Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides information, assessment, problem-solving and referral services for all UB faculty, staff, families and retirees on any work-life concern. EAP services are free, voluntary and confidential.
Functional Services
EA professionals can help with any concern. Your concerns may include:
- Stress management
- Work relationships
- Workplace difficulties
- Child or eldercare
- Financial issues
- Mental or physical health
- Grief and loss
- Legal issues
- Veteran’s transitions
Services Include
Crisis Intervention For Traumatic Workplace Concerns
If you or someone you know has been affected by the stress of a traumatic workplace event, you may request Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), a comprehensive multi-component approach to crisis intervention.
CISM helps:
- Identify and mitigate traumatic stress symptoms that could occur after involvement or exposure to a critical incident, such as:
- Death or serious injury to UB community member
- Active shooter or other large scale acts of violence
- Physical or sexual assaults
- Environmental disaster
- Reduce the duration and severity of traumatic stress arising from crisis situations
- Prevent disabling psychological effects and regain adaptive work-life functioning
- Identify and mitigate traumatic stress symptoms that could occur after involvement or exposure to a critical incident, such as:
Mediation
Get help managing interpersonal problems or workplace disputes involving one or more people in a neutral, professional setting. Get a peaceful and satisfactory resolution to your problem.
Using mediation services may be able to help you if you are experiencing:
- Interpersonal issues
- Perceived bullying
- Personality conflict
- Supervisor-supervisee conflict
- Co-worker conflict
- Differing work style
Return To Work Services
When you need to be out of the workplace for a significant amount of time due to medical, substance abuse, mental health or other personal issues, get confidential assistance from your Employee Assistance (EA) consultant.
- Before leaving the workplace:
Your EA consultant can help you navigate the various areas on campus that will help facilitate your leave, such as: Health Benefits, Employee Relations and/or Accessibility Resources.
- Before returning to the workplace:
Your EA consultant can help with your transition back into the workplace by coordinating a “Return to Work” meeting on your behalf. “Return to Work” meetings provide a safe, confidential and comfortable environment for you and others to talk about your return to the workplace.
Participants in the “Return to Work” meeting are chosen by you and may include your supervisor, Benefits, Employee Relations, Accessibility Resources, your treatment provider (if applicable) and the EA consultant. This meeting gives everyone the opportunity to discuss any circumstances that need to be addressed to ensure a smooth transition back into the workplace, such as job expectations, agreements about any necessary accommodations and ways to continue positive communication among all involved.
Support Groups
Get support from your peers to improve your well-being. Designed to provide emotional, educational and social support through regularly scheduled meetings, support groups help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems. Building social support will help your ability to maintain or improve your overall personal, physical and emotional health while dealing with real life issues.
Current Support Groups
Caregiver
Caregivers of aging parents and loved ones meet for support, resources and ways to manage the everyday demands of caregiving. For more information, contact:
Chronic Illness
This group is for anyone who has been diagnosed with, in treatment for, or living with a chronic illness. When you live with a chronic disease, some days are just harder to get through than others. At times, feelings of isolation and the uncertainty of your circumstances weigh heavily. Members exchange coping strategies and help each other through encouraging words and success stories. If you ever thought, “No one understands what I am going through,” think again. Being part of a support group can be a helpful step in taking control of your disease.
Parenting Support Group
In this group, parents will meet and discuss the parenting issues of concern. Members will exchange ideas and coping strategies, success stories and insights, along with support, encouraging words and practical advice. Parents of children of all ages welcome. This group will meet virtually the third Tuesday of each month from 12-1 p.m., starting September 15, 2020. If interested, or for more information, contact:
Workplace Stress
Everyone has stress at work. If it seems overwhelming, meet with others for support and ideas to cope. For more information, contact:
Training
Attend a training to improve your well-being. Free workshops are offered to all UB employees on each of the UB campuses during the Fall and Spring semesters, and during the summer. Workshops are led by professionals expert on the topic, and participants are typically highly satisfied with the workshops they attend. UB employees may attend workshops during their work time, provided that they have received supervisory approval. Suggestions for training topics are always welcome.
EAP Wellness and Health Trainings
Workplace Consultation
EA professionals help UB supervisors manage tough employee issues that impact work & family life. EAP consultations are free, voluntary and confidential. EA professionals encourages early and proactive contact with the employee before the issue gets out of hand.
