

CONS

  • Because live sessions are only 30 minutes long, addressing and working through complex issues through these sessions alone is tough. 
  • Text-based therapy may not necessarily work for everyone. While some believe that it helps them be more vulnerable, others prefer live sessions as it helps them connect better with their therapist.
Our reviewer took screenshot of Talkspace EAP Organization System screenshot during the demo

Talkspace Review

Talkspace offers comprehensive mental healthcare services, ranging from messaging therapy to live sessions, psychiatry consultations, medicine management, teen counselling, and couples therapy. While their services are convenient and accessible, they cannot be used as a substitute for emergent care. Further, if you’re dealing with more complex mental health issues like PTSD or chronic depression, text-based therapy or infrequent live sessions will not give you the results you desire.

Talkspace Customers

  • Blackstone
  • Citi

Talkspace Pricing

Talkspace partners with health plans to provide online therapy to employees. Contact your benefits administrator for more details on the EAP.

If an employee is interested in Talkspace independently of their employer, plans start at $260 per month up to $396 per month.

Best For

Any company looking for a mental health platform that delivers clinically-proven results.

No items found.

Lyra Health

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
3.7 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5

Why we picked Lyra Health

Lyra Health focuses on connecting employees with top-tier mental health providers within a day. With its platform, employees can receive personalized care, develop new skills, and measure their progress.

PROS

  • Lyra Health only works with providers who use evidence-based treatments and clinically-validated assessments to measure mental health improvement. 
  • Lyra Health takes a personalized approach to mental healthcare, ensuring that every member has access to self-help resources, coaches, and therapists, whenever they need them. 
  • Lyra Health offers a range of treatment options grounded in science, based on your needs — whether that’s preventative care, dealing with day-to-day stressors, or dealing with something much more serious like suicidal tendencies.

CONS

  • You cannot access Lyra Health unless your employer has paid for it. 
  • Once you’ve used up your allotted number of sessions, you will have to either pay out of pocket, which can get expensive, or use your insurance to pay for it.
Lyra Health dashboard screenshot - one of the best EAP Providers

Lyra Health Review

Lyra Health's EAP provides employees with mental healthcare services such as behavioral coaching, therapy sessions, medicine management, self-help resources, financial assistance, legal consultations, critical incident support, ID theft services, and child, elder, and pet care. 

With a mission statement of only providing proven treatments, this EAP takes a quality-focused approach through evidence-based techniques to deliver care to your employees. Members can find the right personalized care, match with the right provider for their needs, and feel motivated and supported throughout the entire treatment journey.

Lyra Health Customers

  • Pinterest
  • Uber
  • Morgan Stanley

Lyra Health Pricing

Lyra Health is free for employees and their dependents. However, you must get in contact with the sales team to find out pricing for your company.

Best For

Lyra Health can benefit any company who uses it, as its reliable clinical improvements are proven by science to improve employee mental health.

No items found.

Anthem

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
3.8 / 5
User Score
3.5 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked Anthem

Anthem's EAP offers quick and easy counseling services for employees and their family. Other than mental health services, employees can also seek counseling for adoption, pet care, legal consultations, among other things.

PROS

  • Anthem offers employees and their dependents free counseling sessions as a part of their EAP so they don’t have to use their benefits through their group health plan, in turn, saving costs.
  • ‍When you compare Anthem's integrated EAP service versus an external EAP, members save up to $9 per month in behavioral health costs.

CONS

  • Unlike a few other EAP providers, Anthem’s EAP service is not personalized. This means that they provide the same wellness solutions to everyone irrespective of where they are in their mental health journey.
Our reviewer took screenshot of Anthem EAP Software screenshot during the demo

Anthem Review

Anthem's EAP service addresses a range of issues, including work/life balance, mental and emotional well-being, child, elder, and pet care, critical incidents, legal concerns, and financial issues. They offer a rich library of self-help resources such as online webinars, podcasts, and articles addressing health, wellness, parenting, education, adoption, etc. 

Employees can also reach out to licensed practitioners and behavioral health coaches through online or in-person sessions. They are trained to help you address substance abuse, grief, anxiety, depression, family and relationship troubles, stress management, and more. 

