FOR RELEASE:
April 17, 2025
PRESS CONTACT:
Deanna Shoss, Communications, 773.478.8417
The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published an audit of the Department of Human Resources’ (DHR) management of its Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for non-sworn City employees. The objectives of OIG’s audit were to determine whether DHR designed and administered the EAP to address the mental health needs of the City’s workforce and comply with recordkeeping requirements.
EAPs are intended to address workplace productivity issues and connect employees with mental health and other personal services, and may include short-term counseling, referrals to specialists, and case follow-up. The City’s EAP serves 16,000 employees from all City departments other than the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department, which each have dedicated EAPs.
OIG found that DHR has not positioned its EAP to meet the needs of the City’s workforce. OIG also found that the City’s civilian EAP has no documented policies and procedures to guide operations and ensure consistent, standardized service delivery. In addition, OIG found that, although DHR worked to identify and address data security issues regarding sensitive EAP information, DHR has not documented internal policies to ensure it continues to protect this information and comply with legal requirements moving forward.
OIG recommended that DHR set program goals informed by an assessment of workforce needs that accounted for employee demographics and work location, as well as historical use of the service. DHR should also develop policies and procedures to ensure consistent service delivery. Additionally, OIG recommended that DHR work with the City’s Department of Technology and Innovation to document policies and procedures standardizing EAP staff responsibilities around data security. In its response, DHR acknowledged the need to bolster the EAP program and is in the process of reclassifying the counselor position to include management of the program.
“The City owes a basic duty to support the needs of those working in the public service, and the services the City provides to its own workforce ought to align with the City’s broader efforts to strengthen Chicago’s mental health care infrastructure,” said Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. “We found shortcomings in the design and administration of DHR’s EAP for civilian City employees, limiting its usefulness. I sincerely appreciate the work DHR is doing to strengthen the program and we look forward to improvements which will better position the City to support those doing the critical work of municipal government.”
Read the Report
Read the full report, released on April 17, 2025.
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The mission of the independent and nonpartisan City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to promote economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity by identifying corruption, waste, and mismanagement in City government. OIG is a watchdog for the taxpayers of the City and has jurisdiction to conduct inquiries into most aspects of City government.
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