Aviva adds employee assistance programme to group income protection policies

Aviva has added a free employee assistance programme (EAP) to its group income protection policies.

The EAP has been developed to help employers recognise and respond to stress in the workplace and increase the support offered through income protection. It enables employees to access face-to-face counselling if they need it.

The programme includes management support services for employers, such as:

  • Comprehensive online support, including information regarding stress, legal issues relating to employee stress and information to help employers prevent, manage and recognise stress in the workplace.
  • Advice on dispute resolution and a trauma support advice line.

The EAP, which was previously available as a paid-for add-on, complements the 24-hour GP, stress counselling, bereavement counselling and legal advice telephone helpline services already available with Aviva’s group income protection policy.

Steve Bridger, head of group risk at Aviva, said: “Individuals can be affected by all manner of problems from personal issues to pressure of work.

“These issues are often extremely hard for employers to tackle as many people are still reluctant to talk about their problems in the workplace.

“This is why it is important that line managers can recognise the signs when something is wrong and know what support to offer the individual and when. Our new employee assistance services will help employers manage such situations.”

Read more articles on group risk and employee assistance programmes (EAPs)