blog.convergeinternational.com.au/?p=17 -
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And employers are enhancing them as deteriorating economic conditions bring more demand, said Mary Tavarozzi, a principal in the health and welfare group at Towers Perrin, the benefits consulting firm.
"Many companies have E.A.P.'s, and they are usually a fairly rarely used and modestly publicized benefit," she said.
"What employers have been doing of late is beefing up the benefit itself by offering additional sessions with counselors.
Some large companies with employees located in a fairly large campus have established on-site E.A.P. facilities with weekly office hours, when usually contact is with an unseen counselor by telephone."
Some companies have also hired financial counseling firms to help employees adjust their retirement plans because of bear-market losses or possible discontinuation of employer contributions, Ms. Tavarozzi said.
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"There's still evidence of a steady erosion of jobs," Ms. Tavarozzi said, "and most companies have already begun contingency planning to see how the first and second quarters play out."