Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

The EFAP provides access to short-term (2-3 sessions) counselling away from the workplace, where your problems can be resolved in an environment of understanding and strict privacy. It provides confidential, professional consultation and assistance for you and your family around the following problems:

• emotional and mental health
• relationships and family
• work-life balance and stress
• addictions
• physical health and nutrition
• your career
• child and elder care
• legal and financial matters

Counselling can be facilitated in-person, over the phone, via video counselling, or online (E-counselling, First Chat or an interactive support program).

Your EFAP is designed to provide you the opportunity to resolve your problems in an understanding and private environment. Two people from your company will not have back-to-back appointments with the same counsellor ensuring that they will not accidentally meet each other. Identifying telephone messages are never left at work or home. All records relating to your participation in EFAP are confidential. No information can or will be given out without your signed consent.

LifeWorks, the company which administers our EFAP, provides the employer with periodic statistical reports with non-identifying information such as the number of people who have used the services and a summary of the kinds of issues presented. These reports do not include names or other identifying information. These reports are absolutely committed to maintaining the anonymity and confidentiality of anyone using the EFAP.

LifeWorks has a network of counsellors across the country. They all have a minimum of a Masters Degree and an average of 10 years of clinical experience, with expertise in several disciplines, such as social work, marriage and family counselling, education, psychology and addictions.

No. It’s your decision whether or not to use the EFAP. This is a voluntary program. Your supervisor may suggest the EFAP as a source of help, but you’re entirely free to accept or reject this suggestion.

Yes. The EFAP will provide a list of lawyers who can provide legal consultation and advice over the phone. If you decide you would like to obtain a lawyer for services, a referral can be made at a preferred rate.

Yes, eligible dependents have access to the EFAP, including spouses. Please note, EFAP is not available for parents or siblings. Family members must access the program on their own due to confidentiality. Children under the age of 16 require a signed parental consent form to use Lifeworks’ services.

Yes. Through consultation with one of LifeWorks’ financial professionals, you will be provided with information, tools and options to get the help you need.