The EAP, initially conceptualised as a Public Sector Reform initiative, commenced operations offering a dedicated employee referral/support service in 1998.

As its services expanded, the EAP’s core activities evolved to include team building, grievance handling and change management interventions.

Since its inception, the EAP has successfully managed over 1800 seminars/workshops, and provided confidential counselling services to over 5000, employees and family members.

The EAP provides a suite of services for Public sector employees which include:-

• Individual Counselling

• Family Counselling

• Group Counselling

• Seminars & Workshops

• Critical Incidents Stress Debriefing 

• Psychological testing

• Occupational stress

Objectives of Employee Assistance Programmes

The overall aim of the EAP is to provide preventive and proactive interventions, for the early detection, identification and/or resolution of both work and personal problems that may adversely affect employee performance and wellbeing. These problems and issues may include, but are not limited to, relationships, health, trauma, substance abuse, gambling and other addictions, financial problems, depression, anxiety disorders, and psychiatric disorders, communication problems, legal issues and coping with change.

The EAP provides a support mechanism for those employees who may be presenting with challenges that impact negatively on their productivity and overall work engagement.

The services offered as part of the EAP will form part of a robust Human Resource Management strategy the objectives of which include :-

• Delivery of more efficient  strategic HRM services to stakeholders;

• Ensuring that the Human Resources in the Public Service are engaged and motivated;

• Implementation of a targeted and strategic approach to Leave Administration ; 

• Improved and more strategic Absence Management Strategy to promote a healthy and productive Workforce;

• Meeting the needs of and being more responsive to a dynamic public sector.

The information gleaned from the EAP will be used to inform the roll-out and implementation of service wide strategies aimed at addressing the twin focus of employee wellbeing and organisational performance. The People Support and Wellness Unit of the People Resourcing and Compliance Directorate will provide Administrative, operational and human resource support for the EAP portfolio.

New Initiatives to Assist Public Officers

The Ministry of the Public Service is embarking on a series of new initiatives under its Employee Assistance Programme portfolio, to assist public officers in coping with challenges arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive and preventative approach will provide interventions for the early detection and resolution to personal and work related issues. 

The new initiatives will include the provision of:

• Tip Sheets - providing strategies and or solutions to manage the health and well-being of officers;

• Stress Level Tests - highlighting the level of stress associated with varying issues and will be an indicator for extending counselling services through Network Services Centre, to those public officers in distress; and
  

• Online facilities - comprising brief interactive sessions examining a range of topics related to COVID-19.