Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The path of life never runs smoothly. Inevitably, you’re going to run into problems that challenge you and disrupt your life. Most of the time you’ll be able to manage those challenges on your own. But, sometimes, a problem becomes too difficult to handle alone. When you’re having trouble coping with life’s ups and downs, the Peel board’s Employee Assistance Program may offer the help and support you need.

What is the Employee Assistance Program?
The Employee Assistance Program is a confidential, short-term assessment, counselling and referral system for Peel board employees and their immediate families. EAPs are offered by many organizations. The services are usually paid for by the employer and offered free to employees and their families.

EAP provides assistance and support to employees with problems that affect their well-being and job performance. Problems can be work-related or personal and may include a wide variety of situations, such as:

How can I access EAP?
You decide when you need to access EAP services. Participation is entirely voluntary. While your principal, supervisor or colleagues may suggest that you contact EAP for your own benefit, the Peel board cannot require or compel you to participate.

Once you have decided that you want help, simply call the EAP counsellor directly, using the confidential EAP phone number. The counsellor will speak with you immediately or return your call as soon as possible. Contacting the EAP counsellor can be a positive step in helping you identify and resolve your problems. The information that you share will be treated as highly confidential and your privacy will be respected.

What services are provided?
Through EAP, you have access to short-term counselling and an extensive network of community agencies and professional services to help you deal with your problems. EAP services are available 12 months a year.

Once you have contacted EAP, the EAP counsellor will arrange to meet you for an assessment at a convenient time and place. At this meeting, the counsellor will help you identify and prioritize your concerns. Together, you will develop an action plan to address those concerns, tailored specifically to your needs. The plan may include short-term counselling, referral to a community or private therapist, or referral to a community agency or treatment program. The counsellor will make recommendations, but the decision to proceed with a referral or treatment is up to you.

If you need long-term assistance or support, the EAP counsellor will refer you to the appropriate private or community counsellor or treatment program.

How much does EAP cost?
EAP services are provided free to Peel board employees and their immediate families. However, there may be some costs associated with on-going treatment. In some circumstances, there may be financial subsidies available to help pay for further counselling. Contact the EAP counsellor before you see a therapist.

Are EAP services confidential?
Your identity and any information that you share with the EAP counsellor are held in strictest confidence. When you contact the EAP counsellor, a confidential record will be opened for you and the counsellor will collect some necessary information. You will be given a written document that describes the confidential nature of the program. The document also outlines the very limited circumstances when the counsellor may be required, by law, to break that confidentiality.

Your personal record is kept completely private and the Peel board cannot ask to see it. If you would like to share the information in your file, you will be asked to sign a Release of Information that clearly states what information you’re willing to share, who may see it and how that information may be used.

Contact EAP
For more information on EAP, contact the Employee Assistance Program Counsellors at 905-362-0767 or 905-362-0769.

EAP also provides a variety of workshops and programs during the year to support employee health and wellness.

Other support services
Colleagues On Leave Connecting
Being off work for an extended sick leave or long-term disability can be a very difficult experience. To help during this challenging time, a group of employees meets twice a month to share information and support. This service is an extension of EAP.

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