Shepell.fgi expands EAP to include Health Coaching

TORONTO , Oct. 1 /CNW/ - Shepell.fgi's integration of Health Coaching into Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) is a first in Canada . There is a growing desire among employees for reliable health information and support for making personal changes that lead to improved physical health. Expanding the capacity of EAP to include access to confidential support for physical health issues responds to that need and subsequently helps employers further contain health and other benefits costs in an efficient way.

"This is a dramatic step forward in Employee Assistance Programs that changes the landscape of employee health," says Karen Seward , Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing, Shepell.fgi. "It means increased empowerment for employees and increased productivity and better control of health-related costs for employers. It's a win for everyone - including the overburdened health care system."

Seward was a guest speaker at the Health Work & Wellness Conference 2009, which winds up October 3 in Gatineau, Quebec . Shepell.fgi, an exhibitor at the conference, introduced EAP with Health Coaching at its booth.

Organizations with employees who suffer from chronic low-grade conditions such as headaches, sleeping disorders, allergies or musculoskeletal concerns know these issues lead to increased absenteeism and lost productivity. Health Coaching not only addresses these issues, it also facilitates risk prevention for diseases and conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. With this enhancement to EAP, employers help their employees take care of all aspects of their own health.

Seward said employees are interested in accessing support for "nagging" conditions such as neck pain or allergies from a single, trusted source. "Now employers can unite their cost-containment goals for employee health and benefits through an integrated approach," Seward said. "By integrating a full suite of services that focuses on mental, social and physical health, we have created an EAP that is greater than the sum of its parts. Actively addressing physical health issues raises the standard in the evolution of EAP. "

Employees who call the EAP with Health Coaching will be simultaneously assessed for mental, social and physical health issues. "This is important because we know there is often a correlation between mental and physical health issues," Seward added.

In keeping with Shepell.fgi's commitment to client-focused solutions, Health Coaching is a telephonic service that provides one-on-one, interactive support in a way that best suits each employee's circumstances.

    
    About Shepell.fgi
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Shepell.fgi is Canada's leading provider of workplace health and productivity solutions, including prevention-focused Employee Assistance Programs, Health and Disability Management, Organizational Solutions, and Training. The company serves over eight million employees and their families across Canada , the United States , and internationally. Shepell.fgi helps organizations maintain healthy employees and healthy workplaces.

The Shepell.fgi Research group, a division of Shepell.fgi, has a mandate to educate employers and business leaders on physical, mental, and social health issues as these factors impact employees, their families, and their workplaces. The Shepell.fgi Research Group offers a precise understanding of health and wellness trends by conducting sector and issue-based analysis. Since 2002, the Shepell.fgi Research Group has published 18 issue-based reports and nine sector-based reports.

For further information: Jerry Amernic, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Vicky Zeldin, Manager, Marketing, Shepell-fgi, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]