Employee assistance programmes as mechanism for enhancing performance at Emfuleni Local Municipality

Abstract

The role of local government is to ensure that all citizens have access to the basic services. Thus, the Emfuleni Local Municipality has the Constitutional obligation to provide an effective and efficient people-centered administration that will ensure quality and sustainable service delivery. The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) tends to have a culture of non-performance or low service delivery which is prevalent amongst employees or personnel. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is the service progamme in this regard that is designed for specifically enhances the health and emotional well-being of employees who experience personal and social problems which hinder their performance. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of participation in EAP among poor performing employees who experience personal and work related problems. For the purpose of this study, the hypothesis was formulated that the spate of social problems that affect a number of personnel at ELM require participation in the Employee Assistance Programme to improve performance on service delivery. To test the validity or otherwise of the hypothesis use was made of theoretical review of literature on Employee Assistance Programme as a tool for enhancing performance in Human Resource Management at Emfuleni Local Municipality. Further there was an empirical research methodology of open-ended questionnaire that was used to test attitudes and perceptions of municipal officials and effectiveness of Employee Assistance Programme at Emfuleni Local Municipality. It was found among others, that: There is lack of experience and proper training among municipal officials at ELM. ELM has not empowered EAP as a unit. There are most critical social and personal problems of employees at ELM Management at ELM did not market EAP effectively to the staff The EAP has positive influence on productivity The study ends with recommendations for management action by Emfuleni Local Municipality.