Companies that Do Not Offer Employee Assistance Programmes to Staff
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the current percentage of companies not offering Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) and the Ministry’s strategies to increase adoption following the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-being at Workplaces. Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye inquired about current provision levels, to which Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo responded that 2017 data indicated an EAP adoption rate of less than 5%. She explained that the Ministry is collaborating with the Workplace Safety and Health Council and the Health Promotion Board to educate employers and promote mental well-being through various programmes. The government’s goal is to encourage more employers to provide professional support for both work and non-work challenges faced by their staff. Furthermore, efforts involve engaging unions and industry associations to foster progressive workplace practices across the private sector to improve EAP implementation.
Transcript
92 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the current percentage of companies that do not offer Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) to their staff; and (b) how does the Ministry intend to increase the EAP adoption rate given that it is a key intervention stated under the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-being at Workplaces.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Awareness and understanding of mental health concerns at workplaces has been growing although there are no recent studies on the current level of provision of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to their staff. The most recent study conducted by the National Council of Social Service was in 2017, which found that less than 5% of the employers surveyed offered the EAP to their staff. Nevertheless, the Tripartite Partners unanimously agree that it is important to include the provision of EAP in the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-being at Workplaces, which was released in November 2020. The aim is for more employers to adopt this progressive practice to provide employees an avenue to speak to a professional on their work and non-work related challenges.
EAP adoption requires collective efforts by key stakeholders. This is why we work with partners such as the Health Promotion Board, Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, the Institute of Human Resource Professionals, unions and industry associations to educate employers on EAP services. For instance, WSH Council raises awareness on the need to take care of mental well-being at workplaces and promotes the Tripartite Advisory and EAP through talks conducted under its Total WSH Programme. We welcome the efforts of NTUC and its affiliated unions to also engage employers and promote its adoption.