Employee Assistance Programmes

Many employers provide support to staff through Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), which offer helplines, counselling and sickness absence monitoring. The Court of Appeal ruling in Sutherland v Hatton (see page 35) emphasised the need for counselling services, although unions and others have raised concerns about the lack of fixed standards for EAP providers, and the qualifications and training of counsellors.

In addition, some unions provide confidential helplines for members suffering from stress at work. For example, the PCS civil service union offers a stress counselling and health advice helpline for its members.