case study
20 Jun 2007 - 16:11: Lilly
Eli Lilly and PPC Working together
Employee number: 2,500
Industry sector: Pharmaceuticals
Year EAP started: 2003
Company objective: Employee benefit
Background
As part of the worldwide Eli Lilly Company, Lilly is one of the UK's top pharmaceutical companies, exporting medicines to all parts of the world. The UK sites include a research and development centre, two manufacturing sites and a distribution centre.
Investment in their people is at the heart of the Lilly philosophy, reflected by their position of 35th in the Sunday Times ‘100 Best Companies to work for’ 2003.
EAP Package
Counselling
Legal Advice
Financial Advice
Manager Support
General Information Service
Child and dependant care (1-6 Sessions)
Telephone Counselling
Objective
Lilly introduced the EAP in April 2003 to enhance the high quality of benefits available to staff. PPC provided specifically designed ‘Service Level Agreements’ to ensure that the service was tailored to fit the needs of the organisation.
The PPC EAP has integrated very successfully into the organisation with the PPC Account Manager building up a close working relationship with the EAP Steering Group. In light of this the EAP has been submitted as an entry for the Lilly Employee Benefits Awards 2004. The category is The Most Successful New Benefits Launch.
Implementation
The positive EAP message presented to the individual employee is of high importance both to PPC and Lilly. Making the PPC Account Manager available on-site through ‘Cafeteria sessions’ was a more personal way of showing the benefits of the EAP and received positive feedback.
PPC provided a tailored CD-ROM supporting HR to inform sales staff about the EAP in a ‘train the trainer’ style. This is also used to present at induction days for new employees to ensure they are aware of the benefits from contacting the EAP.
EAP articles are provided by PPC to include in the Lilly newsletter. This ensures that the message is being distributed through different communication channels to reach the optimum number of employees.
PPC is currently working with Lilly on projects in association with the EAP services. For example, responding to a business request, an ‘Expatriate package’ was specifically designed for Lilly and is now available.
Evaluation
Gay Buchanan, the HR project leader for Work-Life Balance, says ‘The EAP can be accessed at any time, irrespective of life stage or personal circumstances...the staff view the EAP as a huge benefit.’ The information service; providing legal, financial and Citizens Advice Bureau help, is the most widely used service.
Over a 12 month period, 13% of EAP users benefited from face to face counselling, of which 94% of users did not need referrals for further counselling. She says, ‘Right from the beginning there was a very positive attitude towards the service and now, nearly two years on, the EAP has been so successful that employees are putting themselves forward to recommend it to others.’