Apart from this, Anthem's EAP provides elder and child care support by providing access to home health agencies, nursing programs, and other childcare resources. Employees can also seek legal and financial consultations with experts as part of their EAP program.

Anthem Customers

Anthem Pricing

EAP service from Anthem doesn't cost anything for employees. Employers pay extra as part of their insurance plan, determined by state and group size.

There are three models:

  • The Basic model gives employees solution-focused counseling and referrals to additional resources.
  • The Enhanced model includes Basic level solutions, as well as expanded work/life capabilities and employer services to support leaders and teams. This includes things like policy consultation, critical response services, training and seminars, and unlimited telephone consultations for managers.
  • The Customized model provides enterprise and national level employers lots of flexibility, including customized counseling sessions and on-site options.

Best For

Anthem's EAP is most useful for national and enterprise employers who already use Anthem as their health insurance provider. However, lower pricing models make it affordable for businesses of all sizes.

No items found.

Ginger

Visit Website
Get A Quote
Popularity Score
3.7 / 5
User Score
4 / 5
Product Score
4 / 5

Why we picked Ginger

Cost-effective and quick, Ginger is a mobile app that lets your employees chat with behavioral health coaches within seconds at any time of the day. Employees can also schedule video therapy with licensed practitioners.

PROS

  • Members can connect with a behavioral coach in under 60 seconds at any time of the day
  • Ginger offers a wide variety of self-help resources at no additional cost to the user
  • Members can connect with a behavioral coach in under 60 seconds at any time of the day
  • Ginger offers a wide variety of self-help resources at no additional cost to the user

CONS

  • Ginger is not a web-based platform. Users can access the tool only via their smartphone
  • Members outside the USA do not have access to video therapy and psychiatry sessions.
  • Ginger is not a web-based platform. Users can access the tool only via their smartphone
  • Members outside the USA do not have access to video therapy and psychiatry sessions.
Our reviewer took mobile screenshot of Ginger EAP System screenshot during the demo

Ginger Review

Ginger offers employees access to behavioral coaches in under 60 seconds, irrespective of the time of the day. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, stress, or relationship problems, Ginger's team of licensed practitioners ensure that you get the care you deserve. Though Ginger is available in all 50 states in the US, and 50+ countries worldwide, video and psychiatry sessions are confined to the United States.

Ginger Customers

Buzzfeed, Sephora, TaskRabbit, SurveyMonkey, and Chegg

Ginger Pricing

Ginger's pricing is not disclosed on their website. You can get in touch with their team for a custom quote depending on how much access to coaches and therapists your company requires. Employees and their dependents don't have to pay any fees.

Best For

Any sized company will find Ginger valuable for keeping employees happy and healthy.

No items found.

Common Use Cases for EAPs

No two EAPs are the same, with some providing a full-spectrum of preventative care solutions for mental and behavioral health such as daily meditation apps and counseling, while others are more focused on crisis management of life challenges. Here are just a few of the practical ways the right EAP can help your organization:

  • Reduced healthcare claims costs: EAPs result in a 5:1 return on costs, with 85 percent of the savings due to decreased medical claims. 
  • Health and safety regulation compliance: A fair amount of onsite accidents can be traced to substance abuse and mental health issues. EAPs can reduce work related accidents by 65 percent.
  • Workforce attendance and performance: EAPs can reduce sick leave usage by 33 percent, as employees receiving proper care and attention will be less likely to misuse sick days to deal with depression or addiction-related issues. 
  • Staff issue mitigation: By ensuring that your team is cared for, you boost employee morale. A properly implemented EAP can reduce grievances by up to 50 percent. 
  • Less burdened management: When performance issues stem from addiction or mental health problems, managers can lack the tools necessary to help the employee and rectify the situation. By getting employees the help they need to perform at their best, EAPs can reduce the time spent on supervisor reprimands by 74 percent.
  • Better HR team utilization: Mental health and addiction issues are often too complicated and personal for HR teams to handle on their own. EAPs help employees address their issues with a skilled professional, allowing HR teams to focus on their people more strategically.

