Employee assistance programs: a workplace resource to address intimate partner violence

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly impacts the workplace.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer confidential support for various employee issues.
• EAPs are often utilized by employers for employees affected by IPV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the role of EAPs in addressing IPV.
• To identify research exploring EAP interventions and strategies for IPV.

Main Methods:

• Searched Medline, PsychINFO, and CINAHL for English-language papers.
• Included articles published up to 2008.
• Focused on studies addressing EAPs and IPV.

Main Results:

• Nine articles were identified, predominantly from EAP-focused journals.
• Most studies, published before 2000, emphasized the need for EAP engagement in preventing violence against women.
• Commentaries and case reports offered recommendations; two intervention studies linked EAP clients with alcoholism and IPV, and highlighted a tool for identifying IPV.

Conclusions:

• Research on EAPs and IPV is in its early stages.
• There is a critical need for more studies to inform evidence-based policies and programs.
• The scarcity of research is concerning given employer reliance on EAPs for IPV-related assistance.