Category: Health benefits · Reviewed by Chrissie Anderson, Client Executive · Last reviewed 2026-06-10
An employee assistance programme (EAP) is a confidential employer-funded benefit providing employees with access to short-term counselling, advice and signposting for workplace and personal issues — mental health, stress, bereavement, debt, family and legal concerns. Most modern UK EAPs offer 24/7 telephone access through a trained adviser, plus a defined number of face-to-face or video counselling sessions per concern per year.
Category: Health benefits Also known as: EAP, employee assistance program UK trade body: Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA UK) Related concepts: EAP, Mental health support employee benefit, Wellbeing benefit
EAPs originated in the United States as occupational alcoholism programmes; the UK market is now substantial with EAPA UK reporting around 23 million UK employees having access to an EAP. Typical EAPs are commissioned by the employer from a specialist provider, with cost expressed as a per-employee per-year fee (£8–£20 is typical for a standalone EAP, lower if bundled with a group risk product).
EAP services are not regulated as insurance under the FCA Handbook (they are advice and counselling, not insurance products). Counsellors providing therapy must be appropriately qualified — usually BACP, BPS or UKCP registration is required. EAPs handling personal data are subject to the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of EAP value; providers commit not to share individual data with the employer.
A standard EAP includes 24/7 telephone helpline, structured counselling (commonly 6–8 sessions per issue per year), CBT, debt and legal advisory, signposting to specialist services, manager support telephone line, and structured wellbeing content (apps, articles). Many EAPs are now bundled into group IP or group PMI policies at no extra cost.
A 200-employee firm provides an EAP at £12 per employee. An employee struggling with caring responsibilities and mild depression calls the helpline anonymously. The provider arranges six CBT sessions delivered remotely; the employee is not required to inform the employer; the provider reports anonymised utilisation data quarterly to the HR team.
This entry is part of the Apex Insurance Wiki. Last reviewed by Matt Bartlett on 2026-06-10. Next review: 2026-12-10.
Apex Insurance Brokers Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 724952. Registered in England and Wales, Companies House 07014570. This entry provides general information about UK insurance concepts and is not regulated advice. Consult your insurance broker on your specific position.
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