FIRM TARGETS PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF EMPLOYEES

Employees' personal problems can impact safety issues, medical costs and work performance.

"People, regardless of their position in any organization, face a variety of problems in their daily lives," said Wally Allstun. "Usually they can work them out, but occasionally the problems become too much to handle."

That's when work can become effected, said Allstun of the Regional Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 1734 N. Kingshighway. The EAP is designed to provide help concerning personal problems, health problems, drug and other problems.

"The program provides confidential, professional assistance to help employees and their families resolve problems," said Allstun, who founded the EAP a year ago.

Prior to starting his own company, Allstun worked with another employee assistance agency five years. Before that he served as juvenile officer in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties.

"Our program is an employer-sponsored program," said Allstun. "The employer retains the services of a qualified counseling resource that specializes in the assessment of personal problems."

Allstun's company is currently working with seven area companies involving more than 3,000 employees.

Once an employer takes on the service, request for employee help may be initiated in a number of ways, said Allstun.

He said: "A request for help may come from the employee or family by calling the number of the counseling service, where an appointment will be arranged. In this case, neither the employer nor co-workers will be aware of the request for help. Confidentiality is assured. Discussions are between the counselor and employee. A supervisor may encourage an employee to use EAP. The program is voluntary, and again, confidentiality will be assured.

"Both of these request are informal ones," said Allstun. "But, if an employee refused all suggestions, a formal request can be made by the employer."