QuadMed Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What IS the EAP, anyway?

The Employee Assistance Program has been a part of Quad/Graphics for more than 15 years. It provides assessment and referral services, short-term counseling and wellness services, including information and education on such topics as stress control and parenting. The EAP is an accessible resource, available onsite at most of the plants, and services are free of charge to employees with benefits. Individuals who come to the EAP may be in crisis, but most often they want help in coping with mounting troubles or are seeking information and resources about common issues in daily living.

Do I need to see a doctor to use the EAP?

A number of sources, such as Employee Services, QuadMed, the fitness centers, or managers, may frequently refer individuals to the EAP. However, no referral is needed. Anyone who has Quad/Graphics’ health insurance benefits may use the EAP without referral from any source

Will I be labeled “mentally ill?”

The EAP is available for many kinds of consultations. Sometimes, just having a place to talk, to vent, to generate problem-solving ideas is one of the EAP’s greatest uses. The EAP counselors do not use diagnoses or labels in their work at Quad/Graphics, and they are not there to judge you, either.

Do I have to be in crisis to use the EAP?

The EAP will, of course, respond to those in urgent need of assistance, but catching problems before they become crises is optimal. Therefore, sitting down with a counselor and talking things out before they build is welcomed. As we’ve said before, sometimes just talking out loud is often all that’s needed. At times we all like to have a place where we have an opportunity to make sense out of sometimes seemingly complex problems, and the EAP can provide that place.

Can an EAP counselor help me with parenting?

Yes, EAP counselors are trained to help with a variety of issues in living, such as parenting concerns, grief, depression, anxiety, phobias, conflicts with partners or co-workers, relationship problems, and stress management. In addition, EAP counselors can be resources for educational materials as well as personal/spiritual growth issues.

Does anyone know I've come to EAP or what I've talked about?

What goes on in the EAP sessions is strictly confidential. It is no one's business but your own that you are seeing a counselor. Sometimes, a manager will refer an employee, and the same rules apply: The porgram is voluntary and confidentiality is respected. The EAP is here to provide a helping hand. No information will be disclosed to anyone without your written permission, unless required by law.

Will this affect my employment (or my spouse’s) in any way? Will my supervisor know?

Again, neither your employer nor your co-workers will have any knowledge of you seeking help from the EAP. If your manager has referred you, he/she will not have information without your permission. If your performance has been affected, it is up to the manager to assess and monitor your performance, but he/she will not be given information about personal problems without your permission.

Will I be analyzed? I’ve never gone to a counselor before, and I’m worried I’ll have to talk about my childhood or “bare my soul” to a perfect stranger.

It’s true, it takes a lot of courage to make an appointment with someone you don’t know, and you don’t know what to expect. You will not be expected to talk about anything you don’t want to, and the counselor is primarily interested in helping you sort out what it is you feel you need/want to. Remember, the EAP is there to listen to your concerns and to help you come to some possible solutions.

If I go to the EAP, does that mean there’s something wrong with me—that I can’t help myself?

As human beings, we all inevitably face many problems and difficulties in our daily lives. Usually we can resolve them, but sometimes we can get stuck and may benefit from professional assistance if the problems are affecting our relationships, our work, our health or our happiness. If our automobile is making a funny noise, we may try some approaches to figuring it out and fixing it, and if we can’t, we seek a qualified person with mechanical expertise to take a look. In the same way, consulting an EAP professional can lead us on a path to resolving personal problems.