Why EAP Alone Isn’t Enough in Crisis Response

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have long been seen as a foundational wellbeing solution. They’re helpful - no doubt. But they’re not a crisis plan.

When a staff member is stalked, threatened, or traumatised, or when something happens outside of work that makes it unsafe to come in, an EAP isn’t designed to be the frontline.

It’s supportive. But it’s not protective.
And it’s certainly not a strategy.

The EAP Gap in Modern Risk Management

EAPs offer counselling and referral pathways, often outsourced to external providers. But they don’t handle:

• Situations involving threats, violence or blackmail

• Malicious third parties including strangers, partners or even colleagues

• Complex coordination across police, legal, and stakeholder systems

• Escalations with security or reputational exposure

• The burden on HR when a staff member is in crisis

And they don’t provide any assurance to Boards that the business is prepared, compliant, or protected.

Psychosocial Risk Is No Longer Just a HR Issue

Today, psychosocial threats often trigger:

• Workers’ compensation claims  (psychosocial claims are four times more frequent than other claims and have a 60% higher rate of subsequent claims)

• Major disruption to workforce operations and internal culture

• Potential breaches of WHS legislation if risks aren’t addressed proactively

• Reputational damage if mishandled or mishandled publicly

And the reality is, EAPs can’t stop the claim, the risk, or the fallout.

How Safety Assist Changes the Equation

Safety Assist is an employer-funded, insurance-backed solution designed for real-world crisis response, before, during and after an incident.

It bridges the operational gap between duty of care and duty of protection.

If an employee is exposed to violence, threats, malicious detention, or trauma - whether at work, at home or in public - Safety Assist activates.

Services include:

• Emergency accommodation

• Police and legal liaison

• Stakeholder management (HR, execs, Boards)

• Cyber and physical security upgrades

• Trauma counselling

• Child and pet care

• Return-to-work planning

• Post-incident debriefing and case analysis

Trigger Events Include:

• Malicious threat or blackmail

• Abduction or detention

• Stalking

• Suspicious death

• Workplace violence

• Extortion or hijack

• Kidnap

• Unauthorised access or unexplained disappearance

All services are delivered via expert-led consultants, with 20+ years experience in law enforcement, military, legal, and psychological crisis management.

It’s Not Just Support. It’s Strategy.

It gives employers confidence that they’re meeting WHS obligations, protecting staff wellbeing, and reducing their liability footprint. For Boards, it delivers assurance. For employees, it delivers help that actually changes outcomes.

Want to talk about how Safety Assist could work in your organisation?
Contact the VUCA Risk team today.