How Manager Support Line Works

Compare your existing EAP benefits with the manager guidance, optional adult counselling, eligibility and funding MSL actually agrees to provide. Costs and cover vary by provider.

Monthly manager plans and bespoke annual corporate agreements have different funding and allowance arrangements. MSL does not automatically replace a comprehensive EAP or crisis service.

Short 20-minute calls with qualified counsellors

Your subscribed managers have access to focused, 20-minute support calls with qualified counsellors. These calls help them think clearly, stay calm and handle difficult situations safely.

• Difficult or emotional conversations with staff
• Supporting grief, bereavement or trauma in the workplace
• Conflict and performance concerns tied to wellbeing
• Boundaries, confidentiality and safeguarding
• Managing their own stress, overload and burnout risk

The focus is on guidance, options and listening skills — not therapy for the manager or the employee.

Therapy when it is actually needed

Counselling is optional adult individual support, subject to eligibility, suitability, capacity and the agreed funding. Eligible adult dependants are included only where the package provides this. Session limits are set by the agreement; additional sessions require approval. Counselling is not included free with the manager call allowance.

• Telephone or online counselling with qualified therapists
• £33 per session, used only when needed
• No requirement to fund a full-population EAP

This lets you offer real therapeutic support without committing to a large, fixed EAP spend every year.

Choose how much your business contributes

As the owner, director or finance lead, you decide how much your organisation contributes towards counselling sessions.

• Choose any contribution level from 0% to 100%.
• Apply different levels for managers, staff and dependants if you wish.
• Change the policy as your business and budget evolve.

MSL is built to protect both your people and your budget — you stay fully in control of how much the business funds.

Across the UK, stress, burnout and disengagement cost businesses billions of pounds every year through absence, presenteeism and staff turnover.

Workplace difficulties can affect wellbeing, absence and team relationships. MSL provides a space for managers to consider appropriate next steps.

MSL is designed to intervene early — giving managers a confidential space to think, before problems turn into grievances, long-term sickness or resignations.

MSL is:

• A manager guidance and support line
• Access to counselling for staff and dependants, when needed
• Optional training only where separately agreed and available
• A cost-controlled alternative to traditional EAPs

MSL is not:

• An emergency or crisis service
• A replacement for NHS care or safeguarding procedures
• A diagnostic or medical service

In an emergency or crisis, individuals should contact 999/112, NHS 111, their GP, local crisis team or their organisation's safeguarding lead.