Understanding Employee Assistance Programmes in China: Employee Experiences, Leadership Roles, and Barriers to Effective Implementation

This thesis investigates how Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) operate inside Chinese workplaces. Although EAPs are promoted globally as tools to support employee wellbeing, their success depends on cultural and organisational conditions. Based on 70 interviews across six organisations, the study shows that leadership behaviour and trust strongly influence whether employees feel safe to use EAP services. Ethical and caring leadership encourages help-seeking, while transactional or bureaucratic styles limit EAPs to symbolic roles. The research offers practical guidance for building culturally sensitive and trustworthy wellbeing systems in China.