Pro Tips on Employee Assistance Program Providers

Most Common Pitfalls Of Employee Assistance Programs

An effective EAP provides a custom range of services that fits the needs of the organization — both employers and employees. But there are many pitfalls that can prevent a program from effectively serving an organization. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

  • Poor Communication / Misunderstood Benefits: Employee Assistance Programs rely on active enrollment in any/all of their initiatives. If employees don’t understand the ins and outs of your program or how it may serve them, then not only will your investment be wasted, your employees won’t be getting the help available to them when they need it. 
  • Value vs. Cost: If your program is underutilized, or a poor fit for your organization, the expense of providing an EAP may outweigh its possible benefit. If the available services aren’t clear and easily accessible, employees and management may view it as money better spent on more traditional employee benefits, such as revamped health insurance, child care or elder care.
  • Stigma and Cultural Acceptance: Everyone knows that life isn’t perfect, and has its share of ups and downs. However, employees won’t feel comfortable seeking help from an EAP if they fear that they will be looked down upon by management or colleagues alike. Organizations should take an active role in promoting company-wide acceptance of the utilization of these programs, and the common life circumstances that make them necessary. 
  • Inability to Prove ROI: The initial and continued buy-in of an EAP by upper management relies on the data to prove its efficacy. Without proper tracking of enrollment, as well as pre-and-post implementation statistics on absenteeism, medical costs, and more, organizations might dismiss EAPs as ineffective. 
  • Perception of Confidentiality: Besides the services offered in response to drug test results or onsite behavioral incidents, EAP services should be completely confidential for employees or their family members. However, this is often not clearly communicated —- or if it is, the employee lacks the confidence that their privacy will be respected and that seeking treatment could have professional repercussions.
  • Quality of Services: The effectiveness of your EAP not only relies on its communication, but the quality of the services offered, which depends heavily on the level of expertise possessed by EAP providers and counselors. Organizations should always vet the experts under an EAP’s umbrella to ensure that the advice and counseling employees receive is beneficial.
  • Employee Misuse: Unfortunately, employee misuse of EAP services to avoid a disciplinary action is all too common. Such employees will claim they are struggling with substance abuse problems or other traumas to avoid penalties, demotions, or dismissals, sometimes even promising to seek help through the employer’s EAP to tackle the issue. This type of behavior ties the hands of an employer, as the employee is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Clunky Technology: No matter how great a program’s benefits are, if the app or website used to access them is difficult to use, employees will be too frustrated by the platform to engage with the EAP. This is especially important if the one of the major EAP offerings is a virtual coaching app or platform for relevant, helpful content.

Benefits and ROI of Employee Assistance Programs

As an organization, you have an obligation to help your employees care for themselves, and that extends outside of the office. But doing the right thing is far from the only benefit to be gained from providing an Employee Assistance Program. According to research from the Center for Prevention and Health Services, workplace costs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders range from $79 to $105 billion each year. An Employee Assistance Program can help these employees and combat absenteeism, lack of engagement, workplace distress and personal strife. 

An EAP is a proven, cost-effective solution to many of the problems employers face today, and translates into very tangible ROI. According to the Department of Labor, employers save an average of $5 to $16 for every dollar invested in an effective Employee Assistance Program. In a recent WOS annual report, companies saw an average of 10.92 hours of work missed over a 30-day period due to mental health related issues before implementing an EAP system. After program implementation, this number was nearly cut in half to 5.64 hours — an improvement of 48 percent.

While EAPs keep identities confidential, in most cases, you will receive a usage report from your EAP provider that shows how many employees are taking advantage of your program and how they are using it. These reports can tell you if you’re getting your money’s worth by offering an Employee Assistance Program.

Pricing of Employee Assistance Programs

The cost of an EAP varies widely depending on the type of program desired, the size of the organization, the industry, and the quality of service offering. In addition to these variables, the approach to pricing can vary across providers. Providers charge on a “per use,” “per call,” or “per employee” basis. 

