Evaluating employee assistance programmes: Social workers' perspectives on their effectiveness
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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).