The purpose of the Employee Assistance Fund (EAF) is to help employees in emergency financial need due to an injury, an illness, or a natural disaster. The fund pays for basic needs such as mortgage/rent payments, utilities, and food cards.
Employees must be either full-time or part-time, working a minimum of 20 hours per week. PRN employees are only eligible if they are consistently working 20 hours or more per week, regardless of their PRN classification. To be eligible for assistance, you must be employed by Research Medical Center, Research Medical Center Brookside, or Research Psychiatric Center for a minimum of 90 calendar days. In 2023, the commitee agreed to consider applications from HCA employees who are on other payrolls (Parallon, etc.) and are currently giving a one-time or monthly/quarterly donation, not those from their departments who are not currently giving.
Employees can apply for a maximum of $2,500 every three years.
Employees must access/exhaust Short Term Disability (STD) benefits prior to accessing the Employee Assistance Fund (EAF). EAF will cover short gaps such as if an employee does not have 40 hours of PTO accrued to cover the STD waiting period. EAF will also cover wait periods and gaps between STD payments and regular pay.
Following are situations that are eligible for assistance from the larger EAF Fund:
- Loss of income due to a serious illness, injury or surgery of the employee or an immediate family member (spouse, domestic partner, children, step-children, or children employee has legal guardianship over)
- Loss of income due to a natural disaster
- Disability or handicap as a result of an accident or natural disaster
- Support for homeless employees (not those living with other family members)
- Support for employees to escape a domestic violence situaiton
Following are situaitons that are not be eligible for assistance from the EAF Fund:
- Home or car repairs
- Support needed due to a grown child (age 26 or older), parent, or grandchild who moves in with employee
- Lost or stolen cash or paycheck
- Loss of employee hours
- Spouse of employee losing their job or having hours reduced
- Bankruptcy, divorce, foreclosure, or eviction
- Funeral expenses or travel to a funeral (may refer employees to the HCA Hope Fund)
- Absence of child support or garnishment of child support
There is also a smaller discretionary fund. Employees may apply for up to $250 - $1,000 from this fund per calendar year. This fund is handled with more leniency for special situations and extenuating circumstances.
This application submits information to be considered for the purpose of granting financial assistance under the guidelines of Employee Assistance Fund Policy and Procedure. It is understood that the decision to grant financial aid shall rest with the Employee Assistance Fund Committee and you shall abide by the committee’s decision. All information submitted shall be treated confidentially.
Please note that you must submit all information at the same time. You will not be able to start your application and come back to it at a later time. Please call 816-276-3163 or email info@theresearchfoundationkc.org with questions. If you prefer to complete an application in person, please contact the Pastoral Care Department at 816-276-4120.
