With the growth of employee assistance programs (EAPs)a significant demand has been created for individuals trained in the behavioral sciences. This demand has also created opportunities for applied research into EAP systems. Current EAPs have penetrated only a small percentage of the workforce suffering with behavior/medical problems. Adaptation of traditional psycho‐social models of prosocial behavior to supervisory intervention practices holds the promise of more efficacious EAP programming. Bystander intervention and equity theories are introduced as prosocial models capable of guiding research and consultative practice within industrial settings. Situational, personal, attributional, cost and response variables associated with EAP utilization are described. Both instrumental and psychological processes inherent within supervisor‐worker relationships are elaborated. Social psychologists are encouraged to consider these theoretical systems when contemplating service delivery to the growing EAP movem