Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance program represents an effort by CUPE and Air Canada to provide an effective means of help to any employee experiencing difficulties in their life, whether or not those difficulties are interfering with the employee’s work performance. This program is a joint venture, supported by both union and management, in which the employee’s personal welfare is a priority issue. The CUPE Employee Assistance Program consists of: Peer Referral Coordinators and Homewood Health Professional Counselors. This program is strictly confidential.

People with Problems Need Services

Everyone faces personal problems from time to time. Often these problems are only temporary and are resolved by you, or with the assistance of family and friends. Sometimes, however, they are serious enough to require professional help, and may, in the absence of such assistance, cause severe personal distress. When these concerns are not addressed, your work performance may be affected and your job security threatened. When troubled individuals go to work, their problems go with them. They manifest themselves in mistakes, preoccupation, reduced productivity and increased absenteeism. The consequences are often traumatic. Air Canada Component of CUPE has initiated an on-site confidential referral program using referral agents to help troubled employees through difficult times by helping them to reach needed professional services promptly.

Services Are Available But Difficult To Reach

In Canada, there are presently hundreds of organizations providing in excess of 300 different kinds of service, and new organizations and services are being developed all the time in response to individual needs. Therefore, if a person has a problem, there is probably a resource available in the community to help alleviate or resolve it. As the number of services has increased, so has the complexity of the system. Employees are often baffled as to where to go and frustrated and demoralized by going door-to door trying to find their way through the labyrinth. Even well informed and well-intentioned persons to whom people turn for help – doctors, lawyers, clergy, politicians, and agency personnel – are often unsure where appropriate help may be obtained.

EAP Connects People and Services

The Employee Assistance Program has been developed partly in response to the needs of troubled employees who may be unaware of services available to them or unsure how to reach them. It aims to quickly and simply link people with appropriate sources of assistance.

FAQS About EAP

Q: Do we have Professional Counselors available to us?

A: To complement our Peer Program, we have chosen Homewood Health, an experienced Employee and Family Assistance Provider (EFAP). They will be available to you and your immediate family for short-term solution focused counseling. To reach Homewood Health please call 1-800-663-1142 (English), 1-866-398-9505 (French) or for International calls, please call collect 1-604-689-1717. You may also go to the website at www.homewoodhealth.com for more information, and to access numerous tools, such as:

e-Counselling

Homewood Health provides two options for secure and private online counselling. Private Conversations e-Counselling (email-type counselling) provides the opportunity to communicate with a counsellor via confidential exchanges, similar to email exchanges. Chat e-Counselling (simultaneous chat) allows for “real time”, one-on-one interaction with a counsellor in a private online chat room environment. If you are interested in getting started, you must first complete your registration on our Member Services area by registering here.

Health and Wellness Companion

The Health and Wellness Companion is a comprehensive self-guided, self-development program that is designed to provide you with a personal plan of action. By participating in a series of Health Risk Assessments you will have the opportunity to: evaluate your health, get a better understanding of your health risk factors, and create a personal health improvement program.

Health Library

The Health Library is a comprehensive library of articles and other resources written by qualified experts in their subject field. It includes information designed to improve health and wellness, and assists individuals in improving their personal and work-life balance.

Childcare/Eldercare Resource Locators

Childcare and Eldercare locators provide information about personal and family care providers in Canada, allowing for a customized search for childcare or eldercare resources. This service can be used to generate customized online reports with in-depth service descriptions, and provides instant access to quality checklists, financial aid information, advice, and more.

Interactive e-Learning Courses

Homewood Health™ e-Learning provides self-paced, private, and personalized learning experiences designed to improve personal health and well-being and/or workplace effectiveness. A variety of courses are available, focusing on health and wellness and a wide range of life skills. Current courses include, for employees, family members and eligible dependants:

Responsible Optimism
Embracing Workplace Change
Resolving Conflict in Intimate Relationships
Taking Control of Alcohol Use
Resilience
Respect In The Workplace
Preparing For Your Retirement
Taking Control of Stress
Taking Control Of Your Career
Taking Control of Job Loss and Transition
Taking Control of Anger
Taking Control of Your Money
Stop Smoking: Get Your Life Back!
Taking Control of Your Mood
Foundations of Effective Parenting

Q: How are referrals made?

A: Most referral requests come from employees, by contacting the EAP coordinator of their choice.

Managers may recommend the services of the EAP to an employee.
Employees may refer other employees to the EAP.
Union representatives may recommend the services of the EAP to the employee when their job performance deteriorates and co-workers or management has identified problems.

Remember, this program is strictly confidential; no information will be given or asked without the permission of the employee. The decision is yours!

Confidentiality:

An EAP Referral Agent will maintain high standards of confidentiality with respect to their helping relationships with employees. Information of a personal nature will neither be given nor solicited without the consent of the employee concerned.

Employee Assistance Peer Referral Coordinators:

The Employee Assistance Peer Referral Coordinator (local EAP Committee member) is a carefully chosen employee who links employees desiring help in their personal lives with an appropriate community or medical resource. The Referral Agent will follow up on treatment or assistance provided to ensure that adequate and effective help has been received. The Referral Agent does not provide diagnosis, prescription or treatment services. Referral Agents are nominated by the EAP Committee, union locals or management and are accountable for their function to the local EAP Area Committee. The Referral Agent performs this role on a volunteer part-time basis, as needs arise.

EAP Peer Referral Coodinators

EAP National Coordinator – CUPE

Mary Keough
office: 905-676-2088
fax: 905-676-2096
24 Hr Cell (urgent calls): 647-285-7789

Central Regional Coordinator

Mary-Rita Dunning
office: 905-676-2088
fax: 905-676-2096
cell: 647-802-0895 (urgent calls only)

Western Regional Coordinator

Shannon McBride
office: 604-270-5703
cell: 778-991-4112 (urgent calls only)

MONTREAL
office: 514-422-2041
Isabelle Dion
Julie Simard
Elaine Riel

TORONTO
George Barelos
Linda Favreau
Sean McGuire
Sonya Barbezat
Sylvia Jimenez
Gay Brooks
Matthew Torrance

CALGARY
Vanessa Beaudoin
Shey Thawer

VANCOUVER
Rhea Brunet
Jose Espaillat
Deborah Florczak
Tiana Marcotte
Mimi Reppen-Jeffers
Kevin Spode
Vicki Jensen (retired)