  • “Per use” pricing models offer services like telephone support and online resources for a fixed monthly fee, applying additional charges for other services such as face-to-face counselling. 
  • “Per call” pricing on the other hand offers their EAP service cost at a fixed cost, minus a flat rate for every call their employee makes to the EAP.
  • “Per employee” pricing is by far the most popular option amongst EAP providers, charging a fixed price per employee based on the expected use of the service.This fee usually ranges between $10-$50 per employee each month, but can be higher depending on the number of services provided and the size of the organization. Smaller organizations tend to have a higher per-employee price, and can have a more difficult time finding an affordable EAP as many providers have an employee enrollment minimum.

Features of Employee Assistance Programs

According to recent studies, an estimated one in four adults in the United States have a diagnosable mental disorder, one in five adults have an alcohol use problem, and one in eight adults have a drug or other kind of addiction. Untreated mental health disorders and addictions can damage your employees in many ways, increasing their risk of illness, personal problems, incidents at work or school and even a family breakdown. However, more than half of employees don’t tell their employer about such problems for fear of losing their job. 

Due to both their flexibility and confidentiality, EAPs allow your staff to get the help they need, when they need it. From emergency response to onsite traumatic incidents to custom content like videos and podcasts, EAPs can cover a broad spectrum of features that enhance well-being in a confidential manner and prevent absenteeism or sick leave. 

Common features of top EAPs include:

  • Crisis Management and Incident Support: Accidents happen and crises can arise, from employee deaths to organizational violence. When these incidents occur, every second counts. Ensure that your employees are supported 24/7 with an EAP that provides immediate expert workplace crisis management and incident support, from on-site debriefings and in-person counseling services to rapid response from a specialized crisis management team.
  • Substance abuse: According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the majority of adults with substance use problems are employed, and an estimated 29% of full-time workers engage in binge drinking, 8% engage in heavy drinking, and 8% have used illicit drugs in the past month. Due to the recent pandemic, these numbers are expected to rise. EAPs can help sufferers of substance abuse by offering preventive services and screening, early identification, short-term counseling, and referral to specialty treatment.
  • Mental Health Services: As of 2017, 1 in 5 U.S. citizens has reported a mental illness, and U.S. Employers spend about $31 billion a year in lost productivity due to depression alone. By providing access to free therapy for behavioral and mental health conditions, and encouraging employees to take advantage of these surfaces, employers can alleviate suffering, help offset costs and contribute to a culture of prevention. 
  • Holistic Wellness Content: One of the more advanced features available in some EAPs, online portals or apps can provide custom wellness content for employees, from meditation training to establishing work-life balance. In addition, these portals and apps can keep track of any program progress, important contact info, and more. 
  • Workplace Concern Hotline: While this may not fall under the umbrella of every EAP provider, the most holistic providers will often offer a toll-free, confidential number to report workplace concerns that can affect your employee’s emotional and physical well-being. Harassment and discrimination, workplace violence or threats, on-site substance abuse, fraud, and other issues can be caught early when employees feel they have a safe place to turn.

EAP System Demo Questions

When it comes time to choose a provider, one of the first steps is to attend a demo. This is one of the best opportunities your organization has to get your concerns addressed, and ultimately ensure that you’re choosing the right provider. We recommend coming up with a list of questions about the use cases most relevant to your business to have in hand during every demo you attend. 

Here are a few topics to brainstorm your own questions:

