UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As Penn State faculty and staff prepare for the fall semester, the University is reminding employees of the resources available to help them during these challenging times.

Employee Assistance Program

The University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers many benefits to eligible employees, as well as spouses and dependent children, parents and parents-in-law.

Through the EAP, employees have access to Health Advocate, a free resource that can help employees find health care providers in their area and secure second opinions for medical questions or concerns. Additional services available through Health Advocate include assistance with resolving medical billing issues, tobacco cessation programs, receiving estimates for specific medical procedures and assistance in obtaining appropriate approvals for covered services.

For employees struggling with mental health concerns, Health Advocate can provide referrals for faculty and staff to mental health service providers in their area. As part of the EAP benefit, an employee’s first five sessions with a referred mental health professional are free to the employee.

Another resource available to employees is the EAP+Work/Life program, which provides short-term counseling (including by phone and email) to help employees cope with personal, family or work-related issues. Some of the topics that the EAP’s licensed counselors can assist employees with include stress, depression and anxiety; anger, grief and loss; time management strategies; coping assistance with family, martial, parenting or work concerns; and alcohol or substance abuse issues.

In addition, EAP+Work/Life program professionals can help employees locate additional support services to fit their individual needs, including child care, elder care, and legal and financial resources.

Employees wishing to learn more or utilize these resources can visit the Employee Assistance Program webpage, or call 866-799-2728.

Financial and benefits-related resources

In addition to the EAP, Penn State also maintains an Employee Assistance Fund, through which employees with exigent financial circumstances may qualify for financial assistance for a wide range of personal or family hardships.

The fund is intended for employees impacted by circumstances including family tragedy, destruction of one’s home by fire or other disasters, short-term disabilities, uncompensated funeral expenses, catastrophic medical expenses and other temporary hardships beyond one’s control. Additional information and the application form are available online.

Employees are also able to adjust their benefit selections to best fit their unique needs and circumstances during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through Dec. 31, Penn State is allowing employees to make a new Penn State health plan election or a cancel an existing election, as well as change elections for Flexible Spending Accounts related to health care and child care.

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law in March also provides additional options and benefits for Penn State employees who are TIAA retirement plan members. These include penalties being waived for certain COVID-19-related distributions from retirement plan accounts; the ability to suspend loan repayments for up to one year for certain COVID-19-related reasons; and the suspension of required minimum distributions during 2020 for all plan participants.

The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) signed into law in March also provides Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Family and Medical Leave Public Health Emergency relief for those with eligible COVID-19 related illness or child care situations. EPSL is over and above any earned sick time and employees are immediately eligible regardless of how long they have been employed by the University. 

Additional resources

Penn State Human Resources also maintains information on additional resources that employees may benefit from, including:

• Resources to help employees adjust to working remotely;
• Webinars, events and classes open to Penn State employees;
• Resources for managing stress and anxiety;
• Access to the Weight Watchers program;
• Additional health, wellness and exercise resources; and
• Resources geared toward supporting parents, children and families.