It’s official – EAPs really do improve workplace wellbeing and save money too

It’s official – EAPs really do improve workplace wellbeing and save money too

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) in the workplace significantly improve the wellbeing of those who use them, bringing about a measurable Return on Investment (ROI), important and comprehensive research has found.

Our EAPA counterparts in the US together with HR tech company, Morneau Shepell have produced their latest annual WOS (Workplace Outcome Suite) study that provides a fascinating insight into how much using the services of an EAP actually does significantly improve wellbeing amongst staff.

The study covered more than 30 Employee Assistance Programmes over 28 countries, and analysed the findings of more than 24,000 cases.

It found that:

• The amount of lost work time was reduced by about five working days as a result of the EAP
• The ROI for EAP counselling was around three times the amount of that invested* (read on for more detail)

Unlike much analysis of EAPs which is based purely on how much they cost, versus how much they are used, WOS research goes much deeper and produces results based on five different elements:

• Work absenteeism – measures absence from work in hours due to someone taking time off due to a personal problem
• Work presenteeism – measures a dip in productivity when a person is present at work but not functioning at their best due to a personal problem
• Workplace distress – measures a person’s anxiety due to work, eg: when they say they “dread” going in
• Work engagement – the extent to which an employee is keen to do their job
• Life satisfaction – general wellbeing in a person’s life

The WOS survey analysed data based on these five elements at the start of a person’s counselling with an EAP, and then after three months.

Across all the 24,363 cases analysed, the results were:

• Work absenteeism decreased by 27 percent
• Work presenteeism was reduced by 26 percent
• Life satisfaction was increased by 23 percent
• Workplace distress was decreased by 14 percent
• Work engagement was increased by 8 percent

Eugene Farrell, chair of UK EAPA, said: “We welcome this wide-ranging and in-depth research. It’s fascinating to see the extent to which an EAP clearly does benefit those staff who use it. It’s easy for company leaders just to base their analysis of the usefulness of an EAP with an accountants’ eye. But by reading this WOS report, we can see that an EAP genuinely does make those who use it feel much better about everything: their job and their life. And that can only be good for everyone: the employee, the employer, and the business’s bottom line. In fact, the research also proved that an EAP has a demonstrable cost saving, so it really is a win-win.”

Indeed, Paul Roberts, EAPA Executive Board member and Director of Enlighten, an EAP broker, draws on the example of a UK utility firm which reported normal usage with 289 calls from 2,500 people covered. Of those 289 calls,  235 were counselling calls. He explains that: “The value of the EAP and impact was considerable. The reduction in the General anxiety Disorder score moved down from 1.6 to 0.9 and more than three people a month, who started therapy and were off work, all returned to work after therapy demonstrating the vital role an EAP service can play in helping get people back into work.

Interestingly, the WOS report found that the improved outcomes across the five elements did not vary according to the age or sex of the employee, the different paths of referral to the EAP, different clinical issues, the industry of the employer, the business model for providing the EAP, the employer’s country or the year. EAP counselling was found to have consistent results no matter the variable.

*Other interesting findings were:

• The amount of lost productive time over the three-month episode of distress was reduced by about five work days as a result of the EAP
• Most of this improvement was from the reduction in unproductive time while on the job (around 79 per cent) with only 21 per cent from reducing time away from work
• The estimated cost burden to the employer was reduced by nearly US$1,731 per employee user of EAP counselling
• The return on investment for EAP counselling was $3.37 for every $1 invested.

“The results of the research demonstrate that there is a good reason for employers to use an EAP to support distressed employees and enhance overall employee wellbeing,” said Barb Veder, vice president and chief clinician, Morneau Shepell. “After use of EAP-provided counselling, problem rates were reduced for every aspect measured in the study where employees need support. Thus, EAPs help to reduce the risks associated with workplace problems.”

Here, you can click through to read the full report, as well as a press release which usefully summarises its findings: http://www.eapassn.org/WOS