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Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have been traced back to the late 1930’s with the beginning formation of programs dealing with occupational alcoholism. During a time when drinking on the job was the norm, it also began to affect job performance and productivity. This would become a major issue for the industrial industry and would become the main focus for correction with job-based alcoholism programs. By 1939, the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) movement had begun to spread throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern United States (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). People in “recovery” began to eagerly share their experience with other workers. This would be the start of the EAP movement. Businesses also began to see the effectiveness of the programs with the rehabilitation of their workers and the rise of production. The thought then began what other types of problems these programs could help.

The Kemper Group in 1962, introduced a program to address alcoholic rehabilitation but, expanded the program to the families of the workers and focused on other issues as well. This would broaden the program to not just deal with alcoholism but also, family and marriage problems, emotional problems, financial problem, legal problems, and other problems including drug use (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). In 1969, Senator Harold Hughes would introduce a bill called The Hughes Act. Sen. Hughes felt that there was a great lack of federal and state involvement in the treatment of alcoholism. In 1970, Congress would pass the Federal Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention Treatment and Rehabilitation Act creating the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA). States would then soon begin to follow suit and denounce public intoxication and began treating alcoholism as a disease. The NIAAA priority would be to begin researching and treating alcoholism. They were also focused on providing states with grants in order to hire and train EAP specialist.

In the 1970’s, the Occupational Alcoholism Bureau formed by the National Council on Alcoholism (NCA) and the Association of Labor and Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism (ALMACA) would help spread EPA concepts. They did this by distributing information, giving conferences and seminars, increasing the knowledge of professionals and the community. A number of treatment centers would also grow after the passing of the Hughes Act. These centers have EAP specialist located on site to help in the rehabilitation processes. It is not known the exact amount of treatment centers there are in the United States.

Employee Assistance Programs would see a significant shift during the economic crisis of the 1980’s. During this time, the government was forced to create cutbacks for programs. This would cause for mental health public agencies, treatment centers, and private counseling firms to survive by partnering with industry wanting to enter the EAP field. This though would also have a cause the effectiveness of the programs to come into question. The cutbacks began to affect the training of the EAP specialist and their effectiveness. The situations of workers also began to change during this time. People were also having to wait in lines and trying to search for work due to the crisis.

In most recent years, the services provided by EAPs have changed in its direction. With events occurring nationally and around the world has caused for EAPs to rise and the need for them greater in the United States. EAPs have also been affected by technology, terrorism attacks, natural disasters, disabilities act, and workplace violence (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). Since the events of September 11, 2001, EAP specialists have become more involved in incident debriefing and implementing plans during emergencies (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009 & Masi 2011). Providers began to report more of the workforce experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and an increase in stress and depression (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009 & Masi 2011). The continued threat of terrorism, people are reporting that they are more anxious about the thought of an attack occurring again.


References: Clark, Ann D. 2015. “Quality EAPs Carry Their Weight.” Benefit Magazine 52, no 12: 42-47. MasterFILE, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2016).

Masi, D.A. (2011). Employee assistance programs. Retrieved (accessed April 12, 2016) from http://www.socialwelfarehistory.com/programs/employee-assistance-programs/.

Richard, Michael A., William S. Hutchison, and William G. Emener. 2009. Employee Assistance Programs: Wellness/Enhancement Programming. 4th ed. Springfield: Charles C Thomas, eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed March 7, 2016). Mn1070 (talk) 16:29, 17 April 2016 (UTC)

Early Programs[edit]

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) has been traced back to the late 1930's with the beginning formation of programs dealing with occupational alcoholism. During a time when drinking on the job was the norm, it also began to affect job performance and productivity. This would become a major issue for the industrial industry and would become the main focus for correction with job-based alcoholism programs. By 1939, the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) movement had begun to spread throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern United States (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). People in “recovery " began to eagerly share their experiences with other workers. This would be the start of the EAP movement. Businesses also began to see the effectiveness of the programs with the rehabilitation of their workers and the rise of production. The thought then began what other types of problems this program could help.

EAPs Taking Shape[edit]

The Kemper Group in 1962, introduced a program to address alcoholic rehabilitation but, expanded the program to the families of the workers and focused on other issues as well. This would broaden the program to not just deal with alcoholism but also, family and marriage problems, emotional problems, financial problem, legal problems, and other problems including drug use (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). In 1969, Senator Harold Hughes would introduce a bill called The Hughes Act. Sen. Hughes felt that there was a great lack of federal and state involvement in the treatment of alcoholism. In 1970, Congress would pass the Federal Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention Treatment and Rehabilitation Act creating the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA). States would then soon begin to follow suit and denounce public intoxication and began treating alcoholism as a disease. The NIAAA priority would be to begin researching and treating alcoholism. They were also focused on providing states with grants to hire and train EAP specialist. In the 1970’s, the Occupational Alcoholism Bureau formed by the National Council on Alcoholism (NCA) and the Association with / for Labor and Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism (ALMACA) would help spread EPA concepts. They did this by distributing information, giving conferences and seminars, increasing the knowledge of professionals and the community. A number of treatment centers would also grow after the passing of the Hughes Act. These centers have EAP specialist on site to help in the rehabilitation processes. It is not known the exact amount of treatment centers in the United States.

