If its employees need a ‘HELPing’ hand then Royal Mail is poised to deliver after launching a new employee assistance scheme.

HELP is a free, confidential service covering Health and emotional wellbeing, Employment advice, Legal services and Practical assistance – and it’s available round-the-clock for employees and their immediate family.

Topics it covers range from money problems, legal issues and work-related topics to finding local service providers, such as child minders.

Initial contact to the HELP service is via a dedicated helpline, with the option of face-to-face counselling if appropriate to cover issues such as stress management, bereavement, and relationship issues.

Tony McCarthy, Royal Mail’s people and organisational director, said HELP was part of Royal Mail’s commitment to support its people whenever they needed it under the company’s continuing drive to make Royal Mail a great place in which to work.

“We believe this is one of the largest and most comprehensive schemes of its kind offered by a UK company,” he said.

“We aim to provide a quick and easy way for our people to talk to someone about whatever is on their mind, whenever they want to, free of charge and in complete confidence.

“The service gives them access to experts in their fields who can offer advice on a wide range of topics – effectively a friend on the phone when they need one.

“We have listened to our people and this is a natural extension to the help we already offer on health issues and other topics.

“Our people are our most valuable asset and their hard work and commitment is crucial for Royal Mail to succeed in competing effectively now the UK postal market is open to full competition – it’s right for our people so it’s right for our business.”