Difficulties,Assumptions,and Choices in Evaluating Employee Assistance Programs

Abstract

Existing evaluations of employee assistance programs have been criticized on a number ofgrounds. In addition to facing the difficulties thatare inherent in many program evaluations, evaluators of EAPs also encounter problems. Their reluctance to cooperate is often based on concerns about maintaining confidentiality, especially when dealing with clients who are emotionally disturbed. This article presents a description of common prob lems encountered in EAP evaluations, some suggested solutions to these problems, some preliminary steps to prepare fora more successful evaluation, anda step-by-step process for developing an evaluation research design for an employee assistance program.