Local EAP Advisory Committees Terms of Reference

Well-Being Committee
Local EAP Advisory Committees Terms of Reference

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Local EAP Advisory Committees

1.0  INTRODUCTION

CRA and Union Organizations support the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and its role in furthering employee and organizational health.  They have agreed to the formation of Local EAP Advisory Committees in work locations large enough to warrant their establishment in order to focus greater attention on employee wellbeing and ensure the high visibility of the Program.

2.0  GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The following are guiding principles that will form the basis for the work of the Local EAP Advisory Committee:

  • The Program exists to serve the needs of all employees.

  • All employees must have access to a consistent level and quality of service.

  • All employees have the right to participate in the Program.

  • Committee members should be fully knowledgeable about all of the services available to employees through EAP.

  • Committee members will fully support all practitioners involved in the delivery of those services.

  • Committees will ensure that interested employees, referral agents, union representatives and management representatives have an opportunity to participate on the committee.

3.0 SCOPE

The Local EAP Advisory Committee’s primary focus is the workplace and ensuring that the local employee population is aware of the services available to them.  The committee provides advice and assists the EAP Coordinator-counsellor, who manages the Program in their area of responsibility.

Issues that cannot be resolved at the local or regional levels by committees, union representatives, managers or the EAP coordinator-counsellor should be forwarded to the National EAP Office.  All supporting documentation must be forwarded at that time.  If the Office, in consultation with the relevant parties, cannot resolve the issue it will be referred to the co-chairs of the National EAP Advisory Committee for review by that committee.

4.0 MANDATE

The Local EAP Advisory Committee will provide support to the EAP coordinator-counsellor and foster awareness of the EAP services available to employees by:

  • Promoting the Program
  • Providing advice to EAP Coordinator-counsellors and generating ideas on Program activities
  • Participating in the development of promotional and educational plans with the Coordinator-counsellor
  • Promoting wellness and recognizing individuals or work teams who have made a contribution to wellness in the workplace
  • Participating in the development of training and evaluation plans
  • Participating in Program and contract needs identification and assessment

5.0  COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE

The Committee composition detailed below should be regarded as a minimum.  It is important that the Committee membership reflect the workforce that it serves.  It would therefore be appropriate to include additional members (i.e. representatives from all labour organizations in the workplace, management representatives) depending on the workplace:

  • 1 management representative, with appropriate signing authority
  • 1 union representative
  • 1 referral agent
  • EAP Coordinator-counsellor
  • 1 interested employee from the general population

Others that may be asked to participate as required are:

  • EAP contracted counsellor
  • Technical or subject matter experts (e.g. Materiel Management representative, Communications)

Alternates

Each committee member may select an alternate member to serve as his/her replacement when he or she is unable to attend a meeting.

6.0  CHAIRING OF MEETINGS

Chairing of the meetings can rotate among the members.

7.0  FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

The Local EAP Advisory Committee will meet at least once per quarter.

8.0  MINUTES

  • Draft minutes should be prepared and circulated to Committee members for review and comments
  • Committee members will approve the final minutes
  • Approved minutes will be provided to the National EAP Office