Evaluating employee assistance programmes: Social workers' perspectives on their effectiveness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v14i6.4153Keywords:
Employee Assistance Programme, Employee Wellness, Social WorkersAbstract
The study explored social workers' perspectives on utilising employee assistance programmes (EAPs) as intended for the beneficiaries of the service. A qualitative approach was adopted for the data collection and analysis. Thematic analysis was applied to the data from a sample of social workers employed by the Department of Social Development in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The study revealed that EAPs were regarded as intervention programmes rather than holistic wellness programmes, which resulted in the loss of its primary role as a supportive structure. The study also revealed fear of stigmatisation and poor marketing of the programmes as hindrances to the utilisation of the programmes. The study further revealed that decentralisation, improved marketing, visibility of EAP staff, and a structured and specialised EAP service would enhance the programme's functioning. The College of Human and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee approved the study with ref NO (Rec-240816-052).
Downloads
References
Avrin, D. (2016). Visibility marketing: The no-holds-barred truth about what it takes to grab attention, build your brand, and win new business. Career Press.
Babbie, E., & Mouton, J. (2010). The practice of social research (10th ed.). Oxford University Press, South Africa.
Basaran, B., & Oraman, Y. (2022). Importance and place of digital marketing in the improvement of women's cooperatives. Horizons, 30(1), 79–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20544/HORIZONS.A.30.1.22.P06
Bouzikos, S., Afsharian, A., Dollard, M., & Brecht, O. (2022). Contextualising the effectiveness of an employee assistance program intervention for psychological health: The role of corporate climate. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5067. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095067
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Chauke, M. T. (2018). The role of the employee assistance programme in managing the morale of social workers in the Department of Social Development, Greater Tzaneen Office, Limpopo Province (Master’s dissertation). University of Pretoria.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative and mixed methods approach. Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2019). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
D’Cruz, H., & Gillingham, P. (2017). Participatory research ideals and practice experience: Reflections and analysis. Journal of Social Work, 17(4), 434–452. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017316644704
Dipela, M. P. (2016). Evaluating the effectiveness of an EAP programme within SAPS in the Waterberg District (Master’s dissertation). University of Limpopo.
Dipela, M. P., & Sithole, S. (2021). Under-utilisation of internal employee assistance programme (EAP) services by the South African Police Services in Lephalale, Limpopo Province. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 57(4), 486–501. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15270/57-4-972
EAPA-SA. (2013). Standards for employee assistance programmes in South Africa. EAPA-SA.
EAPA-SA. (2015). Standards for employee assistance programmes in South Africa. EAPA-SA.
Flick, U. (2002). An introduction to qualitative research (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Gillispie, S. K., Britt, T. W., Burnette, C. M., & McFadden, A. C. (2016). Employee mental health treatment seeking: Perceptions of responsibility and resilience. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 31(1), 1–18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2015.1100519
Govender, T., & Radhi, V. (2018). EAP in South Africa: HIV/AIDS pandemic drives development. Journal of Employee Assistance, 48(4), 12–21.
Grinnell Jr, R. M., & Unrau, Y. A. (2010). Social work research and evaluation: Foundations of evidence-based practice. Oxford University Press.
Hanna, A. A., Smith, T. A., Kirkman, B. L., & Griffin, R. W. (2021). The emergence of emergent leadership: A comprehensive framework and directions for future research. Journal of Management, 47(1), 76–104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320965683
Hennink, M., Hutter, I., & Bailey, A. (2020). Qualitative research methods. Sage.
Ishikawa, Y., Kohara, M., & Nushimoto, A. (2021). Job stress and mental health among social workers: Evidence from a field experiment at a public employment support institution in Japan. The Japanese Economic Review, 73, 123–146. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42973-021-00100-z
Langlieb, A. M., Langlieb, M. E., & Xiong, W. (2021). EAP 2.0: Reimagining the role of the employee assistance program in the new workplace. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2021.2013172
Lawrence, J. A., Boxer, P., & Tarakeshwar, N. (2002). Determining demand for EAP service. Employee Assistance Quarterly, 18(1), 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J022v18n01_01
Leonard, K., & Oelschlägel, S. (2017). Collaboration, visibility, and relationship marketing: Driving use and demonstrating value of a consumer health information service. Journal of Hospital Librarianship, 17(4), 272–281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15323269.2017.1366769
Lietz, C. A., & Zayas, L. E. (2010). Evaluating qualitative research for social work practitioners. Advances in Social Work, 11(2), 188–202. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18060/589
Ling, T., Hoh, G., Ho, C., & Mee, C. (2020). Effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on social behaviours: From a social dilemma perspective. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 7, 312. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v7i1.423
Maiden, R. P., & Sharar, D. A. (2017). Evaluating employee assistance programs: Current trends and future directions. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 32(3–4), 187–205. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2017.1347550
Manganyi, P. S. (2016). Utilisation of the employee assistance programme services by employees at Polokwane Tertiary Hospital (Master’s dissertation). University of Pretoria.
