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Help Always Is Available

Help Always Is Available
By Robert “Bobby” Bock
NAPS Southeast Area Vice President

As postal employees, we seem to complain a lot about what’s wrong with the Postal Service. Today, I want to talk about something they’ve done right: the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Over the years, the EAP has been involved in many worthwhile initiatives. For example, before the 1992 reorganization, the Program for Alcoholic Recovery (PAR) assisted employees who were having problems with alcohol.

After the reorganization, the Postal Service realized it needed to do more to help employees with problems besides alcohol. The agency sought to hire an outside firm equipped to deal with the myriad issues facing postal employees. This is what became the EAP.

The program now offers free counseling, health assessments and assistance with obtaining child and elder care. The program also helps with depression, alcohol and substance abuse, family issues and so much more. Trained counselors are available 24/7 by calling 800-EAP-4YOU; 800-327-4968. All communication with the EAP is confidential; no contact is made with the Postal Service.

Over the years, I have referred many employees to the EAP with positive results. Employees who were having issues at home have thanked me for directing them to the program. They were pleased to let me know the problems they were having were resolved.

The EAP can get you the help you need. Counselors will work with you to take advantage of assistance covered by your health plan. I fully support and affirm my support of the Employee Assistance Program as a resource for postal employees. I hope more supervisors, managers and postmasters recommend the EAP for their employees, as well as use the program themselves.