Scottish Power has announced an increase in the use of its employee assistance programme (EAP) following a communications campaign to promote the benefit, which now includes face-to-face counselling.

The increased take-up of the perk among its 9,400 employees comes after the firm switched EAP provider to Atos.
Kenny Halbert, head of occupational health service delivery, said: "We have tried to increase the take-up over the last couple of months by doing as much communication [of the helpline] as we can. November alone saw a four-fold increase in calls."

The new-look EAP allows staff and resident members of their family to speak to counsellors over the telephone about health, legal and consumer issues, or to arrange a face-to-face meeting.