Promotes the Knowledge of Employee Assistance Programmes

Serves as a Gateway for the Exchange of Information and Ideas

Today, more emphasis is being stressed on the Employee Assistance　

Programmes(EAP) among companies in Asia Pacific region. Dr Dale Masi, a　

specialist in EAP from the States, has suggested the HKCS to hold a　

conference in Hong Kong regarding this matter. After taking serious　

consideration, our Employee Development Service has decided to hold the　

"Asia Pacific Conference of EAP" between March 5 and 7, 1998. Not only　

to provide an opportunity to exchange experiences among employers and　

employees, but also to provide them with more exposure to the programmes.

Miss Doris Fong Lai Man, Manageress of the Employee Development　

Service, explained that since the HKCS is the first social service organization　

to provide the EAP, we should take the initiative to introduce the programmes　

to various industries and enable the exchange of ideas and experiences. She　

also mentioned that specific problems faced by different industries will be　

discussed in the conference and Dr Dale Masi has already been invited as　

one of the speakers.

Employee Assistance Programmes for Banks

Besides the Hong Kong Bank and the Hang Seng Bank, our Employee　

Development Service has introduced the EAP to another American company's　

affiliated banking, credit card, and travelling services, a total number of 1,200　

employees participated in the working counselling and counter-crisis services.

Miss Fong emphasized that the EAP is most popular only among some　

of the major banks in Hong Kong. It seems that there is less demand　

of the programmes in medium to small banks in which granting a budget for　

the EAP would be somewhat impractical. Furthermore, most of the employees　

are more interested in medical and housing allowances in comparison.　

In a more conservative way of thinking, the EAP is considered as a　

programme for the "problematic staff" and thus lacks the support from most　

employees. In contrary, the EAP was well promoted by the Hong Kong Bank　

and the Heng Sang Bank, a correct and positive message was conveyed to　

their employees that the EAP is in fact one of the many types of benefits　

offered to them.

The Future of EPA and its Marketing Strategies

Miss Fong admitted that they have already employed a company　

to research on the demand of the EAP in Hong Kong in order to plan for　

the future development. In the States, the EAP has been established for　

over 40 years. It was initially to provide assistance to employees who have　

alcoholic and drug problems. As it progresses, more levels are covered by　

the EAP. Nowadays, there are over 10,000 companies providing such kind　

of programmes. In comparison, the EAP was only brought into Hong Kong　

about 10 years ago. Therefore, we cannot be too aggressive to hope for the　

best results within the shortest period of time.　

However, Miss Fong still thinks that there is the potential to the　

programmes in Hong Kong, "With time, more and more companies will　

include the EAP as part of their employees' benefits, especially when　

employers observe their employees' working abilities are affected by　

depression or personal problems and that is when the EAP will be needed."

When asked about how to promote the EAP to employers and　

employees, Miss Fong acknowledged that although the service providers　

should take this responsibility, because of insufficient resources(among the　

local social and private organizations, there are only about 10 companies　

which provide the EAP), they have to rely much on the Government's　

assistance in order to promote the programmes.