A Member Assistance Program (MAP) is a peer facilitated, union based assistance program. The philosophy is that if a union member is having problems, than the people who are in the best position to offer help are there union brothers and sisters – people who know the job, the work environments, and also know the recovery process.
- Co-workers mutually aid other troubled workers, simultaneously renewing the union.
- They are also rooted in the core technology of EAPs, but are more flexible because they are peer based.
Emergence of MAPs
The original EAP model has changed because of:
- Early labor-management conflict over job performance and constructive confrontation
- Emergence of out-of-house EAP providers and self-referral
- Punitive nature of drug testing
- The War on Drugs and drug testing
- Denial of services by managed care
- Some unions have always provided peer-based referral and counseling services to members, like the AFL-CIO Community Services.
Fundamental components of MAPs
- Peers use job performance as well as other mechanisms to identify troubled employees
- Use constructive confrontation but intervene as allies rather than adversary
- Advise peers on helping process
- Link co-workers to community agencies
- Link union to its environment
- Focus on alcohol and drugs