Dirty Little Secrets and Your EAP (Employee Assistance Program)

Want to get a bunch of HR people nodding their heads?  Make a statement about the value of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) our companies offer, usually as part of the Life Insurance suite.  It's true, it's a great product and every once in a while we get a great chance to refer someone to it and it does some good.  Much patting on the back usually commences...

Of course, most of us don't market it hard enough.  Or anywhere close to hard enough - including me.   I have no marketing strategy other than to simply list it on my benefit marketing collateral we use in the recruiting biz.   Most of you are just like me.  I really, really need a strategy in this area to make sure people understand it's there for their confidential use...

What's got the Capitalist thinking about EAPs?  Uh...It's not my life, honest...  Nothing but a Ward Cleaver, vanilla-type existence here.  Please don't stare at me....

OK, two things actually got me thinking about our EAP.  First up, Deb at 8 Hours and a Lunch did a rocking post about the value of an EAP, which I thought was great.  Second, I was watching FUSE the other night for a fix of Alternative Rock (what did you expect from the Capitalist?  Britney Spears?), and a video came up from a band called the All-American Rejects.

The cut is called "Dirty Little Secret", which features about 30 people holding up cards detailing what makes them feel like a freak.  It's a good reminder that all of us have our issues (except of course, for Ward), and at times of weakness we might need a resource like your underutilized EAP.  Check out the video to get the flavor and think about it during the next four random conversations you have in the office...

Maybe I should get outside the box and use this video to market the EAP inside our company... 

Comments

[Frank Roche]

Kris, that's a brilliant idea for marketing an EAP. It is funny that it's offered, but often neglected. I also think that LTD gets short shrift...things that people really need when they need them. Thanks for getting us thinking about this.

[Paul Hebert]

Go for it bro. It will resonate with the Gen Y and some Xers.

You could do a "choose your presentation" page on the company site - one link to the boring stuff in PDF format - and another to the video with a brief explanation.

It would get people talking about it I'm sure.

Let us know if you move ahead with it.

[deb]

that idea rocks, kris! please report back if you do try it!

all the best!
deb

[Dan Schwartz]

Very interesting approach here. From a legal perspective, I've always thought that it is in the employer's best interest to have their employees utilize an EAP. If they do so, the employees are more likely to stay on track and the employer won't have to resort to more drastic measures (that might lead to lawsuits). Any way to better publicize it and remove the stigma associated with it, is a step in the right direction. Another suggestion that I've seen work is to have the EAP company do teleconferences on "safe" topics (like how to help your kids on their homework and engaging your kids, etc.) so the employees don't feel as embarassed when they call for more "private" topics.