Cutbacks on EAPs[edit]

Employee Assistance Programs would see a significant shift during the economic crisis of the 1980's. During this time, the government was forced to create cutbacks for programs. This would cause for mental health public agencies, treatment centers, and private counseling firms to survive by partnering with industry wanting to enter the EAP field. This though would also have a cause the effectiveness of the programs to come into question. The cutbacks began to affect the training of the EAP specialist and their effectiveness. The situations of workers also began to change from this time. People were also having to wait in lines and trying to search for work due to the crisis.

Post 9/11 EAPs[edit]

In most recent years, the services provided by EAPs have changed in their direction. With events occurring nationally and around the world this has caused for EAPs to rise and the need for them greater in the United States. EAPs have also been affected by technology, terrorism attacks, natural disasters, disabilities act, and workplace violence (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). Since the events of September 11, 2001, EAP specialists have become more involved in incident debriefing and implementing plans during emergencies (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009 & Masi 2011). Providers began to report more on the workforce experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and an increase in stress and depression (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009 & Masi 2011). The continued threat of terrorism, people are reporting that they are more anxious about the thought of an attack occurring again. Mn1070 (talk) 14:30, 21 April 2016 (UTC)



Early Programs

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) has been traced back to the late 1930's with the beginning formation of programs dealing with occupational alcoholism. During a time when drinking on the job was the norm, it also began to affect job performance and productivity. This would become a major issue for the industrial industry and would become the main focus for correction with job-based alcoholism programs. By 1939, the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) movement had begun to spread throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern United States (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). People in “recovery" began to eagerly share their experiences with other workers. This would be the start of the EAP movement. Businesses also began to see the effectiveness of the programs with the rehabilitation of their workers and the rise of production. The thought then began what other types of problems this program could help.

EAPs Taking Shape

The Kemper Group in 1962, introduced a program to address alcoholic rehabilitation but, expanded the program to the families of the workers and focused on other issues as well. This would broaden the program to not just deal with alcoholism but also, family and marriage problems, emotional problems, financial problem, legal problems, and other problems including drug use (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). In 1969, Senator Harold Hughes would introduce a bill called The Hughes Act. Sen. Hughes felt that there was a great lack of federal and state involvement in the treatment of alcoholism. In 1970, Congress would pass the Federal Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention Treatment and Rehabilitation Act creating the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA). States would then soon begin to follow suit and denounce public intoxication and began treating alcoholism as a disease. The NIAAA priority would be to begin researching and treating alcoholism. They were also focused on providing states with grants to hire and train EAP specialist.

In the 1970’s, the Occupational Alcoholism Bureau formed by the National Council on Alcoholism (NCA) and the Association of Labor and Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism (ALMACA) would help spread EPA concepts. They did this by distributing information, giving conferences and seminars, increasing the knowledge of professionals and the community. A number of treatment centers would also grow after the passing of the Hughes Act. These centers have EAP specialist on site to help in the rehabilitation processes. It is not known the exact amount of treatment centers in the United States.

Cutbacks on EAPs

Employee Assistance Programs would see a significant shift during the economic crisis of the 1980's. During this time, the government was forced to create cutbacks for programs. This would cause for mental health public agencies, treatment centers, and private counseling firms to survive by partnering with industry wanting to enter the EAP field. This though would also have a cause the effectiveness of the programs to come into question. The cutbacks began to affect the training of the EAP specialist and their effectiveness. The situations of workers also began to change from this time. People were also having to wait in lines and trying to search for work due to the crisis.

Post 9/11 EAPs

In most recent years, the services provided by EAPs have changed in their direction. With events occurring nationally and around the world this has caused for EAPs to rise and the need for them greater in the United States. EAPs have also been affected by technology, terrorism attacks, natural disasters, disabilities act, and workplace violence (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009). Since the events of September 11, 2001, EAP specialists have become more involved in incident debriefing and implementing plans during emergencies (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009 & Masi 2011). Providers began to report more on the workforce experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and an increase in stress and depression (Richard, Hutchinson, Emener, 2009 & Masi 2011). The continued threat of terrorism, people are reporting that they are more anxious about the thought of an attack occurring again.