An EAP Referral is an effort to redirect an employee’s personal stressors away from work to qualified helping resources.
The INFORMAL EAP Referral is the most common referral made by a supervisor and is typically initiated in response to employee self-disclosure of a personal issue or stressor. User statistics show that 55% of all self-referrals are the result of a supervisor recommending the EAP as a helping resource. It is critical that every manager become familiar with and comfortable with recommending the EAP to their employees.
The FORMAL EAP Referral is typically associated with a work-related performance concern. The formal referral is NOT a disciplinary tool, but rather a supplement to the organizations existing disciplinary or corrective action process. It is a written expectation that the employee completes an EAP assessment to address whatever it is that may be interfering with their work. It is an attempt by the organization to help this person restore their performance to a satisfactory level. There are 3 types of formal referrals:
- Condition of Employment – Performance
- Condition of Employment – Following a Positive Drug/Alcohol Test
- Good Faith formal referral
More information on each of these can be found in the “Formal Referral Guide”