International Employee Assistant Programs for Expat Employers
Expatriates who are posted abroad by international employers are often faced with personal and work challenges that a global medical insurance plan can’t meet. Expat assignments are usually very stressful for employees and their dependents. A new city, culture and being far from family supports can lead to personal issues that can cause an employee to repatriate home, which is very costly for any expatriate employer. Expat Financial can source International Employee Assistance Programs (IEAP) from well-known international insurance companies that provide international health insurance coverage to expat employees worldwide.
An Employee Assistance Program provided by a global insurance company can give your employees a way to deal with personal and even work-related issues that will impact their performance and employee morale. With an IEAP, employees can have telephone access to trained counsellors 24 hours a day as well as in-person access if necessary. Expat Financial can search the market for international group insurance plans that can offer employee assistance coverage and services.
What is Expatriate EAP?
Global expatriate EAP is a program that is often added to international benefit plans that provide confidential counselling and support that assists the psychological well-being & health of your workforce worldwide. It can also assist in regional and even local support for workplace problems and stress,s along with referrals to support services for your global workforce.
What do Expat Employee Assistance Programs Offer?
Here is a short listing of some of the services that are offered by many international EAP systems with the insurers we work with on a remote basis – usually via chat, phone or video:
- Confidential support and assistance on a 24/7 basis
- Some face-to-face counselling where available
- Health coaching & nutrition support
- Financial, career, and legal issues
- Assistance in expat employees working through anxiety, depression and other mental health matters
- Family support – including assisting children and relationship with your partner
- Work habits assistance
- Assist in dealing with coworkers and your leaders
- Cultural & mental challenges faced by expatriates on assignment
Levels of International Employee Assistance Program coverage
Level 1: Telephonic counselling
Level 2: Telephonic and Face-to-Face Support
Level 3: Telephonic and Face-to-Face with legal, financial and child/elder support
Note that the level of coverage will vary from one insurance company to another.
How do Global Expat Employee Assistance Programs Function?
We find that most international EAP plans are hosted on digital platforms and may be added to a global benefits program for a small fee per employee. These plans will operate with staff that speak multiple languages via phone, chat, email or the insurer’s app. International employees on assignment can use the EAP applications to schedule counselling and assistance programs, but the providers can also source in-person counselling and referrals.
It is important that global rewards managers make sure employees are aware of the EAP plans, as more often than not, expat employees are not even aware they exist. These employee assistance programs value privacy and the HR team will not know who is using the service, what features and items are being accessed or even when.
Benefits of an International Employee Assistance Program
An international employee assistance program can be an essential part of your international group insurance policy. It can offer the following benefits for the organization and employees:
- Immediate Assistance – employees can access instant and professional assistance 24 hours a day from anywhere worldwide.
- Confidentiality – expat employees will be able to access help from a third-party provider, which will provide confidential support for sensitive issues at work or at home
- Help Retain Employees – expat assignments can be very stressful for employees and their dependent,s and the loss of an expat employee can cost an organization hundreds of thousands of dollars
- Avoid Escalation – An EAP can help diffuse work and personal-related stress that can build up for an expat employee and possibly avoid conflic.t
- Improve Productivity and Reduce Employee Absence – an EAP can help maintain a productive workplace.
Contact Expat Financial for more information on implementing a global employee assistance program for your international employees. Note that the cost of such programs are quite minimal and are very much a standard part of your duty of care to your global assignees.
