An Examination of a Combined Internal-External Employee Assistance Program

Abstract Employee Assistance Programs have become integral components of health care institutions throughout North America. Their value in aiding employees and their family members contend with a wide range of work-related personal problems has been widely reported and acknowledged. More recently employee counselling programs have been called upon to also assist with organizational restructuring, particularly in the Canadian health care sector. This article examines the evolution of a hospital-based counselling service during a turbulent period of economic restructuring in the Canadian health care field. The parallel changes faced by the organization and the changes made by the Employee Assistance Program are discussed to demonstrate the importance of Employee Assistance Programs being linked to the unique needs of an organization, its employees, and their family members.