Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A)
Purpose/mission. The effectiveness of the university
depends on the effectiveness of its faculty and staff. The Kent state
university employee assistance program (EAP) is a free and confidential service
designed to help retain and restore employees who have job performance problems
or are likely to as a result of personal difficulties.
(B)
Scope. Areas of
personal difficulty include, but are not limited, substance abuse, financial,
legal, emotional, psychological, family, marital, stress, bereavement and other
types of personal problems.
(C)
Eligibility. The
program is available to faculty, staff and immediate family members wishing to
discuss concerns about themselves, family members, or other aspects of their
life.
(D)
General guidelines.
(1)
Participation in
the program is voluntary and a request for help with personal problems will not
jeopardize employments and/or promotional opportunities.
(2)
Administrators/supervisors are encouraged to make a referral
to the EAP when they have reason to believe personal difficulties may be
influencing the productivity of their department or interfering with the
well-being of an individual.
(3)
Utilizing the
employee assistance program is not meant to replace existing administrative or
disciplinary procedures.
(4)
Faculty and staff are expected to correct any
substandard performance whether or not they use the program.
(E)
Methods. A professional third-party provider is contracted
to:
(1)
Offer
confidential assessment interviews that clarify the nature of the personal
problem(s) and referring to prescreened public and private community resources
for further evaluation or on-going assistance;
(2)
Provide training
programs for supervisors and administrators on the functions and services
provided by the employee assistance program including how and when to
refer;
(3)
Offering individual consultations with supervisors and
administrators regarding concerns about an individual's well-being and/or
performance; and
(4)
Provide on-going educational programming through the
distribution of pertinent literature and/or the scheduling of
speakers.
(F)
Confidentiality. EAP records and discussions are
confidential. Information held by the contractor may only be released under the
following circumstances:
(1)
An individual signs a consent form requesting the
employee assistance program staff release certain information to certain
individuals:
(2)
A medical emergency arises requiring information
necessary to assist with an individual's care:
(3)
Where child
abuse/neglect is suspected by or reported to the employee assistance program
staff or
(4)
Where release is required by law, e.g., an individual
is perceived by the EAP staff as being of danger to themselves or
others.
(G)
Access. Faculty, staff and family members have direct
access to the program or. in the case of faculty and/or staff, a
supervisor/administrator may assist with the scheduling of an
appointment.
(1)
It is not the responsibility of the
administrator/supervisor to know how to assess or solve employee personal
problems. A referral to the FSAP should be made rather than an attempt to
diagnose or treat any personal problems that are brought to their attention.
Recognizing that there is a performance deficiency, that it may be related to
outside influences and that is free, confidential and professional help
available is how the administrator/supervisor can best serve the interest of
the employee and those of the university. Hesitating to recognize and discuss
declining performance may only prolong the substandard performance and personal
difficulties.
(2)
The contractor will make services available to
employees on a
twenty - four-hour,
seven-day
basis.
(3)
It is the right of every employee to use the employee
assistance program without fear of reprisal or retaliatory
action.
(H)
Organization. The manager of university benefits or
designee will be the university's liaison to the contractor. The program may
receive guidance from an advisory committee.
Replaces: 3342-6- 09.2
