EAPA Statement of Acknowledgement and Support

EAPA recognizes that with an alarming frequency, there continues to be a rise of social unrest and
conflict blanketing the United States. Many of these issues are also resounding across the globe.
We recognize that our local communities and workplaces have varied perspectives around these issues, which are also sources of significant stress for individuals, families, and organizations. These issues have challenged members of our local communities and workplaces in a way that has shook their physical and psychological safety, their comfort in voicing their opinions and concerns and, at times, overall consideration of others as fellow human beings.

We acknowledge there are many social stressors and complex systemic issues that affect our
communities and workplaces to varying degrees. There are legitimate concerns about maintaining
adequate protection of access to reproductive health; concerns of repeated incidents of gun violence; concerns of systemic patterns of racial trauma and discriminatory behavior against various minority communities; concerns of political divisiveness and the lack of civility; and concerns about the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We recognize that all of us are impacted by the news we hear on daily basis, and we acknowledge that each of us are affected by these concerns in various ways. We believe that it is essential for workplace leaders and employees to understand the importance of
promoting civility and a sense of physical and psychological safety in the workplace.
We believe that it is essential to recognize when the workplace climate has been adversely impacted in a way that violates laws that protect employees in workplace.

We believe that it essential to understand how to move the workplace climate forward in way that
acknowledges differences of opinion, encourages healthy conversations in safe spaces, and promotes collective workplace satisfaction. Regardless of where each of us stand in relationship to these issues, they have a direct impact on our workplaces and on employees’ overall productivity. The International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (IEAPA) is committed to providing resources and support to its membership and organization.