In support of the University’s commitment to wellness, Penn’s Division of Human Resources (HR) has enhanced the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
The primary features of the EAP, which is available to all benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and their families, are professional counseling, work/life issues, such as financial and legal guidance, and assistance for managers.
Up to eight professional counseling sessions are covered per year, per issue. Licensed counselors are available to discuss stress, depression, and anxiety, marital relationships and family issues, work conflicts, grief and loss, and drug and alcohol abuse.
Karen Kille, the senior work/life consultant in HR, says if an employee were to make contact for two different issues in a year, such as marriage counseling and counseling for his or her children, all 16 sessions would be covered. Counselors can be matched based on preferences, including gender, background, and degree.
The main benefits of the enhanced EAP are the access points. Counselors, provided by Health Advocate, can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone at 1-866-799-2329. EAP services are available by phone, email, web chat, video, and through face-to-face sessions.
“[Health Advocate] is a true 24/7 organization, so if on the weekend, something happens and you need to secure some help, there are licensed counselors who answer the phone right away,” Kille says.
Additional improvements include multi-language capabilities, faster appointment scheduling, and resource information on an app.
A new benefit in the enhanced EAP is coverage for in-laws, who can use the services as needed.
“The faculty or staff member doesn’t have to make the call for their in-laws,” Kille says. “You can simply give them the EAP contact card, which I think is an important link.”
Longstanding, but perhaps lesser known aspects of the EAP are the legal and financial services. Employees are able to receive 30 minutes of free legal consultation over the phone, and the number of initial consultations per year on each new legal topic is unlimited. Kille says the benefit has been used for obtaining power of attorney for elderly parents, landlord/tenant concerns, document services, guardianship of children, document review, and buying a home. Employees are also entitled to a 25 percent discount on fees if an attorney is retained.
Faculty and staff can also take advantage of 30 minutes of free financial guidance over the phone on issues concerning credit, saving, investing, identity theft, divorce planning, student loans, managing challenges with finances, lowering credit card debt, and restoring credit.
On Tuesday, Oct. 2, HR will host the webinar “Managing Emotional Help at Work” from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
For questions related to the EAP and the full range of faculty and staff work-life benefits, contact worklife@hr.upenn.edu