Manganyi, P. S., & Mogorosi, L. D. (2021). The utilisation of employee assistance programme: The case of a tertiary hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Gender and Behaviour, 19(1), 17384–17399.
Martin, N., & Ledimo, O. (2018). Employee assistance programmes: A guide for SA practitioners. KR Publishing.
Maseko, N. R. (2014). An evaluation of EAP programme policy implementation in the Department of Labour (Master’s dissertation). University of Pretoria.
Masi, D. (2011). Definition and history of employee assistance. Kabushiki Kaisha Roudou Chousakai.
Maxwell, J. A. (2021). The importance of qualitative research for investigating causation. Qualitative Psychology, 8(3), 378. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000219
Miller, J. J., Lianekhammy, J., Pope, N., Lee, J., & Grise-Owens, E. (2017). Self-care among healthcare social workers: An exploratory study. Social Work in Health Care, 56(10), 865–883. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2017.1371100
Milot, M. (2019). Stigma as a barrier to the use of employee assistance programs. Work Reach Solutions.
Mmadi, P. J. (2018). Factors undermining social workers pursuing postgraduate studies in Driekop, Limpopo Province (Master’s dissertation). University of Limpopo.
Mogorosi, L. (2009). Employee assistance programmes: Their rationale, basic principles, and essential elements. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 45(4), 343–359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15270/45-4-187
Mojapelo, K. I. (2018). A comparative study between Employee Assistance Programmes and Occupational Social Work in the South African context: Limpopo Province (MSW mini dissertation). University of Pretoria.
Monama, E. N. (2015). Management and administration practice standards in South African employee assistance programmes (Master’s dissertation). University of Pretoria.
Mordue, S. J., Watson, L., & Hunter, S. (2020). How to thrive in professional practice: A self-care handbook. Critical Publishing.
Mphothi, L. J. (2020). Rendering services within the employee assistance programme (EAP) in the Gauteng Department of Health: Views and experiences of social workers (Master’s thesis). University of South Africa.
Nair, P., & Xavier, M. (2012). Initiating an employee assistance program (EAP) for a corporation: An experiential learning. IUP Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 11(2), 67–76.
Nakani, N. C. (2015). The structure and operational functioning of the employee assistance programme at the Universitas Academic Hospital (Master’s research dissertation). University of Pretoria.
Ng, J. H. Y., & Luk, B. H. K. (2019). Patient satisfaction: Concept analysis in the healthcare context. Patient Education and Counselling, 102(4), 790–796. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.11.013
Nye, E., Melendez?Torres, G. J., & Bonell, C. (2016). Origins, methods and advances in qualitative meta?synthesis. Review of Education, 4(1), 57–79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3065
Oxford English Dictionary. (2021). Reference (v.8). Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com/
Panszczyk, L., MacDonnell-Kennedy, C. D., & Turan, T. (2008). 2008 US master employee benefits guide. CCH Incorporated.
Public Service Commission. (2016). Evaluation of employee assistance programmes in the public service. Pretoria.
Reuter, S. Z. (2020). The responsible professor: EAPs and the neoliberal university. Canadian Journal of Sociology, 46(1), 1–36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29173/cjs29702
Reybold, L. E., Lammert, J. D., & Stribling, S. M. (2013). Participant selection as a conscious research method: Thinking forward and the deliberation of ‘emergent’ findings. Qualitative Research, 13(6), 699–716. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794112465634
Richard, L. (2014). Measuring program utilization: A practical guide for evaluators. Sage Publications.
Sheton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22, 63–75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2004-22201
Steward, A. (2023). A review of participant, agency, and community outcomes of non-familial intergenerational programs. Journal of Social Work, 23(1), 122–142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173211057436
Stone, R. (2011). Human resource management (7th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Taute, F., & Manzini, K. (2009). Factors that hinder the utilization of the employee assistance programme in the Department of Labour. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 45(4), 385–393. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15270/45-4-190
Thomas, D. R. (2017). Feedback from research participants: Are member checks useful in qualitative research? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 14(1), 23–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2016.1219435
Wills, E. (2018). A descriptive analysis of employee assistance programs and stigma (Master’s dissertation). California State University.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mmaphuti Percy Dipela, Ardonis Nomfundo Mgwenya
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
For all articles published in IJRBS, copyright is retained by the authors. Articles are licensed under an open access Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, meaning that anyone may download and read the paper for free. In addition, the article may be reused and quoted provided that the original published version is cited. These conditions allow for maximum use and exposure of the work, while ensuring that the authors receive proper credit.
