Employee Assistance and Respectful Workplace Programs

Apply for Services

You can now apply for Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Respectful Workplace Program (RWP) services online or by telephone.

Option One: Access support effortlessly with the new online Employee Assistance and Respectful Workplace Programs (EARWP) Application Form.  Click EARWP Application Form

Option Two: Call our Confidential Intake Line at: 709-729-2290 (local) or 1-888-729-2290 (toll free).

Online applications and calls received to this intake number will be responded to within one business day.  If you need immediate assistance or are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 811 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

About EARWP

The EARWP Division acts as an impartial and neutral safe place for employees seeking personal counselling and informal conflict resolution services from highly trained, registered professional staff in a confidential setting.  The division operates using a central intake system that is widely promoted and advertised throughout government and public sector agencies.  Through EARWP, clients receive confidential and professional short-term counselling and/or coaching for a variety of challenges including mental health support, workplace stress, family issues, interpersonal conflict, and trauma exposure in the workplace.

EARWP Supports

  • Mental Health Concerns
  • Mental Illness Diagnosis
  • Marital and Relationship Support
  • Grief and Loss
  • Addictions to Alcohol, Drugs or Gambling
  • Workplace Stress and Traumatic Workplace Incidents
  • Financial Stress and Advice
  • Interpersonal Conflict and Harassment in the Workplace
  • Services for Spouses and Dependent Children up to Age 24

Basic Principles

  • EARWP is available to all employees, regardless of classification or level.
  • Participation by the employee is always voluntary.
  • EARWP is endorsed by both the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and its unions.
  • EARWP offers assistance for a wide range of problems.
  • Privacy and confidentiality are paramount.

Services

  • Short-term mental health services including assessment, counselling and/or a referral to an external contracted service provider.
  • Consultation and coaching support for employees experiencing interpersonal conflict, or who are engaged in, initiating, or responding to a harassment complaint.
  • Informal conflict resolution supports such as mediations and facilitated dialogues.
  • Advisory and consultation for supervisors, managers and team leads regarding mental health and interpersonal conflict matters in the workplace.
  • Workplace trauma response and debriefing for employees and/or departments.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a key principle of EARWP.  Coordinators will not collect, use or disclose any personal health information besides what is necessary to connect you with an appropriate counsellor or service provider.  Information is collected under the authority of Section 61 (c) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 and Section 29 of the Personal Health Information Act.

Limits to Confidentiality

Coordinators have an ethical and/or legal duty to release information when:

  • an individual discloses a situation or behavior that may cause harm to self or others;
  • situations involving a child or youth, under 18, who may be in need of protective intervention; or,
  • subpoenaed by a court of law.

Accessibility

EARWP is committed to providing inclusive and accessible services.  If you require any accommodations to facilitate your participation in our programs or services, please contact EARWP by telephone at 709-729-2290 or by email at intake-earwp@gov.nl.ca.

Workplace Trauma

Through partnerships with government departments, entities and public sector unions, EAP has a trauma response protocol to support employees and work teams when dealing with workplace trauma.  Workplace trauma refers to the psychological, emotional, or physical harm an individual experiences due to negative or harmful events in their work environment.  An event is more likely to be experienced as trauma when it is perceived as unexpected, unprepared for, unpreventable, uncontrollable, or intentionally cruel.

Managing Trauma at Work

Managing trauma at work begins with knowing who to contact for support, including leaders, Employee Assistance resources, and community support services.  Regular check-ins with leaders are essential for addressing challenges, discussing frustrations, and ensuring the necessary support for maintaining well-being.  In the event of trauma, it is crucial to meet with leadership or HR to discuss preventive actions and explore potential job adjustments that protect mental health and overall safety in the workplace (Workplace Strategies for Mental Health. (n.d.). Trauma in organizations).

Trauma can be a psychological, emotional, or physical response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope.  It can occur through direct experience, witnessing, or even hearing about traumatic events, and it can affect a person’s sense of safety, identity, and emotional well-being.  What may be traumatic for one person might not be for another, as individuals react differently to distressing experiences.

The following experiences can be traumatic:

Violence or Threats of Violence: Experiencing or witnessing violence, or being threatened in your workplace.

Accidents: Involvement in or witnessing severe car accidents, industrial accidents, or other life-threatening incidents.

Bullying and Harassment: Experiencing feelings of powerlessness, or feeling unsafe at work because of bullying or harassment.

Secondary Trauma:  Repeated exposure to others’ traumatic experiences, often through empathetic listening or caregiving, reviewing file information, or hearing testimony.

It is normal to be impacted by distressing events; longer-term symptoms like anxiety, sleep disruptions, and disturbing memories can affect relationships, mental health, and workplace functioning.  Healing is possible, and support and treatment are essential for recovery from trauma.

Information for Service Providers

Please be advised that the Employee Assistance and Respectful Workplace Program is not currently inviting applications for potential service providers.  However, we do wish to address the need for in-person service providers in the following areas of the province:

  • Central Newfoundland (Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander); and,
  • Clarenville and surrounding areas.

If you are a mental health professional in these areas, and are interested in joining our network, we invite you to submit a resume and cover letter outlining:

  • your geographic location;
  • the scope of your practice; and,
  • your availability for in-person service delivery.

Application Requirements

Applicants interested in becoming a service provider are required to submit the following documents:

  1. Cover Letter: outlining experience, qualifications, and areas of expertise/specialization.
  2. Resume: detailed account of professional background.
  3. Professional References: two references must be included.

Screening and Interview Process

Application Screening: all applications will be screened to ensure that criteria and requirements have been met.

Interviews: if selected, applicants will be interviewed by the Director of EARWP and one member of the Selection Committee.

Education: typically requires post-secondary education at the master’s level.

Qualifications

Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

  • Minimum of three years of post-graduate counselling experience in a clinical setting.
  • Extensive experience in mental health assessment, counselling and case management.

Respectful Workplace Program (RWP):

  • Experience and/or training in conflict coaching, mediation, and/or alternate dispute resolution processes.
  • Certification as a mediator and/or arbitrator is an asset; equivalencies may be accepted.

Additional Requirements for All Service Providers

All service providers must:

  • sign an initial statement of personal conduct and update it annually;
  • be a current member in good standing of a recognized and approved professional licensing or regulatory body in the province Newfoundland and Labrador, and adhere to an identified Code of Ethics;
  • hold annually renewed liability insurance for $2,000,000;
  • arrange for peer consultation/supervision; and,
  • enter into a written contract with the PSC.

Application Submission

Applications should be directed to our administrative assistant.  Please ensure your cover letter includes:

  • geographic area of service;
  • specialized areas of practice; and,
  • modality of care provided (in person, telephone, and virtual).

New applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee.  Applicants may be contacted for an in-person interview if deemed suitable.

Please Note: EARWP is not mandated to provide feedback to applicants at the screening or interview stages.

Contact Information

For inquiries and applications, please email intake-earwp@gov.nl.ca .

Additional Resources

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