Legal and General has added a face-to-face counselling service to its group income protection (group IP) proposition in a bid to further tackle stress management.
Employees covered by the scheme can use up to five sessions if needed, and refer to someone within a 30-mile radius of their home or work, as part of L&G's employee assistance programme.
L&G has also extended use of its telephone-based EAP services to all employees, whether insured or not.
According to L&G, the counselling service aims to tackle key problem areas including relationship issues, stress management, anxiety or low mood and substance-related disorders.
Jim Islam, managing director of Legal & General Group Protection, said: "Sometimes over the phone counselling is simply not enough and so we are very pleased to be able to offer these sessions to those that need them".
Stephen Sherwood, head of operations at PPC Worldwide, provider of the sessions, said life could throw up challenges for employees on a daily basis and additional services like this can prevent problems becoming critical.
Vanessa Sallows, benefits and medical underwriting director at Legal & General Group Protection, said: "Face-to-face counselling complements our early intervention and rehabilitation support. These sessions can help prevent employee absence by providing support while they are still at work."
L&G added that on average, 75% of employees suffering from stress, anxiety or depressions are able to return to work before the end of the deferred period.
