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.
EA professionals can help with any concern. Your concerns may include:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Caregivers of aging parents and loved ones meet for support, resources and ways to manage the everyday demands of caregiving. For more information, contact:
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.
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:
Everyone has stress at work. If it seems overwhelming, meet with others for support and ideas to cope. For more information, contact:
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.
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.