Wellness Programmes in Petrotrin: The EAP Perspective

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a wellness programme implemented by Petrotrin's Employee Assistance Programme department as part of the corporate Health, Safety and Enviroment (HSE) strategy. The author defines wellness as "any programme which stimulates and encourages employees to take personal responsibility for improving their psycho-biosocio-cultural functioning thus improving their general competence in work and non-work areas." The paper also reviews the relationship between Petrotrin's Employee Assistance Programme and organizational goals. Based on quantitative and qualitative methodologies, research data is presented on the factors which militate against wellness in Petrotrin. The findings from six major interventions are also presented and analyzed. The author concludes that there is economic value to be derived as a result of implementing wellness programmes. Specifically, wellness programmes are proposed as an effective strategy to contain health care and failure costs which are related to the frequency and severity of illnesses both on and off the job. The project described in this paper has made a significant contribution to the integrated HSE programme which began in 1995.