  • What qualifications do the staff possess? All staff members employed by the EAP provider to interact with your employees should be licensed, EAP-trained counselors with a master’s degree from an accredited university. As these professionals will often be providing services to employees when they’re in a time of crisis, it’s critical that they possess the necessary training and experience to manage all manner of life issues. 
  • How are employees referred to affiliates? When your employees are facing a crisis or dealing with mental health issues, it can be an impossible burden to call various affiliates and determine both availability and appropriateness or their particular case. The best EAPs will assign your employees to a compatible counselor and verify their availability directly, instead of simply providing referral services. 
  • Do they offer continuity in care? Counselor-client relationships can be tricky and tiring to establish, as sometimes it takes several counseling sessions for an employee to feel comfortable. For continuity and comfort, employees should be able to speak with the same counselor they’ve worked with in the past. Any EAP staff fielding calls should be able to determine which counselor the client has seen in the past and help schedule a repeat session if so desired. 
  • How are cases monitored? Cases shouldn’t be closed until the EAP counselor confirms that the employee is satisfied with the referral(s) received and has resolved their issues. 
  • How adaptable is the EAP? An effective EAP team is agile, and collaborative, drawing upon all of its available professional resources to help your organization in whatever way is necessary. Whether the crisis is immediate or ongoing, the EAP should be equipped to handle it.
  • What management resources are available? An employee in trouble can be a difficult issue to face for any manager. Supervisors often struggle with how to handle the situation or dread taking necessary corrective action. Many EAP vendors have trained interventionalists or organizational mediators on staff who can deliver services onsite. 
  • Does the EAP offer online or In-person training? Whether the EAP offers in-person or on-line training options could make a big impact on the program’s ROI. In-person training tends to be more engaging, but online offers instant accessibility and can be more easily prolonged for employee development. 
  • Is there an assigned account manager? Many EAPs have a designated account manager who oversees all aspects of implementation, and acts as a single point of contact for any problems or concerns.
  • Does the EAP offer promotional materials/activities? As we’ve covered previously, EAPs offer little value if employees aren’t aware of it’s assistance or don’t understand how to use it. Several EAPs will offer a variety of promotional/informational materials, such as printed and digital flyers, orientation sessions, and manager training.

Implementation of Your EAP System

Once an EAP provider has been chosen, there are several steps an organization should take to get their program up and running. First, an organization should draft an internal EAP policy that explains the following: 

  1. What the business hopes to accomplish by offering an EAP
  2. A step-by-step procedure for employees to follow in order to access available services
  3. How the business intends to maintain confidentiality and employee privacy. 

After the EAP policy is completed, both the launch of its program and its policy should be publicized within the organization, via internal newsletters, websites, and social networks. These communications should list any and all services available through the program, and stress that confidentiality is assured. In addition, human resources departments should set aside office hours for employees to come in and speak with the HR team about any questions they might have. 

Remember that without engagement, your EAP will fail in its mission. Communication is key: speak directly to your employees about the benefit, and make sure they understand what it can do for them. Pamphlets summarizing the benefits and business cards are handy here — leave them in shared spaces, at the front desk, or anywhere else they can be easily picked up by interested employees.

Employee Assistance Programs FAQs

What does EAP stand for?

EAP stands for employee assistance program.

What does an employee assistance program do?

An employee assistance program provides private assessments, counseling, and referrals to employees who have personal strife related to mental health, substance abuse, family issues, and more.

How much do EAPs cost?

Pricing of EAPs varies based on provider. However, you should be prepared to pay on a per user, per call, or per employee basis.

Are EAPs free to employees?

Yes, EAPs are completely free to employees of your organization.

Final Thoughts

The workplace has changed dramatically in recent years, and even more so with the advent of the covid pandemic. But at the end of the day, your people remain the most essential ingredient for continued success as a company. Prioritizing employee health in times of crisis, beyond the umbrella of general health plans or wellness programs, has been proven to foster employee loyalty and boost job performance. 

An intelligently structured, comprehensive, and well-implemented EAP can have a huge positive impact on your organization’s morale, productivity and your bottom line. But before we leave you to your decision-making process, we offer a word of caution: what you pay for is what you get. Many EAPs have been advertised with a cost as low as $1 per employee, but don’t count on these providers to give the necessary support your employees are looking for. Instead, please take a look at our vetted list of providers above, and ask for a demo today.

Looking for HR Tech Advice?

Join our community

Ask questions, share knowledge, find new job opportunities, network and more in our 
closed HR Tech Buyers Community

View Community

About Us

  • Our goal at SSR is to help HR and recruiting teams to find and buy the right software for their needs.
  • Our site is free to use as some vendors will pay us for web traffic.
  • SSR lists all companies we feel are top vendors - not just those who pay us - in our comprehensive directories full of the advice needed to make the right purchase decision for your HR team.

Interested in getting in touch with ?

By submitting this form, you consent to being contacted by Strazzulla, LLC (SelectSoftware Reviews) and up to 3 vendor partners by phone and/or email. You agree that Strazzulla, LLC may share your data with its partners to complete your request. You have the right to email us and have us delete your personal data at any time.

Thank you! We'll get in touch with you shortly

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.