Are you an employee or employer?

[Pugwash]

Just floating this idea to see what other people feel.

Most large organisations offer counselling sessions for their employees and pay for a set number of sessions.

Small concerns with only a limited number of staff usually do not have the funds to offer this facility.

If there was a organisation you could contact if an employee needed counselling i.e. bereavement/divorce/trauma etc which offered counselling at a reasonable price with say employer and employee each paying 50% of costs would this interest you? It could possibly save you some statutory sick pay, time off work etc.

There are bereavement services out there but usually a waiting list, a private counsellor could cost anything from ?45 per 45 minutes or more.

I am just floating this idea to see if it has any appeal and what employers/employees would consider a reasonable rate. I must stress, such counselling would come from a properly registered and recognised organisation

[goosey-goosey]

I like the idea. I've never worked for smaller companies but have experienced the benefits of professional counselling services provided free by larger organisations.

[robbin]

It's a nice idea for the larger business. Not sure smaller businesses would be such a market for it though.

Also, it doesn't need a separate business for the employer and employee to share the costs 50/50. Not sure that is a USP or particularly viable business model (without more - because with every existing counsellor there could be a 50/50 sharing of cost).

[Pugwash]

the idea would be that an employee may not be willing to pay say ?20 for a session but if a small business concern an employer faced with having a member of staff off work for 2/3 weeks may feel it financially viable to contribute in order to get person back to work.

[edhistory]

We advise new workers to join the trade union.

In our case USDAW.

The union provides these services for "free":

https://www.usdaw.org.uk/Help-Advice/Health-Wellbeing/Mental-Health

John K

[Sazzle30]

Many large companies use a specific provider for such services, known as employee assistance programmes (EAS)often provided by benefits providers or healthcare providers. We use Healthshield at work.

There is an annual cost to the employer based on number of employees but this means the service is free to the employee.

The assistance programme covers life changes, money worries, health, addiction and is confidential. The EAS can provide couselling or advice to the employee as to where they can get help next steps.

[goosey-goosey]

edhistory, I don't see USDAW providing the specific counselling services that the OP describes. So far as I can see, that link takes you to general advice on mental health support rather than info on accessing trained, USDAW-commissioned counsellors. So, cost-wise, the OP's idea might still make sense to both employee and employer.

[Pugwash]

The reason for the posting is that with grants being cut to organisations which provide counselling etc throughout the country, many of them are looking at new ways of raising money to pay staff and rental costs, ( in this instance a 50% rent increase of a building which the organisation has had for over 20 years) The Government has asked local councils to take on the responsibility of preventative health measures to save NHS money, and it is mainly local or community based organisations that will be tendering for a small pot of cash.

Large firms and local councils already have contracts with companies providing counselling for their employees, but this is not a luxury that smaller firms can offer. Free counselling services are hard to come by and usually have a long waiting lists. GPs can offer short term counselling with a dedicated counsellor, but again not all GPs have this facility. Most counselling organisations i.e. Relate, are based on income (of the couple) although some have a sliding scale fee system.