New CADA 360 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider will make it easier for employees to access help
Even in the best of times, life can throw curveballs our way that disrupt our lives and can impact our focus and performance on the job.
Whether it’s work stress, financial pressures, a marriage breakdown or legal issues — sometimes your employees need a helping hand to help them navigate their way before they reach a crisis point.
That’s why the CADA 360 Employee Benefits program offers a free Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, to ensure dealership team members don’t have to struggle on their own.
After a thorough review of the EAP program, the CADA 360 Employee Benefits Dealer Committee and plan organizers have opted to move to a new provider that allows for a more seamless path to access EAP services.
“We are pleased to announce that we are launching a new EAP initiative with Consult+ powered by Dialogue effective September 1, 2025. By moving our EAP program to Consult+, our EAP services will now be fully incorporated into our benefit booklets and benefit platform with Canada Life. This ensures the new EAP program is visible and readily accessible to dealership employees,” said Michael Psotka, CADA’s CFO and Director of Member Services.
Enrolled dealers will be receiving detailed information from the CADA 360 team about the new Consult+ EAP Program. Consult+ can help employees with things like: support to manage stress; life and family events; legal and financial advice; short-term mental health and navigating resources or support.
“The services provided by our new EAP provider are delivered by professionals with experience in counselling, social work and crisis management,” said Cindy Robinson, Director, Governance & Plan Management, CADA Employee Life & Health Trust, CADA 360.
“One of our guiding principles is to encourage employees to take care of their health — which is why we ensure access to services that address not only physical health, but mental health as well.”
“We prioritize the overall well-being of the dealership employees who are part of our programs,” said Robinson. “One of our guiding principles is to encourage employees to take care of their health — which is why we ensure access to services that address not only physical health, but mental health as well. The goal is to empower employees to take a proactive approach, managing challenges early before they escalate into something more severe.”
Having healthier employees has a direct benefit to dealerships, by reducing absenteeism, and building stronger teams. If done effectively, it can also lower mental health claims. “Mental health claims are the leading condition for both short-term and long-term disability,” said Robinson. “It’s a big expense for dealers. That’s why EAP is such a powerful benefit to help employees manage their mental health.”
Some services the EAP is designed to help with include:
Mental health: Mental health specialists (such as psychotherapists) offer compassionate support for a variety of issues, including stress and anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed or isolated, depressed, grief and more. Live, virtual coaching and referrals as needed;
Legal and financial: Connect with an experienced lawyer or financial professional who can help with legal or financial matters;
Work and career: Career counsellors can guide you through the complexities of your career or workplace and help achieve your goals. Use these services if you’re experiencing stress at work, challenges with a colleague, or interested in tools or coaching to boost your performance;
Family and relationships: Your well-being starts with the people around you. Guidance, resources and compassionate support for a variety of issues are available.
Unlike some claim categories that could drive up costs with more usage, the EAP program is sponsored by the CADA 360 Employee Benefits Program, so it is included for dealerships with health coverage. That’s why Robinson said the Dealer Committee is eager to see an uptick in the use of the EAP program once it’s more visible and easier to access.
“Employees will now be able to access the EAP tools much easier, and if dealerships have purchased Consult+ Virtual Care, the telemedicine and EAP experience is fully integrated to provide seamless support to employees,” said Robinson. “We are encouraging all our dealerships to promote the new EAP services to their employees, and we are eager to assist them with the roll out.”
Robinson said she understands that HR professionals within the dealerships often juggle numerous responsibilities, making it easy for EAP program benefits to not be top of mind. She encourages them to watch for the new EAP material and share all the latest resources with their teams.
For CADA’s Psotka, being proactive with managing an employee’s health and well-being makes solid business sense. “Being proactive will serve the dealers well. If they don’t proactively put solutions in place to help their employees in times of need, they will pay the price down the road — no pun intended,” said Psotka.
Psotka said moving to a new EAP provider and changing the offering is just another example of how the CADA 360 Employee Benefits Program continues to evolve and innovate to provide more value for dealer members. He said CADA 360 is also working on other pilot projects that will allow them to bring better services to their dealer members. “Stay tuned,” said Psotka.
