Managing work related problems in industries - The need for employee assistance programmes

Work related problems are common and rising. These manifest mostly in mental ill health, relational problems at work place and absenteeism. The resultants are poor quality of life for employees and decrease in productivity. Greater emphasis and attention on work related problems is required as most of them are preventable given adequate attention at appropriate time. The existing systems of care in industrial set ups are usually not prepared to take such proactive preventive role. There is a need for a structured, need based, systematic intervention programme to deal with this. Employee Assistance Programme is a considerable step in this regard, which is operative in many work places. This article discusses the establishment, implementation methods and functions of the programme. The article analyses the interventional approaches of the programme which have been proved beneficial to the employees.