The nature of Employee Assistance Programme training practices within work organisations in the Western Cape

Abstract

Training in general is receiving more attention in the new evolving work environment and companies invest a lot of time, money and effort into training activities. The aim of this research study was to explore the nature of Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) training practices within companies in the Western Cape. In order to obtain the goal of the study the following objectives were formulated: ? To explore the content of EAP related training currently being presented at companies in the Western Cape. ? To explore if the current EAP related training is meeting the goals as set out by the Standards Committee of EAPA-SA. ? To explore the most beneficial EAP related training presented at companies in the Western Cape. ? To explore the current challenges that companies in the Western Cape experience regarding EAP related training of employees. ? To make recommendations regarding EAP related training practices in order to improve training practices and to proactively address training challenges. Against this background the study was guided by the following research question: ? What is the nature of EAP related training practices in companies in the Western Cape? A qualitative research approach was adopted for the purpose of this study. It was applicable because the goal was to seek a better understanding of a complex situation and to explore and to use observations to build theory from the ground up. By gathering meaningful information such as the perceptions, experiences and opinions of key role players in relation to the phenomenon of EAP related training practices in companies, the researcher explored and described the current practices and challenges. The researcher utilised an applied research approach, since it sought to understand and alleviate a demanding problem in practice (EAP related training) and provided policymakers with well-grounded guides for remedial action. As the study was grounded in the collective case study design, the researcher chose a number of cases (companies) to make comparisons between cases (companies) and concepts to extend and validate theories. The researcher purposely selected information-rich participants who provided the information needed. By using non-probability, purposive sampling the researcher purposively selected a subset of four companies in the Western Cape and studied them to make estimations and predictions about the larger population. Within the four selected companies, 13 (two to four in each of the four organisations) participants were purposively selected from which the researcher collected information. Semi-structured interviewing was used as the most appropriate method of data collection for this study. An interview schedule with some predetermined questions was utilised to guide the interviews and the questions were formulated to be open-ended to generate more in-depth responses. The interviews were conducted by the researcher herself. The study was also concluded with some useful and relevant recommendations from the employees responses on what programmes are currently being presented, the most beneficial programmes and how to ensure more effective EAP related training practices. One of the crucial recommendations drawn from the findings of this research study was that to ensure effective training, an assessment of the current state of affairs within companies, should always be completed. Training will be workable if it is grounded on a formal assessment of what is in place and what is needed to meet the specific company s business strategies and objectives. Another recommendation is that formal EAP related supervisory training should be compulsory on an on-going basis. Supervisors should be well-informed and even trained in the skills that the employees are due to be trained in. If managers are well-informed about the benefit of training and the impact thereof it might increase their insight, leading to their buy-in, and it might in addition address the attendance issue.