EMPLOYEE ACCESS TO AND AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

As part of EBA’s benefit plan, we provide  an Employee and Family Assistance Program
(EFAP) through HumanaCare as our provider.  HumanaCare provides confidential,
professional assessment, treatment and counselling services for employees, their families
and groups, to assist employees dealing with personal difficulties.
We have verified with HumanaCare that they do have a plan in place to deal with a
pandemic, particularly with regard to increased client demand volumes.  They have
contracted to increase counselling capacity as required, in all geographic locations of EBA
offices.  HumanaCare also has the capacity to enhance their alternate treatment modalities
to help expedite service, if the client requires.  These alternate modalities include telephone
counselling, audio seminars, group counselling and video conference sessions (via Skype).
Overall, HumanaCare is prepared for continued provision of service and has the ability to
increase capacity should client volume increase the demand for those services.
Employees are also able to access counselling services on their own, or through their
physician’s referral, and EBA’s benefit has coverage for these services (subject to per visit
and annual maximums).
  EMPLOYEES / CUSTOMERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 
Some employees at EBA may face increased  challenges during a pandemic influenza
outbreak.  Those employees, who themselves or their family members:
• Have chronic illnesses or health conditions
• Who ride public transportation regularly or exclusively
• Are elderly or have very young/family members in need of care, where regular care
facilities (extended care, long-term care, hospitals, daycares, other special care) present a
higher risk of exposure and restriction of services during a pandemic.
• May require support or great latitude in making arrangements for care, or requiring
leave to provide care directly.  The Employee Pandemic Leave Policy outlines
provisions for employee who may require support or leave to care for those in need.
EBA does not have significant customer needs or walk-in traffic, the way retail or
hospitality industries would.  Due to the nature of our client contacts, we are better
positioned to screen our contact with  clients, limit meetings/use technology to
transfer/exchange information, and control the spread of infection with any customers.
The Pandemic Prevention and Control Policy outlines measures for EBA employees to
decrease the risk of transmission with our clients by using preventative measures.