Everyone knows that dealing with a troubled employee is probably the most difficult responsibility of a manager or supervisor. Very few of us love the kind of confrontations necessary when personal issues have an impact on workplace productivity, safety, and morale. Your organization understands that, and that's one of the reasons they have an EAP -- to help you with these situations.

First, remember that it is easier to resolve small problems than to resolve big ones. The sooner you call and act, the faster (and the more likely) a positive outcome will be reached.

You can call us any time for some coaching or suggestions on how to deal with these issues. We can provide you with some support and practical guidance about how to intervene, and what to say and what not to say.

One of the keys in getting ready to talk with an employee about performance problems or concerns for their well-being is in planning and preparation. Some suggestions:

1. Call us first for suggestions.
2. Choose a private setting where you won't be distracted or overheard.
3. Focus on observed behavior -- be specific, consise, and use examples.
4. Be clear what you expect in improvement.
5. Use EAP as a resource -- "if something's going on in your personal life that's contributing to the job performance problem, then you might want to call EAP."

Remember that EAP is confidential, and that when your employee calls us they will get a patient, professional resource that offers them practical guidance and support. You can assure your employee that when employees come in on their own, we don't let their employers know. All the employer gets is a quarterly utilization report that tells them how many people came in and the general types of issues people came in for (marriage, family, stress, drugs/alcohol, etc.).

And remember you're not alone. You can call us for advice and support. The more you do this, the easier it gets, and you'll get used to doing this more informally and earlier on in the process. EAP is an important tool in your Manager/Supervisor Tool Kit and we hope you use it.