Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have become an integral part of modern workplace strategies, offering employees valuable resources to address personal and professional challenges. However, the effectiveness of an EAP relies heavily on employee utilization. The average EAP usage in the US is less than 10% — and this is a healthy range — but men are half as likely to look for support with mental health through an EAP than women. And many fall below this average. So how can you ensure you’re reaching the people who need it, and what can you do if you fall short of the average 10% utilization? Companies are turning to innovative solutions to boost engagement, and here are five tried-and-tested ways you can get your people to use your Employee Assistance Programme more. 1. Education is key Utilization is very closely tied to how well the program is promoted, and understood by employees. If they fully understand what the service is, how it works and how it can help them, then utilization and engagement levels increase. Gone are the days when EAP was limited to counseling — now, it’s host to preventative care including financial advice, and health and wellness information. So ask yourself: do your people know the breadth of the offering?2. Easy accessSimple education on what the provision covers, and how it works, isn’t enough — you need to remove any blockers that exist in accessing it. Burying the login process on a workplace intranet means that your people have to be logged into a workplace system to access the details (not conducive to feeling anonymous), and provide multiple steps.Putting EAP excess in your employee app allows your workforce to access EAP resources on the go, at home, and whenever it’s needed. 3. Personalized notifications and remindersLeverage the power of push notifications and reminders within the employee benefits app to keep the EAP at the forefront of your employees' minds. Customize notifications to highlight specific EAP features, upcoming events, or relevant resources. For instance, employees could receive reminders about stress management workshops, financial planning webinars, or confidential counseling sessions. By tailoring notifications to individual preferences and needs, the app can become a proactive tool that actively engages employees and encourages them to make the most of the available EAP services.4. Incorporate gamification techniques:Introduce gamification elements to make using the EAP a fun and rewarding experience. The YuLife employee app is gamified to keep your employees engaged and logging on for daily health and wellbeing activities: motivated by rewards.And through sheer proximity to their EAP, familiarity with its location and ease of access, YuLife delivers 5x EAP engagement. 5. Promote and destigmatize with communication from the topEAPs are often still synonymous with mental health support, despite having a much broader focus in modern times. And when it comes to mental health, despite considerable progress in recent years, there’s still a stigma — accounting for men being half as likely to use an EAP. Stigmatization comes from every direction — and that includes within your business. Encourage leadership, showcase case studies, and increase the conversation about mental health and provision available within your business. 6. Highlight the anonymityAs EAPs are provided by you, the employer, it’s not surprising that many employees question the anonymity of their calls. And, unfortunately, this acts as a strong deterrent for people to pick up the phone — even when they need it most. Double down on the education around this service’s anonymity so you can overcome this recurring barrier. Driving engagement with your Employee Assistance Program relies on strategic integration and promotion through accessible channels like employee benefits apps. By adopting these 5 strategies, companies can not only increase EAP engagement but also cultivate a workplace culture that prioritizes employee wellbeing and development. As the workforce continues to evolve, leveraging technology to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of EAPs will be crucial in fostering a resilient and thriving workplace community.Find out more about YuLife’s EAP, YuMatter, here. About YuLifeYuLife is an employee benefits and wellbeing app that’s reimagining the insurance industry by protecting lives, rewarding living and inspiring life. We’re on a mission to transform traditional insurance into a life-enhancing experience each employee will value and use daily. How does it work?Our award-winning app uses behavioral science and game mechanics to reward your people for living well while offering protection in case of crisis. And with our top-rated employee assistance program, your team gets access to mental, financial and social support, nutritionists, life coaches and more to help them live their best lives.Because we believe that your employees should benefit from their insurance from day one — and that wellbeing should be accessible every day, for everyone.Request a demo for your team today.