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Many employers already offer an employee assistance programme (EAP) without realising it. If you have Group Life, Group Health or Group Income Protection, your policy may include one at no extra cost. It gives staff access to counselling, advice and support when they need it. You may also see them called employee assistance programs or employee support programmes.
With 90% of employees experiencing stress at work in some form, that support matters. An EAP is a practical way to help with stress and mental health in the workplace, and for many employers it’s already paid for. The challenge is making sure staff know it’s there.
This guide covers what an employee assistance programme is, what it includes, what it costs in the UK and which insurers include one.
An employee assistance programme is a confidential support service that gives staff access to counselling, practical advice and information, usually by phone or online. It is typically provided by the insurer behind a group life, group income protection or group health insurance policy, or by a specialist company working with them.
Any employee covered by the policy can use it, and some providers extend access to employees’ families too. Most services don’t require a claim on the attached policy, so staff can get in touch whenever they need to.
Many employers already have an employee assistance programme (EAP) without realising it, because it comes bundled with their group insurance. If you’re not sure, your insurer or broker can confirm what’s included.
The services vary by provider and policy, but most employee assistance programmes include a mix of the following:
These services benefit everyone and can be highly appealing employee benefits in their own right, regardless of the insurance product attached to them. Yet few people realise they come as part of their group protection.
Counselling is one of the most widely used parts of an employee assistance programme. It gives employees a confidential space to talk through stress, anxiety, low mood, relationship problems or anything else affecting their wellbeing, whether or not it is work-related.
Most providers offer sessions in one of two ways:
Session limits depend on the provider and policy, but face-to-face counselling is commonly capped at around six sessions per issue, sometimes more. Phone support and helplines are often unlimited. The limits will be set out in the policy documents.
Many programmes also include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a practical, short-term talking therapy that helps people recognise and change unhelpful thought patterns. It is often used for anxiety, low mood and stress, and can be delivered by phone, online or face to face.
Employees can access their employee assistance programme directly, usually by phone, online or through an app. They don’t need to make a claim on their employer’s group insurance policy to use the services.
Many EAP services are designed to help employees tackle problems before they become more serious or lead to time off work. For example, an employee might get support for stress, financial worries or family difficulties before these begin to affect their health and wellbeing.
EAPs are also used to support employees returning to work after a period of illness or injury, helping them manage their recovery and settle back into work.
Helplines and online resources are often available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can usually be used as often as needed. Some providers also extend certain services to employees’ immediate family members. Services such as face-to-face counselling may be limited to a set number of sessions per employee, and these limits are set out in the policy documents.
Employees can generally keep using the services for as long as they’re eligible under their employer’s scheme.
Some employees don’t use these services because they worry that any information they share might be passed onto their employer.
However, these services are usually provided by companies separate to the insurance provider and are confidential.
Nadeem Farid
Head of Health & Wellbeing Benefits
The cost of an employee assistance programme depends on how it is bought. There are two main routes:
The price of a standalone employee assistance programme usually depends on:
You don’t need a large workforce to offer an EAP. If you run a small business, check whether group cover would give your staff an EAP alongside other protection before you buy one on its own. An adviser can compare both options for you.
NOT SURE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE? 🧐
We can review your current group insurance, show you what’s included and compare it with standalone options.
Employee Assistance Programmes are often packaged in with Group Risk and Group Health policies, but many people covered by such insurances simply aren’t aware that these extra support services are available to them.
There tends to be a lack of communication about these additional benefits, with the focus being on the main risk the policy is addressing rather than on what else it can do for workers.
Many employees don’t find out until it is too late that they are able to access these services. Others that are aware of these services don’t know how to access them or don’t know that they are not required to make a formal claim with the insurer in order to use them.
Overlooking these support services can be a big mistake for employers considering the positive impact they can have. When employees are aware of the services available to them and know how to access them, some instances of long-term absence may be avoided.
Before EAPs are able to tackle the problem of workplace stress, employers need to look closer at the group insurance products they apply for and learn how to properly promote the services available.
Start by checking what your group insurance includes. Then tell employees what the EAP offers, how to contact it and that they don’t need to make a claim to use it. Remind them regularly, not just when they join. Our guide on communicating employee benefits has practical ideas for getting the message across.
Only 31% of employers say they offer an employee assistance programme (EAP), yet many group insurance policies include one. It’s always best to check any existing policies to see what additional services come with them.
Joseph Toft
Senior Employee Benefits Consultant
The employee assistance services provided by the following insurers come free of charge when you purchase a Group Income Protection Insurance or Group Life Insurance policy.
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Aviva, provided by HealthHero:
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Canada Life, provided by WeCare:
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L&G, provided by Spark:
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Unum, provided by Help@hand:
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Zurich, provided by Health Assured:
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No. UK employers aren’t legally required to provide an employee assistance programme (EAP). They do have a duty of care to protect employees’ health and safety, which includes managing work-related stress, and an employee assistance programme (EAP) is one practical way to support that.
The employee calls a confidential helpline and speaks to a trained adviser, who asks a few questions to understand what they need. Depending on the issue, they may get advice on the call, or be referred on for counselling, legal or financial guidance, or other services included in the programme.
Often, yes, but it depends on the provider and policy. Some extend helplines and information services to partners and dependent children, while others cover the employee only. The policy documents will say who is eligible.
No.Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are confidential, and employers normally only see anonymised usage statistics, not who called or why. For more on supporting mental health at work, see our World Mental Health Day article
Employee Assistance Programmes are often included at no additional cost with Group Health Insurance and Group Risk policies, but are your employees making the most of the support available?
Our 2025 Employee Benefits Survey ound that 32% of employees would consider leaving their job for better benefits. Making employees aware of the support already available can help strengthen your benefits offering without increasing costs.
Our employee benefits specialists can review your existing arrangements, identify what’s included and help you get more value from your benefits package.
Employee benefits can be a headache. But our specialists do this day-in, day-out, offering first class service when you need it most. Here’s why you should talk to us:
For more information about Employee Benefits and the Employee Assistance programmes that accompany them pop us a call on 02074425880.
