Employee assistance programmes in China: a state-of-the-art review and future research agenda

Abstract

Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) are designed to provide organisational support to employees, which is increasingly critical to improving employees' well-being in the current macro and micro environment of pandemic and work pressure. Despite their potential significant role as part of human resource management (HRM), EAPs in China are under-researched. Drawing on academic and practical sources of literature in both English and Chinese, this review study sheds light on the current state of research and practice of EAPs in China. We examine why, what and how EAPs are adopted in organisations in China and highlight differences between the public and private sectors in their EAPs, as well as the role of Chinese culture and guanxi with leaders in the delivery of EAPs. We also point out research avenues to extend the research field both theoretically and thematically, including the role of artificial intelligence and digital technology as part of effective EAPs.