UNDER-UTILISATION OF INTERNAL EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (EAP) SERVICES BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE IN LEPHALALE, LIMPOPO PROVINCE

An employee assistance programme (EAP) is a service provided by an employer to employees who experience personal problems. Its utilisation becomes a challenge when the targeted population prefers to use alternative services to this programme specifically earmarked for them. Such a situation motivated this quantitative research aimed to evaluate the utilisation of the employee assistance programme in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Waterberg district of Limpopo Province. A systematic sample comprising of 189 respondents was drawn from the total population of 398 employees. The study revealed that the employees’ awareness of the programme was very low.

An investigation into the South African correctional officers’ experiences of their work and the Employee Assistance Programme

The purpose of the study was to investigate South African correctional officer’s experiences of their work and Employee Assistance Programme and the meaning that they attach to it. A qualitative approach was utilised. Individual interviews were conducted with 20 participants utilising a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. Seven themes with various subthemes were derived from the data analysis. The findings suggest that correctional officers are confronted with various challenges daily. Officers revealed that their work and work environment had a negative impact on their physical and psychological health as well as their family life. Furthermore, officers reported that aspects of their well-being are neglected. Various coping mechanisms were utilised by correctional officers, which seems to act as a buffer against the negative effects of their stressful work and work environment. A variety of barriers that prevent officers from using the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service at work were identified. Despite the barriers, correctional officers recognised the overall positive value of the EAP service in the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). They also appear to find meaning in their work. Some correctional officers derive great satisfaction from their job while others experience a sense of reward as a result of the role that they play in the rehabilitation of inmates.