Employee Assistance Program - EAP 

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free county resource that provides county employees with counseling and coaching around work related concerns and problems, including:

• Workplace stress
• Coaching and consulting
• Conflict with co-workers
• Supervisor support

Making Life Easier - MLE 

The primary services under Making Life Easier (MLE) fall into five categories:

• Personal counseling for individual, marital and family problems
• Legal consultation
• Financial consultation
• Adult and elder care consultation and referral
• Child care consultation and referral

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

All employees (FTE, part-time, Seasonal and temporary employees) are eligible to use the EAP.

There is a different program for you and your family members to receive counseling and other life services called Making Life Easier.

MAKING LIFE EASIER - MLE  

Making Life Easier offers a comprehensive range of resources, expert content, and tools designed to support and enhance emotional well-being for all King County employees and their households. From confidential counseling to online tools, you can access resources and support 24/7 in a secure, confidential, and user-friendly format at no charge to you.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

EAP is intended to be used for work-related problems.

Employees use EAP for:

• Counseling and Coaching for stress due to work
• Assistance resolving conflicts with a coworker or supervisor
• Help when feeling harassed or bullied by others
• Understanding the how’s and why’s of potential discipline or other “procedures” in King County
• Receiving an objective perspective about delicate work situation
• Processing unwanted workplace change
• Alcohol or drug use at work
• Just about anything that can impact job performance

Management uses EAP for:

• Refining supervisory skills
• Improving employee performance
• Strategizing best ways to work with challenging employees
• Work group problem resolution
• Improving employee behaviors before (and after) discipline occurs
• Identifying appropriate resources in unusual workplace situations
• Addressing problems that may affect work performance

Making Life Easier - MLE

MLE is intended for personal services. Employees can utilize the Employee Assistance Program for work related problems.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

EAP is intended for work-related services. Employees can utilize the Making Life Easier Program for these personal issues. 

Making Life Easier - MLE

MLE is intended for helping employees and their families with challenging personal issues.

It allows you to talk to an attorney in person or on the phone. All financial consultations are done over the phone, mail or e-mail.

Additionally, Making Life Easier has a network of approved providers of child and adult elder care in which they refer employees.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

Yes, what we discuss at the EAP is treated confidentially. Release of any information generally requires your knowledge and consent. However, federal and state laws require some exceptions to total confidentiality as well as county policies. During your initial meeting, we will review these exceptions with you.

There are generally two ways individuals come to the EAP: on their own or because they were Formally Referred to EAP by their supervisor or human resources.

If you come to the EAP on your own we are under no obligation (except as noted above as the exceptions to confidentiality) to disclose anything to your supervisor and will not do so without your consent.

If you have been Formally Referred to EAP, we will let your supervisor or HR know when you make your appointment and if you kept it. Any further information can only be released with your consent. We will discuss all of this with you when we meet.

Making Life Easier - MLE

What you discuss with your MLE representative is confidential unless you make him or her aware you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else.

If you have a work-related concern that you may need to involve your supervisor, please contact the EAP for assistance.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

Please reach out to our EAP office and one of our providers will be happy to discuss which counselor will be the best fit and the first availability.

EAP Office: Call 206-263-8733 or email HRDEAP@kingcounty.gov

Making Life Easier - MLE

MLE has a network of approved providers in place. Call 1-888-874-7290 to find out if the counselor or consultant you want to see is in their network.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

EAP King County’s internal EAP providers are Licensed Mental Health Counselor and qualified to do DOT Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) work. For more information read our EAP staff bios.

Making Life Easier - MLE

When you contact MLE, you will always talk to a Masters or Doctoral level, licensed mental health professional.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

To attend an appointment with the EAP, work time may be used for this activity. Managers are encouraged to permit their staff to attend if possible while ensuring normal operations are maintained. If work time is utilized an employee must request time in accordance with the employee's department or division policy.

Making Life Easier - MLE

Employees utilizing MLE services should do so on their own time or utilize appropriate leave benefits. Employees should use or request time as appropriate for their FLSA status as well as their department and division leave policy.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

Please contact the EAP office at 206-263-8733 or email HRDEAP@kingcounty.gov.

Making Life Easier - MLE

You cannot Formally Refer an employee to use the MLE Program, but can share it as a resource.

Employee Assistance Program – EAP

If you have referred the employee through the Formal EAP Referral process then EAP can disclose EAP appointment times and attendance information only. If you have not Formally Referred the employee, EAP cannot disclose any information without the client’s consent.

Making Life Easier - MLE

No, you cannot, unless the employee chooses to share that with you.