Scrolling through Facebook, I saw someone complaining about a sketchy landlord. Resolving the issue would require a trip to court. The poster had no idea how to begin, and someone made a brilliant suggestion: Contact your Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

I was cheering--this is a resource that many companies have and can be a huge help in situations like this.

But the original poster's answer made me sigh: "I work for a tech startup, and we don't have an EAP."

Oh, you darling tech startups. You've got a pool table, or you're 100 percent remote. Good for you. But do you know how much an EAP costs? Around $35 per year per employee.

You're spending more than that on bagels.

If this person's employer was willing to spend $35 per employee, they could get some free legal advice, as well as a zillion other things like

  • Financial advice
  • Finding a therapist
  • Help to find childcare
  • Help to manage a chronic health condition
  • Diet help
  • Marriage counseling
  • Substance abuse guidance
  • Navigating workplace trauma
  • Pretty much any problem you can think of.

So, please, if you think it's not necessary, you're wrong. Making this small expenditure can literally save your employees thousands of dollars and untold hours of stress.

I wish an EAP provider were paying me to post this, but they are not. I feel passionate about doing this small thing to help your employees through difficult trials.

Skip one Friday lunch and buy an EAP plan.

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay