Employee Matters
This column is prepared by staff from the Office of Human Resources. E-mail questions to benefits@ohr.wisc.edu or call 262-5650. For more information, visit http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/ecbs.html.
Employee Assistance Office
Q: What is the Employee Assistance Office?
A: The Employee Assistance Office is an in-house resource for faculty and staff. The Employee Assistance Office provides a place where faculty and staff can talk about personal or work-related concerns in a confidential setting. Typically, someone contacting the Employee Assistance Office has become “stuck” in some aspect of their personal or professional life and needs the perspective and assistance of someone outside their work and family loop to move beyond the circumstances that make them “stuck.” All contacts with the staff of the Employee Assistance Office are confidential within limits as governed by federal and state regulations.
The Employee Assistance Office offers services to groups as well as individuals. Group services are typically focused on workplace communication and climate issues.
Q: What services does the Employee Assistance Office provide?
A: Services provided by the Employee Assistance Office include:
- consultation on personal and workplace concerns
- short-term counseling
- information about campus and community services
- referrals to appropriate campus or community service providers
- assistance to work groups experiencing change, conflict or other issues
- post-trauma/grief consultation.
In addition, the Employee Assistance Office has a lending library of books and videos on topics concerning healthy employees and workplaces.
Q: What topics are covered in Employee Assistance Office workshops?
A: Workshop topics include, but are not limited to:
- emotional intelligence at work
- having difficult conversations
- nurturing workplace relationships
- managing change
- the respectful, inclusive workplace
- responding to conflict
- managing stress
Q: Who can use the office’s services?
A: The office provides services to all faculty and staff and to their immediate family members or significant others.
Q: How do I take advantage of the office’s services?
A: The Employee Assistance Office is located in Room 526 of the Lowell Center and has regular office hours from 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by calling 263-2987 during regular office hours. Please note that under UW policy, faculty and staff may use the services of the Employee Assistance Office on work time.
Q: How much will services cost me?
A: Under university policy, Employee Assistance Office services are available at no cost. All referrals are based on necessity or by request.